We pulled up to the house and I noticed that there was no waver (someone frantically trying to get our attention). Inside, on the couch, we found a 75 year old woman. She was gently rubbing her throat. The story from family members was that she had been eating when she started choking on a piece of meat. Her daughter rushed over and did the Heimlich maneuver.
My patient said she felt as if something was still in her throat. I explained that that was a possibility, but it was more likely that the lining of her esophagus had been damaged (it's really sensitive) and that's why she felt that way. The same way you can "feel" a pill that you've swallowed without enough water.
After a thorough assessment (everything checked out great) she and her daughters decided that it would be best if they didn't go by ambulance but instead chose to take their own vehicle. We reassured them that if there were any more complications we were just a phone call away.
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