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Should I Go To ER As I Swallowed My Tongue Ring Ball During Dinner?
I accidentally swallowed my tongue ring ball during dinner. It's 7 mm, swarovski crystal embedded in surgical steel. It comes to a point on top, but it's not a long point or super sharp. Should I go to the ER, or just...let it go, for lack of a better term?
Wed, 15 Jan 2014
Hi there,
Thanks for your query.
There are two possibilities:-
1. Either the ring ball passes smoothly through the intestine and is finally expelled in the stools, without causing any harm to the food pipe or intestine; or,
2. It might get stuck (or 'hooked' to the inner wall) either in the food pipe, stomach or in the intestine. If it has a sharp edge, it can even damage the delicate inner lining of the gastro-intestinal tract.
Get a chest and abdominal X-ray done to visualize its location. If you have no problems, you may take 30ml of Liquid Paraffin or Lactulose (purgatives), which will expel it earlier in the stools.
In either case, you should consult your doctor, who is the best judge and will advise you according to the requirements.
If you find my response helpful and informative, do not forget an “excellent” (5-star rating) to my answer, to ENCOURAGE ALL doctors- engaged in social service- to render sound advice to the FREE queries.
Take care
Dr. Rakesh Karanwal
Thanks for your query.
There are two possibilities:-
1. Either the ring ball passes smoothly through the intestine and is finally expelled in the stools, without causing any harm to the food pipe or intestine; or,
2. It might get stuck (or 'hooked' to the inner wall) either in the food pipe, stomach or in the intestine. If it has a sharp edge, it can even damage the delicate inner lining of the gastro-intestinal tract.
Get a chest and abdominal X-ray done to visualize its location. If you have no problems, you may take 30ml of Liquid Paraffin or Lactulose (purgatives), which will expel it earlier in the stools.
In either case, you should consult your doctor, who is the best judge and will advise you according to the requirements.
If you find my response helpful and informative, do not forget an “excellent” (5-star rating) to my answer, to ENCOURAGE ALL doctors- engaged in social service- to render sound advice to the FREE queries.
Take care
Dr. Rakesh Karanwal
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