Nurse, There's a Spider in My Throat

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 29, 2005

EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW..........as a confirmed arachnophobe myself, I'd have been scarred for life. Gives me the shivers just thinking about it..... :no:

AngelSpirit · Apr 29, 2005

"There was a nasty looking black spider attached under the fold of the vallucula at the epiglottis!"

Anybody care to offer up a nursing diagnosis for this?

mattsmom81 · Apr 30, 2005

OMG...I will have nightmares about this now...another confirmed arachnaphobe here.

I've heard of accidentally swallowing bees that fly into Coke cans and I've heard of cockroaches crawling into ears, but spiders hanging onto the epiglottis....eek.

I would probably die of pure fright and panic myself. My hats off to her for surviving.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Apr 30, 2005

how on earth did this spider get into the coke? how...or rather...why did this person drink the coke knowing there was a spider in it? it's one thing to come into the ed stating one swallowed some foreign object that got into the coke can...but to specifically state it was a spider? did she do it on a bet & the darn thing got stuck? eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww is right!!! i absolutely hate & am deathly afraid of spider & wouldn't been able to assist in removing it!!! :uhoh21: i can't even look at cartoon or drawn ones........eeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

thoroughly grossed-out now ,

moe

Regina66 · Apr 30, 2005

I heard on a radio program that every person swallows up to 20 spiders a year in his/her sleep. They apparently crawl in and we chew them up and swallow them. I almost fainted when I heard this!!! :uhoh21:

WickedRedRN, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2005

I heard on a radio program that every person swallows up to 20 spiders a year in his/her sleep. They apparently crawl in and we chew them up and swallow them. I almost fainted when I heard this!!! :uhoh21:

GAK!!!!!!!! :eek: :barf01:

This freaks me out beyond belief!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2005

I heard on a radio program that every person swallows up to 20 spiders a year in his/her sleep. They apparently crawl in and we chew them up and swallow them. I almost fainted when I heard this!!! :uhoh21:

I've heard this too, and it freaks me out to no end!!!

To the OP - I would have to get therapy after witnessing that procedure. :crying2:

KacyLynnRN · Apr 30, 2005

"There was a nasty looking black spider attached under the fold of the vallucula at the epiglottis!"
Anybody care to offer up a nursing diagnosis for this?

Risk for severely flipping out and being scarred for life!!!!!!!

I am totally afraid of spiders, and I know I would never get over that experience had it been me!!!

smk1, LPN · Apr 30, 2005

gosh dangit i knew i shouldn't have opened this thread! there is no way i am going to be able to drink soda out of a can for awhile, i don't even know how i'll sleep! That gave me shivers just thinking about it.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2005

"There was a nasty looking black spider attached under the fold of the vallucula at the epiglottis!"
Anybody care to offer up a nursing diagnosis for this?

Aspiration- high risk, secondary to spider in throat?!

Potential for injury, high risk for airway obstruction?!

AngelSpirit · Apr 30, 2005

hellllllo nurse

aspiration- high risk, secondary to spider in throat?!

potential for injury, high risk for airway obstruction?!

and...

kacylynnlpn

risk for severely flipping out and being scarred for life!!!!!!!

very nice. the two posts reflect both a clinical and personal response to this event. i thought it interesting on how we can react to something based upon the potential emotional response of the provider.

i wonder if the ed staff was able to remain professional in front of the patient or did they let their emotions get the best of them during the removal procedure. you just never know what is going to come in through those doors and sometimes i have a difficult time being prepared emotionally for that contingency.

-as