Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hi, on my commute to and from work there is a 10km wide bush area that I have to ride through (either by road or bike track). The insects in this area tend to hang around the road/bike track and usually very hard to see. I have noticed lately that when I accidentally inhale one of these critters the back of my throat/chest area (after a few days) starts making me cough up yellow/green flem. Is this normal or would it be more of a thing to speak with a doctor about?

I had a nasty chest infection not long after inhaling a few last year. I honestly don't know if it was connected or not, but I can't rule it out with my limited medical knowledge.

Havent had any go past the nasal cavity or back of the throat thank heavens but i'd suggest wearing a filter mask if its a daily occurrence.

See: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=57985" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

p.s. I changed my route.

Soon you'll be sucking them in by the gobful as they'll be the new fashion food...
http://www.theage.com.au/world/bugs-are ... 2jijt.html

Thanks for the link thomashouseman the last entry in that thread was probably the most useful. I tried to search for an existing topic but must not have been using the right search words. The thing that has pissed me off the most about this, is that I only just recovered from a 2 month bout of illness about 2 weeks ago and was starting to get back into my cycling, running and swimming. Probably doesnt help that I have had to use public (virus) transport to get to/from work. Ah well the joys of working in the city.

Can't remember inhaling insects on a bike ride, but have inhaled many flies in a days work in summer, not a nice experience often vomit etc but never a chest infection.

Anything foreign that ends up in the lungs is potentially life-threatening.

My dad died earlier this year due to ingested pneumonia. Swallowed some lunch the wrong way and was already on the critcal list by the next morning.

The fact that a foreign body in the lungs is actually causing a phlegmy discharge must be checked out by a GP.

Eeek!
Thanks for the warning!

Sorry about your loss. That's sucky...

I got to the doctors last night and they said that it is actually quiet difficult for a foreign object to make its way into the lungs and block the bronchial tubes in the lungs. If something did make its way into the lung, the body can't actually get rid of it and a doctor/surgeon would have to do an extraction.

With my original post about the yellow/green phlegm, looks like its related to an ongoing illness that I have been suffering through. So much fun having a multitude of illnesses for the last 2.5 months. Back on the anit-botics again and off for a chest x-ray just to make sure there is nothing else going on.

marty_one wrote:I got to the doctors last night and they said that it is actually quiet difficult for a foreign object to make its way into the lungs and block the bronchial tubes in the lungs. If something did make its way into the lung, the body can't actually get rid of it and a doctor/surgeon would have to do an extraction.

With my original post about the yellow/green phlegm, looks like its related to an ongoing illness that I have been suffering through. So much fun having a multitude of illnesses for the last 2.5 months. Back on the anit-botics again and off for a chest x-ray just to make sure there is nothing else going on.

I'm glad I read this post.

It's made me wary of the potential problem.

Thanks

I swallow lots of bugs as I ride, It just happens. The worst I had was when a bug went into my eye and it stung so bad I had pull over and use half of my water bottle to flush it out. I always wear glasses now even if it's just 5 min down the road.

Sorry to hear about your dad Marty.

+1 for wearing glasses. I don't leave home without them.

Have inhaled bugs a few times fortunately they got stuck up my nose. not pleasant blowing wings body bits and legs out.

Just recovering from a chest infection myself. Was in bed for a full week, on !!! Spammer !!!. Doctor took a sample of the yellow/green sputum I was coughing up. I went back after the antibiotics ran out, just as the results came back. Infection was related to influenza, with !!! Spammer !!! a sub-optimal treatment, so I am some more powerful stuff (!!! Spammer !!! Duo Forte), which is basically penicillin. The yellow/green crap is now gone and I am just coughing up clear stuff. 6 more days of drugs to go.

marty_one wrote:I got to the doctors last night and they said that it is actually quiet difficult for a foreign object to make its way into the lungs and block the bronchial tubes in the lungs. If something did make its way into the lung, the body can't actually get rid of it and a doctor/surgeon would have to do an extraction.

With my original post about the yellow/green phlegm, looks like its related to an ongoing illness that I have been suffering through. So much fun having a multitude of illnesses for the last 2.5 months. Back on the anit-botics again and off for a chest x-ray just to make sure there is nothing else going on.

Qft, the first paragraph. Extraction=bronchoscopy.

Pretty hard for anything to get right through into your lungs. Happens in older people or intoxicated people due to a depressed cough reflex most often. Maybe a mild immune response in your upper airways if it had something nasty on it before you coughed it up?