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mountainmiss
Oct 1, 2009, 11:23 PM
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Does anyone have ANY information about the possibility of contracting fungus/mold infections from repeated exposure to rock from setting several hundred routes??
If you don't know of anything but know someone who might, please let me know.
thank you!
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onceahardman
Oct 2, 2009, 1:20 AM
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mountainmiss wrote: Does anyone have ANY information about the possibility of contracting fungus/mold infections from repeated exposure to rock from setting several hundred routes?? If you don't know of anything but know someone who might, please let me know. thank you!
1) You sound like an attorney.
2) "setting routes" is usually done on plastic and wood, indoors. Therefore, there is no "repeated exposure to rock", when routesetting, unless you are talking about bolting sport routes outdoors.
3) Fungi are persistent beings that occur everywhere. Some are beneficial, some can kill you, some make your nails look funky. It isn't someone else's fault if you get a fungal infection.
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angry
Oct 2, 2009, 1:36 AM
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I've suppose you could get the black lung if you always blew out bolt holes without a straw and blew out lots and lots of bolt holes. After about 1 of these though, people usually get a straw.
Otherwise you're exposed no differently than any other climber outside.
If you're talking about setting routes inside, there won't be any mold but a bacteria from other climbers who are affected/infected (with something not climbing related) could in theory stay on a hold. Your best bet is to climb in shoes and insist everyone at the gym do so as well and use Lamisil if you start sprouting mushrooms. I don't know if it's ever happened but the idea has been kicked around here.
If you are a lawyer, there is no case here. Outside it's just nature. Inside, it's no different than a bus or church. You can't sue your pastor for catching a cold at a church gathering.
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mountainmiss
Oct 3, 2009, 2:12 PM
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I am not an attorney and I'm realizing by the replies that I have not expressed my question correctly. I am not looking to sue, blame or point figures at anyone or anything. I am seeking help for a friend who has been suffering from an ailment for over 5 years that no doctor seems to be able to diagnose and/or treat. Because many of the symptoms resemble systemic mold/fungus infection that is what we are seeking medical help for, but we can't find anyone who treats this. nothing shows up in any of the scans, tests, etc regarding sinusitis or such infections. forgive my mistaken terminology: "setting routes" is my bad, i meant bolting routes outdoors. so I'm looking for any rockclimbers who have had a diagnosis of systemic mold infection (or anything similar). I'm thinking that perhaps there's a connection for they too have had repeated exposure to rock. I'm wondering what sort of treatment options they have pursued and if it has worked for it may be something we have not pursued yet and need to. that's all and why I'm asking. thank you.
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mountainmiss
Oct 3, 2009, 2:23 PM
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His symptoms are: chronic neck pains, drainage from the back of the neck, headaches, coughing, drainage that "feels toxic" and seems to temporarily metastisize (sp?) to other parts of the body, muscle tightness... doctors seen have included ENT's, neurologist, chiropractors, allergist. Also had rolfing, acupuncture, change of diet, massage therapy, yoga.
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j_ung
Oct 3, 2009, 2:23 PM
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I suppose it's possible, though I'm pretty sure I don't know anybody who suffers from any form of rock mold or fungus. But, it occurs to me that, in addition to asking climbers, you might want to pose the question to a biologist. Is there a university nearby?
Angry brought up black lung. I'm not saying it is black lung, but have your friend's doctors pursued such a course? Who knows...
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mountainmiss
Oct 3, 2009, 2:28 PM
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j_ung, that's a really good idea.. to pose my question to a biologist. Thank you for that suggestion! I appreciate you taking the time to reply.l
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mountainmiss
Oct 3, 2009, 2:30 PM
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and yes, we will look into the "black lung" possibility. Thanks Angry.
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c4c
Oct 3, 2009, 3:10 PM
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my guess is lyme disease
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dan2see
Oct 3, 2009, 3:24 PM
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The tone of this thread is over-the-top, so let's step back from the verbiage, and get practical. Let's stick to "rock" and "repeated". Also keep in mind that different types of rock, mountain, vegetation, and climate will have its own mix of hazards.
Rocks collect stuff. Dirt and pollen are there -- you know it, you can smell it. Spores ride the wind and settle on everything. I don't think bacteria and viruses survive, but actually I don't know.
Rocks scratch your skin. It always happens, some folks more than others. Your skin is your "first defence" against infection, and right away you compromise it, layer by layer. Hands are really rugged, but knees and shins seem to get clobbered.
So how should you deal with all this? The first and easiest thing is to get a Tetanus shot booster (once every 10 years). The next thing is simply keep clean. That's easy -- most folks wash-up or shower when they get home. I sometimes wash a scratch right away: water and a sleeve work OK.
My own experience was ring-worm. That's a fungus, and it's not supposed to be common in Alberta. I did not know what it was, but I know that I was collecting rock-dust under the belt of my climbing harness, and it was grinding into my skin. It took me a year to get rid of it. I can say that ring-worm was my worst "climbing injuring" in the Rocky Mountains.
So in general, you know that there's "stuff" around, and you can pick it up. So keep having fun on the rocks, just keep clean, stay healthy. And don't worry -- when it gets you, you'll deal with whatever comes up.
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roadstead
Oct 3, 2009, 3:45 PM
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If this was in St. George, UT. I'd say a Down Wind Syndrome. If I bolted in that part of the country I'd wear a Radiation badge.
