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10yr+ fire-breathing, and a bit concerned about lost of breath/heavy breathing

topic posted Thu, August 21, 2008 - 1:27 PM by  shaz 		Share/Save/Bookmark
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ya, ok, I know.. of course, after so many years, with so many different kinds of fluids used (many which I am too embarrased to mention, yet hey, we all start of a bit silly at times...), it is only time before some kind of symptoms show up..
So, here is my sitcho and question to you all...
i spit normally at least 2-3x amonth, sometimes more, pending on how many shows we have booked. I have had no real situations, at least within the past few years, of inhalation or anything like that. I`ve come to the point where it is quite second nature for me to spit..
As of last week, I started having a bit of short breath. May it be from the weather (hot,muggy,damp, air pressure high) or because of prolonged exposure to chemical fluids in my orifices (haha), I am not sure.
Of course, I should go get it checked out. Yet I don`t really know any doctors that specialize in Fire spitting trauma. I will go (ugh!!), yet I would like to know what others have done in such situations...herbistically.. Does anybody know of any DIY ways of dealing with respiratory problems, drawn from spitting? I am sure that when i go to the doc's, they will wanna pump me full with all sorts of nasty chemicals and who-knows-what...and if its necessary, I will.... yet if it is avoidable, it would be more preferred than the latter.
I admit, I'm a fuckin militant hippi. I don't like Chemical-esque medications, and would prefer to stay "Au Naturell" as much as possible...
(yeah, I know, haha, natural my ass, what about the parafin i shove in my mouth all the time...)

So, if anybody out there, that is either finished laughing their heads off at me, or find my request reasonable, please send me info on how to deal with this... inhalations? lung scrapings? prosthetic lungs made out of Iron...
Thanx in advance

Burning in solidarity,
-NPI
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shaz
offline shaz
Germany
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  • silence
    silence
    offline 165

    Re: 10yr+ fire-breathing, and a bit concerned about lost of breath/heavy breathing

    Thu, August 21, 2008 - 8:00 PM
    I've never met a german hippy...

    I would strongly recommend a hospital, just to be safe.
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    • Pi
      Pi
      offline 271

      Re: 10yr+ fire-breathing, and a bit concerned about lost of breath/heavy breathing

      Thu, August 21, 2008 - 8:23 PM
      They're like american hippies, only they get a better deal on Birkies.
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      • =Eric
        =Eric
        offline 26

        Re: 10yr+ fire-breathing, and a bit concerned about lost of breath/heavy breathing

        Thu, August 21, 2008 - 11:28 PM
        There's enough data out there for any good doctor to adequately deal with chemical pneumonia.

        First, stop spitting for at least 6 months. We know you'll go back to it, but hold off as long as possible.
        Before you do go back to it, stop by here and read everything Tedward has to say about breathing/spitting.

        If there's a free clinic in town, go there. It'll be free (though they'll ask for a contribution -- be nice, they may save your ass).

        The doc will listen to your chest to find out how grunged up your lungs are. Then he'll probably order a chest x-ray. It won't hurt but the plate they have you lean into will be cold enough to pucker your nipples. Enjoy.

        It will take them a few minutes to develop and read the x-rays. Enjoy your ipod.

        If it's pneumonia he'll prescribe antibiotics (to keep you from getting bacterial pneumo), and maybe shoot some into you.

        Then you go to bed for a few weeks or more. If you've gone to a free clinic they know you can't pay for a hospital stay so they'll tell you to stay in bed at home. If you've gone to an emergency room they may just wheel you right into the ward and take away your pants. In either case, get your obligations dealt with and bills paid before you go in.

        Even if you're put in hospital, don't worry about the expenses. Talk to your friends about how to deal with it.

        It's also possible the doc will say you've got a seasonal allergy and give you some over-the-counter antihistamine and kick you out the door. But don't count on it.

        Before you go in, find someone who will act as your advocate while/if you're in the hospital. You need someone to double-check all the meds to make sure you're not getting the wrong stuff and that you are getting what the doctor ordered. Also make sure that EVERYBODY who comes into your room uses the hand cleaner every time.

