firsthand experiences with asthma?

magi · Post by **magi** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:02 pm

Hi all, I'm a 4-years-and-counting burner and think my sister would really enjoy the event and am trying to convince her to come this year, but she has asthma and is worried/curious about the effects of playa dust.

I found the official info on asthma in the survival guide, but it's very general information, and I searched around the eplaya a bit and found a couple people talking about their own experiences, but mostly just found dead links.

My sister is fine day to day but carries an inhaler, and bursts of sudden activity will often provoke an asthma attack which the inhaler will mitigate, if that gives you an idea of how serious her asthma is.

So I'm wondering if anyone out there has survived bman with asthma and can offer any specific advice like whether the dust was a problem for you, did you have to use an inhaler more often than at home, did your normal inhaler stop any asthma attacks you did have, any specific tips for dealing with breathing problems besides "keep your tent dust-free and bring a dust mask".

Thanks! It seems many people with asthma are doing just fine at Burning Man and I'd like help convincing her it's ok ... but if it's not ok, I'd better know that too.

Post by **AntiM** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:11 pm

I have asthma, but rarely use my inhaler out there. In fact I use it less than I do at home. The dust doesn't bother me too much, my triggers are smoke and mold/mildew. I have had some deep chest pain after, but am not sure if it was related to the dust itself or the physical activity of unpacking the trailer. Six years, and I've never been to medical because of asthma, and mine can get bad here at home. The dry environment does me good, but then I live in Utah, which is fairly arid itself.

I have seen people getting treatments in the med tent, so there's more help than just the inhaler if she gets bad. Have an exit plan if she needs to leave early.

Did that help?

phil · Post by **phil** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:27 pm

A search for asthma turned up about a dozen hits, including these:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ght=asthma
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ght=asthma

magi · Post by **magi** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:37 pm

Thanks both of you; that is helpful... so it looks to me like most people are saying they're ok. Though it is my tendency to look on the bright side...

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:40 pm

Where does your sister normally go wilderness camping?

magi · Post by **magi** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:43 pm

I've hiked or camped with her around north Idaho, mountains surrounding Salt Lake City, and Moab.

helitack · Post by **helitack** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:45 pm

Zeus wants to know if she is single...

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:34 pm

I have COPD and the playa seems to be good for me..Have trouble with asshats that smoke in my face..Or if I push the work to hard.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:41 am

Some people recommend surgical grade masks or better quality industrial masks.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:31 am

http://home.pacbell.net/skygawd/mask/mask.jpg

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:02 am

same here. I have exercise-induced asthma and carry an inhaler with me always. I have had no problems on the playa whatsoever. The climate seems to help, actually.

Zatoichi · Post by **Zatoichi** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:50 am

definetely get her a good dust mask or ventilator, she won't always need to wear it but in a dust storm could save her trouble.

CdnChick · Post by **CdnChick** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:42 pm

I get asthma related to animals, pollens, dust, and over exertion. I didn't need industrial strength masks or specialized stuff, and I didn't even use my inhaler.

I did, however, use the disposable dustmasks one level up from the run of the mill - it had a little one way valve on the end to allow for easier exhaling and offered slighly better particle protection. I geenrally wore them during dustsorms only, and not all the time.

Just my experience - hope it helps!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:55 pm

A good hat works most of the time.
You get a sense of how to use it quickly.
Turn your head and you can breathe in the lee side from the wind.
A stiff brim helps.

About the only time it doesn't work is when you have to ride straight into the wind and need to keep your head up to see.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:39 pm

I took my new scooter out and got a lung full of cars..Looking into a charcoal filter mask..Looks like some thing a dirt biker would wear..I model it if I can find the store again..

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:47 pm

TheMrFishist was one of the few who seemed to get worse with the asthma on the playa. T he lack of botanical triggers seems to help most people. Have an emergency exit plan, watch her carefully on the first couple of days, be careful of dust storms. Dust masks--DPW folks seem to belive in bandanas for that. Make sure she has insurance to pay for an evacuation if she needs one--but those are reletively rare. email 911 at burningman.com to talk this over with one of the med staff.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:25 pm

We were able to get a young lady to the med tent when her friend flagged down our art cart during one of the storms. They had been wandering for quite a while not knowing where to go.

When you get to the event, locate the med tents and be sure she knows how to get there and what they look like. They are quick, efficient, incredible folks.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:28 pm

The medical people are great.
And none of them have to be there.
Be sure to thank them even if you don't need them.
They show up anyway.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 4:23 am

At night the 3 oclock and 9 o'clock med stations can be located by the blue neon crosses.

photon · Post by **photon** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:25 pm

i've had asthma since i was 10 and i'm now 32. quite bad for the first years almost dying a couple of times and now bounce back and forth usually under control but sometimes more uncomfortable than i'd like. allergic to almost everything but certainly grasses, pollens and other allergens found in nature. i've now been to burningman 6 times and have to report that i'm great out on the playa. still have my proventil with me as well as a flovent back at camp but rarely ever have needed it. and that was probably from drinking a beer (yeah, that gets me too) or riding my bike nice and fast. i should use my dust make more frequently but tend not too have it when needed and still no effects on my asthma, just a nice layer on my teeth and in my nose. please tell your sister from one asthmatic to another- the risk of having an incredible time at BM far outweighs the risk of having any major asthma problems. i've heard many others report the same

photon · Post by **photon** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:35 pm

almost forgot-petrol fumes. that is the one thing that can become overwhelming out on the playa at times. art cars, shitty little single person scooters minibikes can be aplenty at times. generators on the sides of artcars as well. usually easy too distance yourself if needed and is certainly an avoidable pollutant with a little effort.