Take extra care when you are dealing with Metho or Acetone (or any kind of solvent - including Glue).

I cleaning some parts and bolts with Acetone one night, not realising that I inhaled the vapours. Everything seemed fine until I woke up the next morning coughing up flem, stiff neck, croaky voice and a very very very sore throat. The vapours must of burnt my throat (kills when u swallow). This is the 2nd time this has happened to me and I know its from the same thing when me and my mate accidently sniffed Metho a few years back. We were both pretty sick after that...

So just a warning guys. This stuff can be deadly!

Any type of strong chemical is dagerous. But yes those vapors are nasty. Some people are more sensitive than others. Metho is what nitro fuel is made of. Its just cut with what ever % of nitro you buy. And some oil mixed in. Dont sniff that stuff either. Sounds like it would have the same effect on you.

I have over 8 years in plastic shops and metho and alchol is great for cleaning up the epoxy mess after laying up molds. Never bothered me that bad but, I didnt go sniffing it either. LOL.

DK

thats the thing. I dont know whats caused this. I know the first time I sniffed it for fun years back caused the same as what im feeling now. But its very strange. Anyways, my throat is slowly getting better and not too sore to swallow now, but still can feel it. Still got a croaky voice and still blocked up with flem. Might be time to see a doctor??

Hey hitman,

I'm a critical care nurse in a Burn Intensive Care Unit, what you did was give your self a chemical inhalation burn. Breathing in chemical vapors is no differerent then pouring the chemical on your skin. The "flem" you were coughing up was probably the remains of the mucosal layer that lines the airways in your lungs, don't worry it will heal and regenerate with time. Your voice is "croaky" because the same chemical burn thats in your throat and lungs has also effected your vocal cords. You may want to see your doctor, burns no matter what type or location are easily infected.

Another bit of info for you, a long enough or potent enough exposure can cause bronchospasm (the muscles in your airway violently contract) and close your airway off...as in you won't be able to breath, as in you will suffocate...as in it will kill you. When you hear about people dying from "huffing" paint, glue, etc. this is what kills them in part.

Glad to hear it's getting better though, I would hate to hear you lost out on some premium heli time because you inhaled some methy-ethyl bad sh*t. Be safe dude.

helimedic,

Thank you SO much for this information. Has really helped me understand my situation. I know, ive just got to be careful with dealing with this kind of stuff. It is getting better by the day and the swallowing has slowly turned from sore to an itch so Im glad its getting better.

I havnt smoked for a week now due to it, but yesterday I was silly enough to have one (thinking my throat will handle it) -WRONG. It felt like I was smoking razor blades so I wont be doing that again until everything is FULLY healed. And no Helimedic... I dont need a cancer lesson about smoking

But thanks for clearing all this up for me man!!

my father has extremly low plateletts, in the lower 30 range. He is an airline pilot for continental so they sent him to the mayo clinic (very good rep) and the doctors their came with the conclusion that it was from carborator cleaner from when he used to own his own car shop. Carb cleaner and acetone arnt so different.