Lighter Flame inside Nasal Cavity.

[panther123]

This question may sound a bit irrational. But, I need to clear the air first. I suffer from a severe case of Obsessive compulsive Disorder. and I worry about the most simple things, however, benign they may be. And, I also Smoke. And I shouldn't be smoking, its bad for health..blah..blah..I know that...but I need Answers to this Question from an anatomical point of view. I don't need any personal suggestions.

 

So, the question is that, I probably got a lighter flame inside my external nares, while lighting a cigarette, my friend was holding the lighter, and he tilted it a bit, and the flame was set to high length..So, it got into my nose.

 

Now, I feel perfectly fine, but, since, I suffer from OCD, I can't stop thinking about it. I have this Delusion that It might have damaged/injured my skull base.

 

Now, theoretically, speaking, how plausible is that, a lighter flame inside a nose, can reach up to the skull base? I mean, is there a straight passage up to the skull base? Or, will the turbinates inside the nose, obstruct the flame from reaching the skull base?

 

And also, if somehow, Theoretically speaking, flame damages the skull base, and causes a perforation in the skull base, exposing the brain. Can someone survive this condition, living with a hole in the skull? Would it be extremely painful? From what I have heard, burns and injuries from Fires are painless, since they destroy all the pain receptors?

 

Please, respond...ASAP...I am just over thinking this alot...

Edited July 30, 2016 by panther123

[imatfaal]

You will be fine.

 

I did fire breathing (you lose quite a lot of nasal / body / facial hair when you practice) for a while 20 years ago and my brain pan is still fine.

 

Theoretically speaking - it is impossible. Your nose is lined with very moist membrane which will dampen any small flame, and even if you did do enough to damage your nasal membrane there is no way you could get a hot enough flame from a short exposure to a cigarette lighter to damage living bone. And it would hurt like hell

[Phi for All]

So, the question is that, I probably got a lighter flame inside my external nares, while lighting a cigarette, my friend was holding the lighter, and he tilted it a bit, and the flame was set to high length..So, it got into my nose.

 

The way you describe this, it doesn't sound like the flame was there for any appreciable length of time. Short exposures to heat shouldn't be hurt, but you should see a doctor if you're concerned since that's the only way to get accuracy in this kind of diagnosis.

 

Mythbusters showed how wet fingers could withstand brief contact with molten lead, due to the Leidenfrost effect.

 

 

Edit: Not to change the subject too much, but do you think you could use your OCD to stop smoking? Like every time you get the urge to light up, you do something benign instead? Of course I have no idea of the extent of your compulsion, and if this is in any way disrespectful of a difficult condition, I apologize. It just occurred to me and I thought I'd ask.

Edited July 30, 2016 by Phi for All
additional comment

[John Cuthber]

I suspect that the worst thing you will have to put up with as a consequence of this is the smell of burned hair for a while.

[panther123]

@imatfaal: Thanks for the re-assuring words...means a lot...much appreciated

 

@Phi for All: About seeing a doctor, my father himself is a Doctor, he specializes in head and neck surgery...I told him, I want to get a CT Scan, to ensure that all my facial bones are in-tact, and He told me, that I am crazy and that I need to see a Psychiatrist..So, seeking medical help is not an option for me, for this particular incident. Even, I feel it's kind of irrational, but somehow, I don't have any control over these obsessive thoughts.

 

And, about quitting smoking. I know it's a disgusting habit, and I hate it, but, I am not a heavy/chain smoker. I am a pretty light smoker. Once or twice a week, believe it or not. And, I smoke only, because it helps with my obsession to some extent. Smoking, is common among patients suffering from schizophrenia. So, I guess nicotine, does have some positive effects on people suffering from a mental illness. And, you won't believe what my Psychiatrist told me about smoking, When, I told him, I only smoke once or twice a week. He responded by saying that, if you really smoke this much, than you have more chance of being run over by a truck than dying from smoking related ailments. He was actually encouraging it, as long as it keeps my symptoms at bay. I still don't believe him. I know, there is no safe level for smoking. It is harmful, even in low quantity. and, I plan on kicking the habit for good eventually.

Edited July 30, 2016 by panther123

[Sensei]

So, the question is that, I probably got a lighter flame inside my external nares, while lighting a cigarette, my friend was holding the lighter, and he tilted it a bit, and the flame was set to high length..So, it got into my nose.

If you are not writing from Intensive care unit already,

you're fine..

 

Now, I feel perfectly fine, but, since, I suffer from OCD, I can't stop thinking about it. I have this Delusion that It might have damaged/injured my skull base.

Nonsense.

 

Make scientific experiment:

Take cigarette lighter,

and piece of raw meat with bone some inside,

turn it on, and keep that way.

