Health

Pen Pulled From Woman’s Stomach After 25 Years — and It Still Writes!

Here‘s a classic example of why you shouldn’t stick foreign objects in your mouth. A British woman who saw something on her tonsil directed a pen towards it and accidentally swallowed it.The felt-tipped pen remained in her stomach — for 25 years!

Pen Retrieved from British Womans Stomach After 25 Years

Felt-tipped pen in woman's stomach revealed on CT scan. (Photo: British Medical Journal via NPR)

Now, the 76-year-old has had it removed. Amazingly, after all those years in stomach acid, the pen still writes.

NPR reports that at the time of the incident, she wasn’t believed by her doctors or husband because X-rays didn’t show the pen in her stomach. More than two decades later, the pen was revealed during a CT scan:

Even after all these years without trouble, doctors figured there was a risk the pen could tear a hole in her stomach. Remarkably, the pen still worked.

Take a look for yourself at the scan showing the pen in her stomach. And the acid test, so to speak, “Hello,” written with the retrieved pen afterward.

Pen Retrieved from British Womans Stomach After 25 Years

Even after more than two decades in a woman's stomach, the pen still writes. (Photo: British Medical Journal via NPR)

New York Daily reports that the woman was seeing a gastrointestinal specialist for stomach problems, which the doctors stated were unrelated to the pen’s presence.

The report, published in the Case Reports of the British Medical Journal is a lesson for doctors to believe patients “however unlikely it may be.”

Comments (50)

1 2
  • Banone1
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:59am

    Wonder if it was a Bic, Writes first time every time

    Report Post »  
  • TwoLazy
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:48am

    I see a great commerical for the Pen Company …. can you remember “it takes a licking and keeps on ticking”?

    Where’s the ad writers when you need one?

    Report Post » TwoLazy  
    • Kentucky
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:53am

      That would be a Timex watch that takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

      Report Post »  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:30am

    Can you imagine if the pen worked its way through and she took a dump,Then go to wipe her butt she wrote a letter to Obama.

    Report Post » scrapadapolis  
    • piper60
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:36am

      He’d probably answer her. I wouldn’t want to say what with————–.

      Report Post » piper60  
  • One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:15pm

    I‘d be calling the pen makers for a commercial if they haven’t called already! “It takes a ‘bitin’ and keeps on writin’” ;)

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
  • muddymo
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:35pm

    Public healthcare, It only took 25 years in the queue to get the operation.

    It looks like a Parker, I didn’t think it was a Bic they are French.

    Report Post »  
    • t00nces2
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 8:59pm

      It takes a biting…
      and keeps on writing.

      Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:47pm

      ahhhh…. But the most important question of alll.. drum roll please \|/\|//\…..was the cap on it or not ????

      Report Post »  
  • chicagotrauma
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:19pm

    she’s only got one kidney

    Report Post »  
  • Islamislame
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 3:19pm

    What brand of pen was it? And who thought to write with it after it was removed? That’s hillarious!

    Report Post »  
    • QuietBeige
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:54pm

      This is what I was wondering. Reporters don’t ever seem to report on the interesting bits do they!

      Report Post »  
  • Mattevan
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 3:11pm

    I know thats a pen by the x-ray but what is that white image by her butt????

    Report Post » Mattevan  
  • Ragnar Danneskjold
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 2:41pm

    The pen is mightier than the…..

    Report Post »  
  • Kankokage
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 2:14pm

    BILLY MAYS HERE! Tired of those pens that stop working the second you ingest them? Are you weary of stomach acid turning perfectly good writing utensils into worthless refuse? Well those days of forlorn feeling are now over with the LAPIS 2000! Yes, the Lapis 2000, NASA’s latest, greatest invention, is built with SPACE-AGE materials that are ULTRA-RESISTANT to even the most corrosive of acids! Look here!

    Bucket of sulfuric acid tips over on your table, covering your writing utensils? Sure, this happens to all of us, sometimes twice a day, but look! Lapis 2000 keep on writing as if nothing ever happened! Even while your hand is disintegrating, Lapis 2000 just doesn’t know when to give up! It’s the Honey Badger of the literary world!

    Uh oh, somebody swallowed their pen again after feeling something weird in the back of their throat? Just wait a few hours for the surgery to remove it, and BAM! Writing sticky notes and checks for the bank in no time at all!

    Yes, the Lapis 2000 is everything a serious writer needs, and at $19.95, who couldn’t possibly afford the finest writing utensil know to man? BUT WAIT! There’s more!

    Call now, and I’ll send this state-of-the-art, high quality de-gouger with the purchase of your Lapis 2000! Stuck fishhooks deep in your throat will be a thing of the past.

    CALL NOW!

