Playa Lung Anyone?

[pbmaniac2000]

Well for the 3rd year in a row I have come down with what I affectionately like to call the "playa lung!" What generally happens is sometime sunday I get this tingly feeling in my throat which quickly turns into a cough. For the next 4-5 days I cough, and cough, and cough. Lots of good mucus and the whole nine yards. The "gunk" slowly works its way all the way down into the bottom of my lungs. Then disappears!! I never have any other symptoms besides coughing and mucus in my lungs.

I'm generally pretty good about always wearing a dust masks during storms too. The 1st year I got it I was out on the playa for 3 weeks, the 2nd year 8 days, and this year 3.5 weeks. So it doesn't really seem to matter how long I am on the playa for.

My question is does anyone else every get this? Anyone have any tips for maybe helping to prevent it for next year?

While its not the end of the world, it does make the drive home really crappy! I can't complain too much though, atleast my lungs seem to get a though "cleaning" once a year!

-Sir Pluto

[ygmir]

I got it for the first time this year.

[SilverOrange]

Same thing as you every time I leave the playa. Doesn't really seem like it matters too much what I do to prevent it.

[bluesbob]

Never wore a bandanna or anything. Haven't had any problems yet.

[AntiM]

I have asthma with very specific triggers; luckily, playa dust is not one of them. You might be having a specific reaction which nothing else triggers.

[Lassen Forge]

I got it on top of a fucking nasty cold this year, just off playa. Crap!!! Off work today because of it... YUCK!!!

[joya]

Well for the 3rd year in a row I have come down with what I affectionately like to call the "playa lung!" What generally happens is sometime sunday I get this tingly feeling in my throat which quickly turns into a cough. For the next 4-5 days I cough, and cough, and cough. Lots of good mucus and the whole nine yards. The "gunk" slowly works its way all the way down into the bottom of my lungs. Then disappears!! I never have any other symptoms besides coughing and mucus in my lungs.

I'm generally pretty good about always wearing a dust masks during storms too. The 1st year I got it I was out on the playa for 3 weeks, the 2nd year 8 days, and this year 3.5 weeks. So it doesn't really seem to matter how long I am on the playa for.

My question is does anyone else every get this? Anyone have any tips for maybe helping to prevent it for next year?

While its not the end of the world, it does make the drive home really crappy! I can't complain too much though, atleast my lungs seem to get a though "cleaning" once a year!

-Sir Pluto

Try oil pulling. (google it if you don't know what it is) Works great for clearing stuff out.

[gaminwench]

Licorice tea... on dusty days I make a big jar of Licorice sun tea (which is Mother Nature's gift to your lungs) and share it with my campmates. Eleven years, and no playa lung on or off-playa for any of us...

[theCryptofishist]

Could just be a general thing about reaching the end of the burn. You've done all the planning and working and playing and your body is worn out. My body tends to manifest stress and tired as generic respiratory infection symptoms.

[knowmad]

'Round Friday we run out of the good stuff and start smoking the kids shit. Either that or huffing propane fumes for 4 days straight. comes with the turf. but yeah it happens.

[trystanthegypsy]

I'm doing pretty good this year so far! But I kind of had a lot of sleep the last 2 nights so maybe that helped? Rather than running my self into the ground the last 4 days. Wheeee!

[Eric]

I didn't get playa lung, but for some reason I started sneezing on Sunday when breaking down camp. It got worse Mon & Tues, but cleared up when I got home. I think it was just my body telling me "you're done".

[ygmir]

I didn't get playa lung, but for some reason I started sneezing on Sunday when breaking down camp. It got worse Mon & Tues, but cleared up when I got home. I think it was just my body telling me "you're done".

*searching mind for a "fart" joke that would apply*

[C.f.M.]

My throat started hurting about Thursday...a swollen sort of sore, not scratchy. It's just now going down, a bit. But it was pretty aggravating. Like, keep you up at night because everytime you involuntarily swallow there's flashes of pain sore throat.

I'm going to try and filter my air more next year, I guess - maybe take some lozenges to keep things.../sigh, lubricated.

[AntiM]

Could just be a general thing about reaching the end of the burn. You've done all the planning and working and playing and your body is worn out. My body tends to manifest stress and tired as generic respiratory infection symptoms.

Mine manifests as cold sores.

[junglesmacks]

Could just be a general thing about reaching the end of the burn. You've done all the planning and working and playing and your body is worn out. My body tends to manifest stress and tired as generic respiratory infection symptoms.

Mine manifests as cold sores.

I don't think that's the stress talking, hun..

[ron5657]

Thats pretty common. I get it each year, but the first year was bad. Its just your body trying to get all the playa dust out of your body and as a result, your immune system reacts as it should. Other factors play a role in how bad it is: fatigue, alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, lack of water, etc. Your body has just endured something it is not used to and its going to have a reaction. My first year was the worst, on top of all the heat, dust, alcohol, change in diet, and add the Air Conditioning on the way home, I caught a cold lol. Thats just the way your body works. After a few days, you should notice the alkali dust secrete from your system. And lots of sleep helps. And you can breathe easier.

[AntiM]

Could just be a general thing about reaching the end of the burn. You've done all the planning and working and playing and your body is worn out. My body tends to manifest stress and tired as generic respiratory infection symptoms.

Mine manifests as cold sores.

I don't think that's the stress talking, hun..

Kiss me...

[Holdini]

I found a few things are good to get rid of the lung. I have asthma and smoke tobaky, the waky, and love all kinds of fire fumes.
SO I am very aware of the health of my lungs.

