Recommend wearing a dust mask during mowing

[TractorLegend]

So am I correct in observing allergies cause cold like symptoms- productive cough, stuffed up nose, cracking/ crunky/rough voice, etc? Thats what I have currently.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

I wear an N95 dust mask on occasion, I should do it more often with all of my allergies, but as mentioned they are hot. sometimes mowing into the wind I'll take it off. then when I turn aroundand go withthe wind I'll put it back on.

steve

 

[tawilson]

Alan,
I also started using nasal irrigation. I use a plastic bottle designed for it and it has helped. The only diff is I use distilled water in the mixture. My ENT group has me trying a new nasal spray which is working pretty good. It's called Veramyst. I think it's an upgraded Flonase. I also have gone the nasal surgery and allergy shot route with little results.

 

[BB_TX]

So am I correct in observing allergies cause cold like symptoms- productive cough, stuffed up nose, cracking/ crunky/rough voice, etc? Thats what I have currently.

That's the symptoms I had after my dusty mow last year. Never really had an allergy problem before. Over the counter had little effect. Now I wear a thin mask like you see outside hospital rooms for visitors to wear.

 

[Highbeam]

So am I correct in observing allergies cause cold like symptoms- productive cough, stuffed up nose, cracking/ crunky/rough voice, etc? Thats what I have currently.

I would say you are correct. The coughing due to the itchy throat will roughen your voice. The "productive" cough will indeed be very productive since the body is making flem to try and shed the inhaled particulates. The stuffed up nose is partially extra snot and partially swollen sinuses meaning yes you can blow nice snot rockets but you will always feel stuffed up.

Oh and don't forget the eyes. My lids will swell up a bit, red eyeballs, and if I make the mistake of rubbing my eyes to relieve the itch then it will be a super watery itchy mess.

For me it goes away after I remove myself from the field and take a shower. Only a coarse voice remains. I get it now with woodworking dust and sheetrock sanding dust too.

I can't wait to go mowing on Saturday. One paying job and then my own field.

 

[DirtHauler]

Awww yes, nothin' like mowing a very dry and tall field of grass on a windy day! Not bad as long as you can keep the wind in your face but evenualy you have to turn around! I bought a box of them "throw-away" dust masks with the exhale valve (after years of not using one) and found them a little easier to breath thru and at the end of the day toss it. It's scary when I look at it and see all the stuff I have been and would have breathed in! But now I don't have much of anything to dig out with my finger now!

Now if I can only figure out how to stop all that grass junk from getting down the back of my shirt and pants when the wind's at my back!

 

[Blister]

Wow. Sorry ya'll. I mowed 6 acres today without even a sniffle but I don't really have allergy problems either. I do have other issues though. My head doesn't feel right after pieces of a fat lighter stump ricocheted off an oak and then off my head bushhogging.

I guess mowing is just bad for a person.

 

[kentrodngun]

My head doesn't feel right after pieces of a fat lighter stump ricocheted off an oak and then off my head bushhogging.

The last couple of years I've taken to wearing my chainsaw hardhat with it's attached earmuffs & face guard. It may be hot to wear, but it probably offers the best overall protection.

My farmer buddy winced when I bought my bushhog and told me he'd never use it without a hardhat. Bouncing stones can kill you if they hit you in the right spot. A sharp blow might knock you out and cause you to flip over. Been there a couple of times on small rider mowers and never want it to happen on my big machines. I'll take safety over comfort every time.