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        • Pi
          Pi
          offline 271

          Re: 10yr+ fire-breathing, and a bit concerned about lost of breath/heavy breathing

          Mon, August 25, 2008 - 5:07 PM
          Lena (Memory) just came off a winter with chem pnu. It truly did take her about two or three months to get back to par with endurance.
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          • Re: 10yr+ fire-breathing, and a bit concerned about lost of breath/heavy breathing

            Tue, August 26, 2008 - 7:22 PM
            I should point out that my chem pneu was NOT from breathing - we think it was from hooping (lit up my fire hoop for the first time in a year, and the next day got sick and then sicker...it's the only explanation). I spent a week in bed with a fever, followed by a night in the emergency room, then went septic (low temp) and was admitted for 3 days as an inpatient, given fluids and antibiotics. The weekend after leaving the hospital I went to Fire Drums and burned like crazy. It's been 4 months now, and I'm not having any more difficulty breathing than I was before I got sick... which isn't to say that my respiration is good or anything - just not noticably worse.
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  • Swir...
    SwirlJames
    online 79

    Re: 10yr+ fire-breathing, and a bit concerned about lost of breath/heavy breathing

    Fri, September 12, 2008 - 1:21 PM
    There may be some chemical issues, but I'd bet that other issues are adding more than the chemical ones. IMHO, a chem issue would probably result in an acute (immediate) and serious lung infection, rather than a slow onset of ashtma like symptoms.

    Asthma symptoms are the result of either/both:
    - Airway inflammation: Irritated airways in the breathing passage (the lining in your breathing tubes is swollen)
    or
    - Bronchoconstriction: muscles that surround the airway clamp down and reduce the airway passage.

    Causes can be allergies, chemical irritation, lack of exercise, diet, environment, illness, etc. Any and all combined.

    If you have mild asthma, you will likely get a broncodilator (which relaxes the airway muscles) and a corticoseroid (which relieves the inflammation of the airway lining). Sometimes they are combined.

    The inhalers are good to have as backups to whatever other steps you take (herbal, environment, diet, etc)...pretty scary to suddenly be gasping for breath when your asthma is triggered.

    That being said, it is better to isolate the triggers and deal with them than it is to depend on pharm-meds to cover up the symptoms.

    In my case, prevention is the best option. Exercise, diet, and environmental factors played a huge role in triggering attacks. More exercise, diet like eating less preservative salts (packaged meat is a bad source for this), and reducing exposure to trigger allergies (horses, cats, cleaning dog hair often) reduced 90% of my issues.

    If I can, I breath a couple of drops of herbal oils like cloves or camphor in steaming water to help cut congestion. I also add more garlic and Vitamin C to my diet when things start to occur.

    Playing with fire wasn't eliminated :)
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  • Dani...
    Danielle
    offline 12

    Re: 10yr+ fire-breathing, and a bit concerned about lost of breath/heavy breathing

    Thu, July 2, 2009 - 9:13 PM
    I found this post very helpful! I breathed for my first time and got a little bit of aspiration, and then got a cold and freaked out, it turns out I had a sinus infection and post nasal drip which you can get from inhaling chemicals, or anything that gets into the cavity. In the case of a sinus infection, rinsing three times a day with warm water and 1/4 tsp salt and a pinch of baking soda is the best course of action, to flush everything out. cup some of the mixture in your palm and plug one nostril, inhaling through the other nostril, and let it run back out, it sometimes runs down your throat but that's actually good because you are clearing all the blocks. Another thing to try, certainly not for emergencies but if you have some shortness of breath or a sinus infection, acupuncture works wonders on that stuff. The other advice I have found helpful is lots of rest, Vitamin C and yes garlic. Any exercises like qi gong or yoga that involve relaxing and breathing deeply are good too, for reducing stress and anxiety (my chest tightened up a lot when I was worried that I had chemical pneumonia). Be healthy everyone!
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