Gixxerman
Guru
- Location
- Market Rasen
I did a bit of a silly thing last Thursday (4th May). I was cleaning the toilet. I put down some bleach. However, this was not doing the job as much as I would like so I added some Harpic Plus limesclale remover (which is basically hydrochloric acid). Now basic chemistry 101 (and common sense and reading the labels) should have told me what was about to happen and being quite chemistry savvy, I should have realised. However, I just didn't think. I stuck the brush down and gave it a good scrub. There was an instant reaction. My first thought was "Wow, that's reacting well". Then it hit me. Burning throat, nose, instant pain in chest. "shoot, that's chlorine gas" I thought. I immediately flushed the loo and got out the bathroom. I opened all the windows and vacated the house for a few hours. However, the damage was done. I had taken in a good lung full.
Later that night (11pm) I still had painful chest and diffiulty breathing. So I rang 111. They advised me to go to A+E as a precaution. At 12 midnight I got to A+E (6 hours after the incident). On arrival the triage nurse tested my vitals (O2 sats were 98%, BP fine). So I then had to wait 7 hours to see a doctor due to A+E being packed for some reason. Doctor listened to my chest, and performed my vitals again (O2 sats still 98%). No chest x-ray or blood tests were performed. All seemed OK. I expressed my concern about possible long-term lung damage. He seemed quite certain that it was unlikely given the low dosage / exposure time and the fact that I had not passed out at any point or vomited, plus my lungs sounded fine and no hint of edema and not coughing at all. From what he said, only about 1% suffer long term damage and that is as a result of acute exposure for long periods. This is also born out from my own research on t'internet. Case studies from swimming pool incident where victims were exposed to concentrations that resulted in coughing, unconsciousness and in some cases pulmonary edemas.
However, moderate exercise still leaves me short of breath, although the pain has all but gone now. There is still a feeling of a tight chest. I went for a test ride last Tuesday (9th) of about 8 miles. I went at it quite hard, but not at my 100% pace. I felt a little out of breath and my throat and lungs seemed a bit sore, but nothing too serious. I went to the gym on Wednesday 10th to do my usual weights. But I struggled and after I was really quite short of breath (more so than on my bike ride). Today (11th) I walked a few bus stops from my usual stop to see how I would feel. Again a bit short of breath and tightness in chest.
Despite all the assurances from the Doctor, I am really worried. My social life is based largely around sporting / physical activities, such as football, cycling, high altitude mountaineering, and any significant issue with lungs / breathing will be most upsetting as it might curtial or even prevent me from doing them.
I don't mind amitting it, I am really worried. I have a planned alpine mountaineering trip in mid to late June. I really hope that I am back to full fitness by then. I am doing a training week in Scotland later this month (in about 2 weeks hopefully), so that should give me some idea of how my fitness is so I don't waste time and money travellling to the alps and not being able to climb.
Later that night (11pm) I still had painful chest and diffiulty breathing. So I rang 111. They advised me to go to A+E as a precaution. At 12 midnight I got to A+E (6 hours after the incident). On arrival the triage nurse tested my vitals (O2 sats were 98%, BP fine). So I then had to wait 7 hours to see a doctor due to A+E being packed for some reason. Doctor listened to my chest, and performed my vitals again (O2 sats still 98%). No chest x-ray or blood tests were performed. All seemed OK. I expressed my concern about possible long-term lung damage. He seemed quite certain that it was unlikely given the low dosage / exposure time and the fact that I had not passed out at any point or vomited, plus my lungs sounded fine and no hint of edema and not coughing at all. From what he said, only about 1% suffer long term damage and that is as a result of acute exposure for long periods. This is also born out from my own research on t'internet. Case studies from swimming pool incident where victims were exposed to concentrations that resulted in coughing, unconsciousness and in some cases pulmonary edemas.
However, moderate exercise still leaves me short of breath, although the pain has all but gone now. There is still a feeling of a tight chest. I went for a test ride last Tuesday (9th) of about 8 miles. I went at it quite hard, but not at my 100% pace. I felt a little out of breath and my throat and lungs seemed a bit sore, but nothing too serious. I went to the gym on Wednesday 10th to do my usual weights. But I struggled and after I was really quite short of breath (more so than on my bike ride). Today (11th) I walked a few bus stops from my usual stop to see how I would feel. Again a bit short of breath and tightness in chest.
Despite all the assurances from the Doctor, I am really worried. My social life is based largely around sporting / physical activities, such as football, cycling, high altitude mountaineering, and any significant issue with lungs / breathing will be most upsetting as it might curtial or even prevent me from doing them.
I don't mind amitting it, I am really worried. I have a planned alpine mountaineering trip in mid to late June. I really hope that I am back to full fitness by then. I am doing a training week in Scotland later this month (in about 2 weeks hopefully), so that should give me some idea of how my fitness is so I don't waste time and money travellling to the alps and not being able to climb.