To ask if you've ever choked on food?

[BillHadersNewWife]

I did today...on a Dorito. It was the WORST thing ever. What surprised me was that I could feel it lodged in my breathing hole...whatever that's called...but there was a small gap which allowed me to suck in a TINY bit of air...about 30% of what was normal....and I knew that if I struggled to breathe too hard, that the crisp might move and further block my breathing.

I was in the shopping centre with DD aged 11...she took one look at me and WALKED OFF! She left me there dying on a Dorito beside a display of Christmas trees! 😂

I sat on the floor and carefully breathed again...assessing the situation...then I coughed and it came up...my eyes watered...it was horrible!

DD and I did laugh about her dumping me to die alone...she said she was too embarrassed! My God! That'll teach me to eat in public whilst walking won't it! ONE crisp it was!

Christ Sushiroller I can’t believe no one tried to help you! That’s awful!

I choked on a piece of cheese when I was 1. My dad held me upside down and was hitting my back but it wouldn't come out. He managed to stick his finger down my throat and hook it out.

I am paranoid about my kids choking. I liquidised everything when DS1 was little, no baby led weaning here! I was slightly better with DS2 and did do baby led weaning but for the first time he ate toast I only let him because my friend who is a nurse was there

Yes. In a restaurant. I couldn't speak to attract the attention of my OH who was looking at his food. It was the scariest thing ever, I honestly thought I was going to die because I couldn't breathe. I started being sick but because the vomit couldn't get up it was just the liquid I'd had that could get past the food stuck in my throat and was spilling out of my mouth. My OH finally noticed and started thumping my back and shouting for help. All the time I couldn't speak or breathe I was thinking 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die'. Staff came running over but no one seemed to know what to do. My OHs thumps on my back managed to dislodge it but it was really really frightening. I'm very very careful now and chew my food properly.

Don't tip children upside down.

www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/learn-first-aid-for-babies-and-children/choking-child

Go on an appropriate first aid course for those of you unsure what to do. Local areas usually have them either free or low cost. I did a two day one through work but will definitely do a top up and pay in a couple of years as I've changed field.

When ds1 was about 4, he got hold of a huge jelly spider, I think mil had given it to him. I was pottering in the bedroom and heard this strange wheezing sound. Turned round and he was clawing at his throat and turning blue. Tried the heimlich, nothing, backslaps. Nothing! I was panicking. Got oh to call ambo as this was getting serious. Then I flipped him upside down held him by his legs and shook him.

Just as ambo came, I dropped him on his head, he bit his tongue and the spider came out. The dog ate the spider, paramedics looking confused, blood from his mouth everywhere and the bloody dog racing around. True chaos!

Does slapping or thumping someone on the back actually work? I thought it was Heimlich manoeuvre all the way.

Of course it does @fridgegrazer it’s the first thing you should do. Plus there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence on this thread

I had severe intercostal muscle strain after a nasty bout of pleurisy, and regularly stopped breathing, after a coughing fit. DP dared not go out because I literally could not breath for seconds but it felt like a life time. The doctors could not do anything I was off sick for 3 months. It was seriously terrible. I’ve choked on many foods after this too, one time my partners grandfather of 78 had to do the Heimlich manoeuvre. It was seriously an awful few months. And I genuinely think it’s caused problems since. I’m forever choking 😾😂

On an American Hard gum when I was about 6. In my Nan & Grandad’s kitchen. My grandad gave me an almighty thump in the back and out it popped. Was really scary though....
And now that I’m a mum of 3, I think “what the hell were they thinking giving a 6 year old a hard gum sweet?!”

I have a black and decker handheld hoover for just this reason 🙈 I figure if I cant dislodge something I can suck it out!

Yes @fridgegrazer a hard, harder than you think you can manage thump right between the shoulder blades. Three times.

If it doesnt work then Heimlich. Also if trapped above windpipe you can make yourself gag with your fingers to vomit it up but risk pushing it back down further.

Yes. I ate refresher sweet from the Halloween bag while cleaning.
I truly thought I was going to die, after it dislodged it took ages to get my breath back.
My reaction scared me, I desperately tried to dislodge it but never grabbed my phone.
DS aged 4 ASD was shouting don't puke don't puke he has a phobia of sickness, I was trying to reassure him waving my arm, with no air getting in.
Never again.

@friidgegrazer With a DC it is best to bang on their back, if anyone is in doubt of how perform this, take 5mins and watch a YouTube instruction video.

DS choked on a marshmallow when he was 3. I was on my own with him in the flat we lived in at the time. I picked him up and ran outside to the landing. I think I was going to ask my neighbour for help. Then instinct kicked in and I gave him one almighty thump on the back and it came flying out onto the floor.
DS started crying and I just stood staring at the lump thinking “it’s not in his throat anymore”. 18 years later still the most terrifying couple of minutes of my life.

It look like back for babysitting.
Thrustes for a smaller child above the belly button.
Older child chest thrusts.
I've refreshed.

I choked on a chewing gum. It was horrible! Managed to get it out though.

I choked on a sausage. Yes, really. And to make matters worse, I was at Wembley on a school football trip. As the first aider. With most of the PE department footie mad teachers.

I have never and will never live it down.

The running to the loo thing- I did exactly that choking on prawn toast in a Chinese restaurant. Luckily my friend saw and followed me, shouting ‘shall I bang? Shall I bang?’ Thank god she did!
What’s the hanging over the chair thing if you choke when alone?

@SpuriouserAndSpuriouser I think people just panic themselves and dont know what to do and fear paralyses them.
I felt so powerless and vulnerable and cried several times afterwards

If you google, 'choking alone' there are lots of diagrams which clearly show how to try to help yourself. It is worth doing right now because if you are choking you probably won't have time to do it then,

No, but I'm a notoriously slow eater.

Strawberry laces

I think I choked on a piece of candy as a child.

I was once during a dinner party seated next to a pediatrician and she told me she never let her young children eat grapes as they are a big choking risks towards small children.

When in primary school eating my packed lunch. One of my earlier memories. Was terrifying

I did as a teenager on an after eight mint of all things

Luckily my step dad was there and really had to thump me on the back to dislodge it. Will never forget that awful feeling