Man Discovers 20-Year-Old Thermometer Still Inside Him

When Wang walked into a hospital in Wenzhou, China, complaining of stomach pain, he had no idea he was carrying a 20-year-old secret inside him.

Doctors at The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University ran an X-ray and spotted something unusual. A mercury thermometer was lodged in Wang's duodenum, its tip pressing dangerously against his intestinal wall.

The 32-year-old suddenly remembered what happened when he was just 12 years old. He had accidentally swallowed the thermometer but was too frightened to tell his parents.

His parents were busy with work at the time, and young Wang never developed symptoms. Eventually, he simply forgot about the whole incident.

But two decades later, the thermometer had become a serious problem. The device was positioned in a way that could cause a perforation and severe internal bleeding if left untreated.

Surgeons performed an emergency operation to remove the foreign object. The team successfully extracted the thermometer, which remained remarkably intact after spending 20 years inside Wang's body.

The only signs of its long journey were the faded temperature markings on the glass. Otherwise, the device looked much like it did the day a scared seventh-grader swallowed it.

Why This Inspires

Wang's story reminds us that it's never too late to address our problems, even the ones we've carried for years. What started as a childhood mistake he was too afraid to share became a medical emergency that caring professionals helped him overcome.

His experience also highlights how far medical technology has come. Advanced imaging allowed doctors to spot the decades-old thermometer quickly, and skilled surgeons removed it safely before serious complications could develop.

Sometimes the relief we need has been waiting for us all along, and finding the courage to seek help opens the door to healing.