A Mexican patient dropped in 1 week after extensive surgery for nasal polyps.ย He was doing well, didnโt need pain medicine anymore, but was still using stool softener and wanted more.ย It had been prescribed for “constipaciรณn”.ย But in Mexico & Central America, maybe elsewhere, “constipaciรณn” often means โnasal congestionโ (e.g. โestoy muy constipadoโ).ย Their word for our โconstipationโ (a common side effect of narcotic pain medication, the original intention of the drug) is “estreรฑimiento” (โestoy estreรฑidoโ).
Stool softener for the nose?!?!