I feel like I have a fish bone stuck in my throat. What should I do?

Question:

About 32 hours ago I was eating salmon with some bones in it. The bones were about the size of toothpicks. I cannot imagine that I really swallowed one, but after swollowing a bite of the fish, I got the distinct impression that there was a fishbone caught in my throat. It hurts when I swallow and it generally feels like there is something stuck at the place where my neck meets my chin. I can't see anything there, or feel anything with my fingers. I have tried swallowing bread, drinking vinegar and lemon juice, and making myself gag. What should I do? Is it possible that my throat is only scratched? and if so, how can I know? I am very worried because I've been reading about some possibly serious consequences to swallowing a fish bone, but I would rather not go to the doctor because I don't have insurance and I don't have a lot of money.

Answers:
Hmm..that's really tough. I know what it's like not to have insurance and need to go to the doctor. It might only be scratched, but it might be a lot more serious than that. I would try first to call a nurse's hotline. There should be one in the yellow pages in your area. Talk to them about what happened and see what they say. If they tell you to go to the doctor, I'd do it. I think I would rather pay a $200 doctor bill than a $3000 hospital bill to sew up anything that that bone might have opened up inside of you on the way through your system.

Definitely call the nurse's hotline though. They help out a lot on any questions you might have.

Eat white bread, a fish bone will usually stick to the bread on the way down and stomach acid should disolve the bone.

I would assume it is scratched. since you have eaten it should of dislodged anything stuck. Try gargling with warm salt water and see if that releives the tenderness at all.

If it feels swollen you may of scratched it and got an infection. You may have to break down and see a doctor for antibiotics if it is infected.

eat bread. and drink apple juice.
my daddy had a catfish stuck in his throat sideways a long time ago, but he washed it out with those things.

eat a lemon

if you do have a fishbone in your throat you need to see a doctor

I feel like I have a fish bone stuck in my throat. What should I do?

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