Aa
rib problems
about a week ago i choked when eating my dinner, my dad successfully dislodged the food and helped to calm me down but since then i have been in a lot of pain with my ribs, they are swollen to touch and the pains are very sharp when i am breathing. ive recently been struggling to sleep with the pain i cant sleep on my back or side and no pain killers seem to be working. i did go to the doctors the day after this happened as i do have serve asthma and was worried when i woke up struggling to breathe, the doctor felt around and did say it seemed tender but obviously it was hard to tell with the swelling, she didnt refer me to have an x ray which was what i was thinking would happen now im wondering if i should go back or just leave it? i am a 17 year old girl on the verge of being underweight and find it worrying. any advice would be much appreciated.
Best to do an X-ray even if it just to ease your mind. Surprised ur dr didn't do that for you considering you have asthma. Are you comfortable insisting on an X-ray? Just tell them you would feel much better if you had one. Hope this is helpful!
You are going to be OK. You have either bruised or broken ribs. Now that sounds scary but its really not. The concern would be if it were broken, it could hit the lung, but that would have happened in the first 24 hours. You would know it as you would then not be able to breathe at all.
When you break or bruise a rib, it takes 4-6 weeks to heal. The Drs cannot tape it or cast it, so you just have to deal with it till it heals on its own. You will find that it will hurt if you cough, sneeze, bend over, laugh, or lay on it such as sleeping.
I have broken my ribs 3 Xs and know how much it hurts. The only thing you can really do is take Tylenol or Advil ect. Eventually it does heal on its own so you just have to be patient.
No need to worry, as it will be good as new with time.
Be well
...Kim
When you break or bruise a rib, it takes 4-6 weeks to heal. The Drs cannot tape it or cast it, so you just have to deal with it till it heals on its own. You will find that it will hurt if you cough, sneeze, bend over, laugh, or lay on it such as sleeping.
I have broken my ribs 3 Xs and know how much it hurts. The only thing you can really do is take Tylenol or Advil ect. Eventually it does heal on its own so you just have to be patient.
No need to worry, as it will be good as new with time.
Be well
...Kim
Hello Claire,
It is highly probable that your dad, by doing the Heimlich manoeuvre on you, has bruised your stomach and chest area and your ribs with a possibility of fracture to the ribs.
As you have had this discomfort and pain for over a week now, you will need to make an appointment to see the doctor to give you a referral note to have your chest area xrayed. You could try going straight to Accident and Emergency, but they usually will deal with health issues that have happened within 24 hours or so, but you could try it. I don't think they would turn you away. Personally, I would see the doctor for a referral.
In the morning phone up and make an appointment to see your doctor and explain the severity of the pains and ask your doctor for an xray referral.
If the receptionist says that there are no appointments available, do stress that it is urgent and tell them that you saw the doctor last week and that your condition has worsened.
The doctor will be able to advise you or prescribe for you, pain relief medications like paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory. If you are prescribed with an anti-inflammatory, make sure you take the medication with or after food, because they can upset your stomach.
In the event that the ribs are bruised or broken, the advise usually is to rest and taken pain relief.
I have read recently that the first aid technique is now not used in some countries. I did learn it when I did my St. John's Ambulance First Aid course, but luckily have never had to use it on any one.
As you had a particle food lodged and could not cough it up and the back slaps did not work, your dad did the right thing, otherwise you could have choked to death.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
It is highly probable that your dad, by doing the Heimlich manoeuvre on you, has bruised your stomach and chest area and your ribs with a possibility of fracture to the ribs.
As you have had this discomfort and pain for over a week now, you will need to make an appointment to see the doctor to give you a referral note to have your chest area xrayed. You could try going straight to Accident and Emergency, but they usually will deal with health issues that have happened within 24 hours or so, but you could try it. I don't think they would turn you away. Personally, I would see the doctor for a referral.
In the morning phone up and make an appointment to see your doctor and explain the severity of the pains and ask your doctor for an xray referral.
If the receptionist says that there are no appointments available, do stress that it is urgent and tell them that you saw the doctor last week and that your condition has worsened.
The doctor will be able to advise you or prescribe for you, pain relief medications like paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory. If you are prescribed with an anti-inflammatory, make sure you take the medication with or after food, because they can upset your stomach.
In the event that the ribs are bruised or broken, the advise usually is to rest and taken pain relief.
I have read recently that the first aid technique is now not used in some countries. I did learn it when I did my St. John's Ambulance First Aid course, but luckily have never had to use it on any one.
As you had a particle food lodged and could not cough it up and the back slaps did not work, your dad did the right thing, otherwise you could have choked to death.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
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