When you have a chronic illness a tell tale sign that something in your home could be making you sick is when you feel great on vacation. Or noticeably better when you leave your house to take a walk or run errands. Perhaps you do fine at work, only to come home and have your symptoms return.
Often people think of mold, which can cause health problems, sometimes nagging symptoms, and sometimes severe. But most people would never think it could be their gas appliances causing low level chronic carbon monoxide poisoning. If you have home CO detectors and they’ve never gone off, then why would you?
Turns out Home CO detectors in the United States are ONLY designed to prevent death, not poisoning. I learned this the hard way during a two year bout with low level CO poisoning caused by my gas appliances. I realize now there was plenty of clues during that time.
I didn’t feel instantly better every time I left my house, that’s probably why I didn’t pick up on it. (plus CO affects your ability to make connections, so there’s that). But looking back, every time I was away from the house for a weekend or more, I was surprised that my health condition was giving me a break. Sometimes I was almost normal. Sometimes I was just able to function at a much higher level. Then we would return home and I would get a “flu attack”. And I could always point to an excuse why I picked up a bug.
Four months into the poisoning we almost canceled a trip to Washington D.C. because my fatigue was so severe. I had bloodwork done right before our trip, trying to find the cause. The only thing wrong was my vitamin D level was a point low. So we stopped at a drug store on our trip and I started taking it. I felt better within hours. In D.C. we spent 4 days site seeing. I couldn’t believe how much better I felt. But when we returned home, the symptoms began to creep back in.
At my dear aunt’s funeral. I drove two hours out of town. Spent most of the day on my feet talking and hugging with friends and family. I drove myself home, no problem. I was grateful my immune system had given me a break. Then came a vicious bout of flu: body aches, joint pain, severe fatigue, muscle weakness (but no fever). Hmm, I must have picked up a bug from hugging someone. That’s what I automatically thought.
Then there was Christmas 2017. In October 2017 I was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD) and put on Lupus meds. They seemed to help with my chronic pleurisy and joint pain. But severe fatigue, muscle weakness, and other issues continued to knock me down. Over Christmas, we flew to Cleveland for two weeks. I couldn’t believe how good I felt. Yay, my meds were finally kicking in! I told my sister in-law that I couldn’t believe how well I was doing, I wasn’t this well just a week ago. When we got home, yet another bout of flu symptoms (no fever). Hmm, I must have caught something on the plane.
I ran across an article on gas stoves and lung function which mentioned carbon monoxide. I called the gas company to check our home and both the gas stove and gas water heater were flagged for removal. Our home CO detectors never went off. (you can read more on it here). Immediately, some of my scarier neurological issues went away. But the remaining issues have taken time to recover. I am 5.5 years into recovery and at about 80/85 percent of normal on a good day.
If I had known low level chronic carbon monoxide poisoning was even a thing, I wouldn’t be writing this today. I’d be working a full time job and leading an active life.
Home carbon monoxide detectors alarm at 70 parts per million (ppm) and up in the U.S. The safe level for your home is 0-6ppm, and below 6ppm for susceptible populations. Firefighters wear protective gear at 35ppm, well below 70ppm.
Low level chronic carbon monoxide poisoning can have multiple symptoms that mimic many other conditions. And it can affect each family member differently, making it more difficult to suspect a single cause. It affects children and pets more than adults.
While many gas companies can test your home for free, some appliances only act up intermittently. This can make it difficult to catch. Having a low level personal CO detector that will pick up 1ppm and up is ideal to have. It can offer piece of mind. These are used by plumbers and HVAC professionals. I have a Sensorcon brand, but there are others. I highly recommend them for everyone. They are small and travel well.
Please see my CO page for more information. It also lists many health conditions caused by carbon monoxide.
The Foggy Noggin' Diner 