It's funny unless it happens to you

We've all heard the story of someone's kid stuffing a pea in their nose or ear and getting it stuck. It always sounds like some funny childhood story. But it's not so funny when it actually happens to your own child.

On our way home from the lab to get Megan's urine tested, I was stopped at a light and Megan, in the back seat, says "Mom, I got a rock stuck in my nose." Fortunately, we were right next to our doctor's office and since it was 4:30, they were still open. I couldn't see or feel the rock, but Megan said it hurt when I touched her nose, and when the doctor shined her light in there, you could see it. She was scared but brave and allowed the doctor to attempt pulling it out with some instrument. Unsuccessful, she called our ENT who was on call, but the office was closed. He called back and said we shouldn't need to go to the ER (which would cost us $50; our insurance does not cover visits to Urgent Care), that I could come in to his office at 7:30am the next morning, since there would be enough swelling to hold the rock in place and it wouldn't go back any farther into her nose.

At home, I tried to get it out myself, but it was in there too far and too tight. She sneezed many times but it didn't get any looser, and she doesn't know how to blow her nose (she sniffs if you tell her to blow). I canceled my visiting teaching appointments for the next morning and worried Megan would be up all night in pain. I was also worried she'd get an infection. But I trusted the ENT; he is a great doctor, is very good at making you feel reassured and relaxed, is patient, answers all questions, and did a good job with Megan's tubes.

Amazingly, Megan slept well and at 6:30 the next morning, she woke up and sneezed out the rock! What a relief!

"Mom, I will never, ever put a rock in my nose again," Megan said. Now if I could just get her to stop putting small objects in her mouth....