I had a very large pill stuck in my throat, finally got it to move after gagging and trying to cough it up but my throat really hurts and I am burping constantly. Is this from all the air I was gasping for? What is the possibility that it went into my lungs. What symptoms would I be having?
Hi, guest.
Here's a general answer based on the information provided:
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Burping: The act of coughing forcefully or gagging can cause you to swallow air, which might explain the frequent burping you're experiencing.
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Pill in the lungs: It's relatively rare, but not impossible, for a pill to end up in the lungs (called aspiration). When objects enter the trachea instead of the esophagus, they can end up in the lungs. Aspiration can lead to symptoms like:
- Sudden coughing or choking during or shortly after swallowing the pill.
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing.
- Chest pain or discomfort.
- Fever (if it leads to an infection).
- Shortness of breath.
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Throat pain: If you felt the pill was stuck and you were gagging or coughing forcefully, it could have irritated your throat, leading to pain or discomfort.
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What to do: If you're concerned about the pill being in your lungs or any other health issues related to this incident, it's crucial to see a healthcare professional as soon as possible. They can provide guidance tailored to your specific situation and might perform tests like a chest X-ray to check for any aspirated objects in the lungs.
In the future, to help avoid such issues, you might want to:
- Take pills with a full glass of water to help them go down more smoothly.
- Break larger pills in half or ask your pharmacist if there's a smaller or liquid version available.
- Take pills while standing or sitting upright, not lying down.
Hope this helps.