Serious warning and advice, especially for FF mask wearers

[lusoman]

If you have your mask on and feel you are about to vomit, the VERY FIRST thing to do is get the mask off. Don't try to turn the blower off, don't wake your partner, don't turn on the light UNTIL YOUR MASK IS OFF.

I picked up some food poisoning yesterday, and woke with bloating and overactive salivary glands. I tried to turn the blower off and the light on, before removing my mask. Result: a very painful, messy and dangerous experience. You do not want a mask full of vomitus being blown back into your nose and mouth at 13cm H2O or higher (or even lower). You do not want acidic vomitus squirting into your eyes.

What you DO want is your mask off, no matter how much more cleaning up there is to do.

Even nasal mask wearers should do this since it is not at all unusual for vomitus to come out the nose.

Trust me on this. This has been a public service announcement.

[Muse-Inc]

I'm sorry you found out the hard way that it's mask off first whenever the stomach is unhappy. With my claustrophobia, I have to do a pep talk to even get my mask on the few times my stomach's been uphappy and then I make sure the mask is loose enough to undo 1 clip and pull the whole thing off quickly. A small trash can lined with plastic bags next to the bed is helpful too if only for peace of mind.

Bummer! Hope you're feeling better.

[kteague]

Whoa, that was quite a visualization there - trying to shake it off. Thanks for sharing your experience so hopefully others can bypass ever having our own. I've read discussions about the possibility of vomiting with a mask on, but somehow didn't tune in to the potential effect of the pressurized air in that scenario. Still trying to shake it off!

[DBoone]

somehow didn't tune in to the potential effect of the pressurized air in that scenario.

LOL! I hadn't either. I don't have a FF mask yet but I'm thinking about getting one. I'll keep this info in mind.

[lusoman]

somehow didn't tune in to the potential effect of the pressurized air in that scenario.

That was the scariest bit. I felt I was being "vomitboarded."

[TWW]

I felt I was being "vomitboarded."

Ding-ding-ding! And the duck descends, and he wins the hunned dollahs.

[JohnBFisher]

... Ding-ding-ding! And the duck descends, and he wins the hunned dollahs. ...

Ack! Anyone who understands your reference will definitely date themselves! Et Tu Groucho? ... Oh, wait a minute. I just noted that I understood the references ... Ouch!

[Gerryk]

I had something recently where my stomach was upset too but I gave myself plenty of warning. I just hope I have read this thread far enough before dinner.

Gerry

[BleepingBeauty]

Whoa, that was quite a visualization there - trying to shake it off. Thanks for sharing your experience so hopefully others can bypass ever having our own. I've read discussions about the possibility of vomiting with a mask on, but somehow didn't tune in to the potential effect of the pressurized air in that scenario. Still trying to shake it off!

Ditto! (And eww! eww! eww!)

Thanks for posting, lusoman. I think.

[sleepywolverine]

Ewww, I didn't even think of this so I'm glad you posted. Thank you and I hope you're feeling better.

[Guest]

Also, never tape your mouth closed if you're not feeling 100% okay. Tummy a little upset? Don't tape!!

[ozij]

Whoa, that was quite a visualization there - trying to shake it off. Thanks for sharing your experience so hopefully others can bypass ever having our own. I've read discussions about the possibility of vomiting with a mask on, but somehow didn't tune in to the potential effect of the pressurized air in that scenario. Still trying to shake it off!

Ditto! (And eww! eww! eww!)

Thanks for posting, lusoman. I think.

Ditto Ditto.

That was an important insight, lusonman. Clearly, a full face mask - with pressurized air blowing in - is no great comfort when it comes to sudden vomiting and has to come off fast.

Also, never tape your mouth closed if you're not feeling 100% okay. Tummy a little upset? Don't tape!!

I actually keep that rule religiously, but I do wonder what comes off faster - a mask (blowing air in at you ) or tape....

So, what do you do if you're a full face mask user and you're not feeling 100% OK? Use your backup nasal mask???

Hope you're feeling better, lusoman.

O.

[sleepycarol]

Thanks for posting this embarrassing moment!! I can see where having an upset tummy could end up being a catastrophe.

Always good to be remind of even the simple things!!

[PST]

The subject of vomiting used to come up in discussion with my friends far more often during our college years than it does now. We had so many names for it in those days, of which the "technicolor yawn" remains my favorite. I was trying to think of a suitable term for what happened to Iusoman while reading this thread when I saw "vomitboarding," which is perfect. I think even John Yoo would have to agree that vomitboarding someone would violate the Geneva Conventions. I hope you're okay, Iusoman.

[DoriC]

Thanks for the PSA, just in time for these New Year's Eve partygoers! Hope you're feeling better.