Holy Cow

Speaking of sniffling, I nearly aspirated some food yesterday, it was terrifying!

I was eating my dinner and my nose was dripping so I sniffed and some food chunk went RIGHT back against my breathing tube (trachea?) and I could feel it blocking the opening and man that panic is not a good one.  I'm not sure what happened in the next moment but I assume my instincts did their thing and expelled the food rather than completely inhaled it but I honestly wasn't sure.

I was breathing (thank God) but coughing, but didn't feel pain or anything, but of course I was worried.  I also felt stupid because although I do know anatomy, somehow my brain hadn't realized that sniffing was a form of BREATHING and so I might breathe in food accidentally.  I just... sniffed.  I'm sure I've done it before while chewing.  I hope I never do it again while chewing.  Damn.

I spent a few moments googling to see if I had any symptoms of having inhaled food into my lungs, and what might happen to that bit of food if I had, and, well, that wasn't a helpful thought.

The coughing wasn't terrible by that point and I figured I'd just see how the next while went and if be I'd... I dunno, hit up the ER?  What a horrible thought... the train of thought of "if I do have food in my lung what will they have to do to make sure I don't get aspiration pneumonia" and, well, let's just assume I managed not to inhale the food and move on before I spin myself into some major anxiety shall we?

So yeah, be careful when you're eating eh?  It really doesn't take much.  And please don't ever let me choke.  Please, please, please.  Amen.