What is pneumonia?

[David]

What is pneumonia?

Here are key things to know about this infection

cnn.it/2crCda7

[gerald]

A few years ago I had to do a study on Pandemics. One of the dangerous side issues of those flu's / virus's is viral pneumonia. And of course the main issue is even if the patient recovers from the flu and the viral pneumonia, the Lung damage is usually not reversible.

Unfortunately the anti -virals / vaccines/preventions are usually just as dangerous.

[David]

When I was in the oilfield I contracted pneumonia 3 times. Once in 1981, once in 1982 and once in 1983.

When a oil well would blow out we had to cap it off. I would get soaked in crude oil along with two other of my fellow workers.

The doctor could not get anything to grow on the petri dish so he was unable to identify the bacteria.

The third time on the x-ray is when the beginning of emphysema showed up.

So I quit my job and never had pneumonia again. That was over 30 years ago.

I was allergic to something in the crude oil. It made my nose run and that fed my chest and turned into pneumonia.

I went to LSU Medical Center to try and find a solution to my problem before I quit my job.
Doctor told me he could not run the test because the government protects the industries and he would get fired and LSU would be fined $millions. They receive government money so they have to obey the government' rules.

I thought at the time that there would be a cure one day but here I am in the severe stage and still no cure. I wonder sometimes if they are even trying to find a cure. They sure did sweep me under the rug.

[gnott]

My guess is Lipid Pneumonia. Bacteria is less likely from raw petroleum, but the mud would often get contaminated (nice media; 120-145 degrees, sits and cooks in filthy tanks for hours while coming out or going in hole.  Various chemicals are added to keep bacteria growth down = which of course leads to other possibility - 'chemical pneumonia'. But frankly IMHO that's a catch-all phrase for any pneumonia that people commonly get in an industry, that goes away when they quit, and no confirmed medical reason why.

[David]

Oh, I forgot to mention I have never worked on a drilling rig. I worked on a workover rig or also called a pulling unit. I worked derricks. Worked in Louisiana and Mississippi.

We worked on oil wells that had a pumping unit. We pulled the rods and tubing. Just pulling the tubing out could cause the oil well to flow.

It was pure crude oil. Yes it was more than likely Lipoid pneumonia but I will never know for sure since they were not allowed to run any test. There are two types of Lipoid pneumonia. Pretty sure I had the second type, diffuse pneumonitis. The doctors did tell me it was a bacterial infection.

Same thing happened to the service men in The Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm when the enemy set all those oil wells on fire.

My experience happened about 10 years before the war.

www.penfield-gill.com/presentations/CDCall-final.htm

Inhalation of high boiling petroleum oils such as the oil rain causes a progressive disease called lipoid pneumonia. The severity of the disease is a function of the amount of oil inhaled, the viscosity of the oil, and the aromatic content of the oil. The greater the amount of oil inhaled, the lower the viscosity of the oil, and the higher the aromatic content of the oil, the more severe is the disease.

Petroleum in the lung acts as an irritant which cannot be removed by the normal defense mechanism of the lung, macrophagic action. Instead, the lung forms paraffinomas and granulomas around the oil droplets. Lipoid pneumonia can be a progressive disease which continues to reduce lung capacity long after the exposure to the petroleum ceases. Effectively, lipoid pneumonia can lead to a progressive emphysema.

Petroleum inhalation can lead to two forms of lipoid pneumonia. One form causes a circumscribed lesion similar to a tumor within the lung and is called lipoid granuloma or paraffinoma. Extensive loss of pulmonary function can occur with this type of lesion. A second form of lipoid pneumonia is diffuse pneumonitis in which oil droplets are spread throughout the lung. This type of lipoid pneumonia can be accompanied by bacterial infection.

[David]

I worked on a work over rig for about 4 years. I never worked on a drilling rig. I noticed people that came from the drilling rigs didn't stay long before they went back to drilling.

I worked on a single. One joint at a time and two rods at a time. It was hard at first but I got use to it. I really enjoyed it. I wish I wasn't allergic to something in the crude oil.

[David]

Yes working the floor made me go up into the derricks Never did like wrenching those rods.

[John]

Thanks Guys for the life history . . I was a telephone man all my life . A lot of interesting stories too ! 

[lavishgail]

Oh yes John, and you should tell you're story. We are very lucky to even have John with us to this day. I thank the Good Lord that we have our John, he is an Angel from heaven above! Johnny Angel.
XOXOO