Woman Rescued After Accidentally Swallowing 17cm Spoon

A 28-year-old woman from Rumst, Belgium, experienced a medical emergency after accidentally swallowing a 17-centimeter spoon while eating yogurt. Reymy Amelinckx shared her alarming story, which unfolded when her dog, Marley, jumped onto her while she was distracted by her phone.

During this unexpected moment, Reymy found herself faced with a harrowing choice: either choke or swallow the spoon. Initially reluctant to seek help due to embarrassment, she waited several hours before realizing the severity of her situation and ultimately decided to visit the emergency room.

Reymy recounted, “I put the spoon in my mouth so I had my hands free to reply to a message. Just then, Marley decided to jump on me. 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.”

Despite feeling no immediate discomfort, Reymy’s condition worsened after dinner when she understood the importance of acting quickly. The advice she found online was clear: go straight to the emergency room.

Medical Intervention Required

Upon her arrival at the hospital, medical professionals informed Reymy that the spoon was too large to pass through her digestive system naturally. She was sent home to await a scheduled gastroscopy. The next two days proved to be challenging as she felt the spoon moving within her body, sometimes even between her ribs.

“It was truly terrifying,” she explained. “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.”

The spoon was successfully removed under local anaesthetic during the procedure. Reymy described the process, noting that she had to refrain from swallowing while the doctors rotated the utensil in her stomach. This led to a small gastric hemorrhage, but ultimately, she felt immense relief once it was extracted.

“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.

Recovery and Reflection

After the procedure, Reymy spent a few hours in recovery before being discharged. Although she experienced a sore throat and minor gastric bleeding, she reported no long-term damage.

Despite the ordeal, Reymy decided to keep the spoon as a memento of her unusual experience. She mentioned, “My boyfriend wants to turn it into a work of art. He doesn’t know exactly what yet, but it will definitely be a unique piece. That’s the least such an adventure deserves.”

Reymy also offered advice for others who might find themselves in similar situations. “Enthusiastic dogs + eating on laps = risk zone,” she cautioned. She emphasized the importance of teaching pets commands like “wait” or “quiet” to prevent accidents and advised against multitasking while eating.

“If you swallow something that really shouldn’t be there, seek medical attention immediately. Embarrassment is temporary; internal damage isn’t,” she concluded. Her story serves as a reminder of the unexpected dangers that can arise during seemingly innocent activities.