Chest/Lung Pain

Yesterday I was taking a shower and noticed a deposit of old water under the cap for my conditioner (it happens often and I just empty it out). This time when I emptied it, I noticed immediately the smell of rotten eggs and ignored it. Thirty seconds later I noticed a numb tingly sensation in my nose and started feeling nervous. I was in the shower for probably another twenty minutes afterwards.

When I finished I started researching what happened and found that I probably breathed in hydrogen sulfide. Since then I have noticed slight lung pain, and about a half hour ago I felt like it was a little harder to breathe, but I had just had some coffee and I have been known to have panic attacks, especially after consuming caffeine. I was wondering if I should be worried for any reason? Is it possible that the cap full of water I poured in the shower released a dangerous amount of hydrogen sulfide?

Thanks for your time,

-Sam

[National Jewish Health]

It may have been hydrogen sulfide as this gas is commonly found in home drinking and showering water, which is just about never a health risk for us.  You will note at the following website http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/housing/356-488/356-488.html that sulfur bacteria, found in hot water systems, can give off the same odor.  There is no chance that the emission from the shower cap released a dangerous amount of hydrogen sulfide and, likewise, extremely unlikely that it was a cause of any of your symptoms.