1. Teas! Very good for helping the body work. marshmallow, peppermint, green, ginger, turmeric are some of my favorite. here is a good explanation of some, just a sample of the good stuff you can find on the net. http://www.etsy.com/listing/28627106/lo ... herbal-tea Its good to just brew a huge pot for yourself, make a nice mixture of herbs for yourself and add a nice amount of honey. Healing Potion!

2. Lots sleep. Nuff said

3. I saw oil pulling on there already! it is AWESOME!!! I like coconut oil my self but http://www.guideforselfhealing.com/2007 ... l-pulling/

4. Sweat Lodge/Sauna/towel over head over boiling water = steaming your lungs out. not for everyone but I LOVE it. If you can get into a real sweat lodge with some spiritual people it will be all the better!

5. sleep some more!

6.go swimming.

7. try not to eat mucous forming foods like dairy or wheat.

8. Try and eat some foods that are good for/cleansing for your lungs. Such as garlic, hot peppers, Oysters (they kinda look like lungs...) ZINC!

alright thats all i gots for now
good luck peoples

[mdmf007]

I have asthma with very specific triggers; luckily, playa dust is not one of them. You might be having a specific reaction which nothing else triggers.

AntiM and I have the same lungs apparently after years of inhaling toxic gases, smoke and who knows what on incidents the asthma I developed at age 32 is NOT triggered by playa dust luckily (knocking on wood).

I am still coughing up goo every morning though and find hot showers and the sauna helpful. Tea helps the coughing jags as well.

[Skyrah]

My first year was this year. Went at it alone--thought I came prepared with my bandana & throat lozenges. They were less than effective. A kind neighbor of mine, Carl, passed along to me comfort in a squeeze bottle--honey! A couple teaspoons throughout the day & I was good. No more playa throat (it's more a throat issue than a lung thing. I know it feels like you've just smoked a ton, but it's the dust particulates, fine as they are, sticking to the inside of your throat.)

In care you're just skimming this & missed it: HONEY does the trick!
Best of luck

[Gage]

We went for 10 days this year, and it's the 1st time I've been hit with playa lung. Crazy thing was I didn't cough AT ALL while at the event, and 2 days after we left, that's when I started hacking up all sorts of yuckiness. The hacking kept me up Wed-Friday night, and seems to be subsiding now...

It may be my bodies way of saying 'Dont leave the playa. Stay awhile.' Unfortunately, the rest of my body, my job, my diminishing supply of everything, and my family, seemed to be saying something a little different...

[CapSmashy]

I've got it for the first time this year. Really fucking annoying.

[C.f.M.]

My first year was this year. Went at it alone--thought I came prepared with my bandana & throat lozenges. They were less than effective. A kind neighbor of mine, Carl, passed along to me comfort in a squeeze bottle--honey! A couple teaspoons throughout the day & I was good. No more playa throat (it's more a throat issue than a lung thing. I know it feels like you've just smoked a ton, but it's the dust particulates, fine as they are, sticking to the inside of your throat.)

In care you're just skimming this & missed it: HONEY does the trick!
Best of luck

Genau. I had plenty



but still got a sore throat...

[MistressSybs]

Well for the 3rd year in a row I have come down with what I affectionately like to call the "playa lung!" What generally happens is sometime sunday I get this tingly feeling in my throat which quickly turns into a cough. For the next 4-5 days I cough, and cough, and cough. Lots of good mucus and the whole nine yards. The "gunk" slowly works its way all the way down into the bottom of my lungs. Then disappears!! I never have any other symptoms besides coughing and mucus in my lungs.

I'm generally pretty good about always wearing a dust masks during storms too. The 1st year I got it I was out on the playa for 3 weeks, the 2nd year 8 days, and this year 3.5 weeks. So it doesn't really seem to matter how long I am on the playa for.

My question is does anyone else every get this? Anyone have any tips for maybe helping to prevent it for next year?

While its not the end of the world, it does make the drive home really crappy! I can't complain too much though, atleast my lungs seem to get a though "cleaning" once a year!

-Sir Pluto

Sounds like regular Houston sinus/allergy bullshit to me... teas, saline spray, sambucol, bandana's or masks during dust storms should all help - but actually if you think about it, it's really your lungs doing their job... they're trapping all the nasty particles you're inhaling in the mucus and removing them from your body by making you cough them out... sucks but I would rather have my body remove the nasties than absorb them.

[Skyrah]

My condolences, C.f.M.
But that liquer you've got going on looks mighty tasty. :wink:

[Trishntek]

Nobody in our camp had problems,,,,,,, wonder why?????

[kman]

Yeah, I got hit this year. The sore throat, too, as did a bunch of people in our camp. Hard to tell if it's just a bug that went around to LOTS of people, or simply playa lung (and playa throat?).

Seems to be passing... nearly gone now.

I got caught in at least two major white-outs this year for extended time periods, and one of them I had no scarf to filter the air (gave it to a friend who was suffering worse). Dunno if that contributed or not.

[mudpuppy000]

My throat started hurting about Thursday...a swollen sort of sore, not scratchy. It's just now going down, a bit. But it was pretty aggravating. Like, keep you up at night because everytime you involuntarily swallow there's flashes of pain sore throat.

I'm going to try and filter my air more next year, I guess - maybe take some lozenges to keep things.../sigh, lubricated.

I had the same thing on monday/tuesday. I think it was a cold since it cleared up by wednesday. I was coughing a little when I got back home but not too bad. The dust was pretty mild this year.