General Question

coffeenut's avatar

Should I go back to the hospital or is this my lungs cleaning themselves?

Asked by coffeenut (6174points) July 15th, 2009

Monday I was exposed to a large dose of hydracloric acid fumes, I went to the hospital and they gave me oxygen and some kind of iv, did a lot of blood work and after 5 hours of monitoring my vitals I went home, yesterday I was off work, got as much fresh air as I could and drank lots of liquids(no çaughing), now today I’m back at work, my chest and thought is burning again and I’m coughing up a lot of yellow/brown flem, should I go back to the hospital or is this my lungs cleaning themselves ?
I’m not able to call anyone for an hour

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25 Answers

whatthefluther's avatar

the hospital should have disclosed precautions

ESV's avatar

If I were you I take it seriously and ask your doctors assistant to give you his cell phone number because you think thats an emergency. Never gamble with your health ever.

JLeslie's avatar

Can you text someone who might be able to call poison control? I assume poison control might handle something like this? There is usually an 800 number in every city. I would definitely do something to address it if the hospital did not forwarn you that this might happen.

marinelife's avatar

You can’t call anyone even in a health emergency? Leave and call! Please let us know what happens.

Judi's avatar

The United States Poison Control Emergency # is 1–800-222–1222

coffeenut's avatar

I called the poison number and the hospital, they don’t know, only thing they say is to come in and get checked…. but I can’t go until I get hold of the owner to get someone to replace me, or If I close down the jobsite for the day…. not sure what I’m going to do

Judi's avatar

are you having any difficulty breathing? Your throat is probably ‘peeling” like a sun burn, but I have no idea how dangerous that is, especially if it’s in your lungs.

coffeenut's avatar

@judi
NO, no problem breathing, just caughing a lot, bringing up white pasty w/brown chunks, also my throat and lungs feel raw… so it could just be my body rejecting dead tissue

Judi's avatar

If you begin to have dificulty breathing, to heck with work. Close up shop and get medical attention.

coffeenut's avatar

@judi Thanks
oh of course , that or coughing up blood.

marinelife's avatar

@coffeenut I hate to be a fear monger, but blood is what the brown chunks could be. Also, lung function is nothing to fool around with. If I were you, I would call the boss, and say you have to close up and hie me to a pulmonary specialist.

I don’t see any of our resident docs online right now.

Judi's avatar

Where is @shilolo when you need him?!

marinelife's avatar

@Judi Probably working. I did PM him with a link.

coffeenut's avatar

@Marina
Thanks

The main problem about closing is that I have to send 15 employees home… I still can’t get a hold of the owner, besides we close in an hour and a half…
I’ll go after work.

JLeslie's avatar

Did you try calling the ER where you were treated? I think you should be seen by someone, but maybe the ER can calm your fears if they say it is common, and you are most likely just clearing your lungs.

shilolo's avatar

@coffeenut You probably have acute bronchitis (or inflammation and ulceration) of the respiratory tract (your breathing tubes and lungs). This is a common and known effect of inhalation injury from hydrochloric acid. With your new symptoms, it could be progression of the injury, or development of bacterial pneumonia, chemical pneumonitis, or worsening bronchitis. A repeat visit to the ER is warranted (or your primary doctor), where at minimum your vital signs and CXR need to be checked.

coffeenut's avatar

@Everyone and shilolo
Thanks for all your help,
just closed and now off the hospital

shilolo's avatar

Sorry for the acronym. CXR means chest x-ray. I usually don’t do that, but I had a momentary lapse.

JLeslie's avatar

Let us know what happens.

tyrantxseries's avatar

@coffeenut you might need new sleeping arraignments to cope with this problem, might need a new area to live

but good luck with that, hope you get well soon lol

cak's avatar

@coffenut – feel better soon!

coffeenut's avatar

@Tyrantxseries HA HA HA you are a funny fucker
They said I have a infection in my lungs (It’s worse today)
now I have meds so hopefully it gets better.
Thanks again everyone

Judi's avatar

Take care!!

marinelife's avatar

@coffeenut That’s great that you got the medication you need. I’m sorry that happened to you.

JLeslie's avatar

@coffeenut So glad you let us know what happened. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

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