Nasal Congestion — Funny Anecdote (Spanish)

A Mexican patient dropped in 1 week after extensive surgery for nasal polyps.  He was doing well, didn’t need pain medicine anymore, but was still using stool softener and wanted more.  It had been prescribed for “constipación”.  But in Mexico & Central America, maybe elsewhere, “constipación” often means “nasal congestion” (e.g. “estoy muy constipado”).  Their word for our “constipation” (a common side effect of narcotic pain medication, the original intention of the drug) is “estreñimiento” (“estoy estreñido”).

Stool softener for the nose?!?!