The truth about carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of poisoning death worldwide. It is also a leading cause of poisoning related injury - but this side of the story is given shockingly little attention.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is well known for its danger and the range of symptoms when a person is poisoned. However, just because someone removes themself from the environment that poisoned them does not mean they have escaped the grip of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is much less known for the complex, baffling and sometimes disabling health problems it can cause in the weeks, months, and years after poisoning.

Carbon monoxide injury causes or triggers cellular malfunctioning - which in turn can cause, trigger, or worsen any number of health problems.

Because symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning mimic so many common health problems, most victims don't even know they are actually being poisoned by carbon monoxide - yet may go on to experience health problems because of it.

Many people make a full recovery however, an unknown but significant percentage experience a wide range of ongoing health issues - almost always unaware that carbon monoxide related damage could be at the root of the problem.

The symptoms and after effects may be obvious or they can be subtle. Never-the-less, poisoning can leave its mark in many ways.

This site is made by poisoning survivors

There is a shortage of information about the real impact of carbon monoxide poisoning. This site is here to change that. It brings a view that can only come from those that know what it is like to have been poisoned - as well as live with the long term impact.

This site is for:

• Anyone wanting to know more about carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms
  
  
• Anyone that suspects they may have been exposed to carbon monoxide - recently or in the past
  
  
• Anyone that has had multiple low level carbon monoxide poisonings
  
  
• Anyone that has experienced one time carbon monoxide poisoning - recent or past
  
  
• Anyone that has been part of a group or family carbon monoxide poisoning
  
  
• Family, friends and anyone wanting to know more about carbon monoxide

Often a survivor and those around them never understand that it is the injury and damage resulting from poisoning that has subtly or significantly altered their health, behavior, and entire experience of what it means to be alive.

Although difficult to prove, health issues related to poisoning damage can surface years later. "Footprints" of carbon monoxide injury are almost always diagnosed as commonly known health problems and disorders.

This site can be used to help understand how a past poisoning may still be playing a role, like that of a silent stalker in a survivors life.

Some of this information is "heavy" but it is helpful to:

• Learn from experiences of other survivors
  
  
• Be more aware of potential challenges in the road ahead
  
  
• Know about the two types of carbon monoxide poisoning
  
  
• The most important question you can ask your doctor
  
  
• Understand the four kinds of poisoning survivors
  
  
• Grasp that poisoning impacts more than just the survivor
  
  
• Comprehend that some survivors are at higher risk of injury and additional health problems
  
  
• Learn that the short term symptoms and after effects of carbon monoxide poisoning can make life and basic functioning [a lot] more challenging on many levels (including energy levels, mood stability, memorizing, following tasks through to completion, and more)
  
  
• Learn that awareness, understanding and support from family and friends is extremely helpful
  
  
• Learn that carbon monoxide injury and death is a significantly larger problem than acknowledged but this is masked by the fact that carbon monoxide statistics are wrong

For someone poisoned by multiple exposures, it can be an extremely important "aha moment" to come to the understanding that this uninvited intruder (CO) has been silently meddling in their life - and in some cases, the lives of their entire household - often for years.

The symptoms and effects while elevated levels of carbon monoxide are in the body can be minor but can also be extremely serious - causing damage - affecting the brain, heart, nervous system, endocrine system, and other organs - resulting in subtle and not-so-subtle changes to personality, behavior, and health.

People respond differently to the same level of carbon monoxide exposure. Symptoms and after effects can range from mild to severe in people with the same level of exposure.

The short term and long term symptoms and effects of carbon monoxide poisoning can affect the daily functioning, work, finances, relationships, and future of more than just the survivor.

Getting help and treatment for ongoing health issues related to poisoning can be frustrating for survivors. This drove us to seek the first ever online program to provide information and recovery support for survivors.

Only knowledge, a level of self awareness and the will to recover can help navigate the potentially rocky road caused by poisoning.

