I'm not really a glutton!
January 6, 2010 9:36 PM Subscribe
I've just had a (near) choking incident.
I was having my dinner, and a bite got caught about halfway. I have standard first aid/ CPR training, so I tried to get myself in a position to get it out, My wife has no idea how to cope with such things. It was a scary few minutes as to whether I could get the piece to go up or down, and it finally did go down. To those with more knowledge than me, is it likely I damaged my throat, and should get some medical attention, or should I merely be sure to cut smaller bites and be more rigorous about thorough chewing?
I was having my dinner, and a bite got caught about halfway. I have standard first aid/ CPR training, so I tried to get myself in a position to get it out, My wife has no idea how to cope with such things. It was a scary few minutes as to whether I could get the piece to go up or down, and it finally did go down. To those with more knowledge than me, is it likely I damaged my throat, and should get some medical attention, or should I merely be sure to cut smaller bites and be more rigorous about thorough chewing?
Your thoat is probably fine. What were eating? If it was something hard and unyielding and your throat is still *quite* sore tomorrow, think about seeing your gp. Otherwise, nah.
Can't help with the second thing.
posted by smoke at 9:47 PM on January 6, 2010
Can't help with the second thing.
posted by smoke at 9:47 PM on January 6, 2010
To those with more knowledge than me, is it likely I damaged my throat, and should get some medical attention...
Presumably you were not eating wood splinters, shards of glass, or fragments of bone or the like, so it's unlikely you've sustained any damage apart from internal bruising, which will make it uncomfortable to swallow for a little while, but you'll be fine.
As for sending your wife to first aid classes, well, stroke victim with memory issues or not, it certainly can't hurt, plus it's fairly inexpensive, and you just never know!
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:47 PM on January 6, 2010
Presumably you were not eating wood splinters, shards of glass, or fragments of bone or the like, so it's unlikely you've sustained any damage apart from internal bruising, which will make it uncomfortable to swallow for a little while, but you'll be fine.
As for sending your wife to first aid classes, well, stroke victim with memory issues or not, it certainly can't hurt, plus it's fairly inexpensive, and you just never know!
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:47 PM on January 6, 2010
And how do I send her, a stroke survivor with memory issues to a first aid class?
Once sent to a first aid class, do you think that would make her more comfortable or more anxious? People respond differently to that sort of training. From the limited info given, it doesn't sound like such a class would be helpful for her -- unless she wants to go for her own peace of mind, in which case it can't hurt. You could also just go over some basics (call 911, here's the first-aid kit, don't move an injured person too much, etc.) I'm not clear what her emotions are on this and what yours are.
You probably won't end up in a situation where her first-aid training will save your life. Consider that performing the Heimlich improperly can seriously hurt the victim rather than save them. Shit happens sometimes.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:55 PM on January 6, 2010
Once sent to a first aid class, do you think that would make her more comfortable or more anxious? People respond differently to that sort of training. From the limited info given, it doesn't sound like such a class would be helpful for her -- unless she wants to go for her own peace of mind, in which case it can't hurt. You could also just go over some basics (call 911, here's the first-aid kit, don't move an injured person too much, etc.) I'm not clear what her emotions are on this and what yours are.
You probably won't end up in a situation where her first-aid training will save your life. Consider that performing the Heimlich improperly can seriously hurt the victim rather than save them. Shit happens sometimes.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:55 PM on January 6, 2010
I'm not clear what her emotions are on this and what yours are.
By this I mean some people freak out because they don't know what to do, some people freak out because they're trying to remember what they should know, or get stressed out thinking about it, yadda yadda.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:56 PM on January 6, 2010
By this I mean some people freak out because they don't know what to do, some people freak out because they're trying to remember what they should know, or get stressed out thinking about it, yadda yadda.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:56 PM on January 6, 2010
Can your wife follow posted instructions? It'd fit on your fridge.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:56 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:56 PM on January 6, 2010
Send her to the class and get first aid posters. Usually produced for workplaces, I'm sure you could order one (or more) online. If you're conscious you might be able to point to the poster in an emergency.
posted by bilabial at 9:57 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by bilabial at 9:57 PM on January 6, 2010
You can also perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself.
posted by Majorita at 10:03 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by Majorita at 10:03 PM on January 6, 2010
It sounds like you were not actually choking. You were having difficulty swallowing which is called dysphagia. Unlike choking, dysphagia can be very discomforting but is not immediately life threatening. The Heimlich maneuver will not help because the blockage is not in the trachea, it is the esophagus. Sometimes putting a finger down your throat to induce vomiting will help.
