# Just ate a glass marble....ER or Bathroom? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2002, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419 "2002-12-22T20:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/1 "2002-12-22T20:14:20Z")
OK the marbel is about 1cm in diameter and Mrs.Phlosphrs friend just swallowed it. She’s fine but obviously this little glass sphere isn’t going to biodegrade but will it pass like normal? It’s not broken or anything, just a small marble? Should we go to the ER or will she be fine… She doesn’t feel bad at all and she obviously didn’t choke as I wouldn’t be writing this had she. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/2 "2002-12-22T20:22:39Z")
If it is glass, it is pretty inert. If it was not cracked or otherwise compromised before it was swallowed, it should pass on through with no complications. If it doesn’t show up in a day or so, she might want to think about an x-ray, (scheduled so as to be lower in cost), to be sure that it is not nestled in some nook or cranny where it could cause a problem as stuff builds up around it, but I wouldn’t spend money on ER or similar expense. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/3 "2002-12-22T20:23:34Z")
Call the ER and ask them. I suspect it will pass on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/4 "2002-12-22T20:28:18Z")
**Ringo** very good idea. I’ll check back in a minute or so and let ya know what they said… ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/5 "2002-12-22T20:37:47Z")
Well the ER said to come in and get an x-ray immediately. But her primary care physician said to wait till morning and see if it passes… UUHH!!!..I think we’re going in to the ER… Mrs.Phlosphr doesn’t like taking risks… I’ll check back soon. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/6 "2002-12-22T20:39:45Z")
Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![ginger57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/838e76/32.png) [@ginger57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ginger57)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/7 "2002-12-22T21:34:46Z")
My 10 year old daughter swallowed a silver metal marble and we waited it out. It passed fien and so she was fine too. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/8 "2002-12-22T22:35:46Z")
FTR, I agree with the primary care doc. QtM ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/9 "2002-12-22T22:37:03Z")
This too will pass. X-Rays would be pre-cautionary but it will most likely go right on thru. YMMV 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![HighSoci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@HighSoci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HighSoci)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/10 "2002-12-22T23:47:06Z")
I have found everything from pennies to marbles to buttons in my baby’s diaper. It will pass just fine. Of course the ER is going to have you come in for some X-rays… how much do you think they make off of each one they take and just for the visit alone. As long as she wasn’t complaining about pain or anything like that, you have nothing to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/11 "2002-12-22T23:53:05Z")
I’m an ER x-ray tech and I’ll tell you from experience what will happen: Doc: hmm, lets take a look at the x-ray. Yup, she swallowed something. OK, go home and if it doesn’t pass in a couple of days come back. Don’t waste your time. ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/12 "2002-12-22T23:54:02Z")
You have to PAY for visits to the emergency room in the US? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/13 "2002-12-23T00:03:39Z")
Everybody has to pay all over the world. In our case, we pay cash on a case by case basis, rather than through our taxes on a collective basis. ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/14 "2002-12-23T00:14:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doghouse Reilly \* > \*\*Everybody has to pay all over the world. In our case, we pay cash on a case by case basis, rather than through our taxes on a collective basis. \*\* Point taken. I just can’t conceive of having to worry about whether I had enough cash in my pocket to go to the hospital in the case of an emergency - it’s been bad enough worrying whether I’ve got enough cash for a taxi home the times we’ve gone in by ambulance, never mind the cost of the visit itself. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/15 "2002-12-23T00:24:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by reprise \* > \*\*Point taken. I just can’t conceive of having to worry about whether I had enough cash in my pocket to go to the hospital in the case of an emergency - it’s been bad enough worrying whether I’ve got enough cash for a taxi home the times we’ve gone in by ambulance, never mind the cost of the visit itself. \*\* Depends upon your insurance plan, reprise. For example, I pay $10 at the time of the visit, and then from $75-$249 later on depending on what is done to me there. If I go a second time in one year, I pay $10, total. At one time I thought it was much more, but I was wrong. But everyone’s health insurance is different. If you are completely destitute, you go in to a State, University, or City hospital (at least around here), which are equal quality (IME) to any other, and they don’t bill you. It’s better than in _some_ countries, where the ambulance drivers will simply _not take you in_ if you are a foreigner unless you have a valid credit card or cash. In the US, you get taken in and get treatment, plain and simple, and your citizen status doesn’t mean anything. Sure, you will be harassed about the bill, but at least the ambulance won’t leave you on the street like an animal to die because you happen to not be on their National health plan. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/16 "2002-12-23T00:29:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > It’s better than in _some_ countries, where the ambulance drivers will simply _not take you in_ if you are a foreigner unless you have a valid credit card or cash. In the US, you get taken in and get treatment, plain and simple, and your citizen status doesn’t mean anything. Sure, you will be harassed about the bill, but at least the ambulance won’t leave you on the street like an animal to die because you happen to not be on their National health plan. You can guess the followup question: what country was this? ---
**Author:** ![jmpride62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@jmpride62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmpride62)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/17 "2002-12-23T00:56:32Z")
If the hospital takes Medicare (and most do I believe) then you are entitled to screening, emergency care, and appropriate transfer regardless of your ability to pay. In other words, you have to be stable before they can legally transfer you to a teaching hospital, charity hospital, etc. Don’t forget, poor people can sue for malpractice too. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/18 "2002-12-23T01:17:49Z")
Back to the OP: Personally, I’d take it on faith that it will pass. "Cause I sure wouldn’t want to search for it. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/19 "2002-12-23T02:01:29Z")
When I was a kid my mum couldn’t tell the difference between ball bearings and those little confectionary silver balls that go on top of cakes. Later, Dad farted and shot the cat. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419/20 "2002-12-23T02:06:48Z")
To meld the OP and the insurance question: I worked for the medical department (administration side) of a major HMO some time back, and we would have declined that particular ER bill when it came in. Our criterion for an ER visit was that the patient be in danger of life or limb. Marble-swallowing wouldn’t have passed muster. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-ate-a-glass-marble-er-or-bathroom/144419.md?page=2)