# Help I inhaled some wool!!!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 24, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153 "2003-02-24T14:14:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/1 "2003-02-24T14:14:14Z")
Ok I was keeping my inhaler in the pocket of my favorite wool parka. I needed it, so naturally I took it. And one of those pesky little wool balls - commonly found on wool sweaters etc…etc… - was lodged in the device. I didn’t see it when to took a deep breath and pressed the inhaler…
**Cough**
**Cough**
**Cough**
**Cough**
**Cough**
So on a so forth I inhaled the wool.
After severe coughing I do not know if I got it out of my trachea or if it is still lodged down there… What should I do. Will it eventually come up? Am I in trouble?
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### Author:  [@Deadly\_Nightlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deadly_Nightlight)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/2 "2003-02-24T15:18:02Z")
I am def not a doc, but if you don’t know where the wool went I would be calling a doctor asap!
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/3 "2003-02-24T15:23:21Z")
Oh Sh\*t!!! Why? This happened Yesterday afternoon, and now I am fine… The scratch in my throat is not there anymore… I am just concerned that if the wool is still down there, that it will be congealed over with mucus … Wheres Qadg top??
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/4 "2003-02-24T15:31:12Z")
The main problem, as far as my limited research has discovered, is the risk of infection. Small foriegn bodies like that can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Normally things like that are expelled naturally through coughing, but only an examination by a doctor can determine if the object is still there or not. I wouldn’t worry too much, since the human body has evolved all sorts of mechanisms to cope with this sort of thing, after all, people have been inhaling bugs since the cave days.
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### Author:  [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/5 "2003-02-24T16:55:41Z")
As long as you’re not short of breath, don’t have any pain, don’t develop a fever, you’ll probably cough up the wool after your bronchi mucus it up into a nice little package for you (which you may not even notice).
Otherwise, see a doc.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/6 "2003-02-24T16:59:56Z")
I once did this, except it was a piece of foil. I very nearly died.
**Always check your inhaler before using it.**
Since then, I always take the aerosol out, and blow through the case before using it.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/7 "2003-02-24T17:03:45Z")
Those inhalers always come with a cover for the mouthpiece. Why they don’t attach them to the mouthpiece so they won’t get lost (which they almost always do), I’ll never understand.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/8 "2003-02-24T17:11:01Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \*
> **Those inhalers always come with a cover for the mouthpiece.**
Ah, but fluff/foil/candy wrappers/tobacco shreds ( :eek: ) can get down the side of the aerosol, even when the mouthpiececover is on.
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/9 "2003-02-24T17:12:56Z")
:eek: I am getting freaked out now. I better make an appointment to see the doc. Oh jeez!!!
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/10 "2003-02-24T17:13:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jjimm \*
> \*\*Ah, but fluff/foil/candy wrappers/tobacco shreds ( :eek: ) can get down the side of the aerosol, even when the mouthpiececover is on. \*\*
You’d think they’d be a litle less lax when designing something people are going to be sucking **into their lungs**. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/11 "2003-02-24T17:17:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Phlosphr \*
> \*\*:eek: I am getting freaked out now. I better make an appointment to see the doc. Oh jeez!!! \*\*
Calm down and relax, man. As pointed out earlier, if you can breathe, and you’re in no serious discomfort, there’s no immediate threat to your life. You’ll be fine. A visit to the doc is a good idea, but there’s no need for panic. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/12 "2003-02-24T17:32:33Z")
I’d say he’s more likely to poop it out than cough it out.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/13 "2003-02-24T17:34:17Z")
I think he inhaled it, not swallowed it. In any case, the initial coughing fit more than likely expelled it, since that’s what that reflex was designed to do.
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/14 "2003-02-24T18:03:21Z")
Thanks **Q** - I am an adult who grew into athsma. I’ve had it for over 10 years now, and I must say it sucks… When I take my Serevent I am fine all day and night, but I’m out, and there was no way I was going to go skiing without a ventaline inhaler…
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/15 "2003-02-24T18:43:22Z")
Well, one would think that if there were serious repercussions from aspirating wool, that would be reflected in the occupational hazards of sheep shearers. Curiously, a Google search turned up a large number of hits on the occupational hazards of sheep shearing, and inhaling wool wasn’t on the top of the hit parade.
[http://www.acahs.med.usyd.edu.au/nfidc/Sheep.htm](http://www.acahs.med.usyd.edu.au/nfidc/Sheep.htm)
[http://turva.me.tut.fi/iloagri/stock/11.htm](http://turva.me.tut.fi/iloagri/stock/11.htm)
(A total detour from the OP, but apparently sheep shearing is one of the most hazardous professions in animal husbandry-- the ergonomics are awful, the sheep will kick and bite you, you’ll get RMS from using manual shears, you’ll rupture yourself from manhandling the sheep into shearing position, and if you’re really unlucky, you’ll get organophosphate poisoning from the sheep dip.)
I guess you could do a similar search for occupational hazards in the garment industry, but on the whole, I’d say don’t worry about it.
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### Author:  [@Spacegirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spacegirl)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-inhaled-some-wool/157153/16 "2003-02-24T18:49:39Z")
Why don’t you just call to the ER and ask if this is something that you need to be worried about? They have probably heard of this before and will have an answer for you.