B737-700
Flight Attendant Current
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Maintenance Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Aircraft
Immediately following the engines being engaged to initiate takeoff; a very strong chemical smell was released into the cabin. I was seated on the aft jumpseat and was forced to hold my breath as the smell was so strong I was unable to breathe it in. The smell was definitely of a chemical nature; but it was not anything I had ever experienced before. I can definitively say it was not fuel; electrical burning; oil; or a classical fire smell. I wouldn't describe the smell as burning of any kind. The best description of the smell I can give sounds crazy; but the 3 things that immediately popped into my mind were; paint/sealant; Play Doh; and a child's plastic ball pit.My first thoughts were of potential off-gassing of any residual chemicals used during a recent maintenance procedure; but as the smell became overwhelming and prohibited my breathing; I thought of a potential chemical spill related to possible cargo. Just as I was about to evacuate the area and call the Captain; we reached 10;000 feet and the smell started to dissipate enough to catch my breath. I moved to a seat a few rows into the cabin and the smell continued to lessen. I immediately felt eye burning; the need to cough and experienced a heaviness in my chest with some burning accompanying each cough; similar to symptoms of being in a smoky environment.A few moments later; the C Flight Attendant (FA) came to the back of the cabin to inquire about the same smell as they had experienced it at the forward jumpseat as well. After comparing our experiences; I called the Captain to report the odor. I asked about recent maintenance and/or possible cargo and he informed me neither had occurred recently. I told him I would keep him informed. During flight; we monitored the odor. It dissipated greatly but never disappeared completely. I updated the Captain once during cruise flight. The C FA and I continued to compare our experiences as our health began to decline. We started to feel dizzy; our chest felt heavy; moments of nausea; and slight headaches.As we began our descent; the odor return rather strongly; I began to feel ill and dizzy. I witnessed a haze in the cabin; but I can't be certain if that was actually happening or merely a symptom of my exposure. I immediately called the Captain to report the strong increase of the odor and that we were feeling ill. He said he would turn the packs to full blast and we should be landing shortly. After landing; I spoke with the First Officer and he reported experiencing the same smell in the flight deck; stronger on landing. He could not recognize the smell either but concurred with my odd description.Maintenance was called. The C and I stepped off the plane for some fresh air. Both of us continued to feel worse. We decided to be seen by EMT and to be pulled from duty as we both were feeling classic symptoms of hypoxia and didn't feel well enough to continue on safely. After about 30 minutes after being off the plane and receiving oxygen from EMT our symptoms stopped progressing; but only improved while receiving oxygen. Paramedics were called and we were tested for carbon monoxide. My result came back positive for carbon monoxide exposure. We were advised to be transported to the hospital for further test/treatment. We continued with oxygen therapy and proceeded to the hospital via ambulance. At the hospital my symptoms continued to improve and I no longer felt the need for oxygen. I had a chest X-ray and blood work run; both came back clear enough to be released to fly home. I was advised to rest with light activity and restricted from work. That evening; my headache was severe and I felt lethargic. This morning; my headache is mild and I continue to improve.I did not feel supported or taken seriously by my Captain. I felt completely supported by my fellow FAs; but my C FA and I both felt peer pressure from our Captain to disregard what we were experiencing and made to feel as if we were overreacting. Intentional or not; his demeanor was of annoyance; and not concern. I would have liked for him to make inquires as to what could possibly have been causing the toxic smell; rather than a quick dismissal of an 'it'll pass' attitude. I felt intimidated to not report my feelings of illness or to insist on having maintenance called. I delayed receiving medical treatment as I felt guilt about causing delays and disrupting operations. I feel that if I felt properly supported by my Captain; I could have had more confidence in not only what I was experiencing; but also in how I should have proceeded.
B737-700 Flight Attendant reported feeling ill from exposure to fumes in the cabin.