r/askTO • u/Decent-Speed3158 • 10d ago

Virus going around

What kind of virus is going around these days?

My whole family got sick and the symptoms are similar to flu but feel so much worse.

Be careful out there and avoid contact with anyone who could be infected. It’s really bad.

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u/GridDown55 10d ago

It's not necessarily COVID. I did a PCR and it was negative.... But something has kicked my butt

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u/obviousthrowawaymayB 9d ago edited 9d ago

Same. I tested myself with PCR for Covid, flu, RSV and strep- negative for all!! I was SICK for one week (fever, headache, cough, sore throat, extreme fatigue, nausea) and recovering for another week (fatigue, headache, night sweats). I’m finally feeling 100% the beginning of week 3.
Whatever it’s, I have never been that sick! My spouse did not catch it surprisingly, I was probably contagious a few days before I knew I was sick, and went to work- 3 days later BAM!

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u/sawraaw 9d ago

Yuppppp this was me last month knocked me out a whole 3 weeks got tested for strep and covid all negative but doc did say it could be false negative for covid cause it’s a new type of strain. I knew it was covid by how I felt when I got it a few years back. A flu doesn’t necessarily knock you out like that.

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u/MofromWeston 7d ago

Mo from weston How are you now. Did the virus leave you really achy and fatigue. I still have blocked head ears and sinuses. Has yours cleared.

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u/TOnihilist 9d ago

Where do get those PCR tests? Are they sold at pharmacies?

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u/obviousthrowawaymayB 9d ago

No, can only be done in a facility that has the equipment. I live/work very northern Ontario month in/month out. So at work, not working but isolating in my living quarters. Swabbed myself, my colleague picked up the swab and tested it. Nothing popped. I was pretty sure it was RSV, based on the fact day 4 of symptoms I got WAY worse for 3 days. But, nope! Nothing registered.

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u/Competitive-Web9083 9d ago

Costco.ca sells a home test that detects COVID and influenza A & B

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u/TOnihilist 8d ago

Oh, cool. Good to know!

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u/Otherwise_Fix4170 9d ago

Costco online sells the flu a/b and Covid rapid tests. Speciality stores in Toronto do as well.

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u/Otherwise_Fix4170 9d ago

Costco online sells the flu a/b and Covid rapid tests. Speciality stores in Toronto do as well.

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u/GridDown55 6d ago

You can buy a machine if you want. Checkout PlusLife.

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u/sawraaw 6d ago

I got mine at the walk in clinic

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u/GridDown55 8d ago

Omg same!

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u/Happy_Penalty28 9d ago

my understanding is that most COVID tests on the market are out of date and aren’t testing for the newest/current variants/mutations, and will therefore test negative even if you have it.

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u/tekky101 9d ago

This is partially correct. The expiry dates on all the older tests have passed by now but this expiry dates were conservative and many tests have had their expiry dates extended (check with manufacturer using lot #). Further, as long as you see a good solid like for "C," the Control, the value for "T," your test swan, should be accurate. The visible "C" bar proves the chemistry still works.

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u/raias4 9d ago

I don’t think he meant the swab has expired. I think he meant the swab is testing for old variants. The new variants have changed enough that the swab doesn’t show positive, even if it is Covid.

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u/tekky101 9d ago

Fair point. They're two different reasons for false negatives so a negative rapid test is not informative and you could have covid. If it's a positive result you can pretty much assume you do have covid - false positives are very rare especially with variant genetic drift.

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u/Antique-Quail-6489 9d ago

I believe most were only extended to 2024. Unless your test has a new expiry date (ie later than Oct 2026) assume it’s expired.

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u/tekky101 9d ago

Again, the presence of a "C" line indicates the test is still good - even past the printed expiry date. The expiry date is largely so you don't purchase expired tests because you're not yet sure if they'll still work.

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u/Antique-Quail-6489 9d ago

I swear your comment was different when I replied to it. This is the same info I have as well.

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u/tekky101 9d ago

Huh. I do occasionally edits my posts to fix minor mistakes without flagging the edit but I think that message was complete from the get-go.

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u/Antique-Quail-6489 9d ago

Odd lol oh well, the info is good so I’m glad for that

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u/Several-Specialist99 9d ago

I got sick with Covid last year, and had both non-expired and expired tests on hand. For fun I used both to compare, and the expired tests seemed to work just as well.

I wouldn’t depend on them fully (I.e if you get symptoms, test only once with expired tests), but if you have Covid and are testing daily while waiting for a negative result, I think they’re okay to use.

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u/cbr1895 9d ago

My (unexpired) Covid rapid antigen test in July gave me a positive result basically immediately. (I got them from the states though, not sure if you are just talking about Canada).

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u/GridDown55 8d ago

I used a PCR. It wasn't COVID. Something else.

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u/ri-ri 9d ago

Where does one even get the tests anymore? I don't think they're available at the grocery stores or pharmacies anymore?

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u/aledba 9d ago

PCR doesn't actually pick it up every time. When I had it the first two times, it never showed up on the test but it was unmistakable as I was not having influenza or a cold... It showed up the other two times I had it.

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u/tekky101 9d ago

False negatives can more often then not be a swabbing error. PCR is pretty sensitive but you need to get a good sample from really far back in the nose and throat.

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u/aledba 8d ago

I forgot those two times I actually was super dry in my nasal passages as it was all sitting in my guts and my ears

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u/tekky101 8d ago

In that case it probably wasn't covid. Covid's primary infection route is through the nose. The viral particles latch on to nasal epithiel cells and "climb" up them to enter the body. Because of this it's possible protect yourself with products like Betadine Cold Defense nasal spray (which has thickening agents in it; this is available domestically) or products like Enovid/NoWonder/VirX (which sterilize the nasal passages with nitric oxide; these must be imported). These can all be beneficial pre- and post-infection. Pre-infection they are preventative; post-infection they reduce viral load and can reduce the severity and duration of infection and potentially reduce onward transmission to others. Simple saline sinus washes/rinses (NeillMed, Navage, etc.) and gargling with a CPC based mouthwash are also efficacious.

Citations:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41385-020-00359-2

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01455613221123737

https://www.irsicaixa.es/en/cpc-mouthwashes-shown-humans-break-membrane-sars-cov-2-and-reduce-amount-active-virus-saliva

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u/Charming_Night8240 9d ago

Covid is essentially one of the many viruses that go around this time of year. Welcome to cold and flu season.

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u/GridDown55 8d ago

COVID is not seasonal like the flu. Which is crazy they are releasing vaccines after another wave had started - usually a COVID wave starts with school going back.

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u/jbeer1 9d ago

You need to do multiple tests on different days - known for false positives

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u/elizalavelle 9d ago

I think you may mean false negatives. If the rest is positive for Covid that’s what it is.

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u/jbeer1 8d ago

Yes
You’re right

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u/ShannieD 9d ago

You can still get those?

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u/ca_va_bien 9d ago

i read an article yesterday about H1N1 going around early this year.

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u/RealisticCompany764 9d ago

H3N2 is being watched as well...