So if your child has swallowed something...

[gmvh]

My daughter has swallowed two attached very small magnets. I know all the dangers and risks associated with swallowing magnets, and don't worry, I'm worried enough. The magnets have not passed and I've been checking diligently. She is not in an sort of distress related to this - no bloody stools, not abdominal discomfort, nothing.

If your child has swallowed something and it did NOT pass, how was said object removed? I cannot imagine abdominal surgery to get these out... Help!

[rainbowmoon]

apparently around 20% of these incidents (or rather the objects involved in said incident) end up needing to be removed surgically
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1027143806.htm

[its_our_family]

How long ago was it?

It normally takes my kids 2 days.

[mclisa]

I've seen a nickel take nearly a week.

[gmvh]

Ugh. She's just passed one week. This is not what I need. Thanks ladies.

(Anyone have a child who has had something surgically removed?)

[HarperRose]

My dd swallowed a SAFETY PIN. I never saw it. It had to have passed and I just missed it because it was NOT in the x-rays we had done. It was closed, btw, thank God!

I hope your dd passes it soon! I'd recommend x-rays to be sure.

[its_our_family]

Originally Posted by gmvh

Ugh. She's just passed one week. This is not what I need. Thanks ladies.

(Anyone have a child who has had something surgically removed?)

I'd get the xrays then. are you absolutely sure they didn't pass??

[gmvh]

She's been pooping in the little potty and I've been searching with plastic silverware. The poop has been as thoroughly searched as I can possibly imagine. Ugh.

I'm waiting for a call back from the doctor's office. I just want a script for the x-rays so I don't have to have an appointment, then x-rays, then another appointment. Blah.

I'm glad to hear everyone else has had things pass. Hopefully this has passed and somehow I've just missed it. I'm not sure how I could have missed it but my husband has searched two stools and I didn't see his exact technique but I know he's concerned so I have faith that he's been very thorough. No one in need of surgery? (Thank goodness but I'd be happy to hear experiences...)

[party_of_seven]

I swallowed a magnet when I was a kid.....all is well.

[ThreeBeans]

You definitely need to have xrays done....good luck

[reader18]

DS swallowed a quarter. After two weeks of dilligently checking his poops, I took him in for an x-ray. It was right at the end of his intestines...she said it will be out the next time he poops. Sure enough, we got home from the hospital, and it came out that evening.

I wouldn't worry too much until you see the xray of where it is....it can take time.

[reader18]

Also, I always put the poop in a plastic ziploc and then used a plastic sppon to smoosh it really flat. That made it really easy to find the quarter, and then I didn't have to deal with the smell.

[gmvh]

Originally Posted by reader18

Also, I always put the poop in a plastic ziploc and then used a plastic sppon to smoosh it really flat. That made it really easy to find the quarter, and then I didn't have to deal with the smell.

Brilliant! This child has some stinky poops. X-ray scheduled for 8:30 tomorrow morning. Hoping for an easy resolution. A friend's husband is a chemist and did a little looking and said lots of magnets are made of cobalt with a metal coating and that if the coating wears off, the cobalt would be nasty, nasty stuff. Fingers crossed...

[Demeter9]

I'd give her some serious fiber, some extra oils (cod liver, or olive oil), and maybe some extra magnesium.

[rainbowmoon]

Originally Posted by gmvh

Brilliant! This child has some stinky poops. X-ray scheduled for 8:30 tomorrow morning. Hoping for an easy resolution. A friend's husband is a chemist and did a little looking and said lots of magnets are made of cobalt with a metal coating and that if the coating wears off, the cobalt would be nasty, nasty stuff. Fingers crossed...

I hope she passes it on her own. how scary for you.

[mclisa]

[QUOTE=gmvh;9332975]Brilliant! This child has some stinky poops. X-ray scheduled for 8:30 tomorrow morning. [QUOTE]


Let us know! I hope that ypu just somehow missed it and it's already passed!


btw, there is a collection (?Smithsonian) of all the stuff kids swallowed and a doctor retrieved. It's an old collection and included diaper pins and hat pins too.

[GranoLLLy-girl]

Originally Posted by reader18

Also, I always put the poop in a plastic ziploc and then used a plastic sppon to smoosh it really flat. That made it really easy to find the quarter, and then I didn't have to deal with the smell.

This is a great idea! I have done this with pets--but never thought to apply it to children--DUH!!

To the OP, I know you are in a yucky spot with this, but I agree that xrays are a good idea--especially since she swallowed two and not magnet(s).
If it were just one, it would be as nearly as scary. But with all the hype about swallowing two and the dangers that can cause--it's a good idea to be safe about it. I hope she passes them soon.
My nephew ate a blue cupcake w/ blue icing the other day--and it took him about 48 hours-- and then all of his poopy was blue for a couple of days--so maybe 48 hours is the magic number....? Don't get me started on the blue dye and sugar issues--that's another post.

[rainyday]

Yes, definitely get the x-rays. The problem with magnets is that if they're strong enough they can get stuck together with layers of intestine in between. Then the gut can get necrotic from this if blood flow is restricted, or it can cause an intestinal perforation, both of which can lead to really bad problems. I'm worried because it's already been a week, so I hope the x-rays show that they've passed through.

Please update and let us know!

[gmvh]

Well we're back with inconclusive results. Her bowels were so full of poop they couldn't see or not see the magnets. She's been pooping 1-2 times a day so I don't think she's constipated per se, I think she just naturally produces insane amounts of poop and very very stiff poop. We're going to try her on a laxative for a few days to see if we can loosen things up and clear her out a bit. She and her brother have WBV in ~10 days so we'll talk to the nurse pracitioner again then.

As we were leaving one of the nurses was telling us about an older boy who had swallowed the metal spring from a clothespin and over a series of x-rays they could see it slowly make its way through his body until he voided it. Ouch!

Fortunately the magnets went down already stuck together and were of the very strong variety so I don't think there's much chance of them coming apart - or that's what I keep telling myself at least but you're right, magnets can do terrible things to the intestinal track!

I guess if they don't come out we'll consult with one of the M.D.s and discuss a GI doctor and a colonoscopy. UGH.

Off to collect my ziplock bags and wait for some action! Thanks for the well wishes!