Are there any clever tricks to avoid gagging when taking a Covid test?

[SoupDragon]

I will have to take LTFs to go visit my mum and I'm dreading it. I gag really easily and have a fear of vomiting (but not as bad as a phobia!).

Is there a way to minimise gagging other than getting DD to take them for me? (Which obviously I'm not going to do 😂)

LFTs are up the nose! Or at least all the boxes I've had have only asked for a nasal sample.

PCRs ask for both.

I found closing my eyes helped a lot. I also explained in advance to the tester and they were very understanding and did it quickly.

That was for PCR tests. LFTs are indeed nose only.

As above, LFTs are nasal only. They make me sneeze but no gagging.

It’s easier if you do it yourself than get someone else to
I find nose worse than throat (have to do both 3x/WK for >1y 2 lat flow, 1 pcr

Do your nose only.
It makes me sneeze, but I absolutely couldn't do the throat for gagging, so sneezing is a small price to pay.

Hang on, I got a box of tests in the post this week the ones from gov.uk and they want a tonsil swab followed by a poke up the nose.

I thought they were LFTs -- you put the swab into the extractor fluid, squeeze it out, drop two drops onto the tester strip.

The instructions definitely say to swab the throat and then one nostril.

Maybe there are different kinds?

You do need to swab your tonsils. Unless you are a child.

All my LFT boxes have asked for throat and nasal swabs. Where do we get the nasal only ones from???? 🤔

LFTs require a throat and nasal swab for the most accurate results but a double nasal can be done as long as you understand the results won't be as reliable

Here

I administer my son's LFT (as he has additional needs and can't do it to himself). We do it first thing in the morning before before he has had breakfast so at least if he does gag there's nothing on his upper gut to vomit up.

The LFTs I have are tonsil and nasal too.

They do ask for throat as well but the gagging meant my tongue always more than touched the end of the swab, so nose only it has to be.

Our lf tests are throat and nose but doc friend has told me not to worry if you skip the throat.

I had no idea LFTs were nose only! Thank you!

I'll need PCRs to travel later though so all tips are still good :)

Actually, DD is definitely doing throat too now I think of it.

LFTS I have are both. I have an horrendous gag reflex, but can manage the tests. Do have to make sure DH is not on a video call in his room when I am doing the tests, as he can hear me gagging from the other side of the house! Then followed by an enormous sneeze.

@hugoagogo

Here

I have zero hope of doing 4 swipes.

Use something like a teaspoon handle as a tongue depressor.

I thought I had got the hang of it after doing twice weekly for several months but I still occassionally wretch!

This sounds a bit weird, but if I go in slowly and deliberately I'm less likely to gag. Almost as if my tonsils can see the swab coming.

It also helps if I tip my head back a little and sort of tense the back of my throat so my tonsils rise up slightly. (Doing LFTs for work!)

We had a brush with covid at the end of May. My ds got it (he was fine) and we all had to be tested. Dh couldn't do it, and I couldn't get the swab even past his teeth before he gagged. We made do with both nostrils...

Apparently if you squeeze your hand in a fist really hard it heals suppress the gag reflex. It helped my ds when he was getting his brace fitted !

They are not nose only- some of you are a bit misinformed there.
OP- my strategy is to relax and breathe out as I do it. I also go to the far side of my tonsil, rather than down the middle as I find I gag much less then. It's not very pleasant however you do it so I just get on with it really.

Sing a long loud note whilst trying to do the throat swab. It doesn’t always work for me but does some of the time.