Dealing with Formaldehyde Exposure: Symptoms, Concerns, and Next Steps - Family Medicine

Hello, doctor. I have been in an environment with high concentrations of formaldehyde for a period of time?

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At the beginning of March, I thought the paint smell was coming from the adjacent room, so I didn't avoid it.
However, I didn't realize that the airflow ultimately exited through my room, and I ended up inhaling high concentrations of paint fumes for about two weeks.
The formaldehyde concentration was high enough to cause discomfort in our eyes, and the whole family was affected.
I was told that drinking more water would help with paint poisoning, so I kept a jug of water in my room.
Surprisingly, the more I drank, the worse the pain became.
It started with severe, cramping pain in my left kidney area, as if I were being punched repeatedly.
Later, the pain shifted to my right kidney, which was mildly painful.
After trying this for two or three days, I switched to drinking water on the outdoor balcony, and the cramping pain eased up.
Within about two to three days, the pain subsided.
I later researched online and found that it might be related to formaldehyde dissolving in water.

It seemed that my body became more sensitive afterward.
In April, I left home to stay in a guesthouse, possibly due to poor-quality paint that continuously released formaldehyde, so I could only drink water outdoors.
When I returned home in May, I was worried and went to a nephrologist for X-rays, blood tests, and urinalysis, all of which came back normal.
However, I still couldn't drink water indoors, as I exhibited symptoms of paint poisoning, including excessive sleepiness and memory issues.
After June, I noticed that my breathing became labored, and I had difficulty catching my breath during exercise, as if my airways were blocked.
I wondered if it was caused by gastroesophageal reflux, so I was particularly careful not to trigger acid reflux.
In August, my condition worsened; I developed lumps all over my neck, which became swollen, and my lips were chapped and wouldn't heal.
I frequently broke out in rashes and felt hyperactive even at night.
Subsequently, I purchased a Dyson air purifier to remove formaldehyde and discovered that from May to August, I had been exposed to a formaldehyde concentration of 0.164 mg/m³.
Now, in September, I had the paint in my home redone with a better bamboo charcoal paint.
I placed three air purifiers in my small room, but the levels still spiked to 0.021 mg/m³.
The air purifiers would eventually show a reading of zero (after repeated cycles).
I thought that since the formaldehyde concentration had decreased, I should address my symptoms.
I visited an ENT specialist and explained that my throat felt constricted due to formaldehyde exposure.
After taking medication for two weeks, I noticed some improvement, with the constriction becoming less severe and some phlegm developing.
The doctor indicated that it was caused by acute allergies and advised me to continue taking the medication.
He mentioned that he might prescribe steroids during my next visit (which I ultimately decided not to attend).
I still experienced pain when drinking water, so I visited the nephrologist again.
This time, the doctor performed an ultrasound on both kidneys and my stomach, and everything appeared normal.
I found that negative ions were beneficial for my throat, so I bought an automatic sterilizing pear device that produces 75,000 ions/cm³ and would blow it towards my mouth, which helped significantly.
However, the best remedy was to spend time in nature, absorbing negative ions.
For instance, this morning, I walked in a national park forest, and my throat initially felt slightly painful, but then my airways opened up.
The constricted feeling became severe, and I produced a lot of phlegm, but the constriction lessened.
I noticed that when I tilted my head back, the upper edge of my throat seemed to form a "bundle."
In summary, I now feel very sensitive; when there is formaldehyde in the air, my throat starts to constrict (even in polluted urban air, which never affected me before).
Additionally, I began to experience mild pain near my kidneys, and I have small itchy spots all over my body.
My throat condition fluctuates between better and worse.
I still don't dare to drink water in my room because formaldehyde is still present, and drinking too much (around 2500 cc or more) causes pain.
I suspect I might be experiencing water toxicity, but I never had issues with drinking water before.
Which specialist should I consult next? I am also very concerned about the potential for formaldehyde to cause cancer, especially with my throat feeling constricted.
Will a toxicology specialist be able to check for anything, and what if everything turns out fine? I really want to return to my previous state of normal respiratory health.
Thank you, doctor, for reading this lengthy account.
I hope you can respond when you have time; it has been exhausting battling with formaldehyde.

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Lin Xiansheng, 30~39 year old female. Ask Date: 2021/09/15