Representational ImageDoctors at the Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Science in Ballari were in for a shocker when they found out that a farmer who had been admitted to the hospital due to stomach pain had 178 coins in his digestive system.According to a report in Times of India, 45-year old farmer Eswara Reddy, known to have psychiatric problems, was admitted 15 days ago as he was unable to eat or breathe properly. He did not have proper bowel movements either. Doctors suspected he had an ulcer, but the x-ray and ultrasound scans revealed that he had coins in his stomach.Doctors believe that he had swallowed these coins over a one-year period. A ninety-minute operation was conducted by Dr E Govindarajulu to remove the coins. There were coins of Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, 50p and 25p denomination. The total value of the coins in his digestive system is not known, yet.Family members say that he had left the family and was roaming about on the roads for a few days, and believe that he would have taken in the coins then.Reddy is reported to be recovering well.