Inhaling hydrochloric acid

I decided to clean out the bathroom by mixing hydrochloric acid and bleach together, and now I can't stop coughing like crazy and my breathing feels a bit heavy... is this actually serious, or will it just pass on its own?

I ended up calling 911 when it all went down because I spent about eight hours on the phone just trying to get some solid advice. While they were sending the ambulance, the dispatchers were actually giving me some tips on how to open up my airways so I wouldn't struggle so much to breathe. They really wanted me to hang out at the hospital for a day or two just to be safe, but honestly? I turned them down.
Give emergency services a call and see what they suggest

I gave them a call, you know? And they just told me that I need to stay hydrated—drink more milk or water, I suppose—and if I haven't had any vomiting, then I should try to induce it manually using my fingers. Is that really all there is to it?
It’s still another week until I can actually get in there. Honestly, even if I did go right now, would they even be able to provide a definitive diagnosis? One wonders.

Best of luck!

stormygull86 said:I gave them a call, you know? And they just told me that I need to stay hydrated—drink more milk or water, I suppose—and if I haven't had any vomiting, then I should try to induce it manually using my fingers. Is that really all there is to it?
It’s still another week until I can actually get in there. Honestly, even if I did go right now, would they even be able to provide a definitive diagnosis? One wonders.

Man, you inhaled chlorine gas... which happens when you mix hydrochloric acid and bleach.

That advice about vomiting? Honestly, it's pretty moronic. You didn't swallow anything; you breathed it in. And, I mean, you'd be being pretty reckless if you *had* swallowed hydrochloric acid, too. Maybe—and I'm just saying—flushing your stomach would make sense if you'd swallowed the bleach, but not this.

According to the first aid guidelines for hydrochloric acid:

After inhalation: get the person into fresh air, put them in a semi-reclined position, and keep them calm; if
symptoms persist, move them to a hospital in the recovery position while
making sure their airways stay clear.

After ingestion: do not induce vomiting; rinse the mouth with water and spit it out; drink a glass of water; place the person
in a semi-reclined position and, while keeping them calm, transport them to a hospital.

There's a risk of pulmonary edema developing up to 48 hours after inhalation;
make sure to bring the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) along when transporting the person to the hospital.

I’m feeling better now—honestly, completely back to normal, as if nothing even happened. It was quite strange experiencing that vomiting sensation, wasn't it? I mean, sure, I did inhale some gas fumes, but where would the symptoms actually come from? I suppose I can't say for certain, since I am certainly no doctor, though I wasn't attempting to induce any vomiting myself.