What to Do When a Fish Bone Gets Stuck in Your Throat
This is a very common problem worldwide. If you google how to remove a fishbone, you will find articles from every corner of the earth. The below link from Healthline.com explains it all:
https://www.healthline.com/health/fish-bone-stuck-in-throat
How to remove a fish bone from your throat
Swallowing a fish bone is rarely an emergency, so you may want to try a few of these home remedies before heading into your doctor’s office.
1. Marshmallows
It may sound strange, but a big gooey marshmallow might be just what you need to get that bone out of your throat.
Chew the marshmallow just enough to soften it, then swallow it in one big gulp. The sticky, sugary substance grabs onto the bone and carries it down into your stomach.
2. Olive oil
Olive oil is a natural lubricant. If you have a fish bone stuck in your throat, try swallowing 1 or 2 tablespoons of straight olive oil. It should coat the lining of your throat and the bone itself, making it easier for you to swallow it down or cough it up.
3. Cough
Most fish bones get stuck right at the back of your throat, around your tonsils. A few forceful coughs may be enough to shake it loose.
4. Bananas
Some people find that bananas, like marshmallows, grab hold of fish bones and pull them down into your stomach.
Take a large bite of a banana and hold it in your mouth for at least one minute. This will give it a chance to soak up some saliva. Then swallow it in one big gulp.
5. Bread and water
Bread dipped in water is a classic trick for getting stuck food out of your throat.
Soak a piece of bread in water for about a minute, then take a large bite and swallow it whole. This method puts weight on the fish bone and pushes it downward.
6. Soda
For years, some health practitioners have been using cola and other carbonated beverages to treat those with food stuck in their throats.
When soda enters your stomach, it releases gasses. These gasses help disintegrate the bone and build up pressure that can dislodge it.
7. Vinegar
Vinegar is very acidic. Drinking vinegar may help break down the fish bone, making it softer and easier to swallow.
Try diluting 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a cup of water, or drinking 1 tablespoon straight. Apple cider vinegar is a good option that doesn’t taste too bad, especially with honey.
8. Bread and peanut butter
Bread covered in peanut butter works to grab the fish bone and push it down into the stomach.
Take a large bite of bread and peanut butter and let it collect moisture in your mouth before swallowing it in one big gulp. Be sure to have plenty of water nearby.
9. Leave it alone
Often, when people go to the hospital believing there’s a fish bone stuck in their throat, there’s actually nothing there.
Fish bones are very sharp and can scratch the back of your throat when you swallow them. Sometimes you’re only feeling the scratch, and the bone itself has passed into your stomach.
Assuming your breathing isn’t affected, you may wish to give it some time. However, confirm your throat is clear before going to sleep. If you’re having trouble breathing, go to the emergency room immediately.
When to see a doctor
Sometimes a fish bone just won’t come out on its own. In that case, see your doctor.
If the fish bone is stuck in your esophagus or elsewhere in your digestive tract, it can pose real danger. It can cause a tear in your esophagus, an abscess, and on rare occasions, life-threatening complications.
Consult your doctor if your pain is severe or doesn’t go away after a few days. Get immediate medical help if you experience:
- chest pain
- bruising
- swelling
- excessive drooling
- an inability to eat or drink
Read the article in its entirety here: https://www.healthline.com/health/food-stuck-in-throat#medical-treatment
Ms. Jenn Landers | Patient Advocate Alliance LLC Edited by Dr. Justin Groode