Emeptophobic and just had a COVID test

[Riley1989]

Hi Everyone 👋🏻 Just wanted to help reassure anyone who has emetophobia and is worried if they have to have a COVID test. I’m severely emetophobic and I started having COVID symptoms last night. Can’t smell or taste anything and I have a sore throat and a cough. My husband is a key worker so we both had to get tested today! To say I was freaking out about the test is an understatement. Honestly hand on heart it really wasn’t that bad at all and the staff members were so kind and friendly they really helped calm me down! We went to the Guildford drive in and chose for the staff to do the test rather then doing it to ourselves. I gagged slightly with the throat swab and the nose swab makes you want to sneeze but honestly it was over with in less then 20 seconds. I just wanted to help reassure other emetophobes that if you do have to have a test it really is fine as I was desperately searching online before we went today to try and calm me down. Hope this helps at least one person 💕💕

This helped me weirdly though not for the reason you meant. I'm not emetophobic (thank goodness in my situation) but I have inflammatory bowel disease. I won't go into details as it will NOT help you with your phobia! It's really bad at the moment and we have weekly (optional )testing at my work. Last week I just couldn't manage it as I felt so nauseus anyway I thought if I do that as well I'm done for. I'd not managed to eat all day, so was running on empty as it was at work but I felt so bad for not being able to do my bit and test when my colleagues were doing. I'm going to be in the same situation this week but I might give it a go based on this!

I’m a emetophobe and have manage a couple tests, because I’m so scared of being sick I actually have a pretty non existent gag reflex, I did the test myself and it was fine.

@OpheliasCrayon I’m so glad I have helped you even if it’s not for emetophobia reasons! I had a little chat with the guy before he tested me and told him my worries and he was so lovely and understanding! Just explain to the person doing your test and I’m sure they will help comfort you! I can honestly say I was shaking from head to toe before and whilst having the test but afterwards I realised I had nothing to worry about! If I had to have another test I wouldn’t be afraid and that’s saying something for me! I hope your test is just as manageable! Stay safe and well 💕

@Lovemusic33 well done you for managing to do the tests yourself! I still don’t think I could perform the test on myself but if I did have to have another one I wouldn’t be afraid! When I say I gagged it was so slight as like yourself I have trained myself over the years to control it! Stay safe and well 💕