Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Hi all, The other day, just a week before my move is happening out of this place, I found out that indeed I have a big gas leak in my building. The gas company came and confirmed what I -- and the other tenants -- already knew but could never get an admission of. I'm fairly sure it has been here for the whole seven years I have lived in this house. I had had CFIDS for five years when I moved in here, and I'd say I was in the moderate category (at about a 60-70 percent reduction in functionality) -- certainly not mild, but certainly not aware of how much worse it could get. I also had EXTREMELY mild chemical sensitivities at that point. Soon after moving here, I began to develop full-blown MCS, and my CFIDS got a thousand times worse -- I'd say I plummeted pretty dramatically over several years. The problem was, it literally became impossible to leave as I just got too sick and too isolated and had no help and no safe refuge (nobody's house or apartment I could even visit, as I became so reactive to everything). So, though the other tenants and I called the gas company again and again and they always came and found nothing, I just took it as yet another thing in this house/city that seemed to be making me sicker. Now, with the confirmation of the leak (which ws bad enough that they shut off the gas until a private contractor could be brought in), I KNOW that I have sustained serious damage from the chemicals in the gas (methane, etc.) and also most likely from carbon monoxide as well (the fumes from the basement leak into my 1st-floor apartment). I know Dr. Cheney talks about CO poisoning aggravating CFIDS (which seems pretty obvious to me), but I'm not sure what to do. CO poisoning can be irreversible. The best treatment seems to be HBOT and supplemental oxygen (the latter of which I have been doing for years). I did some research and found there actually is an HBOT facility near where I'm moving, and if my MCS gets a little better I might be able to go there and get treatments. However, I'd really love any other suggestions -- both on how to take medical action to detoxify myself and also on how to find clinical articles supporting the natural gas-CO-MCS-CFIDS connections in case I need to pursue this legally. I'm actually feeling fairly positive about the FIR heaters and oxygen right now; I feel like those have been partly responsible for my ability to move out of here, finally, after seven years of trying and being too ill. Any suggestions of supplements, treatments, etc., or links to abstracts/articles about physiological abnormalities associated with CO & natural gas poisoning) would be very welcome. (Please backchannel to me as well as posting, if possible, as my computer access will be a little sketchy during this move and I don't want to lose track of any posts). Thanks, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 Peggy, Wow! I'm so sorry that this problem went on for so long, but glad that a resolution of it is coming for you. As you know, we have always thought that the root of your illness was some kind of toxicity, starting with your earlier pesticide exposure while biking in agricultural areas. This new revelation is very consistent with what you've reported in the past about your illness. It just seems so ironic that a person like yourself, who was initially challenged with toxins, ended up living in a place that exposed you chronically to another toxin! Just what your body did not need! When you say there was a gas leak, I'm not sure whether you mean a flue gas leak (that is, the exhaust from the heating system that is supposed to be carried to the outside by a flue or chimney), or a leak of the gas supply to the heating system (that is, the natural gas line). I suspect that it is the former, since a natural gas leak can usually be smelled fairly easily because of the mercaptan they add to the gas for this purpose. So I'm guessing that the issue is chronic carbon monoxide poisoning. I think it would be very helpful if you could get a measurement of your carboxyhemoglobin level. This is usually part of a blood gases test, and either a venous or an arterial blood gases test would be satisfactory for this. This would give real evidence about the degree of your carbon monoxide poisoning. If you do in fact have chronic carbon monoxide poisoning, then the oxygen treatments you discussed are the way to go. A guy who has made chronic carbon monoxide poisoning his specialty is Albert Donnay, and his website is www.mcsrr.org. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochrome oxidase in the body, blocking their transport of oxygen. If you have had chronic exposure, it may take some time to get the carbon monoxide out, and you may have to replace some of these molecules before it is completely gone. These substances all include iron, so I think it will be important to make sure you are getting enough iron in your diet. Well, at least I think this is some good news at last for you, Peggy, though I think it is tragic that it went on so long. Rich > Hi all, > > The other day, just a week before my move is happening out of this place, I > found out that indeed I have a big gas leak in my building. The gas company > came and confirmed what I -- and the other tenants -- already knew but could > never get an admission of. I'm fairly sure it has been here for the whole seven > years I have lived in this house. I had had CFIDS for five years when