Carbon monoxide poisoning and multi-sensory sensitivity

After carbon monoxide poisoning a survivor may find they are more sensitive or extra sensitive to a range of chemicals and other "sensory forces".

Carbon monoxide poisoning can trigger chemical sensitivities but more often triggers sensitivities to a wider range of stimulus. This is sometimes referred to as multi-sensory sensitivity.

This affects an unknown percentage of survivors but is very real to those that experience it. It can take [a long] time for a survivor to realize that at least some of their ongoing "symptoms" are connected to sensory stimulus.

This type of sensitivity seems to be unique to carbon monoxide poisoning survivors. It is characterized by heightened sensitivity to chemicals as well as other stimuli such as light, sound, touch, temperature fluctuations, changes in barometric pressure, and even electromagnetic fields and electrostatic charges (in some cases even motion sickness).

People can develop Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) from exposure to other toxins such as pesticides or moulds. They may also be sensitive to other sensory stimuli such as light and sound however what distinguishes multi-sensory sensitivity caused by carbon monoxide poisoning is sensitivity to almost all types of sensory stimuli.

Many people are aware that carbon monoxide gas is invisible, odorless, tasteless, dangerous and that it can kill at high levels of exposure. However, carbon monoxide is also essential for life. Mammals constantly produce carbon monoxide within their bodies.

Carbon monoxide is produced in the normal breakdown of heme proteins (such as hemoglobin in red blood cells, myoglobin in muscle, cytochromes throughout the body) by an enzyme called heme oxygenase (HO).

Normal carbon monoxide production within the body increases 10 to 100 times in response to stress of any kind, whether it be physical, biological, chemical, or mental.

Carbon monoxide is also produced within the body by the breakdown of certain inhaled and ingested chemicals such as methylene chloride (dichloromethane) which is a common solvent, paint stripper, degreaser, propellant used in spray cans, and a by product of many industrial/manufacturing processes.

A survivor may become hypersensitive to very low levels of carbon monoxide exposure after poisoning. They may become so sensitive that they overreact to even the relatively low levels produced by their body in response to stress of any kind.

A percentage of carbon monoxide produced within the body binds to hemoglobin (red blood cells), is transported to the lungs, and is then exhaled. However, a larger percentage of carbon monoxide produced in the body binds to other proteins and is involved in many types of chemical reactions within the body.

Carbon monoxide is very bioactive and is produced and used by the body for the normal breakdown of heme proteins. Among its functions, it modulates the nerve action firing potential of sensory nerves. It is a gaseous neurotransmitter in the regulation of learning, memory, heart rate, respiration and vasodilation.

Normal carbon monoxide production within the body controls sensory sensitization and adaptation to odors, lights, sounds and all other sensory stimuli.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can affect normal healthy carbon monoxide production within the body.

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Hair loss

Emma from w.yorkshire

Yes I have all these symptoms but this is the first site that has hair loss as a symptom. I think I am being poisoned slowly and I think it is coming from the adjoining house to me, the guy thinks he is the master of all trades, he put the central heating in, now I just have to prove it. The doctors just put me on antibiotics but I have not have flu or any other symptoms that I would say needed antibiotics, some of my symptoms are hair loss, hoarse voice sometimes, shaking at times, sore eyes that sting at times, scalp stings, sleepiness a lot of the time, memory disturbance, not wanting to leave the house, not wanting any one to come in, no energy to even do house work. This all started gradually about February this year first hair loss, hoarse voice (sometimes) became so exhausted and had to stay off work, still off now. Gas man is coming to service my gas appliances on Wed., I will speak with him about the possibilities of next door.

Evil...

Jesse from Redding, CA

Well, Ive been purposely poisoned by medium to high levels of carbon monoxide by a group here in California because i beat up a meth abuser in front of all his friends.

He made it his goal to do neurological damage to me, and thanks to websites like this i can prove it all to my friends and family. The only problem is, its making my blood pressure higher, im losing fat and gaining muscle (without working out) and i can read people like a book.

I've been to the dr and they say my heartbeat is weaker, i got labs done and i get results soon.

Brilliant CO poisoning website

Frederick

I've been scouring the web, learning about co poisoning for months now and there's nothing better out there than this site. Head and shoulders better than any other site.

Thank you!

Chronic CO Poisoning Survivor

R. Ann from Colorado

I was poisoned by a faulty furnace in a modular trailer at a school where I taught. I was a reading Teacher so the children where only there for 30 min. at a time.

Many of the symptoms mentioned above happened to me and are still with me after over 10 years. I have severe headaches that can last a couple weeks at a time. I have developed secondary parkinsonism. If I don't take my meds for Parkinsons my muscles in my legs and feet start cramping.