    Report Post » Kankokage  
    • COFemale
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 3:40pm

      Although I see the humor in your post, I don’t think I would have used Billy Mays as he is deceased and think it was in bad taste.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • Kankokage
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 3:59pm

      If South Park can do it, I can do it. Don’t be a wet blanket.

      Report Post » Kankokage  
    • The American People
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:35am

      Ignore the professionally offended. Even Billy Mays would have loved it!!! Awesome!!! lol

      Report Post » The American People  
    • Gorp
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:04am

      @ Kankokage: ROFLMAO

      Report Post » Gorp  
  • URKiddinMee
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 2:09pm

    I’ll make a note of that.

    Report Post » URKiddinMee  
  • kentuckypatriot
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:45pm

    Wouldn’t you want to go to the emergency room immediately after you swallow a pen?

    Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
    • barbhubley
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 2:01pm

      It says in the article that the Dr. and her husband didn‘t believe her when it happened because it didn’t show up on an X-Ray. That tells me she went to the Dr. and had an X-Ray. It didn’t show up until decades later because it was picked up on a CT Scan.

      Report Post »  
    • kentuckypatriot
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 2:07pm

      You’re right, thanks for the clarification! : > )

      Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
  • cranberry
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:43pm

    Yea, grudgywoof, i can see why you are grouchy, you apparently hate reading stuff that’s fun and light reading. lighten up, dude.

    Report Post » cranberry  
  • packsack54
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:36pm

    Was it made in USA?

    Report Post »  
  • HawkEyeTx
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:32pm

    #
    Right on !!!
    Brand and type of ink?

    Report Post » HawkEyeTx  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:31pm

    Guess the designer of the pen must have manufactured the indestructable peeps and twinkies as well. glad she made it throught the surgery alright.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Rob Adkerson
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:30pm

    This will end up one one of those “Is this story true, or a myth?” shows.

    Report Post »  
  • Anti_Spock
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:14pm

    The Watch…

    Hello, little man. Boy, I sure heard a bunch about you. See, I was a good friend of your dad’s. We were in that Hanoi pit of hell together for over five years. Hopefully, you’ll never have to experience this yourself, but when two men are in a situation like me and your dad were, for as long as we were, you take on certain responsibilities of the other. If it had been me who had not made it, Major Coolidge would be talking right now to my son Jim. But the way it turned out is I’m talking to you, Butch. I got something for ya. [Holds up watch] This watch I got here was first purchased by your great-grandfather during the first world war. It was bought in a little general store in Knoxville, Tennessee, made by the first company to ever make wrist watches. Up until then, people just carried pocket watches. It was bought by Private Doughboy Ryan Coolidge the day he set sail for Paris. This was your great-grandfather’s war watch, and he wore it every day he was in the war. Then when he had done his duty, he went home to your great-grandmother, took the watch off and put it in an old coffee can. And in that can it stayed ’til your granddad Dane Coolidge was called upon by his country to go overseas and fight the Germans once again. This time they called it World War Two. Your great-grandfather gave this watch to your granddad for good luck. Unfortunately, Dane‘s luck wasn’t as good as his old man’s. Dane was a Marine and he was killed along with all the oth

    Report Post » Anti_Spock  
    • Anti_Spock
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:25pm

      as the story goes… he put the watch up his ass for 5 years, while a POW. Funny story… as told by Christopher Walken.

      Report Post » Anti_Spock  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:30pm

      Ha ha ha!!!! Pulp Fiction was great!!!

      Report Post » biohazard23  
  • SDmom
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:11pm

    25 years ago things were made to last….I guess this proves it. LOL

    Report Post »  
  • RightThinking1
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:04pm

    If only Timex had thought of this. John Cameron Swayze could have done a nice spot with it…

    Report Post »  
  • Plan B
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:04pm

    Now that’s funny!!

    Report Post »  
  • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 12:59pm

    She’s a Brit, so her stomach was used to having things in it that were undigestable.

    Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
  • FEMALL
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 12:59pm

    The hidden costs of socialized medicine:the do it yourself tonsilectomy.

    O=4mil for vacay-40 dollars dog toy.

    Report Post » FEMALL  
  • CatB
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 12:57pm

    I smell commercial .. It still writes!

    Report Post »  
  • grudgywoof
    Posted on December 22, 2011 at 12:56pm

    What is this the Blaze or the National Inquirer? Who cares.

    Report Post » grudgywoof  
    • junior1971
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 1:01pm

      Lighten up Fracis!

      Report Post » junior1971  
    • COFemale
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 3:43pm

      Oh, did somebody wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • beckinista
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:20pm

      It’s called a “Human Interest” story, and it’s a nice break from George Soros.

      Report Post » beckinista  
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