This site is dedicated to those that have had their lives and health needlessly stolen - and to all people affected by the toxic echoes of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Your friends and the survivors at
carbon-monoxide-survivor.com

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Medical and legal help please

Cath from Au

Hi My husband was exposed to CO and probably other things as well but all the doctors (except one) seem to be treating every indiv symptom and are not receptive to the time line and/or the possibility of CO poisoning. The lawyer is also in the dark. It is odd but the employer is supportive because they have been involved from the first days and seen the effects first hand. Naturopathy has helped thank goodness. Having a doctor who has understanding of CO effects would be great let alone a lawyer who does not put us on the too hard basket. Can anyone help us with finding both in or around Sydney Australia. We are tired and stuck.

Carbon Monoxide alarms reminder

Andy from UK

There's a company here in the UK that offers a free reminder service to remind you to regulary test your CO alarm. It will also remind you when you need to change the battery and when it's time to install a new unit. You just enter your details and get the reminders by email or text.

http://www.safelincs.co.uk/COReminders/

It also does the same for smoke alarms

www.safelincs.co.uk/reminders

(They 'do what it says on the tin' and don't use your details to sent unwanted emails)

brain function

marilyn

i also have trouble with short term memory, dizzyness. , lots of other things. i had co poising over a 7 year period from cloths dryer not vented right. and my levels were close to 30%. i would like to know if this has to do with vein trouble heart papulations and a list of other possible long term symptoms. its been hell trying to seem right mindd, to make a living and have relationships with people that done really get it.

working memory

Edward from Seattle

Since my acute exposure in 1983, I've suffered a life defining short-term, or working memory disorder. New learning is extreemly difficult, and I have only recently found a potential resource in a memory training software program (BrainBuilder), but any practical improvment is, as yet, still to come. Have any others suffered this particular effect, ie working memory disorder, and found an effective means of rehabilitation? (hyperbaric was not effective)

I GOT POISON CARBON MONOXIDE

ESTELA from SWITZERLAND

I got carbon monoxide 3 years ago, because I was very ignorant and I put into my room the grill with the carbon in, I dont know for how long but I woke up in the hospital after 10 days , now I cannot walk very well with one leg , the left leg is none, do you think so, I can walk normaly with the time?

damage to the brain

wendy from florida

I have always believed that my 90 minute exposure to carbon monixide has something to do with the fact I do not learn easily, can't concentrate, forget a lot, (ADD symptoms). In other words I often feel stupid because it takes me twice as long to learn. I would like to know if there is some sort of test that can prove that my brain was damaged. I am now 60 years old now but it is important to me to know.

recent intoxication

Jon from Portugal

Hello there,

amazing work done with this website. thank's.


yesterday me and my girlfriend got intoxicated due a gas leak, having 31% and 22% respectively of Co Hb.

Both received hyperbaric oxygen treatment and feeling ok.

we both have flights this week that cannot be delayed.

what do you have to say about flying in these conditions ?

Thank you so much. your help would be very appreciated.

Pocket CO2 detectors....thought I'd share!

Mimi from Md, USA

Pocket CO2 detectors....thought I'd share! Have a friend looking out for me and she sent these 2 links:

www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/ps/carbonmonoxidedetectors

www.co2meter.com/collections/portable

Five weeks of extreme illness

Joy Blake from Anderson, IN

I had a hip replacement , rehab, and then came home. I was feeling OK on that day, but the next day I was extremely ill.

I went to the doctor numerous times and went through several tests like ultra sound and ct scan. It revealed nothing. I also was put on medicine for appetite and nauseous and it didn't work. It seemed as though the doctor gave up on me and told me to come back in three months. I don't know why he didn't think of carbon monoxide poisoning.

My daughter saw an article in her newspaper regarding carbon monoxide poisoning and realized those symptoms were exactly what I was going through. I called my heating and air conditioning company and they discovered that I had carbon monoxide poisoning (400 of a million) and it came from my gas dryer vent that was split.

I have been ill for five weeks with all kinds of symptoms. I am fatigued, confused, weak, no appetite, blurred vision, having a time getting to walk, vomiting, and so much more.

I am wondering how long it will take me to get well. I had a miserable Christmas, but am so fortunate to be alive.

I wish that I knew what to do to get well and quickly.

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