Shooting and Asthma...anybody else have problems?

[springmom]

I ***take*** Advair. But thanks. And I ***always*** have a bottle of water with me out there. Never stay out too long in the heat. It's definitely the crud from the gun itself.

My poor allergist had to come up with a way to test me for the botanicals found in Citadelle gin after I had an anaphylactic reaction to it. I don't think she's up to gunpowder....

Springmom

 

[Detachment Charlie]

So far, LoneViking has come up with the best advice.
I have COPD, take three different prescription inhalants, plus the "emergency gasper," prednasone (serious steroid), and use oxygen at night and "as needed" during the day.
A few suggestions that have worked for me (YMMV):
Get a GOOD pulmonologist.
No more INDOOR ranges.
Masks won't work -- if they filter and seal well enough to do any good, your lungs won't have the power to breathe though the filter.
It's hell gettin' old. Oh, don't shoot at the 100 yd range too often. The other shooters get real testy when it takes you ten minutes to walk down and stagger back. I hide a small O2 bottle in my range bag.
Good Luck.

 

[springmom]

Thanks, DC. If you noticed, I said I always shoot outdoors. Never at indoor ranges.

You need to take a buddy with you who'll put out your targets when he/she puts out his/hers. My husband does mine often when we go out together, although I'm FAR from the slowest person getting there and back. Heck, I'd hire somebody before I'd quit shooting rifles

Springmom

 

[fireflyfather]

I'd rather see an asthmatic practice with a mask and know how to use that gun well in an emergency than have them not practice at all and be clueless (Springmom will never be clueless, but you know what I mean).

You may want to consider an OUTDOOR range.

 

[jakeswensonmt]

Fructose is fruit sugar and is found in every orange, banana, apple and pear you ever ate.

Yes, and you would have to eat a truckload of them to get the equivalent level of fructose in your body as in a couple sodas.

Mods: time to close this, please. It's gotten off topic.

Wow, everyone (incl me) has jumped on board to try to help you, and you want to close your own thread because of a small amount of OT? Not very nice or courteous.

 

[springmom]

Jake, it is not a matter of being unappreciative. Really. It's just that when people start giving suggestions regarding medications and therapies, rather than dust masks or times of day to shoot or whatever, it gets more personal than I'm comfortable with. Lots of folks have stuck to the question at hand. Lots of others have gotten into medical and pharmaceutical issues. Lists of the medications I take and the complicating illnesses that coexist with the asthma aren't something I want out here on a public gun forum. Now if someone wants to PM me, that might be different; but on here? Nah.

And besides, none of us can stretch the definition of "gun related" to include discussions of fructose

It didn't matter that I asked it to be closed; it didn't GET closed anyway. Perhaps that's because the issue itself, cleared of all the medical advice, is one that the mods think important enough to leave open. That's ok, I guess.

Sorry if you take offense, and I know you mean to help; but I've asked that we NOT veer into the "do you take this? you shouldn't eat that" venue. It's not shooting related, and I don't want to discuss it personally. I'd like that request honored.

ETA: Fireflyfather....as I've said earlier, I never shoot at indoor ranges. I *always* shoot outdoors.

Springmom

 

[K-Romulus]

I've got cat-dog triggered asthma that gets aggravated if I'm also around mold or tree pollen. I haven't noticed any issues when shooting. For years I wore a respirator at the range due to lead concerns. It was rated for lead, paint, etc. I had no trouble using it and breathing enough to keep living. Stopped using it when the range went lead-free; I don't bother at the one other range I use because it has a great ventilation system.

The old range I used had hardly any ventilation, and the cloudy atmosphere made me wonder why I was NOT having a reaction.

 

[earl_simmons]

If you are considering using a respirator, even a cheapo dust mask, you should check with your physician. If you have reduced pulmonary function as a result of your condition, such negative-pressure respirators might cause problems with your breathing. If necessary, there are several models of powered air-purifying respirators that use a small battery-powered blower to supply filtered breathing air to a mask or hood.

 

[springmom]

Thanks, Earl. I'll bring it up next time I see her.

Springmom

 

[fireflyfather]

Sorry, that's what I get for not reading the whole thread. Have you noticed that it's seasonal? I get bad attacks during certain pollen seasons. Either way, a mask should help, especially one that is rated for airborne contaminants instead of just dust particles. Also, the dryness of the air seems to make a difference to me. More moisture is good. If nothing else, good hydration.

My basic point still stands, though: Wearing a mask to practice is WAY better than not practicing at all. A gun is better than pepper spray, but a trained person with a gun is enormously better than someone who's out of practice.