I moved > in here, and I'd say I was in the moderate category (at about a 60- 70 percent > reduction in functionality) -- certainly not mild, but certainly not aware of > how much worse it could get. I also had EXTREMELY mild chemical > sensitivities at that point. Soon after moving here, I began to develop full-blown MCS, > and my CFIDS got a thousand times worse -- I'd say I plummeted pretty > dramatically over several years. The problem was, it literally became impossible to > leave as I just got too sick and too isolated and had no help and no safe refuge > (nobody's house or apartment I could even visit, as I became so reactive to > everything). So, though the other tenants and I called the gas company again > and again and they always came and found nothing, I just took it as yet another > thing in this house/city that seemed to be making me sicker. Now, with the > confirmation of the leak (which ws bad enough that they shut off the gas until > a private contractor could be brought in), I KNOW that I have sustained > serious damage from the chemicals in the gas (methane, etc.) and also most likely > from carbon monoxide as well (the fumes from the basement leak into my 1st-floor > apartment). > > I know Dr. Cheney talks about CO poisoning aggravating CFIDS (which seems > pretty obvious to me), but I'm not sure what to do. CO poisoning can be > irreversible. The best treatment seems to be HBOT and supplemental oxygen (the latter > of which I have been doing for years). I did some research and found there > actually is an HBOT facility near where I'm moving, and if my MCS gets a little > better I might be able to go there and get treatments. However, I'd really > love any other suggestions -- both on how to take medical action to detoxify > myself and also on how to find clinical articles supporting the natural > gas-CO-MCS-CFIDS connections in case I need to pursue this legally. I'm actually > feeling fairly positive about the FIR heaters and oxygen right now; I feel like > those have been partly responsible for my ability to move out of here, finally, > after seven years of trying and being too ill. > > Any suggestions of supplements, treatments, etc., or links to > abstracts/articles about physiological abnormalities associated with CO & natural gas > poisoning) would be very welcome. > > (Please backchannel to me as well as posting, if possible, as my computer > access will be a little sketchy during this move and I don't want to lose track > of any posts). > > Thanks, > Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2004 Report Share Posted July 28, 2004 CO poisoning is treated effectively by hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is an amazing therapy! confirmation on natural gas poisoning > Hi all, > > The other day, just a week before my move is happening out of this place, I > found out that indeed I have a big gas leak in my building. The gas company > came and confirmed what I -- and the other tenants -- already knew but could > never get an admission of. I'm fairly sure it has been here for the whole seven > years I have lived in this house. I had had CFIDS for five years when I moved > in here, and I'd say I was in the moderate category (at about a 60-70 percent > reduction in functionality) -- certainly not mild, but certainly not aware of > how much worse it could get. I also had EXTREMELY mild chemical > sensitivities at that point. Soon after moving here, I began to develop full-blown MCS, > and my CFIDS got a thousand times worse -- I'd say I plummeted pretty > dramatically over several years. The problem was, it literally became impossible to > leave as I just got too sick and too isolated and had no help and no safe refuge > (nobody's house or apartment I could even visit, as I became so reactive to > everything). So, though the other tenants and I called the gas company again > and again and they always came and found nothing, I just took it as yet another > thing in this house/city that seemed to be making me sicker. Now, with the > confirmation of the leak (which ws bad enough that they shut off the gas until > a private contractor could be brought in), I KNOW that I have sustained > serious damage from the chemicals in the gas (methane, etc.) and also most likely > from carbon monoxide as well (the fumes from the basement leak into my 1st-floor > apartment). > > I know Dr. Cheney talks about CO poisoning aggravating CFIDS (which seems > pretty obvious to me), but I'm not sure what to do. CO poisoning can be > irreversible. The best treatment seems to be HBOT and supplemental oxygen (the latter > of which I have been doing for years). I did some research and found there > actually is an HBOT facility near where I'm moving, and if my MCS gets a little > better I might be able to go there and get treatments. However, I'd really > love any other suggestions -- both on how to take medical action to detoxify > myself and also on how to find clinical articles supporting the natural > gas-CO-MCS-CFIDS connections in case I need to pursue this legally. I'm actually > feeling fairly positive about the FIR heaters and oxygen right now; I feel like > those have been partly responsible for my ability to move out of here, finally, > after seven years of trying and being too ill. > > Any suggestions of supplements, treatments, etc., or links to > abstracts/articles about physiological abnormalities associated with CO & natural gas > poisoning) would be very welcome. > > (Please