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 😂)

I did if I tense my neck muscles I can swipe it around on my tonsils for longer.

This thread shows exactly why lft are so unreliable! Of course you’ll get a ‘valid negative test’ if you wave the swab in the air and don’t touch any part of your body, it doesn’t mean the test was performed correctly! You need to follow the instructions properly, swab each tonsil or tonsil area properly and a nostril unless you really do have special needs requiring a nasal only test. No wonder COVID is still spreading ffs.

Exactly. I had a test that had the solution bit missing so before throwing it away I tried it with just plain water and no swabbing. Came up with a valid negative result.

I really feel for those who find it really difficult to do, but not doing the full ten seconds on tonsils (or where tonsils would have been if they've been removed) plus nostril, is going to be much less accurate. It will still say it's a valid test even if you've not swabbed anything.

I wonder what does make it come up as invalid then?!

You get a control line whether you've added a swab to the liquid or not. I've just experimented. You only get a result, two lines if you're positive. If you're negative the single line remains. Mine are nose and throat, received from 3 different schools.

They are a mare, I've been testing twice a week since January and I still can't nail it.

Necessary evil though < polishes halo>

Hints for swabbing your own tonsils:

Use a small hand mirror and hold it above your head, look up into it, tilting your head up helps with access to the back of your throat.

Sing or say a big loud "Aaaaahhhhh".

Some people do need to press their tongue down out of the way - if the swab is pushing across your tongue to get to your tonsils, you've swabbed the wrong place.

You need 3 hands to do tongue/small mirror/ swab

Make sure no-one is watching/ listening while you do all this while singing

This is very interesting. I work for the NHS, at a GP Surgery and when we were shown how to do lateral flow tests (before our first vaccination clinic) it was only up the nose (both nostrils). We were told to push it as far up as possible, twiddle it around until your eyes watered, then do the other side.

Tonsils were not mentioned at all.

I've been doing twice weekly tests on that basis ever since early January and showing other people how to do it, exactly like that.

I think the instructions in the box do say tonsils and then nose.

Google acupressure points for gag reflex. There are two in particular that I have used for many people that are very effective.
Main one is midpoint of the chin, just below the lip. Apply pressure or tap to stimulate for a couple of minutes before the swab.
There’s another one clutching the thumb during the swab.
Google images will help.