I can't breathe...
I grew up in a house where both of my parents were heavy smokers. This may have been the main factor to my childhood asthmatic condition. Although I wasn't sickly, cigarette smoke, perfume and chemicals would bring on asthma attacks. We lived down the street from the incinerator (with 2 smoke stacks) and across the road from a company that packed aerosol containers. Not a neighborhood to brag about.Moving to Miami was better as we were a few miles from the ocean and never were concerned about pollution. The issue I had was my neighbors with night blooming jasmine bushes that could bring on an asthma attack in a heartbeat. As I got older things got better and in my teenage years, I played sports and my asthma subsided. I controlled attacks with an over-the-counter inhaler.
In the last 30 years I've been involved with the manufacture of cabinets. From production kitchen cabinets to high-end custom furniture. This environment had me directly in contact with products that were painted. First it was lacquer and over the years finishing materials evolved to catalyzed acrylics which are far more hazardous to the environment.
One business, had the office above the factory and the fumes from the freshly painted products would bleed into the air conditioning system. They finished spraying paint around 4pm and I was there until 7 with the garage door open and large fans pulling fresh air into the building. It was unsafe to be in the building with the doors closed and no fans.
I did a project with enamel paint and used multi-layer filter masks. That wasn't enough. I should have used a mask with carbon cartridges. The asthma lingered and my family doctor sent me to a Pulmonologist for an x-ray and evaluation. Steroids and prescription inhaler. That was around ten years ago. Since then, I've become highly sensitive to chemicals in my environment.
The last place I worked at used to supply the air freshener Febreeze in the restrooms. To me, that stuff is like Kryptonite to Superman. I would place a can of Lysol disinfectant next to the Febreze and to my liking my coworkers would use the Lysol!
Under normal circumstances I only use an inhaler once or twice a week. However, I'm now working for a remodeling company and their warehouse is stocked with all kinds of supplies including tile, carpet underlayment and cabinets. The a/c is shared between the office and warehouse and as soon as I enter the building, I start sneezing. Within 2 hours, I have asthma bad enough to restrict my breathing and have been using the inhaler 4 times a day, often no relief until an hour or two after I leave the building.
My outside appointments are 2 or 3 per day and I'm allowed to work from home, but we have walk-in clients and I need to be there or the leads will go to the other salesmen.
Moving 50 miles from the medical center in Miami, I found a one near my office. My new doctor referred me to a specialist who called for x-rays, steroid based inhaler and a lung capacity test coming up at the end of the month.
In the mean time, I bought a special 3-stage HEPA air purification system and ran it in the office all night. The air was noticeably better and I was able to make it to noon before the asthma started affecting me. I need to go through the warehouse and find out what (exactly) is bothering me and possibly cover at area with tarp or plastic sheeting.
Worst case scenario actually has a few possibilities... No decision as I'm not going there. At least not for now.
Comments (5)
But, you're supposed to be retired.
Apparently, your lungs agree.
My suggestion is to work from home and see if your many past clients need anything else.
Then get a referral fee if that new work involves chemical treatments.
Much to my chagrin, my parents smoked as I was growing up.
When they did, I used to close my bedroom door and place a damp towel at the bottom
to keep the smoke out. Apparently, it helped prevent me from getting lung problems.
Eventually they gave the smoking up.
Take Care of Yourself.
My friend who I visit in America, one of his relatives passed away in his 60's a few years ago due to the "fall out" from the 9/11 attack. He was on the "front line" He wasn't a smoker either. I live in a City/Town called Torrevieja which is supposedly to be one of the healthiest places in the world due to the salt lakes and the salt we produce. Many people say it helps their arthritic problems. I must admit that when I go back to the Uk to visit my family, my bones start to ache.
Just to add. My friend in America always uses a N95? mask when he's mowing his back garden as it's a big back garden. It's like a field to me. He has problems re heart failure and had a pacemaker? fitted so has a monitor in his home to activate if he goes into heart failure. He has never smoked.
I used to suffer from Asthma when I was a young child. I didn't know what it was. I never told my parents. I just remember getting it about once in every 6 weeks for about a week where I couldn't breathe properly. Ventolin wasn't readily available way back then. I can just buy it over the counter here. I only use it when I need it, mostly in summer when it gets too hot and there is no air (humidity is high)
I hope you get things sorted and you feel better soon
How are you coping with masks in public? In Spain, strict as they are here, you can avoid wearing a mask if you are asthmatic and can produce proof from your doctor.
Olde, thanks... I'm keeping a low profile.
Miss_C, by this time next month I'll have all the test results. Thanks for the concern.