Started last year and it’s even worse this year. The day after mowing I’ll get a headache bad enough to wake me up very early. No known/diagnosed allergies or anything, I obviously just can’t handle the dust and dirt I inhale. Anyone have mask suggestions that’ll allow me to breathe freely but still keep my head and lungs clear? Comfort is a big plus also since I’m mowing and trimming for at least two hours or more each week.

Many of the lawn service guys around here use these:

That’s what the guys around here wear as well.

The dust and crap bothers my lungs as well, but I don’t get a headache from it. Do you wear hearing protection? Could the noise be causing the headache?

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
That’s what the guys around here wear as well.

The dust and crap bothers my lungs as well, but I don’t get a headache from it. Do you wear hearing protection? Could the noise be causing the headache?

I always wear hearing protection.

I like to mow my own yards (3+ acres between the house and the barndo, and everything in between).
I am also highly allergic to everything green in East Texas.
I wear a 1/2 face mask/respirator from 3M. I don’t smell anything while wearing it.
Plus I can breathe freely through it. Even with less than 50% lung capacity due to pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Is it a bit hot during high summer? Yep. But it doesn’t take me three days to recover from mowing, either.

This spring I was clearing our property from 30 years of being overgrown a d burning the brush. Day after, raging headache. Never before was this an issue.

Dust is a huge problem for me. I have to use a walk behind mower, too much slope for a rider, and any mask clogs up with sweat and really restricts breathing, just terrible with that level of exertion

A couple post-mow suggestions, neti pot for sinuses and Mucinex or guaifenesin generic or NAC to help clear the lungs.

quote:

Originally posted by Leemur:


No known/diagnosed allergies or anything

Have you been to an ENT or allergist to be tested? You very well may be allergic to grasses

Dehydration could also be contributing. Be sure to drink plenty of water every day, especially when you know you're going to be sweating.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yep. You have to drink before you work outside. I would advise checking you BP as well.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Dehydration could also be contributing. Be sure to drink plenty of water every day, especially when you know you're going to be sweating.

Dehydration also was my first thought. Great minds......

I wet a “Mission” gaiter down before I mow. I don’t wet down the portion on my nose/mouth, everything below. I also hydrate with electrolytes before, during, and after as even if I mow in the evenings it’s 90+ Degrees usually. I never mow in the morning as I detest the fuckers that do that in my neighborhood on the weekend. Mon-Fri, have at it, but on the weekends, got damn let me have my mornings in peace to rest from the week.

I wear a K95 respirator (If that is what it is technically called) mask and it helps me. I also wear goggles that helps keep the dust and junk away from my eyes.

Then whenever I get done mowing, I Nettipot, use eye rinse, and hit the shower. It seems to lessen the effects.

You might also try taking some aspirin or allergy pills before hand.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Dehydration could also be contributing. Be sure to drink plenty of water every day, especially when you know you're going to be sweating.

At work (Texas Gulf Coat), we have our crews working outdoors drinking a pint water bottle every 30 minutes. They're also hydrating prior to working (should have clear pee with no color prior to starting work) and after working.

The OP is working outdoors 2 hours. In the summer, that's about 6 bottles of water in addition to normal quantities of daily water intake.

I was pounding water yesterday and it had zero positive effect.

Take your BP before, after and the next day.

quote:

Originally posted by Leemur:
I was pounding water yesterday and it had zero positive effect.

Did you start out hydrated and keep after it, or did you get dehydrated and try to catch up? Trying to catch up takes me about a day, but in the meanwhile headaches, lethargy, etc.

I've also found that if I start with 1/2 bottle of Gaterade G0 about 20 minutes before, drink water throughout, and finish with the other 1/2 of the G0 then I'm much better off. Some things (e.g. electrolytes) plain water can't replace.

I do the same as hudr - wear a 3M half-mask - and use the pink (dust, allergen) filters.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/d/v000057395/

The times I don't use the mask it takes me a few days to get over the allergy symptoms. When I do wear the mask and get a shower after mowing, then I have no problems.

Like the others, I also always wear hearing protection. Usually just a set of Peltor muffs, but foam plugs plus the muffs when I remember.

Exhaust leak or some change in fuel or engine tune?

quote:

Originally posted by Leemur:
I was pounding water yesterday and it had zero positive effect.

You need electrolytes. I do Gatorade Zero in powder form. One powder pouch per 20 oz. I drink it before, during, after. I use it all during my workouts at the gym, and hammer it at the lake. At the lake, I have to double it to stay hydrated. I mean constantly drinking the stuff or I won’t make it on a 270 HP ski. 2 packages per 20 oz plastic water bottle. A guy I workout with from time to time, a Doctor, is built like a Mack truck, all natural. He’ll straight up pour the powder directly in his mouth and take a swig of regular water. The stuff works. As I have gotten older, water alone is just not enough. In a few weeks when we are hitting high 90’s to 100, right after mowing I have a 40 oz cup full of the stuff and I strip and jump in the pool immediately to get my body temp down. That are get in a cold shower with that same 40 oz cup of Brawndo. Regular Gatorade, whatever you can find the cheapest. I have liquid IV in the pantry if need be in case I’m really feeling it doing the lawn or at the lake. Tom Brady swears by the shit and he is still throwing bombs at his age. I don’t do his diet but I sure as shit do exactly what he does with hydration.