Thanks for your posting, Susie. I just finished setting up my home studio
and
am a novice potter. I will try to think of your post every time I start to
decide that it's just too hot or uncomfortable to wear the mask/gloves.

Beck

"Susie Thompson" wrote in message
...
Hello everybody

I could do with your advice and opinion on something personal that's
happening with me that relates to this group. Last October I was
diagnosed with mild emphysema/COPD. I used to smoke a very little bit in
my twenties (I'm now 61). I was also brought up in a smoking household,
so I can't pin down just one cause from then.

I suspect that a more significant and maybe more likely cause is that fact
that I've worked with clay since I was 12, going on for 50 years now.
Having to do the sums makes me feel just ancient :-(( Years ago there
weren't the knowledge/warnings that clay and ceramic dusts could give long
term problems with lungs. Were there? Clouds of particles from so many
sources - plaster, sanding dry work, metal oxides etc, mixing glazes,
using onglaze and underglaze colours - the list goes on and on and on.
I'm going to have to use masks, take precautions and listen to good advice
from now on - something that the group might come up with to help me and
others.

The diagnosis of emphysema just stopped me in my tracks. I'm only getting
back to work now after several months of being down in the dumps. My
husband has been very supportive, as have friends and family. Still, when
it comes down to it, I'm on my own with this.

I'm not after the sympathy vote at all. But, I do wonder if it is worth
raising the health risk problems in view of where I am now? Young folks
think that they are immortal and invulnerable but perhaps putting up a
warning might be a good idea? Perhaps it's a warning for us all - I was
ignorant of the risk of dust and particles for years and simply didn't
take all the care that obviously I should and could have done. But then I
didn't realise and wasn't warned about the long term consequences all
those years ago.

I'm feeling pretty good at the moment and plan on going back into the
workshop on Sunday morning at around 10.00 am. I'll let you know how I
get along.

Thanks for being there folks.

Susie

--
Susie Thompson