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Suggest Treatment For Fish Bone Stuck In The Throat

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Posted on Sat, 29 Oct 2016
Twitter Sat, 29 Oct 2016 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 21 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on
Question : Hello, I am a healthy, 39 year old female. 7 weeks ago I was eating rainbow trout and felt like I swallowed a fish bone. It felt like it was stuck in my throat so the next day I went to the emergency room. They sent me to an ENT that day. He did a scope through my nose and down my throat and said he did not see a bone. He said it likely scratched my throat and that was making it feel like the bone was still in there. The first few days the feeling was constantly there and made me feel like coughing or gagging, however I was able to eat, drink, speak and breathe normally. I went back to see the ENT two days later as the feeling was still bothering me. He did another scope through my nose and down my throat again, and said he still did not see a bone. He said it must have just been a scratch. Since that time the feeling has been much better. I no longer have the urge to cough or gag. I can still eat and drink as normal. However, I am still getting the feeling like something is in my throat. This feeling is not constant - it comes and goes. I have days where I may not even feel it at all and other days where it comes and goes throughout the day. 3 weeks ago I had a slight sore throat and an upset stomach that lasted a few days. During that time, I didn't have the feeling like something was stuck in my throat, which I assumed was due to my throat being sore. Once the sore throat healed and my stomach felt better, my throat felt normal for about 10 days and I assumed the feeling of the fish bone being stuck in my throat was over. However, for the last few days, the feeling like the fish bone being stuck is back again. I am not sure why the feeling went away for several days and is back again. Could it be that there is a fish bone stuck in my throat and the ENT missed it? If so, why would the feeling in my throat not be constant? I am not sure what I need to do next? I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Anaesthetic syrup

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for the query.

I am very sure that the fish bone has passed and is no longer in your food pipe.

There may be a residual feeling of its presence because of the damage to the tissue at the site of the injury.

Nothing to worry. You can take soft to semisolid food to allow for healing. Taking cool fluids will also offer relief.

You can take oral anesthetic syrup (eg. Lignocaine) in minimal amount (5-10 ml twice daily for next 2-3 days) so that you won't have pain (you may require a prescription from your local doctor for the same).

I hope I have answered your query.

I will be available to answer your follow up queries.

Regards,

Dr. Aashish Raghu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aashish Raghu (30 hours later)
Hi Dr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for your response. I was just wondering how long I can possibly expect the feeling of the fish bone being caught in my throat to continue? It has been nearly 8 weeks since I consumed the fish and I am surprised that my throat is still bothering me, although not consistently. Is there a time frame in which I should go back to see the ENT if I am still having problems with my throat?
Also, I live in a climate where our temperatures have been fluctuating quite a bit over the last few weeks. Sometimes the furnace has been on and the air is dry, and other times it has been warmer and a little more humid. Could this also be causing the feeling in my throat to come and go due to dryness?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aashish Raghu (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Could be due to dryness and also chronic non-healing ulcer

Detailed Answer:
Yes. Definitely. I would suggest steam inhalation in such an event. It would help tide over the dryness.

The pain and foreign body sensation can sometimes persist. It is advisable to get it looked at once more to rule out chronic non-healing ulcer.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Aashish Raghu

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 5470 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Fish Bone Stuck In The Throat

Brief Answer: Anaesthetic syrup Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for the query. I am very sure that the fish bone has passed and is no longer in your food pipe. There may be a residual feeling of its presence because of the damage to the tissue at the site of the injury. Nothing to worry. You can take soft to semisolid food to allow for healing. Taking cool fluids will also offer relief. You can take oral anesthetic syrup (eg. Lignocaine) in minimal amount (5-10 ml twice daily for next 2-3 days) so that you won't have pain (you may require a prescription from your local doctor for the same). I hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer your follow up queries. Regards, Dr. Aashish Raghu