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Original poster

Getting tested - adults and children

44 replies

labyrinthloafer · 18/07/2020 07:57

I am starting to think about what it'll be like getting tested, or if the kids need one.

I don't want to make anyone squeamish so will avoid details but having spoken to a friend who had to have the test last week I am not sure I will be able to administer it myself or to the kids.

Is anyone else worried, or perhaps have some good info?

I think being afraid of the test is affecting me almost more than being afraid of the virus!!

OP posts:
Yorkshiredolls · 18/07/2020 08:04

what on earth did you friend tell you that’s got you worried? Is it possible that your friend is being a bit dramatic? I’ve had one done at a drive through centre. It wasn’t the most pleasure able experience of my life but it wasn’t horrendous, i’ve had more unpleasant smear tests. The nose swab was a bit sore and the throat swab made me gip but you Just have to grin and bear it. It was well organised and results back about 24 hours later. If the situation arises where you have to have one, it’s lrobably better to go to the drive in testing centre if you’re able to rather than administer the test at home with the postal kit, at least you’ll know it’s been done correctly.

raviolidreaming · 18/07/2020 08:14

I'm not sure I'd be able to swab my DS - it's difficult enough getting his temperature taken with a non-touch thermometer GrinHmm - but I'm doing weekly swabs at home and they're honestly not that bad. Not pleasant, but not painful. If you're doing a home test you can take your time and not feel rushed - but the actual swabbing literally takes 20 seconds.

Wankerchief · 18/07/2020 08:20

Not sure what happened to your mate is accurate, I've had it, the swab was fine and basic.
Swap up the nose then in the throat. Sure it's not fun but it's in no way traumatic

Flagsfiend · 18/07/2020 08:36

I had a test at a drive through that I administered myself, it was a bit uncomfortable but not painful. Throat swab made me gag, nose swab felt weird and tickled. I'd have another one if I needed to and wouldn't be worried about it beforehand, may take a spoon to hold tongue down though (I struggled to keep it out of the way).

Cusano34 · 18/07/2020 08:39

I had the swab in April and found the throat easy but the nose uncomfortable...but like PP said not traumatic. If I had to have another, it wouldn’t worry me.

Not sure if I’d be able to do it to me 2 year old though or to myself at home!

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 18/07/2020 08:43

I've had one and done lots of swabs on my patients, it's uncomfortable but fine really.

Heaven knows what your fiend told you but it really isn't bad.

cuntryclub · 18/07/2020 08:44

I am starting to think about what it'll be like getting tested, or if the kids need one.

Why now? What has made you suddenly start thinking about it?

Original poster
labyrinthloafer · 18/07/2020 09:05

Because when schools are fully open + winter bugs generally circulate it is more likely we'll need a test.

Thank you for your experiences. My friend is quite funny, as in humourous, so maybe she exaggerated.

I just don't know if I can do it to my younger child. Hopefully it'll be more doable in reality than in my mind!

OP posts:
Original poster
labyrinthloafer · 18/07/2020 09:07

I think maybe my friend could describe a smear in a way that'd make me really laugh - but also be terrifying if you hadn't had one before?

OP posts:
MrsWhites · 18/07/2020 09:26

We haven’t had to have any tests in our immediate family yet but I must admit I have worried about how the children would respond to it. Especially if they had to have a second test which is a fair possibility if schools insist on children being tested every time they get a cough in winter! I might be able to bribe them to do the first one but a second time they would know how unpleasant it is!

feesh · 19/07/2020 20:02

I had to test myself and the kids this morning, as my three year old woke up with the snots and a fever.

I’m genuinely shocked and pretty appalled that you have to perform the tests on yourself/on your own kids. I really think a medical professional should be doing them. We have only recently moved back to the U.K. and in the country we came from all the drive through testing centres had nurses who did the swabbing. I know the U.K. health service is in a mess, but surely this should be prioritised?

