Help! Swallowed a whole beetroot half hour ago!

[nellieellie]

A baby beetroot - just went down before I chewed. Got stuck for about 5 mins. Could breathe OK but not swallow. Drool flooding out my mouth and nose. Absolutely horrid - tried to cough it up but couldn't. it shifted after about 5mins but I can feel it still and it hurts to swallow. Have eaten a bit of balked potato and had some water to try to shift, but am a bit worried - will it shift by itself? Should I go to A & E (kids to pick up at 4pm, no-one immediate to help out. Should I eat? or not?
Any help appreciated!

It may move but there is a risk it will just sit there. If you are in discomfort I would go to A&E just to be monitored in case they need to get it out with an endoscope.

If you've managed to eat and drink then surely the beetroot has reached your stomach? I'm wondering if your oesophagus is feeling tender and that's why you think you can feel it?

Thank you musical. it is definitely still there. Typically my husband is working away, not back until tomorrow. So I'lll just have to leave it for today and see what its like tomorrow. 2 young children and a puppy that can't be left for more than an hour or so!! Feel so stupid, but it was very scary, and still quite unpleasant.

Agree with diving, if you've managed to swallow other things, it has probably moved. Sometimes my tablets feel like they've got stuck, it's actually just that when they go down awkwardly, the oesophagus gets bruised and then it still feels like something is there. I'm sure that's much, much worse after something bigger!

I hope it calms down soon, if it is still uncomfortable later you could try the GP. I wouldn't go to A&E unless you are struggling to breathe or similar.

Oh, this happened to my dad with some big painkilers. He could still feel it and it was very uncomfortable so he went to A&E and they gave him something to relax the muscle or something. It shifted after the drugs kicked in.

Could you ring your GP to ask what they'd recommend?

No, it's definitely still there. I'm worried that it might damage the oesophagus as that does seem to be a risk, and a baby beetroot is a big thing to be stuck. I've taken big tablets before which have got a bit stuck but this is different. It's moved from where it was first stuck - I was completely unable to swallow then, but it's still there, I've not eaten any chunks of anything since - just a bit of mashed up, well chewed baked potato. From what I've read things can get stuck. I want it taken out as its painful and scary. I could phone the GP tomorrow but if its still there then, I think I'll go to A&E.

Why don't you phone the nhs non emergency helpline 111

If they advise going to a&e rather than leaving it until tomorrow, then you don't have much choice unfortunately.

Do you have the phone number for one of your children's friends who you could maybe drop them off at? In an emergency most people would be wiling to help.

I once had to go to a&e at midnight and I had to knock on one of my neighbours doors and ask if them would come over and sit for me. Although my boys were around 9 so old enough to understand what was going on if they woke up.

Get a neighbour or someone to sit with the kids while you go to a&e.

I would call NHS direct if you are still worried.

I think you would be OK. Our bodies are very resilient!

Go to a&e

Thanks cavkc - I phoned 111 and they did advise A and E in next 12 hours. I know it sounds daft but it's not just the kids - I've got an 8mth large breed pup and honestly know of no-one who would be confident enough to be in house with him - he's lovely but can be over boisterous. I can't leave him alone for more than a couple of hours - so couldn't just dump the kids somewhere and leave him. Can get him to dog daycare for tomorrow. 111 are phoning me back - OK - they just phoned back. As long as I'm able to swallow and not vomiting I should be OK until morning. A doctor will phone in next 6 hours to check all is OK. Thank you for all your replies. Why does this stuff happen when husband is away. Last time I put my back out and couldn't walk on the day he left for a week away!

You are more important than a dog.
Please go to a and e.

Seriously, dogs are fine to be left. Lock him in the room you care about him chewing least and get to a and e. There's no reason you can't take the kids. I know it's not ideal but what if you die in your sleep from it. What will the kids and puppy do then!!!!!

Please please go to a&e tonight they said you 'should' be ok until morning.

Your pup will be fine, won't have any lasting effects,

Think of the worst case scenario your children will prefer having a Mummy than a dog.

Not wanting to scare you at all, it's just I had an issue several years ago and was undecided whether to go to hospital or to just see how I felt in the morning. To cut a long story short, we went to hospital, I needed life saving emergency surgery and was in ICE for a few days. The surgeon told my DH afterwards that they were very close to loosing me. Not the best end to a holiday in Cyprus,

How are you now OP?

Hi thank you everybody. A Dr phoned back from the 111 service (I am impressed - 1st time I have used this). He said that as I was able to eat and drink, there must either be some gaps around the beetroot - in which case it would shift by itself, or as Diving and Martha suggested above, it has gone down and I'm just feeling the trauma on the oesophagus. In either case I need not do anything unless symptoms change. The pain has lessened in the last few hours - it now only hurts when I swallow and is a bit like tonsillitis. Maybe it has gone down. I was so sure before it hadnt but now I'm really not so sure. If it has I feel a right dufus for making a drama out of a crisis, but honestly it was really scary. Thank you all for your concern and I do agree, it is silly to not go to A&E because of a dog. I did phone one of my DD's friends mum, and she offered to come over if I need her.

Cavkc - meant to say in last post, sorry to hear of your experience in Cyprus. Sounds very scary.

That's an impressive response from 111! So glad it seems to be resolving by itself - what a clever body you have :)

You're going to have one bizarre poo experience in the next 24 hours ...

Good news. How are you this morning?

Well, just got back from A&E. Wasn't going to go, but woke up this morning feeling sick as a pig, and when I coughed, swear I could feel a beetroot jiggling about! Couldn't turn my head, felt like the worst case of tonsillitis. Anyway, apologies to original posters for saying it must have gone down if I was eating as it seems they were right. Hospital said as long as I'm eating, the oesophagus is working and the beetroot must have gone down. it can take a few days for bruising to settle. I think I'm feeling sick because the swelling is probably causing a bit of a gag reflex - also haven't had much to eat the last 24hrs and very little sleep.
Thanks GarlicNov, I'm not even going to think about that.....!.
Bizarre conversation with the assessing nurse who had no idea what a beetroot was - "is it food?" - not sure what he thought I was doing..... Anyway, I recommended them - especially the M&S rosebud ones (not just an ordinary beetroot.... No, a special f**ing beetroot that is just the right size to slip down your throat and convince you that you're dying, give you sleepless nights and a morning in A&E...aaargh!!!)

"Is it food?"

Brilliant

Love love love beetroot will have to try the m&s ones (carefully!)

So pleased you're doing okay