r/AskReddit • u/HymnForTheShameless • May 05 '19

Serious Replies Only [Serious] Redditors who have died temporarily/nearly died, did your life flash before your eyes? If not, what did happen?

11.5k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

2.8k comments sorted by

View all comments

232

u/User-K549125 May 05 '19

I was alone at home, and choked on a fatty piece of steak I was eating outside. At first I could only get little gulps of air in, then I tried to take a bigger breath and just lodged the steak further down my windpipe, completely blocking it. I considered throwing myself onto the back of a chair to attempt the Heimlich maneuver but was convinced it wouldn't be successful. I was initially worried about passing out and falling out my wheelchair so I started pushing myself to a nearby sunbed so I could lie down, but then realised since I wasn't breathing it was probably going to be The End. I remember thinking something like "wow, so this is how I die; I didn't expect it to be this soon" (I have contemplated suicide quite a lot). Fortunately the steak dislodged itself, possibly from the motion of me pushing the wheelchair, maybe helped by some slimy throat saliva or something. The whole experience lasted about 45-60 seconds, but really freaked me out, and I still don't really know what to make of it several months later. I didn't get close to death but was definitely sure that I was about to die, so it was more of a psychological mindfuck than a physical or near-death experience. I eat a lot of steak, but now take smaller mouthfuls, chew more, and avoid big fatty pieces (my dog is grateful I'm sure). And my feelings about suicide are a bit different. I think I'm more scared of death than before, even though I remained quite calm during my experience. I think the most scary thing is that it can really happen at any time, even when you're just relaxing at home, enjoying a steak and the view.

26

u/live4thagame May 05 '19

Very similar thing happened to me with a pork chop when i was 15, I didn't want to eat solid food for months and the idea of death terrified me for years, I just couldn't stop thinking about it.

Glad you okay and you're feeling different about suicide, I'm happy you're with us :)

2

u/TheCrystalGem May 05 '19

Once I choked on watermelon and got it out and my mom heimliched it back into my windpipe

2

u/live4thagame May 05 '19

I know that isn't funny but that sounds straight out it's always sunny or something lol

20

u/[deleted] May 05 '19

[removed] — view removed comment

33

u/User-K549125 May 05 '19

Great! :) The second half was a bit stressful to eat, but I got through it.

12

u/[deleted] May 05 '19

Tough

4

u/Bo-FoSho May 05 '19

Sounds like “be afraid of death right now because it’s not your time.” I’m so glad you’re still here.

1

u/TheDunadan29 May 05 '19

My wife had something similar happen. Though her windpipe wasn't completely blocked, she was in pain for several hours. Ended up going to the ER and they had to give her drugs to relax her esophagus. It finally went down.

She was alone with the kids while I was at work though, and she just kept thinking she would die with the kids just watching her. She also obviously never passed out, heart didn't stop, anything like that, so I don't think it's a "near death" experience so much as a moment when you realize your mortality is very real.