Wednesday, January 17, 2007

It's all in how ya look at it...

Was havin' a good day. We spent the whole of it working on Block of the Month kits. We got almost 4 of them finished. (Can I just reassure you here that if you participate in these, there is no way the quilt shop is making any money off of you!! Unless you are habitually late and you have to pay the $5 every month... but even then I doubt it. So, if you have any extra money to spend in the LQS and you want o help her out and keep her in business, buy something when you stop in to pick up your kit. This has been a public service announcement. Back to our regularly scheduled program.) On my way home from work, I was so hungry, I was shaky. Ever been that hungry? So I decide to stop at my favorite grocery store- that I can't afford to shop at, regularly- and buy a piece of chicken. They make the best fried chicken around and it's my favorite and I figured, "Could one piece really hurt?" I'll cut to the chase and say, yep, one piece...one bite...could kill ya!!! I got choked on the second bite and was in excrutiating pain. Thought a drink of water would help. Nope, couldn't get the water to go down. But I'm breathing, so I do what I always do when I'm in trouble. I head for home. Longest drive of my life!! Apparently, when you're choking real bad, you can't even swallow spit! My console will never be the same. TMI? 30 minutes later, I tear into the drive and dh Bill isn't home!! He's always home before me!! I dash into the house, try to act calm in front of the little ones, squeeze out a smile and ask Dan(15) to think of something. All of them are huddled in the bathroom with me as I am spitting into the toilet and groaning in agony. Clutching my chest and trying not to let on that I think I could die. Finally I catch a little breather and call my Mom and Dad. My dad is a fountain of information. Surely they'll be able to help. So Dan is now pounding on my back and when Dad suggested I jump up and down... well, that's when things got a "little" out of hand. The pain increased 10 fold and I'd just like to say that jumping up and down while choking isn't really a good idea. I couldn't talk anymore and so Dad said to call Bill. Bill pulls into the drive a few minutes later and after a few frantic, and yet trying to sound calm, more phone calls(thanks Sarah) to anybody medicinal and what not, my Aunt Patsy(Uncle Greg's wife) told Bill to take me to the hospital. I was a bit offended when he kept telling everybody we know that I "wolfed down" a piece of chicken!! I did not!! It was just a bite! No wolfing. OK, I was ready to go by then. It had been an hour and a half, 90 minutes, since this had started and I was getting worn out. It's hard to breath through a puddle of your own saliva. Spit spit spit all the way to town. I notice a few miles down the road..."Hey! Who's car is this?" Long story. Bill's broke down in Indy- this one was a rental. Oh, great and an ER bill on top of it! You know they charge you $700 just for walking through the door? I feel so wretched. But finally, I notice I can breath. Deep Breath. I can swallow. Gulp. Mercy! I am cautiously optimistic that something has changed for the good. We drive on into town, I take a sip of Bill's water, yep, it goes down instead of throwing me into a spasm of pain. ahhh.. Now I have to call all those poor souls who helped me out and say I'm OK. I was wailing to my mom, that unlike Bill, I was having such a good day!!!! She says, "Honey, you're alive! I'd say you're still having a good day!!" Well, I guess that's all in how ya look at it, huh?

Now you'd think that would be the end, a happy end, to this rather stupid and yet traumatic event, wouldn't ya? Nope. The BB's complicate things and stress is not a good thing in anyones' life, but especially not in the the lives of my endocrine glands. And in case you didn't know it, that's their purpose, dealing with stress. The little loafers. I feel like I got hit by a Mac truck (why not a Peterbilt or a Freightliner? No, this has Mac written all over it!) So I go to bed and I notice I got the shakes real bad and I'm freezing. It is cold out... but not this cold. And the pain in my sides is worth groaning about. ah, man! Yep. Spilling and spouting Ketones. A bad thing. Gotta up the insulin and that means eating... wondering if I'll ever be able to casually chew my food again! Managed to get a muffin down and take the shot. Shivered for a few more hours until I finally fell asleep. Doing alright this morning- just wondering why it had to be chicken? Why couldn't I choke on something like... liver. I wouldn't mind feeling skittish around liver. But fried chicken? Ah, now that just ain't right. Mom says maybe it's a sign. sigh. Next time you swallow your own spit be very very thankful. it's a blessing. And every day you're alive... It's a good day!

14 comments:

Sarah said...

My dear, you crack me up! Glad I was able to save your life with all my helpful advice. Our excitement these past few days has been sleeping till almost 7 - not good on school days!

Talk to you later!

Melanie said...

I know it was a terrible experience for you... but I'm chuckling.. I can just imagine every scene...Life... you've gotta laugh... I'm thankful you're OK. you have wayyyyy too many people that count on you. Your husband sounds like a gem.... Take it easy today. Eat soup....

quiltpixie said...

glad it all worked out

Pamela (Peni) Teel said...

My darling, my darling...
Do take the day off; and yes, soup would be a winner. Love you so, Mama

The Bashams said...

Oh - you had me on the edge of my chair there for a minute. Glad you are doing better. Take the day off and loaf.

Darcie said...

Girlfriend! What am I gonna do with you?! You poor thing...I'm so glad that you're breathing...and swallowing...and typing. Heavens!

teelduo said...

Oh I am thankful you can swallow now! love you

Patti said...

Oh my - haven't any of you ever heard of the Heimlich maneuver? Even when someone is still breathing that's the appropriate thing to do. They teach that all over up here - even to kids in school. "The hug of life" they call it. It'll pop that offending piece of food right out when done correctly. There are gradeschool kids up here who've saved their little brothers and sisters from choking. Look it up on the web - I hope I've spelled it correctly.

I'm so glad you are OK now!

His Office, My Studio said...

OMG! I knew you were OK or I would not be reading about your BAD day. I think liquids for a day or two would be good. I am so happy you are doing better! Take it easy.

Anonymous said...

I was horrified in the beginning, but then I realised you had typed the post so I knew you were all right. Sounds like a Keystone Cops adventure LOL. Glad you're okay :-)

Isobel said...

It could only happen to you Nines.

Love you.

Sue said...

That problem with the chicken must have been really scary. I wonder if it has any connection to the diabetes, I'm also diabetic and I've had a problem with swallowing food at times, and chicken seems to be a problem, must be something about the texture of it. I haven't had it stuck THAT bad, but enough where it panicked me & I've had visions of having to be heimliched in the middle of a restaurant. If you find out the cause of it, I'd love to know.

Angela said...

So scary for you. I am glad you didnt have to go into the er afterall and that Bill was home with you.

Shelina said...

Oh my, what a horrendous and humerous experience, in hindsight.
I've had choking incidents too, where the food just went down the wrong pipe, and sometimes it is just spit that causes it. First time it happened, my younger sister just said breathe. She was only 8 or 9 at the time, but oh so smart. So now anytime it happens, I just know I have to stop panicing and just breathe.
I think it is safe to eat chicken again, as safe as eating anything else, I imagine.