Question 1

is it dangerous to swallow fish bones? i feel an obstruction that comes and goes.

Accepted Answer

No: Unintentional ingestion of a fishbone (fb) is a relatively common clinical problem, especially in populations where unfilleted fish is a delicacy. Fortunately, most of these FBS pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract without causing any serious complications. Problems arise when the ingested FBS become impacted at various sites within the GI tract. You should talk with your doctor if problem.

Question 2

can perforations or fistulas occur in the upper/lower gi without any symptoms or signs, after swallowing fish bone? worried i'll drop dead w/o warning

Accepted Answer

No: Dropping dead without warning is quite rare in modern life, with or without a fishbone. Our gut has a remarkable ability to handle small sharp objects, coating them and pooping them out. The things that cause perforations are objects like button batteries (electrochemical damage to our gut) and magnets (sticking together to cause pressure damage). The damage leads to pain and other symptoms.

Question 3

accidentally swallowed fish bone or chicken bones while pregnant will it harm the baby? does it cross the placenta? what can and can't cross placenta?

Accepted Answer

No: The only person at risk would be you if you swallowed a bone big and sharp enough to harm your intestinal tract.  There's nothing in fish or chicken bone that even if digested would be harmful to the baby.

Question 4

what to do if accidentally swallowed a fish bone?

Accepted Answer

Fishbones: Nothing. This will digest or soften up in the stomach and pass in the stool.

Question 5

i swallowed a fish bone, and now i have chest pain. i need answers?

Accepted Answer

Swallowed fishbone: More info is needed. How large was the fishbone. Can you continue to swallow normally. How much time has elapsed since the even? You may need o undergo either imaging/ and/or endoscopy of symptoms do not resolved shortly. A visit with your doctor is suggested for evaluation and/or referral.

Question 6

can intestines & esophagus feel pain? i.e. if you swallowed a fish bone even a small one, & it stabbed or scratched, would you feel it? or not know?

Accepted Answer

Not after a point: The intestines only have stretch pain fibers, so they would not "feel" a stab or poke. Your abdomen would feel the inflammation created if something caused a hole or infection.  The upper esophagus may give you a bit more sensation, but once it's in the stomach, only thing you would feel is stretch pain (like after eating at a buffet), so a bone would not cause mush sensation at all.

Question 7

i swallowed a fish bone (trout) at dinner. it didn't get stuck in my throat, but i've heard it can be dangerous. what signs should i watch for?

Accepted Answer

If it did not get: stuck in your throat, chances are very high that it will pass in your stool in 2-3 days without any problems, assuming your intestinal tract is normal.  If you develop any abdominal pain, you should seek medical care.

Question 8

i'm concerned i swallowed a fish bone at dinner without knowing. i woke up and my throat feels scratchy. i'm not sure if my symptoms are from anxiety or real. is there anything i can do to put my mind at ease from home?

Accepted Answer

Depends: If you can swallow fluids without pain It is unlikely you have anything caught in your throat. If the supposed bone was ingested it will likely pass through over the next few days. Ingesting stewed okra can coat the object &amp; soften its edges as it passes. If you experience pain with any swallow, the only way to know the cause would be to have it examined.

Question 9

i swallowed some fish bones, will i be alright? i only feel slight pain on right side of chest but no throat irritation or stomach pain and im not allergic.

Accepted Answer

Fishbone :  The presence of sharp-pointed objects (such as chicken and fish bones, straightened paper clips, toothpicks, needles, bread-bag clips, and dental bridgework) in the esophagus represents a medical emergency because of the risk of perforation. While sharp-pointed objects that enter the stomach often pass uneventfully through the remainder of the gastrointestinal tract, complications can occur

Question 10

if you swallow some thin fish bones, will the stomach acid take care of it, or is there chance of the bones scraping something & cause internal bleed?

Accepted Answer

Fish bones: Most likely they will pass but monitor for signs of discomfort in abdomen or esophagus .

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Doctor answers about:

Swallowed fish bone

A member asked:

Is it dangerous to swallow fish bones? i feel an obstruction that comes and goes.

A member asked:

Can perforations or fistulas occur in the upper/lower gi without any symptoms or signs, after swallowing fish bone? worried i'll drop dead w/o warning

A member asked:

Accidentally swallowed fish bone or chicken bones while pregnant will it harm the baby? does it cross the placenta? what can and can't cross placenta?

A member asked:

What to do if accidentally swallowed a fish bone?

A member asked:

I swallowed a fish bone, and now i have chest pain. i need answers?

A member asked:

Can intestines & esophagus feel pain? i.e. if you swallowed a fish bone even a small one, & it stabbed or scratched, would you feel it? or not know?

A member asked:

I swallowed a fish bone (trout) at dinner. it didn't get stuck in my throat, but i've heard it can be dangerous. what signs should i watch for?

A member asked:

I'm concerned i swallowed a fish bone at dinner without knowing. i woke up and my throat feels scratchy. i'm not sure if my symptoms are from anxiety or real. is there anything i can do to put my mind at ease from home?

A member asked:

I swallowed some fish bones, will i be alright? i only feel slight pain on right side of chest but no throat irritation or stomach pain and im not allergic.

A member asked:

If you swallow some thin fish bones, will the stomach acid take care of it, or is there chance of the bones scraping something & cause internal bleed?

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