Thread by @RKMetcalfe

So…. I’m reasonably young, not generally unwell, not immunocompromised, but…I’ve been testing positive for #COVID on #RATs / #LFTs for almost 6 weeks on and off. Is this normal? I know many ppl have lingering symptoms, but has anyone actually tested themselves?🧵

Sep 23 I started feeling tired and had a slightly sore throat & tested (faintly) +ve on a RAT. My symptoms did not worsen and resolved Sep 28. But I continued to test, getting faint positives (see photo) until Oct 5 (13 days) when I got two days of negatives in a row (whew!)

But…on Oct 16 I had the same symptoms return: minor sore throat + fatigue. I tested positive Oct 16 & 17 (faint line) but assumed it was residual viral shedding and non-infectious bc my partner did not get sick. But this happened again Oct 29 - same symptoms, same faint line.

This time I didn’t stop testing, and have tested positive every day since, with the line getting even fainter as symptoms fade. As of today I’ve essentially been having symptoms and faint RAT positives on-and-off for 40 days. (FORTY DAYS!)

What is happening? It’s nearly impossible I’ve been reinfected. My partner and family have not gotten sick. I wear an KN95 when indoors.

I’m in my mid-30s, active, no chronic conditions or major health concerns. 4x 💉. This is my first COVID infection.

Is this a lingering infection that I can’t clear? Evidence of a reservoir? The beginning of #LongCovid? Has anyone else kept testing with #RATs / #LFTs for weeks after their negatives? Can viral shedding really last this long, at this level, and be accompanied with symptoms?

Please share! I really want to know what is going on. I can find hardly any information on this from public health agencies or in peer-reviewed research (esp not past 28 days). But there must be other people experiencing the same thing!

Here's what I’ve found on non-pax rebound. None address rebound w/o treatment in vaxxed ppl.

Nature article nature.com/articles/d4158… which refs:
1)medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
2)medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
3)researchsquare.com/article/rs-158…
4)researchsquare.com/article/rs-172…

And: jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman…

Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts and experiences. It has been so helpful.

Based on a lot of advice, I got a PCR test and a new brand of RATs/LFTs (flowflex).

Results?

PCR - NEGATIVE (!)
RAT - POSITIVE (!) (again faint)

So did I ever have COVID? Antibody test next!

Okay! Another update! Thanks to the wonderful @jeffgilchrist I learned that Flowflex may have the same cross-reactivity issue as green BTNX RATs. I found the ~White~ box.

Result: NEGATIVE!!!!!

Thank you all! I wouldn't have solved this alone. I still plan to test for antibodies