RE: [Harp-l] inhaled reed?

["MLeFree" <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey, John -

I am sorry to hear about your broken reed mishap. I assume you looked
everywhere around the scene of the accident for the errant reed. Barring
finding the missing reed on the floor or in your pocket or somewhere, I
suppose you would have to assume that you did indeed inhale it. Even though
I'm not an M.D. by any stretch, I have spent 30 years in hospital x-ray
departments so I think I can give you the answers to two of your main
questions.
1) Yes, you could inhale a reed and not feel it. Your innards, including the
bronchial tubes in your lungs, aren't innervated in the same way your more
external organs or bones are. Often pain from an internal organ appears as
what's "referred" pain that is felt somewhere else in the body. (That's why
heart attack victims frequently feel their "heart pain" not in their chest
but down an arm or up their neck.) So I wouldn't let the fact that you don't
feel any distress or pain from your chest or throat be a sign that you
didn't inhale (or ingest) the reed. You might even feel pain twinges
elsewhere that you wouldn't ordinarily associate with your chest.
2) Yes, the radiologoists would definitely be able to detect the reed on a
regular chest x-ray.

One can only imagine the problems that could be caused by inhaling or
swallowing a sharp piece of metal like a harmonica reed. I seriously suggest
that you contact a doctor and get his/her opinion on what you should do. No
sense putting it off, either, holiday or not. (Incidently, having a belly
full of holiday goodies won't help matters if you do have a reed floating
around somewhere inside ya.)

Good Luck and please let us know what happens!

Michelle