johkar

Finally made it to Rome. At dinner last night, accidentally swallowed a fish bone. By the middle of the night, I was convinced it was still there and that I needed medical attention. Called the American Hospital to ask if they accepted walk ins, or had emergency services, but couldn't get anyone who spoke English.

Front desk guy at my hotel suggested Santo Spirito hospital, so DH and I took a cab there. ER doc referred me to an ENT. The ENT just looked briefly with a little mirror instrument and declared no fish bone there. (Spina di pesce.) She spoke no English, but what I gathered, she was saying the fish bone irritated my throat and that is why it still hurts. She wrote me a perscription and sent me on my way.

Can anyone tell me, is this a reputable hospital? Any place else I should try? My throat still does hurt and it sure does feel like there is a fish bone in there. I have two more days in Rome before going to Tuscany. Don't want to spend it all chasing down something that will heal on its own, but just wondering if anyone is familiar with the medical facilities here. Thought I would try to find a pharmacist who speaks English, but then I'm out of ideas.

Thanks everyone.

lincasanova

The American Consulate/Embassy should have the name of English speaking doctors.

Mailing address:
via Vittorio Veneto 121 - 00187 ROMA

website: rome.usembassy.gov
Telephone (switchboard): (+39) 06.46741

Good luck.

Zerlina

Italy ranks higher than the US with WHO for medical care. Italy is No. 2, the US are at No. 37:
http://thepatientfactor.com/canadian...ealth-systems/

If the ENT specialist told you she did not see a fishbone in your throat, chances are there was no fishbone in your throat.

ter2000

You poor thing - there's nothing like being away from home and feeling ill for inducing panic. If you're still worried then get a second opinion - it'll put your mind at rest and your insurance will cover it. There's no point in spoiling your holiday just for the sake of a little reassurance.

Having said that, it sounds like you'll be fine. The same thing happened to me a while ago and I had a "scratchy" throat for days - it just healed up on its own. To help with healing, gargle salt and warm water or TCP liquid antiseptic and water (don't swallow!).

NYCFoodSnob

<i><font color=#777777>"Italy ranks higher than the US with WHO for medical care."</font></i>

I guess that explains why Cleveland Clinic's international patient admissions increased 9% in 2009. Let's see, Italy or Cleveland for that heart surgery? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

<i><font color=#777777>"If the ENT specialist told you she did not see a fishbone in your throat, chances are there was no fishbone in your throat."</font></i>

Some Fodorites are so helpful, their compassion and generosity warms the cockles of my...

Just because a fishbone can't be seen near the top of the esophagus, doesn't mean it's gone. It is possible that the fishbone penetrated the esophageal lining and caused an irritation further down. 4-5 days of pain might indicate this. Swallowing hard, un-chewed bread is a common remedy. Inducing vomiting is another, depending on the bone's direction. Some say to drink large gulps of water. Worse case scenario, you'll need a doctor to use an endoscope.

I have always hated the sensation of fish bones in my mouth. And I know plenty of Italians who feel the same way. Good communication with the waiter helps. Such an irritation can ruin a trip. Johkar, you'll need a little patience. I would call the Italy office of Context Rome (06 97 62 52 04) and ask for a referral if the Embassy suggestion doesn't yield results.

johkar

Thanks for the input, I am still considering what to do. Spent the day at the Roman ruins, and haven't even had time to go to the Pharmacy yet, so I still don't know what this doc perscribed. That will be my next stop. Your suggestions are very helpful, thanks.

ncounty

I would avoid the induced vomiting. It could do even more harm. I would think that there would still be irritation and foreign body sensation even though the fish bone has moved on. If she only looked in your mouth though, she can't really know for sure if the fish bone is no longer stuck in your throat. I would drink lots of liquids, maybe it will promote it moving along and is of low risk.

Paul1950

Zerlina: WHO hasn't published those rankings since the year 2000, and based on data that was a couple of years old even then. So you are citing something that's about 12 years old.