 

[springmom]

Wearing a mask to practice is WAY better than not practicing at all. A gun is better than pepper spray, but a trained person with a gun is enormously better than someone who's out of practice.

And also way better than just going ahead and shooting and "paying the piper" the next day or so Who? Me? (yup.)

I have used the little paper filter masks when handling toxic pigments for my egg tempera, and (to answer those of you who've voiced concerns about respiratory volume), those don't particularly bother me in *that* situation but that's a whole lot different than range practice. It's a good idea to discuss it with my allergist, and I'll do that. I've also used the thicker white masks that painters wear (matter of fact, I got them for painting my studio white, come to think of it) and they *do* seem to impact my respiration. Much harder to breathe through all that stuff.

My asthma has always been worse in the springtime, although it seems to be generalizing more nowadays. I'm absolutely convinced that the Houston air quality is a part of it....I can spend an entire day surrounded by weeds, wildflowers, trees, and cow flop out at the ranch and never sneeze, never wheeze, never feel that chest tightness that says "did you accidentally swallow a bag of rabbit skin glue by any chance?" But Houston is a non-negotiable for the next few years, at least, so the trick is to try and strategize ways to minimize the impact (like we're talking about vis a vis shooting).

Springmom

 

[jaholder1971]

In my experience, if you:
1) Eliminate processed food and any chemials from your diet (nothing with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, or anything you can't pronounce);
2) Take NO drugs, over-the-counter or prescribed;
3) Incorporate as many "superfoods" into your diet as possible (salmon, ground flax and hemp seeds, berries, nuts, turkey, oranges, and all the fruits and veggies you can eat);
4) Drink lots of filtered water;
5) Exersize by walking whenever possible (always take the stairs, etc); and
6) Undertake periodic cleanses to rid your body of toxins (try Blessed Herbs and hydro colon therapy),
you will never be sick again. Your asthma will dissapear.

An enema will cure your asthma?

[DANGER - struck nerve ahead]
After having asthma for 25 years now, I've never seen a line of unmitigated CRAP about asthma until now.

From an asthmatic who's had it since age 12, this line of quackery will get someone killed. You can do all this new-age Bovine Scatology and never have an attack for years. But it only takes one attack, without your rescue drugs, to kill you. Asthma-related asphyxiation is a very ugly death, I wouldn't recommend it.

Ok, back on topic: The key to asthma is identifying the triggers and preventing them either through avoidance or treatment. If you're not taking maintenance meds, like singulair, inhaled steroids or something like Advair, you probably need to talk to the doctor and/or get a consult to an allergist to get started.

If you're on the drugs and smokeless powder residue is still triggering attacks, you need to focus on prevention. Shooting outdoors will likely be the only way to go unless you have a serious sit down with the indoor range operators about filtering the air and ventilation. Some ranges are really sloppy about filter maintenance and ventilation, especially in the winter.

And always carry your inhaler. Asthmatics will have to adjust amounts of meds taken and types as the disease progresses, so once you start having troubles see the doctor ASAP.

 

[just carl]

I can really relate to your irritation of medical possibilities you should, could, would, might take or do. Being a stage 4 Cancer survivor, lost my bladder, prostate, most lymph nodes, etc from 4 operations and two bouts of chemo. Now almost everywhere I go I hear you should try this, take that, do this and on and on and on. I'm used to it and so should you. Just say yeah, right, sure and move on. They do really mean well but have no idea of what is even possible. I'm just happy to still be here to listen to them all.
As to your problem. Not sure if you have this problem from indoor shooting, outdoor shooting, factory ammo, purchased reloads or if you reload yourself. I bring this up since my Son has Asthma. Any time I take him shooting I only use factory ammo and make sure he does also. Some of the indoor ranges around me have a ventilation system equal to none at all. I suspect they recycle the air to drive people out sooner since there is only one charge regardless of the time. My only suggestion is to check out your type of ammo, ventilation of the range if indoors, only go during a season where your Asthma is least reative.
Of course to be a smart alect I could say switch to Archery.

 

[springmom]

Of course to be a smart alect I could say switch to Archery.

Wonder if I'd have to change my screen name to Maid Marian????

almost everywhere I go I hear you should try this, take that, do this and on and on and on.

Roger that. I've been at this for 18 years now. The real corker was the friend who was absolutely CERTAIN that a coffee enema would be just the thing to set me right. :banghead: Let's just say I didn't take her advice.

So far it's been all factory ammo, almost always FMJ except for when I'm shooting .22lr.

Shooting outdoors will likely be the only way to go

Does anybody actually read the threads anymore? Not picking on you, but how many times have I said that I only shoot outdoors, and yet everybody keeps assuming I'm shooting inside. Y'all are a hoot.

