Asthma on the Playa

Fufa · Post by **Fufa** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:26 pm

Hello Everyone!

2010 will be my first year at BM, and I've got mild asthma (mostly problems with dust and smoke). I've read through the main site's page on it, but I was wondering if any fellow asthmatics had some tips. My main concern is dust where I sleep; I'll probably wear a mask/scarf most other times.

I was thinking a tent-inside-a-tent with a large sheet over the bed when I'm not around. Has anyone used a humidifier out there? We're bringing a generator.

Any advice would be awesome! :)

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:54 pm

I have asthma and I'm on year ten.

I use a scarf if dust gets blowing, and sometimes a paper mask. I've never gone for the big masks or respirators, I don't like them on my face.

If your tent mesh vents are sealed/covered and your bed is covered when not in use, you should be fine. Bring your inhaler/meds and have an exit plan if things get bad. We use a small tent under a carport and sealing the vents keeps the dust down well enough. No shoes in the tent!!!! Our tent is solely for sleeping, all dressing and washing happens out under the carport.

Smoke is one of my triggers, I avoid smokers of all kinds and sage smudgers. You have to speak up of you're in a space where you can't get away quickly!

The dust is nothing like house dust. House dust is one of my triggers and I have had no trouble with playa dust.

I have only had one attack there in ten years. I was trapped in a funhouse maze and a group nearby lit up a bowl. I started wheezing and had a bad panic attack. MyLarry was with me and was able to get me out into the open air fast, so I was alright.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:34 pm

Many people find the playa is good for their asthma, because there's nothing biological in the dust. My husband was different, it was a real issue with him. He got flown off the playa twice (I'm betting it's the record.) Of course, he was a smoker, so it's not like his lungs were all that far from the bottom...

Have an escape plan. That would be a sense of what you take with you, what you have friends pack up and catch up to you with (don't abandon stuff on the playa,) money for a hotel. Be sure to stop at the gate on the way out and get the reentry band. YOu may not want or be able to come back, but no need to burn your bridges.

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:26 pm

I have asthma and allergies and was really worried about it as well. It didn't bother me at all out there. I'm mostly allergic to grass/tree pollen, so there definitely wasn't any of that.

My sleeping area was in the back of my truck, so it was 90% dust free. I don't think I would have had much fun if I slept in a tent and woke up every morning with a face full of dirt.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:44 pm

Hey! I don't get dust in my tent! I'd say 98% dust free, even in the big storms. I have pictures for proof!

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:23 pm

AntiM wrote:Hey! I don't get dust in my tent! I'd say 98% dust free, even in the big storms. I have pictures for proof!

Haha, I was mostly thinking of the tent I have, it's all mesh with a rainfly... It probably would've had a couple inches in there at the end of the week.

I think I'm going to sleep in the back of my truck again this year, besides being relatively dust free it's quiet too.

Fufa · Post by **Fufa** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:31 pm

Thanks so much guys!

I feel a lot less nervous about the dust, and I'll definitely keep what you've all said in mind when I pack and plan my trip. Good to know other people (except for thecryptofishist's poor husband) don't find it too bad.

See you guys there

Fufa

Homiesinheaven · Post by **Homiesinheaven** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:43 am

98% ey AntiM? pictures or it never happened!

getting dressed outside your tent is a great tip i never thought about. i was good about keeping the tent sealed but guess i always dragged in the dust in the clothes i was wearing.

m5877archer · Post by **m5877archer** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:24 am

09 was my first year and I was really concerned with my asthma. I brought a hepa filter that fit over my mouth and nose and it did a fantastic job.

Not only did it allow me to walk around comfortbaly in the worst of the dust storms, I slept with it on and had no problems.

Granted, it wasnt the most comfortable sleeping appartus, but at Burning Man, I only slept when there was no other option.

I would recomend go to a hardware store and purchase the best facemask you can afford. Also remember extra filters.

For me, smoke and excircise are triggers, so I had to be concerned with dancing, but it was a non-issue for me.

Like others have said, playa dust is very different from....anything else in the world. I honestly feel that I could inhale the playa dust and my asthma would be fine. I might have a mouth and breathe full of playa dust, but its not like household dust or any kind of pollen. Its acutally almost refreshing. But thats just me, it may be a trigger for you.

Like someone else said, just be prepared. I had a full inhaler, a six-pack of ice cold Coke (cold caffeine is almost as effective as my inhaler!) and I told my friends that my asthma is serious, so if I say I have to go, I am going and they can help or not, but I am not fucking around. I don't expect any help, but I also don't want to hear any discourgment about leaving. "Just tough it out! Its Burning Man!" -thats not an option when my lungs are closing. And the group I was in was aware of it.

Once I got on the playa, I also just found out where the nearest emergency area was and let someone know the deal. I had some cash for a hotel if needed and after that, it was really a non-issue.

After I got home, I pulled the filters out of my mask and shook them out. About a 1/2 cup of playa dust came out of the filters. Thats dust that the people I was with wearing dust masks basically inhaled. Granted, I went walking throught the dust storms, but still....thats a lot of extra dust in my lungs that I am glad is in my filter and not in my lungs.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:30 am

Caffeine does wonders for asthma in most cases. For me though, it is a hot cup of coffee.

