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Woman shocked to discover she had swallowed entire pill packet

A woman had a pill packet stuck in her upper oesophagus for more than two weeks before it was discovered.

The case published in BMJ Journals, reportedly revealed the woman in her 40s, from Northern Ireland, had swallowed the tramadol tablets whole in the “original foil packet” last November in the middle of the night.

The discovery was made 17 days after the woman had ingested the tablets, and after four trips to hospital, The Guardian reports.

“I had no idea I swallowed this,” The report quoted the woman as saying.

“It was a very frightening three weeks and I couldn’t believe [it] when I saw the picture.”

According to the journal, the woman presented to the accident and emergency department “with a foreign body throat sensation” and difficulty swallowing after taking her painkillers in the middle of the night.

But after being reviewed by specialists, she could tolerate fluid, mobilise her neck and had no airway difficulties. Chest and neck X-rays were also normal.

A hypopharyngeal or oesophageal abrasion was the presumed diagnosis and she was discharged but advised to return 48 hours later if there was no improvement.

A woman in her forties had the packet stuck in the upper oesophagus for more than two weeks.. Source: BMJ Journals
A woman in her forties had the packet stuck in the upper oesophagus for more than two weeks.. Source: BMJ Journals

The woman was admitted three days later as her symptoms continued. She was treated with painkillers and steroids for two days until her condition improved and she was able to be discharged.

Five days later a swallow test was carried out. She was an inpatient for two days after the test while she waited for the results, but it was reported as a normal study, and she was again discharged.

As symptoms persisted she was referred for an outpatient oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy (OGD), which was carried out five days later and that is what revealed the foreign body.

“An OGD revealed she had swallowed her tramadol tablets whole in the original foil packet which was lodged in the upper oesophagus,” said the BMJ case report.

“She underwent rigid oesophagoscopy and removal of foreign body uneventfully [17 days after ingestion of her tablets] and she was discharged after a period of observation.”