If You Aspirated a Snow Pea Would You Cough?

[sydneymom]

I realize the question alone sounds ridiculous. I was eating some lunch before, some green beans, broccoli and snow peas. Lately on the advice of my therapist, Ive been trying to be aware of chewing food longer and eating slower. But today I was in a hurry. I was looking down reading the paper and I guess I didnt chew one of the snowpeas and I felt it kind of slide right down what I hope is my throat. For some reason, I am paranoid that it slid down my trachea instead. Would this have made me cough like crazy?

I do have mild LPR, which is silent reflux. Over a year ago I had a swallowing test and the doctor said something about how if it takes a regular person one swallow it takes me two or three. I dont recall if he was referring to food or to the acid. A few months ago I repeated the test and got similar results. He said something about my reflux being harder to treat because when I reflux it doesnt go right back down.

Last week I thought I aspirated my soup broth, but I did cough when that happened. This time once or twice the snowpea being so flat felt like it was getting stuck at the top of my mouth, and then the other one seemed to slide down whole. I know its ridiculous, and that my reflux isnt terrible, but what if I inhaled it and didnt even have a cough reflex? Is that onlly really with people who have MS or strokes, etc?

I should have chewed better. I am worried bc a snowpea is so flat. Maybe I didnt choke. Ive been very stressed because my son had the flu last week and he is asthmatic. This morning I had to take him to the urgicenter to get a chest xray for possible pneumonia. Luckily it was negative but he needed oxygen and more albuterol. I havent slept for six nights from taking care of him and nebuliizing him. I am also on tamiflu myself to prevent flu.

Is it possible that I have mild dysphagia from my reflux and would be able to swallow a snowpea down the wrong pipe? I also accidentally forgot to ask for my vegetables to be steamed, so I ate ones that were sauteed with a bit of spicy sauce on them. Bad for reflux. Now I am paranoid I will start feeling short of breath or sick and get aspiration pneumonia or a raging infection.

Just looking for a little reassurance about aspriating. I know reflux patients such as my son sometimes aspirate stomach acid, but that involves a lot of coughing. I did sort of feel as if I was going to gag and tried to cough for a second but it just slid down. I should add that I control my anxiety by going to the gym and therapy, but havent been able to do either since my son has been sick. And also I am not on reflux medications.

[Slangevar]

If you felt it slide down and didn't cough, you probably didn't aspirate it. Food aspiration usually triggers a coughing or sneezing reflex (lungs don't like food in them).

Is it possible you aspirated it?  Unlikely, but yes, it is possible. If the pea is small enough, it may cause nothing to happen at all. If it's a bit bigger, it can cause smelly coughing & breath and possibly pneumonia from the body's attempt to "fight off the invader."

I'm not telling you that because I think that happened to you... I suspect the pea went down your esophagus a bit oddly and that's the sensation you felt. But make note of it in case you suddenly develop a weird chest infection out of nowhere. (It won't kill you or develop into cancer or anything... they'll just need to give you antibiotics and possible go after the thing with a scope.)