Enthusiadam · Post by **Enthusiadam** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:54 am

I have severe asthma and use my inhaler daily along with other medications etc. and last year was my first year on playa, and honestly i can say that i used my inhaler maybe twice the entire time i was out there i felt FANTASTIC. Not to say that i didnt get extra inhalers in case i lost them and other " remedies" ready to go around my camp but i am not nearly as worried about this year. I also had some posion ivy at the time and was on prednisone which tends to help me as well. i would suggest going to talk with your doctor about getting some back ups for you. Also make sure that everyone you are camping with knows about your asthma and things they can do to help if you have a bad attack, i say this mainly for the fact that if you get inebriated and cant help yourself people can get things for you, ask ou to the med tent and know that you have asthma. Which brings me to the next point know where the med tent is :D they were very helpful last year

hope all goes well and you have a blast on playa!

Raichu · Post by **Raichu** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:02 pm

This is really helpful for me. Thank you all for the posts.

I have pretty severe asthma. I use my inhaler a few times a day and live in the pacific northwest. Lots of trees (also lots of pollen/grass) and such to provide "clean air" but from what I am reading, the air at burning man is more "clean" and easy on an asthmatics lungs.

2011 will be my first burn, but this is something I am concered about. I have been hospitalized many times for asthma, although all times were accompanied by other illnesses.

Heat is also a trigger for me as well. I feel like I breathe a bit better in cool air or with air conditioning. I was onsidering bringing a generator and a portable air conditioning unit. Is that fairly viable?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:57 am

The "cleanliness" of the air depends on the asthmatic. There aren't a whole lot of biological triggers in the dust, and most asthmatics can breathe it without trouble. But the dust is caustic and some have increased difficulty breathing.
Certainly you can bring an air conditioner and genny. What sort of structure will you be in, tent, motor home, hexayurt? And AC sucks down juice, other people bring swamp coolers instead.
So, be ready to get off playa in a hurry, in case you don't like the dust. If you are camping with other people, you can have someone else pack up your stuff, while you dash for Reno. If that happens, you owe something to whoever packs and transports your gear. Partner with your doctor; give him/her information about the playa and work with what you know about your lungs to make reasonable choices and take care of yourself.

Holdini · Post by **Holdini** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:07 am

I have asthma.
And in all honestly I felt like the dry desert playa dust was actually good for my particular brand of asthma. I was concerned I would have problems out there but even smoking cigarettes I didnt touch my meds out there once.
Better safe than sorry!

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 12:08 pm

I did have an asthma attack this year, late in the week. Main symptom was heavy coughing, pretty painful. I'd been using my face scarves somewhat less religiously than in previous years. This attack came on in camp, in dusty conditions. I crawled in the tent and used my inhaler, drank plenty of liquids to "flush my pipes". It was sufficient.

Always have a pre-playa consult, a plan, a back up plan, and an emergency plan. Wear your medical alert bracelet. I need to find mine... and I never do the consult as my PCM on base says "Don't Go".

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:00 am

AntiM wrote: Always have a pre-playa consult, a plan, a back up plan, and an emergency plan. Wear your medical alert bracelet. I need to find mine... and I never do the consult as my PCM on base says "Don't Go".

Yeah, Scott and his doctor had the same dynamic.
My dear, sweet, stupid husband...
*verklempt*

Raichu · Post by **Raichu** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 6:12 pm

Thanks for the replies guys! It looks like the best method of action is speak to my physician before going and have ample inhalers and backups as well as an emergency plan :D

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:56 pm

For what it's worth, pine pollen really sets off my allergies/asthma too, and I felt great out there the last two years.

I was using my inhalers but mostly for prevention, I didn't really feel like I was going to start having problems.

Raichu · Post by **Raichu** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:23 pm

Drudging up an old topic, but I wanted to note that I may bring my nebulizer as well just in case. My asthma has not been bad enough lately to warrant using it, but hey, who knows? I'd rather be overly careful than under prepared!

Post by **Savannah** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:47 pm

Smart! I've seen someone need to use one out there. It was a blessing; she didn't have to go to Medical (although they would have been happy to see her).

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:22 am

I haven't had an asthma attack in a long time, but I still remember nearly dying and no one taking it seriously.

I think a nebulizer on a low setting might help with sleeping while adapting to altitude.

I can really recommend trying allergy shots, if allergies are an issue.
I wish I had done it many years ago.

A friend recommends the good 3M mask, but with more open filters for dust.
HEPA is harder to breathe through and nolt needed for dust, he thinks.
The lighter filters are v cheap too.

And no, you won't have two inches in your mesh tent after a week.
More like by the next day.

Dictator Bob · Post by **Dictator Bob** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:16 pm

Hey everyone here, my girlfriend and I are bringing an essential oil blend named "Gum Drops" to gift at the playa. It is a proprietary blend of cinnamon, eucalyptus, myrhh, pau d'arco tea, and some other oils. This stuff is amazing, she has dropped her steroid inhaler completely. It's good for asthma as well as an active anti-biotic, pro-biotic, and has a numbing agent. Great for gum care and a ton of other healing properties.

If you are in need we don't know how long it will last, but will be happy to help you with what we do have if we run out! We'll be camping with the rocket car at distrikt, 9 and F. It's our first burn so I don't know how you'd find us but that's where we will be and we are eager to help anyone with respiratory problems! This stuff is magical (and intense), I use it as soon as I have an onset of dust or pathogen attack and it'll wipe it out before the night is over. We spend a lot of time partying in the SoCal desert, it's tested and true!!

Just ask for Adam and Eve!

<3

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:03 pm

Dictator Bob wrote:...as well as an active anti-biotic, pro-biotic...

I dunno. Isn't that like a positron and an electron meeting?

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