backchannel to me as well as posting, if possible, as my computer > access will be a little sketchy during this move and I don't want to lose track > of any posts). > > Thanks, > Peggy > > > > This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2004 Report Share Posted July 29, 2004 Nil, As said, it is possible in the U.S. to buy carbon monoxide detectors. I don't know if they are available in Turkey. There are quite a few sites on the web about them, including some that compare different models and makes of detectors. Albert Donnay (www.mcsrr.org) sells some that are made in Canada. I haven't seen them, but having met Albert and having corresponded with him over the years, I would bet that he has looked into the possibilities pretty thoroughly before he chose which ones to sell. The one he recommends for houses is listed on his site for $79 U.S. There are probably less expensive models, but this one gives a readout of the level over quite a wide range. Chronic carbon monoxide poisoning has been Albert's big issue, and at least at one time he believed that it is responsible for all CFS, which I don't agree with, but I do agree that it is very important in a subset of PWCs. Albert believes that the writer Edgar Poe suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning from the gas lights used in his time. Rich > Rich, > > Thanks for clarifying that out. I also was wondering that? > " When you say there was a gas leak, I'm not sure whether you mean a > flue gas leak (that is, the exhaust from the heating system that is > supposed to be carried to the outside by a flue or chimney), " > > but did not have the energy to ask. > > I also live just above the exhaust system of the heating system of our apartment and I have got severly worse since I moved into this apartment.I was thinking on various possibilities like the formaldehyde finisihing I had done when I moved,etc,.I am now thinking if this could be reason why I got worse here. Is there any ways for me to understand if there is a leakage at exhaust system of our heater?There is no detectable smell but the leakage might be slow. > > Thanks. > > Nil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2004 Report Share Posted August 28, 2004 HI PEGGY GOOD LUCK ON YOUR MOVE..... HOPE U HAVE ALOT OF HELP WITH IT AS HARD ENUF AS IS.TEALK > [Original Message] > From: <Peggomatic@...> > < > > Date: 7/28/2004 10:03:34 AM > Subject: confirmation on natural gas poisoning > > Hi all, > > The other day, just a week before my move is happening out of this place, I > found out that indeed I have a big gas leak in my building. The gas company > came and confirmed what I -- and the other tenants -- already knew but could > never get an admission of. I'm fairly sure it has been here for the whole seven > years I have lived in this house. I had had CFIDS for five years when I moved > in here, and I'd say I was in the moderate category (at about a 60-70 percent > reduction in functionality) -- certainly not mild, but certainly not aware of > how much worse it could get. I also had EXTREMELY mild chemical > sensitivities at that point. Soon after moving here, I began to develop full-blown MCS, > and my CFIDS got a thousand times worse -- I'd say I plummeted pretty > dramatically over several years. The problem was, it literally became impossible to > leave as I just got too sick and too isolated and had no help and no safe refuge > (nobody's house or apartment I could even visit, as I became so reactive to > everything). So, though the other tenants and I called the gas company again > and again and they always came and found nothing, I just took it as yet another > thing in this house/city that seemed to be making me sicker. Now, with the > confirmation of the leak (which ws bad enough that they shut off the gas until > a private contractor could be brought in), I KNOW that I have sustained > serious damage from the chemicals in the gas (methane, etc.) and also most likely > from carbon monoxide as well (the fumes from the basement leak into my 1st-floor > apartment). > > I know Dr. Cheney talks about CO poisoning aggravating CFIDS (which seems > pretty obvious to me), but I'm not sure what to do. CO poisoning can be > irreversible. The best treatment seems to be HBOT and supplemental oxygen (the latter > of which I have been doing for years). I did some research and found there > actually is an HBOT facility near where I'm moving, and if my MCS gets a little > better I might be able to go there and get treatments. However, I'd really > love any other suggestions -- both on how to take medical action to detoxify > myself and also on how to find clinical articles supporting the natural > gas-CO-MCS-CFIDS connections in case I need to pursue this legally. I'm actually > feeling fairly positive about the FIR heaters and oxygen right now; I feel like > those have been partly responsible for my ability to move out of here, finally, > after seven years of trying and being too ill. > > Any suggestions of supplements, treatments, etc., or links to > abstracts/articles about physiological abnormalities associated with CO & natural gas > poisoning) would be very welcome. > > (Please backchannel to me as well as posting, if possible, as my computer > access will be a little sketchy during this move and I don't want to lose track > of any posts). > > Thanks, > Peggy > > > > This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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