Has anyone had a recent CV test or knows about them? Trigger warning.

[TestWorries]

Has anyone had a recent CV test and would be able to tell me about how it's actually done? I have read that it's a swab in the nose and the back of the throat but there doesn't seem to be any more detailed info online. I can't see that there are any other alternative test methods either.

Trigger warning
There is no way I could let anyone use a swab in the back of my throat/mouth due to previous rape/sexual abuse. For example I couldn't let my GP use a tongue pusher down stick (I don't know what they're called properly).

It isn't a case of its unpleasant but it's for your own and everyone's health (as no doubt some people will say) so just take a deep breath and get on with it - I physically would not be able to do it. I think I'd have to be restrained which obviously would make it worse. Even diazepam wouldn't make it bearable (have tried in the past).

Has anyone had a recent test and could tell me what happens or does anyone know if there are alternative test methods?

I seriously considered not leaving the house to avoid a situation where I might have to be tested, but I live in a family and as strict as we are on hygiene the risk is there anyway. Plus this could be around for years.

It feels so stupid. I'm more worried about having to have a fucking test than catching it (and I'm in the shielding group).

I could really do without anyone being a twat about this (as I've seen on similar threads where people can't wear face masks). I just want to know if anyone has any more detail about the test or knows about other methods. Maybe someone has the same issue.

PS Long term MNer, NCed for this and not a troll with hairy hands.

It's 5 seconds each side of the throat and each side of the nose

I only had one side of each for 10 seconds! Yes, I did gag, and my eyes watered a lot. There was a rest area on the other side of the drive in for "getting yourself together" which I thought was quite sweet, so obviously quite common to react. I know someone's dad who threw up in the car!

Now, I think I have also read somewhere, that a higher percentage of result comes from the nasal swabs..... so pp's who said their kids only have nasal swabs, there might be science behind it. I will try and find the link, I think I saw it on the bbc website.

OP, you have my sympathies, I don't have the same experience as you, but I do have a terrible gag reflex, I find it hard to brush my teeth for example, but could manage the test OK.

Do you have to have a test for hospital treatment @Agbqzy? I knew you have to self isolate for two weeks but didn't know they tested?

I'm going to have to address this then. Fuck. I'm (over)due a hospital admission so maybe the best thing is to email the dept and ask the question and see if I can get an answer without having to explain it all.

In your situation I think you should just self isolate if they ask you to have a test, your family could presumably be tested so it would have to be the whole family who self isolates if they came back negative.

I think I'll speak to DH about it. It's not come up as a topic of conversation but I know he will understand if I talk to him. It might be better to "practice" discussing it in RL.

Round here any hospital admission you feet tested. But if it’s for an operation possibly they could sedate you with general first...not sure. Definitely discus with the hospital staffs

Yes TestWorries you do. I think if you tell them of your fears I would think they would have some way of helping you as suggested above it might just be taking nostril swabs only.

I really feel for you, and I'm sorry for your experiences.

I've been tested at a test centre and had to do it myself. I vomited on the swab and they had to give me another kit.

I tested myself at home last week and it was the same kit. It was marginally better because I wasn't feeling the pressure of being in a hot car and needing to get it done so I could hand it in. It was still awful.

I have a very strong gag reflex and both times I couldn't swab my tonsils for the required 10 seconds. It was physically impossible for me.

You'll definitely struggle from what you said.

Well I'm still worrying but trying not to give it too much headspace. I talked to DH about it who knows all the background and so understands. I thought it may be a practice for saying it to someone else but it wasn't really as I didn't have to explain it all as DH already knows. He (sensibly i suppose) advises I try not to worry about it until (and if it ever is, it might not even be) an issue as the saliva test may well be available then. He also pointed out I won't be alone as other people will also have different reasons for not being able to do this (history of eating disorders, gag reflex of morning sickness etc as well as women in the same situation as me).

I hadn't thought of other reasons like that so now at least I know it's probably been raised with testing staff before. The problem is I don't think I can bring myself to actually explain to anyone as I had such a fucking nightmare with explaining to a HCP before - I won't go into it but her response included telling me I was irresponsible. I also know I could never explain to a male member of staff.

Well there is no point worrying, especially when there is so much other stuff to worry about atm.

I really appreciate everyone giving the time to reply and that everyone was kind unlike so many other threads at the moment.

I completely get you op. The ‘being more worried about the test than the virus’ is definitely me. Also as part of past abuse.

Ironically I have to carry out the tests as part of my role.
If someone arrived and said not to do their throat, I wouldn’t and couldn’t make them. I would swab the nose only. You also don’t need to explain.

I haven’t heard of anyone refusing to test because of this.

If children can have it done with just the nostrils, I can't see why you wouldn't be able to too? Hopefully that would be the case.

When you test a child it tells you that you can do both nostrils instead if you can’t swab the throat. If you have symptoms that’s what you should do. Worst case it comes back inconclusive. No one can force you to have a test at all though so if you don’t want to test you can just self isolate instead.

Oh thank you yanka it's reassuring to hear from someone who tests, sorry you have the same issue though. It's shit.

Hopefully the nose would be fine, well hopefully I wouldn't need a test at all! If I had grounds for testing I think I would have to get it done though rather than just self isolating, due to my lung condition. Which is why it's playing on my mind I think. It doesn't help I cough quite a bit (nothing to do with CV) and every time I cough the worry re-appears in my mind. Like a fucking ear worm or something.

It saddens me that this thread has been kind and supportive but there are so many women in similar situations - and on the rest of MN some of the mask threads are fucking awful and I know people are also being judged and getting shit in RL too. Of course it's the women in the shit situations beyond their control getting the judging and the "blame" - not the actual men who are responsible for the issues.

In my case I have spent years "getting over" (clearly not that successfully) what happened to me and now years down the line it has re-appeared and causing problems again.

This is probably more wearing masks than CV tests but I also hate the parallels of "well you have to do it for everyone else " which is so often said to women - if you don't report he could do it to other women so you have a duty to report it etc etc. It's making you personally responsible for other people, never mind the cost to you, and deeming you selfish and giving you a load of guilt if you can't do this.

I think I'm just having an angry fed up day.

You are allowed to be angry and fed up. It’s ok.

This is all new and it’s not nice. I think many are struggling and will continue to struggle. It has brought up things that many have blocked out, ‘coped with’ or haven’t had to deal with before. People have forgotten to ‘be kind’ because they are scared. Keep being the nice person in the sea of angry people.

Think you can just do the nose swab like we do with children.
I'm sorry for what happened to you.