Belgian Woman's Freak Accident Leads to Spoon Swallowing Ordeal
A 28-year-old woman from Belgium experienced a bizarre medical emergency when she accidentally swallowed a 17-centimeter-long spoon following an unexpected incident with her energetic dog. The woman, identified as Reymy Amelinckx from Rumst, found herself facing an unusual dilemma when her Hungarian Vizsla named Marley suddenly jumped onto her lap while she was enjoying yogurt on her couch.
The Moment of Panic
Reymy, who works as a medical representative, explained the sequence of events that led to the unusual situation. "I had put the spoon in my mouth so I could have my hands free to reply to a message on my phone," she recounted. "Just at that moment, Marley decided to jump on me. I was so startled that I jerked my head back, and before I knew what was happening, the spoon became lodged in my throat."
Standing up in panic, Reymy faced a critical decision. "Everything happened so quickly that it was either swallow the spoon or choke," she said. Remarkably, she felt the implement "sliding down into my stomach smoothly" despite its considerable length.
Delayed Medical Attention
Initially, Reymy felt too embarrassed to mention the incident to her boyfriend when he returned home from work, so she "pretended nothing was wrong." She explained, "I didn't feel bad at all initially, so I didn't say anything about it right away. It wasn't until after dinner that I realized the situation was actually quite serious."
When she finally sought medical attention, doctors informed her that the spoon was too large to pass through her digestive system naturally. She had to return home and wait for a scheduled gastroscopy procedure, which created an uncomfortable two-day waiting period.
Uncomfortable Waiting Period
Reymy described the night following the accident as particularly difficult. "I could feel the spoon moving inside me, sometimes even between my ribs," she revealed. "It was truly terrifying. I experienced bloating and nausea, and I couldn't eat without feeling strange. Sleeping proved challenging because every position reminded me of the spoon in my stomach."
Medical Intervention and Recovery
Two days after the incident, doctors removed the utensil under local anesthesia. The procedure required rotating the spoon within her stomach, which caused a small gastric hemorrhage. "The removal wasn't pleasant," Reymy admitted, "but I felt pure relief when it finally came out."
The medical team confirmed she suffered a sore throat due to damage to her esophagus, experienced several minor gastric bleeding episodes, and had a sensitive stomach for some time afterward. Fortunately, doctors confirmed there was no permanent damage from the unusual incident.
Unusual Keepsake and Lasting Reputation
Despite the unpleasant experience, Reymy decided to keep the spoon as a unique keepsake. "My boyfriend wants to turn it into a work of art," she shared. "He doesn't know exactly what form it will take yet, but it will definitely be a unique piece."
The incident has given Reymy a distinctive reputation among her acquaintances. "I did, however, gain a lifelong reputation as 'that girl with the spoon,'" she noted with some amusement about the bizarre episode that began with a simple yogurt snack and an overly enthusiastic dog.
