carbon dioxide levels

[Rosemary6NT]

Is there such a thing as a DIY blood carbon dioxide measuring kit on the market ? I have increasing breathing difficulties with fluid on the lungs and I wonder what effect it is having on my blood gasses.

[Ellie]

Sorry to hear this, Rosemary.

As the amount of CO2 in your blood is measured from a taken blood sample, I doubt very much if home testing/analysis kits are available to buy and, if some exist, how reliable and safe one would be… Have you a Respiratory nurse/technician who can come to your house and do the test using blood from your earlobe?

Common signs of CO2 retention include:

• Laboured or shallow breathing.

• Wheezing.
• Altered consciousness or confusion.
• Fever.
• Flushed skin.
• Sweating profusely.
• Fatigue or sleepiness.
• Headache or nausea.

[Rosemary6NT]

Thanks Ellie for your reply. I was thinking of something akin to the blood glucose monitor using a lance on the finger tip. I guess it is a bit more complicated than that. Fortunately I don't have those symptoms yet xx

[Christopher]

Rosemary6NT I agree with Ellie with regard to the unreliability of home testing if it were to be available.

As Ellie points out the key factors with CO2 retention, or indeed being in a higher CO2 atmosphere are ones of sleepiness and confusion.

That is why high levels of CO2 are dangerous as you don't really know it is happening, and when it happens you are "not bothered". In a normal day you can experience very different CO2 levels in your home, so atmospheric CO2 being 0.04 percent, though if you close all your windows and doors and sit inside then the levels inside the room might reach 0.12 percent.

It is interesting that the testing apparatus and alarm systems they use in the brewing and food industry are much more accurate that the systems used to measure the expired levels of CO2 in hospitals and measured by a capnograph.

I found this out while testing CO2 in a hospital theatre and the monitors were not giving a reading while we were carrying out some experiments.

One day I could tell you about the experiments. They certainly opened some peoples eyes.

I hope you are able to see someone about your breathing difficulties soon.

[Rosemary6NT]

Christopher , thank you