Friday, September 14, 2012

Steak Puree With A Straw

My brilliant niece came through for me and fixed my blog, so it's back to business . . .

So, you may recall that a few weeks ago I nearly choked to death.   Really.   As in "to death."  Like in "never to roam the earth again in flesh and bones."  (Although, I am sure that I would visit in spirit - have your EMF detectors handy.)

I joke a little about it now, but at the time it was very serious and very traumatic - - for me and my family who were there, watching me choke.   And it still is serious, and yesterday I realized that it truly was traumatic for me.   I had another little choking experience, alone in the basement where I work, and although it wasn't serious and I knew I wasn't going to die, it was still very very scary and I almost panicked.  I know what you're thinking.   "Why doesn't she just chew her food??"  I do.   Honest.  But it was then that I knew that PTSD is real.  And for all who have suffered traumatic life experiences, I am sorry.   And I kind of get it, albeit in a small way.   And I also realized that with each life experience we have, whether big or small, we can feel a little closer to one another, a little more empathetic, a little more compassionate. 

And I also realized that I am never going to eat anything again that I can't sip though a straw . . . ever.  

29 comments:

  1. I am concerned about these choking incidents. You might want to be checked to see if you have Achalasia.

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    1. oooh, now i'm going to have to google :)

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    2. googled achalasia - - i'm thinking i don't have it :)

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    3. Ah OK. All I know about it is that people have a hard time swallowing and have to eat tiny bites of food to get it down.

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  2. That's so understandable. Really, everybody defines traumatic incidents themselves. It's all relative. The choking incident must have acted as a reminder or brought up some of your inner fears.

    On a more cheerful note, I like your blog's new look :)

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  3. Smaller bites, more chewing.....maybe have a doctor take a look at your throat????

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    1. i'll go for the smaller bites and more chewing, but doctors are pretty much useless :)

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  4. You could always do what we did at the nursing home I used to work at and purée everything! Mushy roast dinner is ... an experience.

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    1. That makes me think of my dad - the mushy food at nursing homes :(

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  5. Oh Judy, that's kind of scary with the choking. You're right though, even these "smaller" incidents help us to be more sympathetic about the randomest of things.
    Please don't puree your steak.

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    1. Ya, I'm having second thoughts about the steak purée :)

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  6. Wow! I must've missed that post. How scary! I'm glad you didn't die! I don't blame you for not wanting to eat anything you'd have to chew.

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  7. I choke on carrots and bread, not always, but often enough to know it's scary. I chew and I think I take normal bites, but it still happens sometimes. You have my sympathy.

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  8. Just the thought of choking terrifies me. I'd be leery about eating now, too.

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    1. If I could just use that to my favor and lose a pound or two :)

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  9. The good news is your blog is lovely!!

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  10. Spaghetti gets me every time. Imagine being an Italian girl and fearing the thought of eating spaghetti! Inevitably a piece of pasta will wrap itself around that dangly thing in the back of my throat and I go into instant panic mode. Ugh. I feel for you. I've thought many times it would be best if I just stuck to soup! :p

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  11. I saw my son nearly choke on a grape probably ten years ago...suffice to say, those are never put in the lunch boxes!

    Love the spookiness here with the blog decor!

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    1. As a mother that must have been horrifying :(

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  12. Love the new Halloween look! I should do that to celebrate my son's halloween arrival. I choked on a peanut two weeks ago and it traumatized me. My husband was beating on my back while I struggled for air. My biggest fear in that my children will choke and that I will panic or freeze in their time of need. Good luck with the straw food.

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    1. Thank goodness your husband was there. And we moms can so extraordinary things when our children are in danger - hopefully though you'll never be put to the test !

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  13. had to google a lot trying to keep up with you :)

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  14. my son once choked on a piece of ice---he was just being recognized at a cub scout dinner--everyone was looking at us and pointing to him, who was on the side of where i was sitting--i thought they were just saying how cute he was---it was horrible--but it ended okay---i hope you don't have this happen anymore!!

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  15. Which is why I drink chocolate milkshakes all the time...

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  16. I am sorry for your horrible experience, but I really admire that you are looking for the lesson and wisdom in it. I think you're totally right that experiencing something like that can open up your heart and mind to the experiences of others.

    And pureed food--ugh. It's one of my phobias, for sure. Sooooo disturbing.

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