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onceahardman
Oct 3, 2009, 5:37 PM
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mountainmiss wrote: His symptoms are: chronic neck pains, drainage from the back of the neck, headaches, coughing, drainage that "feels toxic" and seems to temporarily metastisize (sp?) to other parts of the body, muscle tightness... doctors seen have included ENT's, neurologist, chiropractors, allergist. Also had rolfing, acupuncture, change of diet, massage therapy, yoga.
"Drainage from the back of the neck"? So he's got an open wound on the back of the neck that's draining? Or is this upper respiratory/sinus/nasal drainage we are talking about?
The drainage is coming through the nose and mouth, (nasopharynx), right? Not really out "the back of the neck?"
Anyway, it sounds like it well could be a mold infection. They can come from where you work or live, and can be especially common if you have done some demo work.
Try an infectious disease specialist.
PS, I'm sorry about mis-reading your tone. I did not intend to impugn motives to you, which were not in your heart.
(This post was edited by onceahardman on Oct 3, 2009, 5:59 PM)
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reno
Oct 3, 2009, 6:20 PM
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c4c wrote: my guess is lyme disease
For the past 5 years? I doubt it.
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c4c
Oct 3, 2009, 6:36 PM
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reno wrote: c4c wrote: my guess is lyme disease For the past 5 years? I doubt it.
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reno
Oct 3, 2009, 7:22 PM
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That, or it would have been diagnosed by now.
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mountainmiss
Oct 3, 2009, 7:23 PM
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Thank you, everyone, for offering your thoughts and ideas. They are all good, for what you suggest is what he has already been tested for. The results for Lyme disease and ringworm both came out negative.
I do not believe he has seen an Infectious Diseases Specialist, but will ask him and if not, that is something we will pursue, along with contacting a biologist at a University. I was even thinking of contacting pharmaceutical companies' (that manufacture medicines for fungus) R&D dept ... it seems far-fetched, but it's something we haven't tried thus far.
To clarify further, the drainage is not coming out of his neck, or any orafaces. He "feels" the drainage, like someone with a sinus infection would feel the drainage from the nasal passage coming down into the esophagus.
Another symptom is that he's tired most of the time and intermittently experiences intestinal pain accompanied by diahrea (sp?), and he describes it "as if my body is trying to eliminate the toxins."
I welcome any other suggestions. Again, thank you!
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mountainmiss
Oct 3, 2009, 7:29 PM
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I should mention that he was diagnosed with Eagles Syndrome, a rarity that most ENT's have not heard of or treated. This was several years ago, and he had surgery to remove the elongated 'styphloid' calcification that was found. He did not experience any relief of symptoms after this surgery. Yet, it may have something to do with what he's experiencing, but the problem is no one knows how to treat it because no one knows what the problem is. *sigh*
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agentmm
Oct 3, 2009, 7:44 PM
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This is such a bizarre thread...
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spiderwill
Oct 3, 2009, 8:39 PM
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could be from breathing silica from the dust of drilling rock maybe, silica isn't good to be breathing in if your exposed to alot of it. just my knowledge of masonry work. I guess it could cause irritation,headaches and infection in the sinuses but i'm no doctor just my 2 cents
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c4c
Oct 3, 2009, 9:09 PM
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the test for lyme disease can come back negative even if you do in fact have it.
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dan2see
Oct 3, 2009, 10:09 PM
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agentmm wrote: This is such a bizarre thread...
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mountainmiss
Oct 4, 2009, 5:48 PM
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I'm interested in anyone's and everyone's relevant comments, whether they be now or in the future.
dan2see, I'll be the judge if anyone has anything further to contribute. Just cause you're done with it doesn't mean I am, or that anyone else is either. I'm hoping your comment doesn't deter anyone else from putting in their two cents, especially someone who is looking at this thread for the first time.
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agentmm
Oct 4, 2009, 6:25 PM
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mountainmiss wrote: I'm interested in anyone's and everyone's relevant comments, whether they be now or in the future. dan2see, I'll be the judge if anyone has anything further to contribute. Just cause you're done with it doesn't mean I am, or that anyone else is either. I'm hoping your comment doesn't deter anyone else from putting in their two cents, especially someone who is looking at this thread for the first time.
His Alberta logic allows him to clearly see the bizarreness in this thread. Please don't disrespect that.
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mountainmiss
Oct 4, 2009, 8:20 PM
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Ah ha! That explains it! Thank you for enlightening me.. I am so sorry...
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dan2see
Oct 5, 2009, 12:52 AM
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agentmm wrote: mountainmiss wrote: I'm interested in anyone's and everyone's relevant comments, whether they be now or in the future. dan2see, I'll be the judge if anyone has anything further to contribute. Just cause you're done with it doesn't mean I am, or that anyone else is either. I'm hoping your comment doesn't deter anyone else from putting in their two cents, especially someone who is looking at this thread for the first time. His Alberta logic allows him to clearly see the bizarreness in this thread. Please don't disrespect that. mountainmiss wrote: Ah ha! That explains it! Thank you for enlightening me.. I am so sorry...
No, we mis-understood some parts of this thread.
Miss, in your Original Post, you asked for ANY info -- that's all-encompassing and general. But your second post was specifically about your friend's chronic problem. This shift changed everything.
So Agent and I, both of us, were confused about what the topic was. But instead of writing something intellegent, we called it "bizarre". I apologize for writing that, and I apologize on Agent's behalf, too.
Now let's back to your topic, which is actually about your friend's chronic problem. Unfortunately I don't have anything to say about that, so I'll close now, and keep my big yap shut.
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