Weirdest/most difficult thing swallowed by a patient

[ixchel]

We're talking about pica in another thread and its left me wondering - what is the weirdest or most impossible thing swallowed by a patient that you have cared for?

(No urban legends, if you don't mind. Hoping for real stories.)

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

What? Did he bite off parts of his bed?

some people will do anything for an "outing";)

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

The head of a brand new Littman Cardiology II stethescope.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

Curved metal hanger...I think it was fairly prevelent before the nineties. I wonder if that's why stores sell more plastic hangers these days. :***:

The only place I have found metal hangers recently is at the dry cleaners. After becoming a mom, I don't have much of that. My supply of easy hanger converted into door unlocking devices in my home is dwindling...

[Farawyn]

My grandma bit the head off of, and swallowed, a largish plastic St. Jude statue on her bedside table, and then threw him across the room at "the ******* nurse!!!"

[RN403, BSN, RN]

The head of a brand new Littman Cardiology II stethescope.

Holy crap!

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

My grandma bit the head off of, and swallowed, a largish plastic St. Jude statue on her bedside table, and then threw him across the room at "the ******* nurse!!!"

Must've been the Irish in her.

[Farawyn]

Must've been the Irish in her.

Hahhahahahahaha!

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

I've seen butt paste mistaken for toothpaste before...I'm sure at least a percentage had to have been swallowed....

I was feeding a patient one morning when he took his hand out from under the covers and shoved a handful of crud in his mouth (doesn't say much for the hospital food)...totally didn't see that one coming. I think it's the only time I've ever been left speechless and nauseated from an experience as a nurse.

This one I didn't actually witness but a few nurses that I worked with fresh out of nursing school had been depositioned by a patient's lawyer over him swallowing his partials...how does one accomplish that?...but this thread has mentioned some much stranger things already so it must be possible.

A psych patient took his haldol for me PO, but insisted it was 'monkey nuts' that he was eating.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

What's a "front bottom"? Seriously, I'm not sure what you're saying. We're all health professionals here, no need to use cute phrases meant for 4 year olds...

Not really swallowed butttt..... At my ALF one of our resident put a flower from one of the inside plants in her "front bottom".

I thought it was a blood clot at first

[Farawyn]

*looks down at my front on the bottom*

I see toes. I need a pedi.

[AGACNPTX]

I used to work in an ER with a lot of psych patients. Had several swallow objects: needles, metal utensils, specimen cups, batteries, razor blades, chap stick while under our supervision. Eventually we started putting them in paper gowns and taking all of their belongings and everything out of the rooms. After the patient ate the utensils they switched to styrofoam trays with plastic utensils. Not sure why they thought this would be better, as styrofoam and plastic is easier to eat. Of course before long a patient ate the plastic utensils off of his tray and needed surgery. We went to finger foods only after that. A patient ate the lid off of his urinal. People have eaten their paper gowns. My co workers think I am crazy because I always request finger foods for people who are involuntary psych with potential for self harm. I don't trust them with utensils for many reasons.

Don't even get me started on the things people put up their behinds.

[Tex.]

Not a patient, but my 4 year old son....

Swallowed a plastic green army man. Yep. That was fun.