Foreign body aspiration

[Fern722]

Hi,

I've read on your boards that aspirated food often needs to be removed by bronchcoscopy. But what if the bronchcoscopy is negative, yet the patient still has symptoms? Several months ago I aspirated large piece of apple peel, which is still stuck in my windpipe and very uncomfortable. (But no pneumonia, yet). It took four months to see the ENT specialist and then he couldn't find anything. My GP flatly refuses to acknowledge that the bronchscopy could have missed anything, but I still have the same uncomfortable symptoms of a sharp flap in my lower trachea and rattly cough. She said she'd refer me to another specialist if I insist. However, I don't want to waste another doctor's time or go through more tests, if they still can't help me.

I'm in my 50s, healthy, non-smoker, don't have GERD or post-nasal drip. Just a nasty bit of trapped peel!

How much longer should I give the symptoms to resolve on their own, and is there anything I can do to help myself?

Thank you.

[Fern722]

Thank you for your reply!

Just to clarify - it was a definitely a rigid bronchoscopy. (I'd already had the nasal endoscope thing.) I was put under general anaesthetic as a day patient. The ENT surgeon said he does the procedure up to 120 times a year (I am still very confused as to why he didn't find anything of course). Sorry not to be clearer but I was trying to be brief!

I did wonder, though, if the problem doesn't clear up in the next few months, if it might be worth asking to see a pulmonologist instead, and maybe if a CT scan would show anything before they stick tubes down my throat again...

Meanwhile, is there any advice out there for helping to cough it out on its own? I've tried steam inhalation but it didn't seem to make much difference. It moves up so far, then seems to stick. And coughing too much makes me feel dizzy and horrible. It probably feels worse than it is, but I just want rid of it!

Again, thank you. Any self-help advice gratefully received!

[bsmsl]

An ENT cannot do a bronchoscopy.  They can scope the upper throat and get a visual of the vocal cords, but that is as far as an ENT can treat or see.  

A bronchoscopy requires the patient to be heavily sedated or put under general anesthisea then a PULMONOLOGIST does a scope of the entire lungs.  This procedure can only be done by a pulmonologist, in a hospital setting, and under some level of sedation.  Bottom line, you didn't have a bronchoscopy.  

I suggest that you request a referral to a pulmonologist (you might want to research to find a good one to request to see).  Then let them decide from there if a bronchoscopy is really necessary or if there is any chance the apple peal will eventually come out on its own.  

Good luck and feel better.