What I may do is keep a mini-journal of weather conditions (heat and humidity, wind and its direction) and asthma before, during and after the shoot, and see if, over, say 3 months, I can get a pattern discerned that I can then work around.

Springmom

Springmom

 

[.cheese.]

Does anybody actually read the threads anymore? Not picking on you, but how many times have I said that I only shoot outdoors, and yet everybody keeps assuming I'm shooting inside. Y'all are a hoot.

We got that, I think most people, myself included, were just reiterating to continue doing that as part of a list of things to try.

As I mentioned, shooting outdoors also has problems with asthma that may be contributing, but it's ultimately better than the alternative, unless you found an indoor range that was practically hospital grade in cleanliness and had an exhaust system like no other. Maybe it exists, I'm doubtful.

One more thought - I know that when I was a kid, if there was something that we knew was going to give me an asthma attack, I'd take a dose of corticosteroids (prednisone) the day before and day of. It's not good to do many times, and I don't know if it works for adults (I'm not a doctor, and have never played one on TV)... but it might be worth asking the doc about.

 

[3KillerBs]

Quote:
Shooting outdoors will likely be the only way to go

Does anybody actually read the threads anymore? Not picking on you, but how many times have I said that I only shoot outdoors, and yet everybody keeps assuming I'm shooting inside. Y'all are a hoot.

{{{hug}}}

You're right. People don't read. I lost count of how many times after I said I was looking for a 9mm or .38special only people recommended .380s. :lol:

I wish I had any helpful suggestions as a fellow asthmatic but you already covered everything I know of.

I will add that when I was doing a lot of drywall sanding during my kitchen remodel I was more likely to get an attack fighting for air through a HEPA mask than is I just used my inhaler and coped with the dust.

A wet bandanna is a possible compromise if you can't breathe through a mask. Not perfect, but it will filter some particulate and is easier to breathe through than those paper masks. But it might not make enough difference to make a real difference since it sounds like you've got it much more severely than I have.

 

[springmom]

A wet bandanna is a possible compromise if you can't breathe through a mask.

But I would absolutely, postively, need to get a cowgirl hat.

Springmom

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

My apologies!

Springmom,

Grandpa here. Apparently I was one of the posters who offended you inadvertently. I would hope you realize I had no intention of being offensive. Yes I was diagnosed with asthsma, and yes I followed the normal course of treatment. Yes if I was shooting around a lot of other people, it did bother my breathing. The smell would be so strong I could taste it. A thick cloying nasty flavor.

Once I started dealing with it instead of ignoring it I started getting better. For instance I don't shoot on windy days since the wind alone will aggravate my lungs. I don't go to a range anymore, since I moved to the mountains, I go out into the wild woods to shoot. I go alone or with my lady. Just living in the large metro area up until 2002 was enough to keep me sick. I gave all of that up to live where I can breathe all of the time, not just some of the time. Controlling acid reflux, coupled with avoiding "trouble" days, has made the difference.

I think most of the people who replied to your question did it out of a genuine desire to be helpful, not to frustrate or condescend to you. I have found the majority of responses to my threads to be genuine (some genuinely misguided) but genuine nontheless. I wish you luck and patience in dealing with your medical stuff.

Grandpa

 

[3KillerBs]

Quote:
A wet bandanna is a possible compromise if you can't breathe through a mask.
But I would absolutely, postively, need to get a cowgirl hat.

And a single action revolver to go with it.

 

[ArcherandShooter]

Springmom with a single-action

And a single action revolver to go with it.

We just got my 1851 Navy Colt revolver out of the safe and took it out to shoot. She knows she's welcome to shoot it any time.

Oh, before anyone thinks, she was upwind of the black powder smoke.

If she ever does the bandana - hat - single action revolver gig, I'll be sure to take a photo and post it in here.

 

[TallPine]

Don't mess with Springmom

 

[wmeSha]

If your allergies are worse in the spring, that seems pretty significant. My allergies are worst in the spring because I am allergic to pretty much all of the local hardwoods. Hickory is just terrible for me, for example. You might sign up will pollen.com for their free email service; they send you an email every other day when the pollen counts are high and let you know what the predominant pollens are. I find that I notice symptoms about 2 days before pollen.com picks them up as a rule, but it might help you narrow down a few things. Obviously tree pollens can be tested with a scratch test (that's how I learned).

Some pollens, like grass pollen, are worse in the morning and evening, so shooting during the heat of the day could give you less exposure.

