Woman Accidentally Swallows 17cm Spoon During Yoghurt Mishap with Dog
A 28-year-old woman has shared the bizarre story of how she accidentally swallowed a 17cm-long spoon while eating yoghurt, an incident triggered by her energetic dog jumping onto her lap. Reymy Amelinckx, a medical representative from Rumst in Belgium, described the frightening moment when she had to make a split-second decision between "choking or swallowing the spoon" as she felt the utensil "sliding down into my stomach smoothly."
The Startling Incident
Reymy explained she was sitting on her couch enjoying yoghurt when she placed the spoon in her mouth to free her hands to reply to a message. "Just then, Marley decided to jump on me," she said, referring to her Hungarian Vizsla dog. "I was so startled I jerked my head back, and before I knew it, the spoon was lodged in my throat. I stood up and started to panic."
Initially, Reymy tried to remove the spoon manually but quickly realised the severity of the situation. "Everything happened so fast, it was either swallow or choke," she recalled. Feeling embarrassed by the unusual accident, she kept it secret from her boyfriend when he returned home from work, "pretending nothing was wrong."
Medical Emergency and Recovery
It was only after dinner that Reymy recognised the seriousness of having a 17cm spoon in her stomach. After consulting online sources that unanimously advised going straight to the emergency room, she sought medical help. Doctors determined the spoon was too large to pass naturally and scheduled a gastroscopy.
"That night was difficult," Reymy described. "I felt the spoon moving, sometimes even between my ribs. It was truly terrifying. I felt bloated and nauseous, and I couldn't eat without feeling strange. Sleeping was difficult because every position reminded me of the spoon in my stomach."
Two days later, medical professionals removed the utensil under local anaesthetic. "I wasn't allowed to swallow while they pulled it up," Reymy explained. "They had to rotate it in my stomach, which caused a small gastric haemorrhage. It wasn't pleasant, but I felt pure relief when it came out."
She expressed gratitude that doctors could remove the spoon via gastroscopy rather than requiring surgical intervention. "I'm so glad the spoon was eventually removed with a gastroscopy and that they didn't have to surgically cut open my stomach," she said.
Aftermath and Advice
Following the procedure, Reymy recovered quickly despite some temporary effects. "I had a sore throat due to damage to my oesophagus, a few minor gastric bleeding episodes, and a sensitive stomach for a while, but no permanent damage," she reported.
The incident has earned her a unique reputation among colleagues and friends. "I did, however, gain a lifelong reputation as 'that girl with the spoon,'" she noted. "The next day, I went back to work as usual. My colleagues didn't believe me until I showed them the X-ray."
Remarkably, Reymy decided to keep the spoon as a keepsake, with her boyfriend planning to transform it into a work of art. "He doesn't know exactly what yet, but it will definitely be a unique piece," she said. "That's the least such an adventure deserves."
Safety Recommendations
Reymy offered practical advice for others who might find themselves in similar circumstances with pets and food:
- "Enthusiastic dogs + eating on laps = risk zone. Teach them a 'wait' or 'quiet' command for jumping moments."
- "For yoghurt eaters: don't eat with cutlery completely in your mouth."
- "Don't multitask with animals, and avoid jump scares and laughing with your mouth full."
- "If you swallow something that really shouldn't be there: seek medical attention immediately."
She concluded with a crucial reminder: "Embarrassment is temporary, internal damage isn't." Despite the frightening experience, Reymy maintains perspective about the unusual event. "It's a bizarre story, but one with a happy ending – and a legendary anecdote for parties," she reflected.
