DD just swallowed a coin.

**Mother Goose** · November 25th, 2013, 04:55 PM

Depending on which hospital you go to, you will get different answers. My dd1 swallowed a coin the size of a 20c piece at age 4. For her X-ray through gp and it was in bowel. A week later we had to go to ed and were told to go away. Dd developed signs of a bowel obstruction a few days later so went to another major hosp who told us the coin had refluxed. A month later, after lots of symptoms, a coworker pulled strings and got us an appt with a paed gastroenterologist who removed the coin two days later.

So yes, always get them checked but don't be surprised if you get turned away. Especially for small coins.
Usually anything the size of a 10c piece or smaller will pass easily.
If they are coughing and spluttering always assume a blocked airway and tell emerg that. An X-ray is a quick way to determine that.

Hopefully your little one passes the coin soon! We nicknamed dd1 the human vending machine after her incident.

**Kazzo** · November 26th, 2013, 06:51 AM

Thanks Rouge, driving to the hospital I was imagining all these different outcomes. Actually knowing some possible outcomes might not have been helpful. Thanks again.

Wow MG, we are not really sure what she swollowed. We thought it might be a penny because she said it was a brown coin but they said it looked bigger then that. What an ordeal you and your DD had to go through.

**Kazzo** · December 1st, 2013, 06:56 AM

So 6 days on and despite them telling me I don't need to check her poops as she will pass it with in 2-3 days, I have been checking and she has not passed the coin yet. She is still going to the loo and still eating fine but I am thinking I am going to have to take her to get checked again.

**ladybirdflies** · December 1st, 2013, 07:15 AM

Oh wow, I can't believe this is still going for you!! I would probably take her back to a doctor, be prepared for an X-ray though. She can't have a coin sitting in her body like that. No chance that you missed it?