It can have lots of causes from critical to fairly benign. If you have recurring problems you should see a physician.
posted by JackFlash at 10:08 PM on January 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
It can have lots of causes from critical to fairly benign. If you have recurring problems you should see a physician.
posted by JackFlash at 10:08 PM on January 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
Happened to me, once, on a big hunk of steak. I was alone, and after realizing that I couldn't swallow or cough the food from my throat, and couldn't Heimlich it out, I went running down the stairs, hoping to get to the emergency room that happened to be ½ block away, or at least into the street where someone might help me — and the running dislodged the blockage! I went straight to a bar and toasted my new lease on life, and promised to take smaller bites, and it's never happened again.
posted by nicwolff at 10:30 PM on January 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by nicwolff at 10:30 PM on January 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
should I merely be sure to cut smaller bites and be more rigorous about thorough chewing?
I don't think that is a "merely". That is a "should do as well as...."
If you can breath (and it is not clear if that was the case or not here) I do not think it is advised to perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver). IIRC from 1st aid, if you can breath the advice is to monitor until situation changes.
IANAD, IANAPM
I think if your spouse is unwilling or unable to provide assistance calling 911 may be a wise strategy.
posted by edgeways at 10:56 PM on January 6, 2010
I don't think that is a "merely". That is a "should do as well as...."
If you can breath (and it is not clear if that was the case or not here) I do not think it is advised to perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver). IIRC from 1st aid, if you can breath the advice is to monitor until situation changes.
IANAD, IANAPM
I think if your spouse is unwilling or unable to provide assistance calling 911 may be a wise strategy.
posted by edgeways at 10:56 PM on January 6, 2010
You might review the universal choking symbol... putting your hands to your throat. My mom choked to the point she couldn't breathe in a restaurant once, and her co-worker (who was a former nurse's aide!) thought she was about to vomit and left the table to get paper towels. My mom gave herself the Heimlich against the table and knocked the piece of chicken loose.
posted by IndigoRain at 11:32 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by IndigoRain at 11:32 PM on January 6, 2010
Um.... if she's a stroke survivor...shouldn't you BOTH go to a first aid class?
posted by taff at 12:03 AM on January 7, 2010
posted by taff at 12:03 AM on January 7, 2010
After a choking incident there is a chance that damage caused by the object can result in swelling; even if the object is dislodged, the swelling afterward can causing breathing difficulty or completely close off an airway.
It's always good to be checked out by a doctor after such an incident, but it's up to you.
posted by Menthol at 3:04 AM on January 7, 2010
It's always good to be checked out by a doctor after such an incident, but it's up to you.
posted by Menthol at 3:04 AM on January 7, 2010
My father choked on a small piece of bread. It slit the insides of his wind pipe and the bleeding sent him to intensive care for a week. Bread did this.
See a doctor.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:17 AM on January 7, 2010
See a doctor.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:17 AM on January 7, 2010
Are you exeriencing any discomfort in your lungs now? Rarely, small pieces of food that people have choked on can end up in the lungs and end up causing a problem.
If you were experiencing dysphagia as JackFlash described, you probably don't have anything to worry about.
If you're concerned that the food may have ended up in your lungs, you might want to see your doctor just to be on the safe side.
posted by parakeetdog at 9:52 AM on January 7, 2010
If you were experiencing dysphagia as JackFlash described, you probably don't have anything to worry about.
If you're concerned that the food may have ended up in your lungs, you might want to see your doctor just to be on the safe side.
posted by parakeetdog at 9:52 AM on January 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by scottymac at 9:42 PM on January 6, 2010