Can Swallowing Foreign Bodies Cause Gastrointestinal Pains For Over A Year?

Posted on Sat, 17 May 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 17 May 2014 Answered on

Mon, 2 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : A while ago -- I can't remember how long -- but over a year --I swallowed a gold crown. I searched my stools for weeks, but it never appeared. For some time now, I have also had diverse gastrointestinal pains and it struck me today that the two might be related. I recently had an MRI (with contrast) to check on the gastrointestinal symptom -- no explanation emerged. My question is whether the MRI would have detected the crown. I realize that it is unlikely that the crown is there -- but I did check carefully and I want to rule out this possibility. If the MRI would have caught it, I will be sure.

Answered by Dr. Abhijit Deshmukh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Hello

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for the query.
Yes MRI would certainly have detected the crown.
Usually foreign bodies present with intestinal obstruction causing severe pain, vomiting and unlikely to cause mild persistent symptoms over years.
So need not worry.

Hope this answers your query.
Best wishes.
Happy to help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar