In a bizarre incident in the capital, a 26-year-old bodybuilder ate 39 coins and 37 magnets in order to make a quick profit. The incident sent the man to the hospital and ultimately to the operating room.
The patient from Delhi appears to have taken these products believing that zinc is beneficial for the body. A few days after the incident, he finally reported the incident to the hospital, reporting that he had been experiencing repeated vomiting and abdominal pain for over 20 days and was unable to eat anything.
Doctors at Delhi’s Sir Gangaram Hospital said they were informed about the patient’s act by a relative and it was later confirmed in a CT scan. Given the seriousness of the situation, doctors opted for immediate surgery on the patient and thankfully were able to remove an alarming number of devices that the patient had swallowed.
Dr. Mittal, one of the participating doctors, said that the patient was quickly prepared for surgery and during the surgery, they discovered the presence of magnets and coins in two different loops of the small intestine. He further added that under the influence of magnetic forces he noticed that the two loops were drawn towards each other, causing erosion, resulting in great discomfort.
Interestingly, the patient was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, and while we can’t say anything for sure, this may provide some explanation as to where the idea of spending coins came from. Thankfully, he was discharged from the hospital after a week of surgery and is currently doing well.
