Exhaust = Headache?

[Stmar]

I screwed up. Tractor is parked at the back of the barn, 60' from front doors, usually when I start it I have those doors open and the man door at the back open to create a cross ventilation. Temps were below zero and there was a north wind hitting the man door so I did not leave it open, opened the front doors as usual and started the tractor. Decided to change angle on the snow blade so I pulled the pin, long story short I had a heck of a time getting the cotter pin back in. It was so cold that my hands were just not cooperating, this resulted in me being in the exhaust output for a period of time. Later that night I started getting a headache and it lasted all the next day and is just now easing up. Could breathing the exhaust cause the headache? If so is there any home remedy? I have had the Shiatsu massager and heat on, took Ibuprofen, but none of that made a diff.

 

[skeets]

Sounds like a touch of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Guys out your way, working underground ( mostly hard rock) with old diesel equipment would come out with some nasty headaches from the fumes where ventilation was not the best. While diesel fums aint good for you, that's the reason GASOLINE motors are not allowed under ground,, gas it way bad,, but everybody knows that. Open the doors my friend getting ill is not a good way to go

 

[Stmar]

I thought it might be that, usually takes seconds to change the pin but it took me a heck of a lot longer. It is going away now, got out with the ATV and groomed the driveway, temps in the 20's so nice time to do it and the fresh air seemed to help, drinking lots of water also to flush it out. We are heading into another deep freeze the next few days so have everything plugged in and fueled up and brought more pellets to the house, as ready as we can be I guess.
Learned a painful lesson from this little experience, lol, open all doors no matter how hard the wind is blowing and those little jobs aren't necessarily fast in adverse weather.

 

[armylifer]

About the only thing that will help clear the poisons out of your bloodstream is a lot of fresh air. You should have that is abundance where you live. Albeit, very cold fresh air at this time.

 

[thebicman]

Be very careful with running your tractor inside a shelter. CO poisoning is very easy to do. If you don't have enough ventilation either don't run it or you could get a piece of tubing to redirect the fumes outside the shelter. Stay safe.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

CO Invisible, odorless, and tasteless, carbon monoxide gas (CO) is often referred to as a quick and silent killer. Now it's also recognized for causing permanent injury to the brain-in concentrations once thought too low for concern.

As CO is inhaled, it enters the bloodstream and attaches to hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. CO, however, displaces oxygen because it binds to hemoglobin 200 times tighter than oxygen does. The body can't get enough oxygen-a condition called anoxia.
Besides causing anoxia, CO is also toxic to cells. It triggers a biochemical cascade that, if uninterrupted, can continue to damage the cells even after the exposure to the gas has stopped.

On average, 25 to 50 percent of the CO-poisoning victims in her studies have cognitive impairments. Some experience a memory impairment known as anterograde amnesia: the inability to form new memories. While memories from before the brain injury remain intact, the person has trouble learning and remembering new information, such as lists of information and the names of new acquaintances. In some cases, the impairments interfere with the person's ability to hold a job or live independently.

If you suspect you're suffering from CO poisoning, immediately get to a well-ventilated area and seek medical attention. A blood test can determine whether you've been exposed. The treatment for CO exposure is oxygen, which is important to get as soon as possible.

 

[jryser]

I was hopeful wolfman would add his expertise. And for the good news - u learned ur lesson quickly and know EXACTLY what to do to avoid the problem, and you are more likely ok than not. But it never ever hurts to obtain a medical opinion after exposure.


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[Stmar]

Feeling much better, headache is minimal and I feel a lot better than yesterday. Headache was the only symptom so don't think I did any permanent damage, I will concentrate on getting fresh and cold air and drink lots of water.

 

[Fro65]

In 1991 I was using a gas powered saw to cut out a basement floor to add some under slab plumbing. I had a large window on one end open with a squirrel cage fan blowing in and a door to the garage on the other end open with another squirrel cage fan sucking out. Unbeknownst to me, the homeowners' wife came home and didn't like the dust blowing out through the garage. So, without coming down to let me know, she unplugged the blower and shut the door. Because of the noise and dust from the saw, I had no idea this was done.

Long story short, I woke up several hours later in a hyperbaric chamber at the hospital. A coworker had stopped by and found me unconscious in the basement and called an ambulance.

I never worked solo on that type of job again. I still thank God for the second chance. My daughter was born six days later. What if.....?

And yes, when I woke up, I had the worst headache imaginable.

Take it from me, think then rethink about what you are doing when working in confined areas with engines regardless whether gas or diesel.

 

[Stmar]

Good cautionary story Fro, I sure will pay more attention to my surroundings. Not use to having to warm up the diesel.

 

[Tooljunkie]

So,years back i was working on a truck. Boss calls the shots. Do head gaskets, rebuild carb and a whack of other things. Running indoors,ran poorly and nothing we did seemed to fix it. Wouldnt replace egr that i figured was leaking.
Long story long,i got co poisoning that day.
Sick doesent describe it.
Exhaust fumes still bother me to this day.
Exhaust fumes are not to be taken lightly.
I work on cars every day, and i take precautions.

 

[D2Cat]

It's a good "Heads Up" for everyone. We often times think, "Oh this one time it'll be OK." Sometimes not so.

Whether putting wood in the stove, stepping off the tractor, unhooking an implement, or feeding hay...always anticipate what "could" happen and heed your intuition.

 

[jryser]

Glad ur better Stmar. Thanks for the courage to be honest and risk getting fingers pointed toward u (99.9% of OTT folks won't but some will somewhere!). It's an honest and easy error to make. Great reminder.


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[Stmar]

Glad ur better Stmar. Thanks for the courage to be honest and risk getting fingers pointed toward u (99.9% of OTT folks won't but some will somewhere!). It's an honest and easy error to make. Great reminder.

If my mistake helps someone to not make it or reminds people to be more vigilant then I am happy to be exposed.
Happy, no headache, New Year to OTT guys and gals.