Swallowed a fish bone? Home remedies to try before going to the doctor

Image source: throathurtswheniswallow.net

Many people have experienced accidentally swallowing fish bones. Many types of fish have very small bones that can go unnoticed by unwary diners.

While painful and uncomfortable, swallowing a fish bone rarely constitutes a medical emergency. If the fish bone swallowed is small, it often gets dislodged on its own. To speed up the process, individuals who have accidentally swallowed a small fish bone can try the following home remedies:

• Take a large bite out of a banana but do not chew it. Moisten it thoroughly with saliva before swallowing. The banana chunk should be slippery enough to move through the throat, hopefully taking the fish bone along with it.

• Chew a mouthful of marshmallows until they're sticky and soft enough to be swallowed. The marshmallows should be able to push the fish bone down the throat and through the digestive tract.

• Spread nut butter, such as peanut or almond, on a small piece of bread. Place the piece of bread in the mouth and moisten it with saliva before swallowing. The sticky nut butter combined with the soft, smooth texture of the bread should be enough to dislodge the fish bone.

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When trying any of the aforementioned home remedies, drink sips of water in between attempts to prevent choking. Meanwhile,

Hard foods, such as nuts and candy, should be avoided, as they might only embed the fish bone deeper into the throat.

If the home remedies don't work, and the fish bone remains stuck, or if symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, vomiting, or hematuria (blood in the stool) occur, it's best to visit a doctor for proper treatment.

Robert R. Beltran, M.D., is an otolaryngologist with a practice in Irvine, California. For more discussions on home remedies for swallowed fish bones, follow this Twitter account.