Have any emetephobes had the throat swab?

[CaptainBrickbeard]

I’m extremely fearful of having to have a Covid test at any point - and it seems likely that at some point most of us will have to have one? I am very frightened of gagging! I just wondered if anyone feels the same and has done it anyway? I had HG in pregnancy which did help alleviate some of my fears around vomiting; I know I can get through it but the prospect of gagging still panics me. I know it might seem very minor and trivial in comparison to actually having the disease but I am still managing to worry about it, even if it is ridiculous.

I have been wondering the same thing! Marking place

Fellow emetophobe, following.

I am emetophobic. I had the swab done when I went into labour and was more worried about that than the birth ha. Was fine though, I didn't gag. I have since done a home test too which was fine too

You could ask for just the nose swab?

I'm the same, I'm more worried about that than catching it! I just know I physically won't be able to do it. I can barely force myself to swallow antibiotics that might cause sickness.

Yes. I was dreading it, but actually it was fine. The nasal swab was much worse for me!

I was glad for mine that someone else did it and I didn't have to. I too found the nose one worse.
Funnily enough I was sick 2 nights ago and it would nornally be a huge drama for me. I just didn't have the energy to care that much. Hopefully this nightmare has helped me a bit.

Oh thank you; I was hoping for reassurance and it sounds like it is ok. I don't know if I could bring myself to do the home test on myself though. In my first pregnancy, my overriding fear of labour was vomiting (and I did) - it subsumed any worries I had about the actual giving birth, so I feel similarly that I’m more scared of having a COVID test than the actual virus which is absurd, I know.

I had to do the test at home and am a major emetophobe. But saying that, my fear is around catching a bug that will make me puke repeatedly - weirdly I wouldn’t be overly fussed about a one off (although I wouldn’t like it!)

I’ll be honest, it did set off my gag reflex as you have to get right back to your tonsils- but it’s over in a few seconds and it’s very unlikely to make you actually be sick.

I now have the hybrid fear of usual ongoing emetophobia (getting worse with approach of winter) combined with anxiety about the virus!! Great 😆(Luckily test was negative this time)

I’m an emetophobe with a severe gag reflex too! I can’t even have X-rays at the dentist and have to have smaller size ones so I don’t gag so much. Really hoping I can avoid a test for as long as possible

I'm worried but realistically I know I haven't been sick for 36 years. The chances are minimal. I am touching wood lol.

Not a problem for me at all. No gagging, just felt a bit weird. As ever with this tiresome phobia, the anxiety about "what ifs" is invariably much worse than the reality.

I've got a test coming up and I've been dreading it. I've got a pretty severe gag reflex and even thinking about it makes me retch. Bought some throat aesthetic spray (designed for when you have a sore throat) from Amazon to help numb my tongue and throat in the hope it will make the experience a little less gaggy.

I'm not emetophobic but I have long standing gastro issues, bowel disease - ive been flaring for months and to be honest when I'm feeling that sick...I've not been able to even attempt the throat ones. I've had them done in hospital as I've spent rather a lot of time inpatient this year and I've not been sick though - but in truth, I've not been able to do it myself when I'm feeling that bad.

I don't know if that's reassuring or not - hopefully it is because in hospital when I've been at my worst I've not been sick when someone has done it for me, but maybe not so much that I've not managed to do it myself?

The ones myself were optional ones for work by the way, I've not been not testing when I've had symptoms (though I've not had symptoms anyway)