Swabs are a topic that’s not as often discussed as the larger issues of lockdowns, mask mandates and of course the vaccines and their mandates. And you could say - rightly so. After all, it’s just a minor bother. Or is it? Are swabs really such a small concern, health wise? Are we just spoiled or petty for objecting to having this procedure forced upon us?
Just to be clear, this article is only about the swabs. It’s not about the PCR tests or antigen tests, whether they are reliable or whether we should be using them large-scale. This is just about the physical experience of having this thing shoved up your nose.
I’ve had exactly one swab experience, so not exactly a great sample size. But my experience was not pleasant. I’m very sensitive to my nostrils, because I do a lot of pranayama (yogic breathing exercises). I’m also aware of my health in general. The experience of getting swabbed in my nose was… unsettling. An unpleasant sensation, like a tickle or tingle, that wouldn’t go away for a long time. Like several weeks. I also was feeling fine just before, but had some sneezing and a runny nose for several days after.
Could that have additional health effects? Could such effects be cumulative over many swabs?
Are a lot of other people experiencing this, but not talking about it, because that’s just how it is, and you shouldn’t make a fuss?
I discussed this with someone on telegram who has a microscope. He got one of the synthetic swabs they use for the PCR tests, and examined it. He sent me a picture. It wasn’t pretty. The thing clearly seems to have sharp, angular edges that could very possibly cause micro-injuries to the soft and sensitive tissues inside our nostrils. Then I saw a video comparing the synthetic swab (that everyone seems to use) with a cotton swab. The microscope images of the synthetic swab seemed much like the one I had previously been sent. The video maker used the swabs on a piece of meat. The cotton swab didn’t leave a mark, whereas the synthetic swab not only tore the meat tissue - fragments of it broke off and were left embedded in the meat. That can’t be good, can it?
What’s your swab experience? It’s funny that everyone has had them, or almost everyone, yet people don’t talk about the experience much. So I would love to get some feedback in the comments.
This has just been the health side of it. Next time I want to also discuss the ethical side of forcing people to be swabbed, or to give other tissue samples, blood, etc. And there are some research ideas I have for swabs, that hopefully may reach someone with the ability to make them happen.
This is a really good article. It tells one a lot about these sadistic assholes. Thinking about another person's well-being is entirely foreign to them.