Tips on swabbing tonsils without gagging

[BigMon]

I've just done my first Covid test but simply cannot swab my tonsils. I've tried and tried to the point where I actually brought something up.

I tried saying 'Aaaah' to raise my tonsils up but that didn't help.

Has anyone got any tips about how to do it if you have a strong gag reflex?

[vixen1700]

No tips, but I've had two recently and do exactly the same.

Hate it!

[steveo3002]

seems to work if you do back of throat ...swab would be covered in puke if i touch my tonsils with it

[21TonyK]

You don;t actually have to swab your tonsils, just the back/top of your mouth is good enough. If its a flow test you can actually just do a saliva test

[BabySharkDooDooDooDooDooDoo]

• googles “how to take something to the back of the the throat without gagging” *

Not sure how much use this is, however my wife’s had to give patients pcr tests and the following are a couple of techniques that staff are using.

1) have the patient tap tunes on their thumb

2) have the patient lift their foot and try to wiggle their toe

3) dip a bit of salt on the end of their tongue

It’s mainly about trying to get the brain to concentrate on something else to lessen the gag reflex.

[Mr Pointy]

BabySharkDooDooDooDooDooDoo said:

*googles “how to take something to the back of the the throat without gagging” *

Not sure how much use this is, however my wife’s had to give patients pcr tests and the following are a couple of techniques that staff are using.

1) have the patient tap tunes on their thumb

2) have the patient lift their foot and try to wiggle their toe

3) dip a bit of salt on the end of their tongue

It’s mainly about trying to get the brain to concentrate on something else to lessen the gag reflex.

Has your wife noted any gender bias with this issue?

[How u doing]

My tip is throat before nose.

[tedmus]

How u doing said:

My tip is throat before nose.

Yep, been there.

[LosingGrip]

Asked my other half and she laughed at me...

Apparently swallow as it’s going towards the back of your throat.

She did say she’s not had to do that for a while though .

[Red9zero]

Not sure I could do it to myself. I have a test in few days and was given the choice of self test or hospital visit. I chose hospital.

[Strudul]

Grab your thumb and squeeze.

[Boosted LS1]

I do tests once a month. Piece of cake, a little gag lets me know I'm hitting the spot. Takes just a moment. Makes me chuckle when I see teenagers pussy footing around delicately whilst looking in a mirror.

[paralla]

I lost my gag reflex years ago, it’s a real party trick.

All it takes is lots of practice.

[r159]

Boosted LS1 said:

I do tests once a month. Piece of cake, a little gag lets me know I'm hitting the spot. Takes just a moment. Makes me chuckle when I see teenagers pussy footing around delicately whilst looking in a mirror.

It could be worse, when the nurses at work were doing the swaps up the nose they were brutal, it fking hurt.

[Steve Campbell]

Press with finger into the middle of your chin below the lip….like the small hollow….below the gums. Press quite hard.

This sounds nonsense but was given as a tip to my son by one of the healthcare staff at school when they started and we all do it now. It really works for us. Testing twice a week for ages and haven’t gagged since doing this. Still sneeze like crazy after the nose swirling though !

[Red9zero]

r159 said:

It could be worse, when the nurses at work were doing the swaps up the nose they were brutal, it fking hurt.

I had a camera up the nose a while ago. It was a wierd feeling and fk knows where it was going but it was huge

[Boosted LS1]

r159 said:

Boosted LS1 said:

I do tests once a month. Piece of cake, a little gag lets me know I'm hitting the spot. Takes just a moment. Makes me chuckle when I see teenagers pussy footing around delicately whilst looking in a mirror.

It could be worse, when the nurses at work were doing the swaps up the nose they were brutal, it fking hurt.

I can believe that because they don't know where to stop. Having bandages pulled out of your nose after surgery is far worse though :-)

[Boosted LS1]

Red9zero said:

r159 said:

It could be worse, when the nurses at work were doing the swaps up the nose they were brutal, it fking hurt.

I had a camera up the nose a while ago. It was a wierd feeling and fk knows where it was going but it was huge

I recently had one down past the voice box for a biopsy without a sedative. That was a gag reflex from Alien.

[Red9zero]

Boosted LS1 said:

Red9zero said:

r159 said:

It could be worse, when the nurses at work were doing the swaps up the nose they were brutal, it fking hurt.

I had a camera up the nose a while ago. It was a wierd feeling and fk knows where it was going but it was huge

I recently had one down past the voice box for a biopsy without a sedative. That was a gag reflex from Alien.

I've had one down the throat, up the nose and up me 'arris. I did check they weren't using the same camera though

[the tribester]

Red9zero said:

Boosted LS1 said:

Red9zero said:

r159 said:

It could be worse, when the nurses at work were doing the swaps up the nose they were brutal, it fking hurt.

I had a camera up the nose a while ago. It was a wierd feeling and fk knows where it was going but it was huge

I recently had one down past the voice box for a biopsy without a sedative. That was a gag reflex from Alien.

I've had one down the throat, up the nose and up me 'arris. I did check they weren't using the same camera though

An did you find lifting a foot and wiggling a toe took your mind off it?

I'm in the gag group.