Help! Foil stuck in windpipe!

[LMBoston]

First off, I’m not choking so no panic :) Last night I took my inhaler at bedtime, and breathed in what I’m guessing was a bit of foil from a tablet blister pack (all kept in the same bag so I think a bit must have been in the inhaler mouthpiece). I can feel it in my throat but just can’t shift it — coughed so much last night I was sick, same this morning and it’s still there! It’s scratchy and irritating and it’s making me feel a bit panicky.

I’m at work all day so I can’t go around hawking and retching like a 60-a-day old bloke 😅 any tips to shift it, or can I just leave it to somehow either go down or come up on its own? Will it do any harm?

Bread is good for grabbing things on the way past

Thanks @RightsHoarder, I tried a lump of warburtons last night but it didn’t work :( Also — I might be really stupid here — will it be in the same pipe the food goes down, or the one you breathe through?! It feels like it’s near the top so I guess they don’t separate until further down?

Are you sure its still there?
Could be scratched on the way down and that's what's irritating you.
I know if I get something in my eye it's the fiddling about that causes the annoying feeling afterwards even after the offending hair/dust/glitter had been removed.

Might not help but have you tried gargling with warm water? I might just shift it enough so you can cough it up.

It might not still be there but might have just scratched your throat and caused damage? Otherwise I'd go to the walk in centre - I've done for splinters etc before and they will be able to have a look and extract it!

If it went into your trachea (windpipe) the only place it can go if it doesn't come up is your lungs and that is not a good outcome. I would call 111.

Hmm good point, may be in windpipe. Maybe call 111. Sounds painful

Having had an antihistamine stuck in my trachea you need to go and get it extracted...

I’d go and seek medical attention for this, if only for peace of mind.

I would get it checked, I heard of someone having pneumonia after debris from an inhaler that had been in their handbag getting into their lung.

I've done that! After lots of coughing/gargling could see the offender stuck on my uvula and managed to poke it off with a cotton bud.
If you can't actually see anything though I'd tend to assume you've been scratched by it and it's not still there. But probably best to get checked by a professional.

I agree, if you think you've potentially aspirated it then it can actually be quite serious. I'd be seeking medical advice rather than risk a lung infection.

Use a cover for your inhaler please

Have you got a minor injuries walk in? I’d go there. If not A&e for them to get it out.

This needs checking out.

The body doesn't like foreign material in sensitive areas, hence the coughing and retching, if it stays where it is you could end up with worse problems such as an inflammatory granuloma around the foreign material.

You can try lying on your front with your head down off the edge of the bed and coughing to dislodge.

Unfortunately, if you're still coughing and gagging this long after aspiration, posters are right, you need medical treatment.
Pneumonia is commonly caused by aspirating a foreign object and best avoided!

Obviously this is something for medical professionals to look at.

Oh bugger, I thought it had gone but it’s still there :( I do keep the lids on @TellMeWhere and always check the mouthpiece but this must have somehow snuck in. I’m at work all day and tomorrow morning but if it hasn’t gone by tomorrow afternoon I’ll see if I can see a professional — fairly rural and no walk in here but maybe GP on Monday? Foil in lung probably not good…

Please go to A and E, I don't want to frighten you but we've just lost a friend through similar circumstances. It's really important you get it checked asap.

go to a&e after work today I would

i would eat bread

Genuinely interested in why this would work if the foil is in the trachea on its way to the lungs?

You might have vomited it up and you have the feeling it's still there. I did this the other day and felt really weird and scratchy. BUT you need to go your walk in ASAP, forget work, this is far more important and could make you ill if it's not taken out.

this is the kind of thing that woudl happen to me op.
i hope you did cough it up or will cough it up

Although the prospect of sitting in A and E all evening isn’t pleasant, actually removing the object could be fairly straightforward with a suction tube or small tube with camera.
You may be given medication to prevent infection or steroids. Don’t leave it until Monday

phone 111 when you get home for further advice/convincing. You will be taken seriously as aspiration can cause complications if left.

A&E right away, no doubt about it. Don't waste your time with 111.