HEALTH RISK WARNING!!!

(My apologies for this posting today; I was editing things, and accidently reposted it.  This is actually from 2 or 3 years ago.)

Since this blog can be about anything, I feel it’s my duty to pass on the following health risk warning:

SMOKED SALMON AND TEETH CAN BE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH!!!

 I know what you’re thinking, “of course smoked salmon isn’t good for you; it’s really salty, etc.”  Agreed, however, that isn’t the warning I want to pass on here.

What I’m talking about is inhaling smoked salmon.  (On a side note, I wonder if this could be considered “second hand smoked”, since it was bought and not homemade.)

I’m sure everyone knows salmon, of any kind, should not be inhaled.  It’s meant to be eaten.  To be fair, I HAD been eating my smoked salmon; the last tiny bite flaked, (literally), on me and decided it wanted to be inhaled instead.

The risks of inhaling smoked salmon are great.  It can lead to choking; excessive coughing, (which in turn can lead to lack of sleep due to long-term coughing); watery eyes; headache, (from the choking and coughing); and tooth loss. Yes, tooth loss; yours, not the salmon’s…If your salmon still has teeth while you’re eating it, you have a whole other problem to deal with; such as overly fresh sushi!

Back to smoked salmon and tooth loss.  I’ll use myself as an example.

As stated earlier, the last bit of smoked salmon I was eating was accidently inhaled rather than eaten properly.  Immediately all of the symptoms I’ve mentioned kicked in.  My eyes watered and I was choking and coughing.  At one point I thought I had things under control, but I started choking again, only worse.  While this was going on, my mind was trying to figure out how such a small bit of salmon could make me choke and cough so much. 

When the choking finally subsided, I noticed that my mouth felt different for some reason.  A quick look in the mirror revealed why…Somewhere in the midst of choking on smoked salmon, one of my upper teeth decided to bail on me, leaving a nice, very noticeable gap when I open my mouth.  Not a good thing!  To make matters worse, since I can't find the missing tooth anywhere, I'm guessing I swallowed it.  YUCK!!!

In addition, the coughing wouldn’t stop.  Spent most of the rest of the night and today coughing, hard.  This has resulted in a massive headache.  BLEAH!!!

Enough complaining about myself though.  This blog is intended as a health risk warning.  Hopefully it’s done its job and you’re more aware of the dangers of smoked salmon and teeth now.

Cold Turkey

(Today's word will be in ALL CAPS, BOLD, ITALIC, and STRIKETHROUGH.)


Sometimes I think my brain likes to play "connect the dots"; except, instead of actually following them, and having a picture appear, my brain just makes up it's own picture.

That's how today's post came to be; I was thinking of ideas,(like quitting things cold turkey), which crossed with Thanksgiving and the two connected into what you're about to read.

To be honest, this post has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, or turkey. What it's about is something I started, (or I guess ended), nine weeks ago.

Awhile ago I had a post about losing a crown while eating smoked salmon. Since then, I've had increasing problems with swallowing. My throat tends to want to close up, making me choke. It finally got bad enough that I went to the doctor, who referred me to a specialist.

I'd always thought my problem had been caused from having bronchitis eight times in two years, (long story, I'll spare everyone); turns out that's not the case.

The main problem was massive quantities of Coca-Cola, chocolate, etc. Turns out caffeine can actually cause your throat to constrict if you have too much over long periods of time.

The specialist suggested cutting out all caffeine, the Coke, chocolate, tea, etc., as well as mint and tomato based products.

We're talking about someone who listed Coke, chocolate, and music as their life support, until September 22, 2011. On that day I finished off the last of my Coca-Cola and chocolate I had, and haven't drank, or eaten any since that day. I quit cold turkey, and surprisingly, it wasn't that hard. What keeps me motivated is, the longer I go without soda POP
and chocolate, the more I don't want to give in to the temptation. I just keep thinking, "if I give in, I'll have to start counting from day one again". Nine weeks is a long time to have to start at the beginning again.

The greatest benefit though is, since following the specialist's advice, I've only had one instance where my throat closed up; and that was shortly after I'd quit my vices.

If you'd told me ten weeks ago I'd have come this far without the Coke and chocolate I'd have laughed; not anymore though. I've learned there is life away from Coke and chocolate, and I'm happy for that.

IMPORTANT PRESS RELEASE!!!

In light of recent events, I feel the importance to come clean with my readers about something.  Please read my (un)official press release below.  It will (not) be released to the media (any time) soon.

Please note, the above press release is meant totally tongue in cheek. (Which is much less dangerous and painful than a tooth in your chest.)

Thank you.

HEALTH RISK WARNING--UPDATE

Earlier in the week I wrote a blog about how smoked salmon and teeth can be hazardous to your health.  I would now like to update everyone on this matter.

As the earlier blog stated, I had choked on a piece of smoked salmon, discovering after the choking was done, that I had swallowed one of my teeth.  (It’s actually a crown.)

This was on Tuesday.  As the week progressed, I felt better and better.  My chest wasn’t hurting anymore, which I attributed to not coughing all the time.  However, still no sign of the tooth.

I’d had several people tell me I should get an x-ray, to see where the tooth was.  Why?  I was feeling better, I didn’t hurt, didn’t have any problems, except an occasional cough; no big deal.

I’m writing this current blog on Sunday morning.  I woke up, just as I always do; got up, got dressed, and out of nowhere had a bad coughing fit.  It was as bad as the one on Tuesday when I’d choked on the salmon.  I couldn’t stop coughing; I felt like I was choking just like before.  Then what happens?  Out pops my tooth!  Seriously, I coughed up my tooth!

Despite the coughing, my warped sense of humor still kicked in.  My first thought upon seeing the tooth was, “I’m sure glad I didn’t go looking for that earlier in the week!”

My second thought was important enough, (to me at least), that I actually posted it as my Facebook status:  If I’m wrong, and admit it, it voids those who were right from saying, “I told you so”.  (:

If anyone is wondering; Yes, I called the advice nurse; no, I don’t have to go in.  Since I coughed the tooth out, I should be fine. 

So there you have it; an update, and an admission of being wrong.  Hopefully this will be the last of any health risk warnings I’ll be blogging about.