This is a silent post...

So yeah. Monday I was scheduled to work a half day 2p-7p.

I got up around 11am and puttered around the house for a while then decided to make lunch.

I made up Johnsonville Brats and french fries in the oven. They cooked thoroughly and I do mean thoroughly. 195F out of the oven thoroughly.

I had cut one of the brats in half and picked up that half, biting into the end of it. I thought I had bitten off maybe an inch or two of the brat (which I had), but I hadn't completely bitten through the casing.

In the subsequent 30-45 seconds, I choked on said brat and had said very hot brat stuck in my throat. I managed to finally get it down my throat, but the pain was excruciating. I sent an email that I'd not be into work and laid down.

I somewhat expect it to hurt for a while, but when it was starting to affect my breathing and I could barely talk by 6pm, I knew it was probably more serious than I realized.

Off to the ER, where it was made obvious that I had burns and trauma to my throat and to my larynx (vocal cords). I was prescribed liquid vicodin and told to follow up with the ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) doctor ASAP.
Tuesday was spent sitting around the house. I cleaned like a fiend but it was more out frustration. I woke up and had no voice. If I did manage to get out a few words, I'd start coughing uncontrollably, making the pain worse.

Today is more of the same. I'm seeing the ENT at 10:10am tomorrow. I can finally eat soft solid foods like overcooked pasta. I actually enjoyed a PB&J sandwich today. The worst part of it is that I constantly feel like I have something stuck in my throat and when I eat, I always feel like I'm choking and gagging. I'm always sucking on sore throat lozenges and trying to avoid the liquid vicodin. It works okay, but it is vicodin, which I have built up a tolerance for over the years.

In the weirdness of it all, I was sitting watching TV tonight and Connelly, the grey tabby, who doesn't like me much, decided he wanted to curl up with me in the easy chair. We sat there for about 45 minutes with me petting him and him just as content as could be and even purring. I've never heard Connelly purr that loudly. Normally, it's barely audible and I could hear him over the TV.

It must be true what it is said about pets and knowing when their owners need the extra love and attention.

But I'm off to take my medication and head to bed.