An object stuck in the throat

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An object stuck in the throat

Sometimes after you swallow a pill it may feel like it "got stuck" or didn't go all the way down. This feeling usually goes away within 30 to 60 minutes if you drink liquids or eat a piece of bread.

You may not have any symptoms when something is stuck in your esophagus . However, when symptoms are present, they may include:

Rapid, noisy, or high-pitched breathing.
Increased drooling.
Difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing, or complete inability to swallow.
Gagging.
Vomiting.
Refusing to eat solids.
Pain in the neck, chest, or abdomen.
Feeling that something is stuck in your throat.

If an object is stuck in your esophagus, your doctor will need to remove it.

Most swallowed objects pass through the digestive tract without any problem and show up in the stool within 7 days. However, a swallowed object can scratch, irritate, or puncture the digestive tract, causing bleeding. Blood in the vomit can appear bright red or look like coffee grounds (partially digested blood) and usually comes from the stomach, esophagus, or throat.

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Author	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Updated	October 5, 2007

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Last updated:	October 05, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer

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