Soreness of the Lungs

DanMorrison · #1 2012-07-14, 10:28am

Okay, So, I feel really stupid posting this, because I could have EASILY avoided this...

I have excellent ventilation in my shop, but two days ago I had my torches in a different location with no ventilation whatsoever, other than an open door to the outside. I just needed to make a little piece out of clear boro, and decided to just go ahead and do it. I thought it was only going to take like 20 minutes, but I ended up working over the torch for about an hour, maybe hour and a half.

Later in the day I noticed a soreness in my lungs, the same exact feeling you get if you go swimming for a long time. When I take a deep breath I feel the urge to cough. Other than that I felt completely normal.

I had also done some extreme physical exercise a couple days before, so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it...

Has anyone else experienced this? It has not gone away yet.

I'm hoping that it's just some minor irritation, but I'll probably go to the clinic later to make sure It's nothing serious.

Karen Hardy · #2 2012-07-14, 12:33pm

I would wait a few days. It sounds like maybe you just have a chest
cold. One piece of boro worked for an hour shouldn't destroy your lungs
(unless you were fuming without ventilation). Plus you mentioned that
you did some extreme exercising, so that probably played into it too.

Give it a few days and see.

PerfectDeb · #3 2012-07-14, 11:34pm

i think it would take a lot more than one longish session to do enough damage to actually make your lungs sore

i'm a little obsessive about safety and i torch with a cross breeze

RSimmons · #4 2012-07-15, 3:49pm

You're probably experiencing the effects fo exposure to the nitric oxides and other components of the torch flame. These are respiratory irritants. Studies have shown that heavy exercise can make you more sensitive to irritant gas exposure. You probably aren't ruined but may have some irritation for a day or so. If it doesn't clear up pretty fast of gets worse I'd recommend seeing a doctor.

Robert

carolinesbeads · #5 2012-07-15, 4:50pm

If you have a regular doctor they often have a line that you can call with questions like this also there are nurse lines in many cities that you can call to run it by them to see if you need to go in. You only get 1 pair of lungs.
Caroline

Dale M. · #6 2012-07-17, 6:17am

Bump... Update us Dan, how are you doing?

Dale

Donna T. · #7 2012-07-17, 5:11pm

I too have felt this several times. I'm bad about not turning on my vent. I know...I know. I thought it might be from breathing in propane from the torch but maybe it's the metals in the silver glasses. Either way I feel a tightness in my lungs. Coughing. Sometimes it will last a day or two.

Oh, and I definitely don't do any exercise, so that's not part of my equation.

I've already decided this week to be more diligent with my ventilation.

DanMorrison · #8 2012-07-20, 9:23pm

Update, It cleared up in a day. No big deal!

Thanks everyone for the comments!

LarryC · #9 2012-07-21, 8:55am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanMorrison

Update, It cleared up in a day. No big deal!

Thanks everyone for the comments!

Good news. Definitely a wake up call for those folks who work without ventilation. Not just paranoia. Combustion creates by products that can effect your health.

angelique_redhead · #10 2012-07-25, 2:59am

I can tell the difference when I work in shops with ventilation other than my own. The suckalux system I have in my shop is a lot more powerful than most of the ventilation other folks put in. I'm a canary. I need it! It's good to hear you're feeling better.

Angelique