After a few seconds, you will still be able to hold piece of meat with fingers. Not serious change of temperature.

And meat in the worst case will have slightly changed color.

 

Are you cooking? Grilling?

How long it takes to make a dinner on pan which has 200 C or so.. ?

 

Now, theoretically, speaking, how plausible is that, a lighter flame inside a nose, can reach up to the skull base?

None.

If it would pass through, you would be already dead,

unable to breath for too long time,

because fire needs Oxygen to keep burning, which is in air.

 

Scientific experiment:

burn candle, place on it glass up side down,

observe fire.

Blink and fire is gone.

No access to Oxygen..

 

I mean, is there a straight passage up to the skull base? Or, will the turbinates inside the nose, obstruct the flame from reaching the skull base?

And also, if somehow, Theoretically speaking, flame damages the skull base, and causes a perforation in the skull base, exposing the brain.

Somebody would be long time dead..

Skull is made of Calcium Phosphate and Calcium Carbonate CaCO3.

Trying to burn it is like trying to burn egg shell with cigarette lighter.

Are you able to?

You would spend plentiful of time, and make cooked egg.

Make experiment. Try burning egg.

Better use blowtorch..

 

Can someone survive this condition, living with a hole in the skull?

 

The main issue with such injures are pathogens.

 

Would it be extremely painful? From what I have heard, burns and injuries from Fires are painless, since they destroy all the pain receptors?

People seriously injured by flames are all the time on morphine or similar painkillers to not feel the pain..

 

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijpedi/2010/825657/

 

"Morphine

has the lowest lipid solubility of all the opioids, which accounts for its slow entry into the brain and subsequent delayed onset of clinical effect. Its peak analgesic effect occurs 10–20 minutes after IV administration of a bolus dose of 0.1 mg/kg. While administering morphine as continuous infusion, younger children should be managed in a High Dependency or Intensive Care area. (Dosage for children 6 months of age is 0–12.5  g/kg/hour and for children 6 months of age is 0–25  g/kg/hour.) Rate and dosage should be adjusted according to child’s pain and sedation scores.

Morphine PCA can be used in children 5 years who have the ability to understand the workings of a PCA [28]. Bolus dose is usually 20  g/kg with a lockout interval of five minutes and background infusion of 4 to 8  g/kg/hour. In children who have difficulty pressing the “demand” button, this modality may be inappropriate. In this instance, it can be delivered by NCA (nurse controlled analgesia)—usually in a high dependency setting. Bolus dose is 20  g/kg with a background infusion of 0–20  g/kg/hour and a lock out interval of 20–60 minutes. Criteria for administration of a bolus dose are if the pain score is seven or more on a scale of 0–10 and the sedation score no greater than one. Respiratory rate should be above minimum rate for the age of the child and oxygen saturation must be monitored by continuous pulse oximetry."

 

Painkillers are often button press released to blood by patients who are awake.

[Phi for All]

@Phi for All: About seeing a doctor, my father himself is a Doctor, he specializes in head and neck surgery...I told him, I want to get a CT Scan, to ensure that all my facial bones are in-tact, and He told me, that I am crazy and that I need to see a Psychiatrist..So, seeking medical help is not an option for me, for this particular incident. Even, I feel it's kind of irrational, but somehow, I don't have any control over these obsessive thoughts.

 

I'm not going to give you any lectures about listening to your father. But I am going to lecture you about skepticism and your health.

 

Being skeptical is great, it keeps us questioning and learning our whole lives, if we're lucky. But the way it works is, you can question a medical doctor's advice, but you can't just dismiss it. You need to follow up, get other opinions, do your research. That's what you're doing here, so you're right on track, doing a good job of being a skeptic.

 

A skeptic's job is to figure out if information can be relied on or not, or whether more research is needed. When the other opinions you gather concur with the medical opinion you got from an otolaryngologist, the conclusion even a skeptic must reach is that the information is reliable, and you have nothing to worry about. Your father's diagnosis that you weren't seriously affected by this incident can be trusted.

 

Critical thinking could be your best friend moving forward. It might help you find reasonable triggers that will help you cope rather than obsess.

 

I am a pretty light smoker. Once or twice a week, believe it or not.

 

Good for you! This is hardly what I expected from someone who describes themselves as both "obsessive" and "a smoker". I spend an equal amount of time pulling weeds every week in my yard. Do you think it's OK to call myself "a gardener"?

[panther123]

^ lol.... I never called myself a "smoker" ... I just said, I smoke..

 

Anyways, all this discussion has been a lot comforting ... I thank you and everyone else for their inputs...

 

Kind Regards.

[Phi for All]

^ lol.... I never called myself a "smoker" ... I just said, I smoke..

I am a pretty light smoker.

 

[panther123]

 

 

My bad..