Doing it on myself wasn’t so bad (although I definitely don’t think I went as deep as when I was tested by a health professional in our old country), but doing the kids was absolutely awful and probably utterly ineffective. I’ve done some research today and it seems that it’s absolutely impossible to get a medical professional to administer the test on kids - this seems crazy to me.

Original poster
labyrinthloafer · 19/07/2020 21:12

@MrsWhites I agree, it will be very hard.

@feesh I am sorry to hear it didn't go well Sad hope they don't feel upset for long

OP posts:
PaperMonster · 20/07/2020 07:12

My daughter’s told me she’s not having one! She’s 9. She saw me do one when I went to a drive-in test centre and it freaked her out!

Original poster
labyrinthloafer · 20/07/2020 07:14

I think there will be a lot of unhappy kids and parents once school starts.

OP posts:
LJC1234 · 20/07/2020 07:28

I had one done in hospital! It's not the most pleasant thing in the world but it's over in seconds! Absolutely fine and although I don't think a child would like it it does not hurt after at all so hopefully soon forgotten

GrishainDisguise · 20/07/2020 10:39

@feesh So glad you said this. We had our tests yesterday.

  1. Why should I seld-administer it?! I am not going to do it properly even to myself probably. I was so angry, and DH thought I was unreasonable.
  2. DH and my results came this morning. Nothing for DS. Great. Why? Should we ask? The test site found it weird that DS had my phone number under his name, and took them ages to identify him. But the website asked to use parent's phone number.

@labyrinthloafer Please do not worry. It was a seriously weird experience. (Calling a strange phone number and staff explaining procedure to us via a face mask and speakerphone. I only heard "crackle crackle, crackle".)

GrishainDisguise · 20/07/2020 10:40

But it was fine.

Sockwomble · 20/07/2020 10:48

I don't think it would be possible to test ds without sedating him. There is no way he would cooperate with things being put in his mouth and nose and he is bigger than me so too big to pin down.

Autumn101 · 20/07/2020 10:53

DC and I had test yesterday - I was very surprised that you do them yourselves as like a previous poster we’ve just moved back from another country where medical professionals do them all.

Fortunately my sister is a GP and was with us so she did them! They aren’t pleasant and I really think I’d of struggled to do it to myself let alone the kids......... But it’s over so quickly and no pain or discomfort after they’ve been done

vodkaredbullgirl · 20/07/2020 10:58

At work we have to have it done every week (care home). It is unpleasant but needs to be done. Dont know if i could do it on myself.

BighouseLittlemouse · 20/07/2020 11:16

I’ve had to do one on myself and found it fine.

Have to admit I think it will be very difficult to do effectively on the kids - and particularly if need to do it more than once.

Let’s hope the saliva spit tests proves effective and can be rolled out.

MrsWhites · 20/07/2020 12:16

It is something that genuinely worries me for the winter, my sons primary have been quite clear that they expect all children to be tested each time they have any symptoms at all.

I’ll be quite honest, I don’t want to subject my children to an uncomfortable test just because they have a cough or a manageable temp which lets face it, kids often do during the winter. I am quite happy to isolate for the required amount of time obviously just in case but according to our schools guidance, this isn’t an option!

Original poster
labyrinthloafer · 20/07/2020 12:19

@MrsWhites I am not sure they can enforce that, the tests are not compulsory. Our school says seven days or a test? Will they expel a child who doesn't have a test? How would they know?

It is all madness, we need clear instructions - you must and you should and you are advised are all used interchangeably but are very different!

OP posts:
Original poster
labyrinthloafer · 20/07/2020 12:19

You can get a test and do it badly anyway, so that is ridiculous.

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Sockwomble · 20/07/2020 12:31

The problem with not testing is that the school won't know if there has been a positive case within the bubble.
I have no objection to ds being tested but I know that we won't be able to do or at least not without sedation or people able to safely restrain him.