Personally, my symptoms improved dramatically when I discovered that I was allergic to Pantene Pro V, and I discovered it totally by accident since none of my physicians (or allergists) had ever asked about my shampoos and soaps. It hasn't made my allergies go away (I use Free-n-clear now) but it does mean that I can can spend moderate amounts of time outside without the ill effects that I had before. I suppose I was always on the edge of trouble because of the shampoo.

And finally, I don't know if it would help you but you might get some success from a neti pot (those things that wash your nose out). When I go to the range, I notice that I can smell gunpowder for hours afterward, even if I wash my face and hands and change clothes, particularly if I shoot a lot of .22lr. I'm no neti expert, but I have tried it once or twice after shooting and it seems to take care of that. I'm not going to tell you that nasal washing is a magic bullet, but I can see why it could work and lots of people do swear by it.

 

[springmom]

Don't mess with Springmom

ROTFLMFHO!!!!!!!

my symptoms improved dramatically when I discovered that I was allergic to Pantene Pro V,

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I've given up most red wines, mushrooms, kolaches, and a whole lot of other stuff. But not my Pantene...!!!

Apparently I was one of the posters who offended you inadvertently.

No, I'm not offended. I just want to keep the thread firmly away from the specifics of my medical stuff and onto the thread topic, which is sort of narrow. As I said, the asthma's complicated by other stuff, and to get into the specifics of what I take would require a more comprehensive discussion than I'm comfortable with in a public form, that's all. Well, that plus I am not going to answer "I only shoot outdoors" again NO offense taken, and I hope I give none. Just trying to guard that fence of privacy while still discussing the issue. 'K?

One other thing, which I mentioned to a friend in a PM.... it might be time to switch from Hoppe's to something less, um, pungent. I don't mind the smell of Hoppe's at all, but it may be serving as an added irritant.

I may be off base here, and I'll ask my doc about it next time I talk to her...but I'm guessing that the particulates and gasses released when a bullet is fired are not, *strictly* speaking, "allergens". My bet is they're irritants instead. A person can react to an irritant (somebody's perfume, Hoppe's, even cold air) without it being something that'll raise a whelp on your back in an allergy skin test. If so, some sort of bandana, mask, whatever that would be a physical barrier would likely work better than, say, a preventative dose of a rescue inhaler.

I'm glad my allergist is pro-gun; can you imagine having this conversation with, say, your kid's pediatrician?

Springmom

 

[wmeSha]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I've given up most red wines, mushrooms, kolaches, and a whole lot of other stuff. But not my Pantene...!!!

If you sneeze a lot in the shower, that's something to think about. I tried Googling for Pantene and "allergy" and discovered that a lot of people are allergic to it. When I quit using Pantene, it was like getting over an illness. I couldn't believe how much better I felt. It is true that my hair isn't as soft.

I also don't drink beer and wine (well, rarely a bit of wine). I've found that hard liquor drinks are fine for me though. So I might have a daiquiri, or pineapple-n-Malibu, or Kahlua-n-cream . I believe hard liquors don't have the preservatives that your typical wines will contain.

For me the shampoo was the single big thing though. I can go outside now in moderation (except when tree pollens are really high). I can cut my own grass without excessive misery if I clean up right away after.

I have since decided to get rid of most fragrances: laundry, dryer sheets, shaving cream, deoderant. I just don't care that much about the scents anyway, and it isn't hard to find replacements. I don't wear cologne.

I also went to Wal-mart and "sniffed" a lot of different hand soaps and shower gels. I can pretty much tell exactly which soaps I'll be allergic to, now that I'm aware. I buy my Free-n-clear at Wal-mart from the pharmacy; I have to ask for it, but they always have it behind the counter.

 

[springmom]

Whew. Nope, no sneezing in the shower. Like you, I've pretty much expunged extra fragrances out of the home environment. Mostly I use All's scent-free detergent, have given up dryer sheets or fabric softeners, and haven't had perfume in several years.

I caused acute embarrassment both for my co-lead chanter and myself one evening at Vespers. She'd gotten some (I think) new perfume and was wearing, um, a noticeable amount of it. I coughed. And I coughed, and coughed...she caught on and asked if that might be the problem and I agreed it "might". Off she went to the bathroom to scrub as much off as possible, and she's never done it again.

I have absolutely no statistics to back this up, but I suspect that the acute rise in asthma cases in this country have a whole lot to do with the volatile chemicals that permeate our environment. EVERYTHING has to have a "rain fresh scent" or some such to it. I literally hold my breath going into a department store at the mall, as I will have to be walking past the pestiferous perfume counter. I get my department store bills online so that they don't send me those confounded envelopes that smell like the latest perfume line on the market.

Wonder if they could make Hoppe's with a rain fresh scent????

Springmom