I get Botox injections for my jaw dystonia which has helped with the tongue tremors and jaw contractures. I had to beg my neurologist for the injections after I researched my problem and found that Botox would be helpful. I told him that I had broken 6 teeth all ready from the contractions so I believe that was proof enough of my dystonia. He said that he agreed and the shots have helped along with the meds.

The CO had also damaged my kidneys so much that they lose potassium 4x faster than the normal kidneys. So I have to take more meds for that as my potassium went so low one time my heart stopped. I have developed food and other allergies that are so bad that in addition to two different allergy meds, plus 3 epi pens for emergencies, I take allergy shots.

Although I have a nice neurologist, he admits he is not an expert on CO poisoning esp. the chronic type. My cognitive therapist has helped me understand what has happened to my body more that most doctors. (For example, my light sensitivity and what areas of my brain damaged was damaged. Why I taught in the dark and didn't like the lights on in the room etc.).

It breaks my heart that there are so many of us (CO survivors) that are suffering and can\'t get help. All the sensitivity to chemicals, light, and food is called Muse Syndrome.

myptlcaw

Acemejontet from Kuwait

This site is the highest quality world-wide-web page. . Cheers Glenn Prolonoff!

Thank you

Becki from AZ

Wow I am just now finding out about this stuff. I lived in a basemenet and my roomates professer was the one who caught the problem. I had long term high level exposure, and was too young and stupid to know what was happening. My mother thought I was on drugs! I didn't know all this happens but it's me to a T! I have delt with these symptoms for 14 years, and had Dr's tell me I was making it up or I needed to see a srink. Hyper sensitive to temps, light, have seziures and headaches. I get very moody and feel alone alot even with people around. Nice to know what's going on after so long. Thank you!!

My co symptoms 10 days after top up exposure

Casandra from UK

Pain top of left lung. Pain behind left eye. Extreme fatigue. Forgetting to eat. When last ate had to have help w meals.

Tingling left arm and especially left hand. Worsening of muscular and joint pains, Tearful fearful suspicious. Done deliberately strangely subdued. No anger. Too busy coping with symptoms. Feel deactivated. Motivation to do anything low as expends energy.

Now need to recover. Dont want to reply to phone calls. Texting easier. Dont want visitors just peace and quiet.

Dont want to go to gps as cant face stress of it all. Been there before like this. I am judged before I begin so no point.

Need dentist but been messed about by them too and couldnt take their environment. Suffer pain teeth. Good to learn all this info.

Sensory sensitivity is a problem

cassandra from uk

Hyper sensitive to noise especially car and house alarms and yet dogs barking sirens dont affect me. Also photo-phobia leading to jagged light patterns visual disturbances.

I am needing to phone the public health dept up as the neighbor has to stop fixing cars under my daughters window. He's parked a huge white van under her kitchen window and this is trapping fumes in my daughters house. She has had to stop work because of co poisoning symptoms.

had those symptoms too

mary anne from new jersey

I spent 7 yrs trying to find out what was wrong with me. All my symptoms pointed to CO poisoning whch I didnt know at the time. Neither did any of the many Drs I went to. I thought if one more time I heard " maybe its stress" I would scream.
Finally Jan 2010 an Allergist did blood work to find high toxic levels of CO .
Now I am still trying to find a Dr that knows something about this to help me.
Even Neurologists I've been to dont know.
I cant take meds any more & go from one allergy to another. Pain in my ears & head & other strange things happen to me.
Does anyone know of a med or natural product that can help heal & build up immune system? How about a Dr in New Jersey that knows something about the subject.
U really feel like u r all alone with this.

Rebecca from Georgia

My heart symptoms were simple... I could "feel" my blood pumping through my body if I were laying down. If I lied on my right side, my heart would beat funny. After a while I realized I had to sleep on my left side for it to stop beating strangely. A cardiologist said my heart was fine, but I couldn't walk 30 feet without hitting a heart rate of 120 beats per minute. I was 30 and weighed 114 pounds.
That was 3 years ago. My heart doesn't act that way anymore. It took a long time and a lot of exercise (and patience).

Marcel

Yes, yes, yes, this is how I was affected but !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it took me such a long time to understand that I had become "allergic" to a lot of things that never bothered me before

Harry from UK

This hits my problem on the spot and is the first time I have read anything like this.

Eirick from Norway

This is exactly what happened to me after I was poisoned but no doctor even mentioned this to me. It is crazy how sensitive I am now to everything.

Arcturus1555 from NY, USA

Finally an explanation for what I've been going through. No doctor I've seen has been able to give me the slightest clue as to why I've been going through hell since my co poisoning.

Thank you for your website.

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