More importantly, so much of what into the rankings was subjective that the both the overall rankings and several of the individual criterion rankings were virtually meaningless. Also, some of the ranking categories had nothing to do with the actual quality of healthcare, but with items like the "fairness" of financing. The report and rankings were, to put it mildly, of dubious scientific validity and highly controversial.

DancingBearMD

Regardless of rankings by country, it's certainly possible to get bad medical care anywhere.

wanderful

johkar:

I had a fishbone stuck in my throat in Rome in 2006. It didn't cause me to choke, but it was lodged uncomfortably, and I was afraid the situation might get worse. The waitress told me to eat a piece of bread, not the crust, but the meat of it. It worked. I felt some irritation during the day and later that night, but it went away by morning. I understand your concern completely. If you are prescribed some type of remedy by a physician, make certain that is the path to take. You might want a second opinion.

tod

Drink pure lemon juice - it will disolve any trace of bone.
Probably fix your throat as well.

pookymimi

In any fish Country we eat miga or the inside of the bread as a house remedy to help carry down any undesirable fish bone or small chicken bones. I would try eating the soft inside of the bread of some warm bread several times through the day. I really hope that works. Don't induce vomit, you can hurt more as that little bone can lodge in your tonsils area also, creating more damage.

klondike

Perhaps the prescription the doctor gave you contains lidocaine, which will numb and sooth your throat. The body has an odd "memory" mode (i.e. with pain) and sometimes the memory chain needs to be broken--hence it is possible for you to really feel like the bone is still there, when it has actually passed. The lidocaine helps break that chain/sensation memory.

At this point your predicament doesn't sound life threatening, but more aggravating/bothersome. I would get the RX filled right away if it were me. Hopefully the pharmacist can tell you what the active ingredient is and what is does. A French pharmacist once gave me Vocadys, a product which contained lidocaine, and it made all the difference in the world for me!

Obviously, trouble breathing, putrid breath, fever or bringing up blood or pus would be urgent signs to get to an ER. I would consult with the American Consulate/Embassy for a list of English speaking hospitals or doctors in your area.

Echnaton

It will probably help to pray to St. Blasius.

St. Blasius was a martyr who is known for rescuing people from swallowed fishbones.

N.B. In Europe, more people are dying of swallowed fishbones than of AIDS. So, take it seriously.

vjpblovesitaly

I guess they didn't pray hard enough

johkar

Update - I went to a pharmacy earlier, the pharmacist told me that the 2 scripts I was given were for 1. Some sort of inhalent to be used with a machine. 2. An anti inflammatory pain killer, much like ibrupropen. I opted to not fill either; the pharmacist also suggested a numbing gargle product, so I got that. After taking OTC ibrupropen, the gargle and a 2 hour nap, I do feel better. Plus, as others have suggested, I've been eating bread all day. Maybe some combination of this has worked!

Ncounty, I agree, I don't know how this doc could tell anything by just looking in my throat. I thought I'd need some sort of scope. But what do I know. I guess the 'spina' really was not there!

Anyway, I think I'm on the mend. Definitely put a cramp in my day, and was much more of a 'Europe through the back door' experience than I ever wanted, with the hospital ER and no English speakers! But, oh the stories I will have to tell!

Thanks everyone!

sarge56

johkar, I am glad you are feeling better.

For the record, I fell on my face in Rome three years ago and was taken to Santo Spirito. They treated me very nicely and seemed to be thorough. (I did have to go to another hospital to have my eye looked at, to make sure I didn't damage the eyeball itself.) But, there was no charge and everyone seemed very nice and professional. (Even though they spoke no English, and I, little Italian.)

If you have any more issues, you should take a cab to the American Hospital in Rome. I am assured they have many English-speaking doctors there.

Good luck and hope the rest of your trip is enjoyable!

P

DancingBearMD

Echnaton--really?

Over 1300 Europeans died in 2008 from AIDS.
http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-europe.htm

Are their really more Europeans dying from swallowing fish bones? Where do you find those statistics?