Is it possible to request a nasal only test?

[ArtemisBean]

I'm having a planned c section next month and need to get a covid test a few days before. Amazingly, I've not needed to have one yet so I have no idea if nasal only tests are a thing. I've heard they can do just the nose for children. Can adults request this too? I have an incredibly sensitive gag reflex and if anyone tries to put something in my throat (just going to the dentist and having tools in my mouth is bad enough!) I'll just throw up all over them. Horrible for me and pointless for them because they'll never get an uncontaminated swab. Surely there's another option? More worried about this than the actual surgery!!

Hopeful bump!

I had to go for a covid test about a month ago and was feeling nauseous at the time. The tester tried several times to swab my throat however I kept gagging & she left it after about 3 attempts & just did the nose.

If you explain to your midwife Im sure they will understand. I would imagine its not that unusual.

Congratulations on your pregnancy & best of luck with your c section.

I'm a teacher so am doing the asymptomatic testing twice a week. We are using LFT so I'm not sure if it's the same but you can just do it up your nose twice, rather than the throat. Good luck

You can but I've always been told that it's less reliable. I was told I could test my kids just nose only but it would be 50/50 whether it would give a result or be inconclusive.
I'm actually in hospital at the moment with bowel Disease and so when they've tested me I asked the same thing as I'm incredibly nauseous anyway and my entire digestive system is inflamed - they said no not really they need to do both to make sure they got a result, and if I was sick they would come back and try again later
As it goes on both occasions I was fine, I was amazed as I can't even eat or drink at the moment so I was convinced I would gag or be sick but...I managed it.

I think truly for the safety of yourself, your baby, the other mothers and babies on the ward and the staff looking after you, you do need to try and do rh test properly and get an actual result. It's not really fair otherwise, OP because what if you did have covid and passed it onto another pregnant woman or newborn. ..I think it's a bit of try it and see really as the testing is to make sure you don't have it but predominantly to protect others. You need to try I'm afraid and a sensitive gag reflex isn't really an excuse . Sorry

Sorry if that sounded harsh OP but this is the safety of others. I don't suspect you'd feel comfortable if other women in the ward has been only part tested and may not have got proper results and therefore could give you or your newborn covid, so I think even if it doesn't work (and I understand that it might not, and then yes ok, they may only be able to do a nasal one) ... I think you have to at least try.

I gag like you OP but I didn’t notice when a nurse tested me for Covid. I have since managed to do two LF tests myself. Apparently it’s good to gag as it brings the mucus up. You must protect your baby and others

That sounds horrible for you. I know the kids at school are allowed to just do their nose for lateral flow tests so maybe you’ll be ok just doing that?

I’m doing regular lateral flow tests and I’ve found that I’m gagging far less now than when I initially started testing. I actually prefer the throat swab to the nose one now.

So I wonder if it’s something you can get used to with practise?

Not that practising sounds much fun for you-sorry!

@Nineinchnailfile

That sounds horrible for you. I know the kids at school are allowed to just do their nose for lateral flow tests so maybe you’ll be ok just doing that?

I’m doing regular lateral flow tests and I’ve found that I’m gagging far less now than when I initially started testing. I actually prefer the throat swab to the nose one now.

So I wonder if it’s something you can get used to with practise?

Not that practising sounds much fun for you-sorry!

I also agree with this - the nose one to me hurts more than the throat!!! That's the one that leaves my eyes watering and hurting !!

I do LFT weekly and just do my nose twice. I've tried doing my throat and just don't feel like I'm doing it right. I've been told doing the just the nose properly is better that trying your throat and it not being done right.
But that's me doing it myself, I'd be happy for someone else to do my throat, I'm sure they would be able to do it better than me!

I’m nhs staff and our lateral flow we were told just to do the nose in each nostril. I give myself watery eyes and sneezing every bloody time it’s not great but it’s for a reason.

When I’ve had pcr test I thought I’d gag as I can brushing my teeth/tongue sometimes. But actually it was fine and it’s easier than the nose for me. It’s very quick.

I had one before my section in august.

I was still suffering from extreme sickeness. Even so done walking past me too fast would make me vomit.

I sat in the car, covered in bin bags expecting to vomit the second they did it.

Nothing!

Dh was offered what they called "an extended nasal test" as he gagged repeatedly and it took 7(!) goes to get anything out of his throat. As it happened I think it would have been better to accept this as we believe the gagging resulted in a false negative - I tested positive, and he had symptoms and had been in contact with 2 positive cases at work.

Doesn't matter how many times I've been tested (care home) I always gag. The nose 1 always makes my eyes water and sneeze. Lost count of how many times we have had to do it for work.

Home test, just do both nostrils.