Anyone dealing with high CO2 levels during the day?

[Rob K]

I tried to search the forum, but I failed miserably. You can't search just the word "CO2". You have to include another word and I get a ton of results that are not related to CO2. I searched "carbon dioxide", but everything seems to be about masks and CO2 levels at night. I gave up and started a thread.

I've been tired, fatigued and low on energy most every day. My blood test from this week flagged a high CO2 level at 33mmol/L which might explain what's going on. Oxygen level was 96% maybe 20 minutes before they took blood. Has anyone dealt with high CO2 during the day? I guess it could be high at night also, don't know. Any chance it's related to my apnea and cpap use? I did an internet search and just got confused. What might cause high CO2 and what can be done to lower it? I'm waiting for some feedback from the doc.

[Goofproof]

All I know about my CO2 is I exhale the excess and have been doing that for 73 years, and plan on doing it for years to come. Plants like me to exhale it., the ozone layer, not so much.

[raisedfist]

Some drugs, including prescription and over the counter, can increase or decrease carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Sleep apnea can cause mild increases in carbon dioxide levels, and I guess when chronic over a long period of time, it can become more problematic. And of course, diaphragmatic muscle weakness (such as ALS or any type of neuromuscular disease), lung disease, and/or obesity can cause CO2 retention.

I wouldn't try to worry too much, 33 mmol/l is a mild increase - the range of what's considered normal values varies by medical office often times (i've seen 32 being on the high range of normal).

How you fix high CO2 in the blood depends on the cause. If you are taking a drug that suppresses respiration, causing hypoventilation, then you stop the drug. If you have a neuromuscular disease, you use a bi-level machine or ventilator to prevent apnea (if present) and also blow off CO2 via pressure support.

[Julie]

If you block the CO2 vents with bedding, etc. when asleep you will rebreathe it... make sure they're clear.

[palerider]

Any chance it's related to my apnea and cpap use?

Nope.

Take a few deep breaths, your CO2 level will decrease, it's that fast.

[Rob K]

So nothing to be concerned with. Thanks for the clarification.

[palerider]

So nothing to be concerned with. Thanks for the clarification.

I'm not saying it's not something that might need attention, I'm just saying it's not related to cpap use at night.

[Morbius]

Take a few deep breaths, your CO2 level will decrease, it's that fast.

Not that number. Since the UOM is mmol/L, that value is composed chiefly of -HCO3, and that needs some fairly significant things to happen for it to change.

[Morbius]

So nothing to be concerned with.

Most laboratories give a normal high value of 28-29, so IIWM I'd like to know what's going on.

[palerider]

Take a few deep breaths, your CO2 level will decrease, it's that fast.

Not that number. Since the UOM is mmol/L, that value is composed chiefly of -HCO3, and that needs some fairly significant things to happen for it to change.

I sit corrected... significant things such as?

[Morbius]

Stuff that causes either metabolic alkalosis (prolonged vomiting, diuretic use, or hypokalemia) or compensated respiratory acidosis (COPD, restrictive lung disease, neuromuscular disease, or obesity).

The theoretical normal -HCO3 is 24 (ph 7.40 and pCO2 40mmHg) so one of those is changing. So you can go -HCO3 28, that's high normal, maybe there's some lab that says 30 is still OK, but at some point you have to ask why.

[chunkyfrog]

Remember the guy who was obsessed with hypocapnic breathing?
Betcha he's dead now.

[Rob K]

Got some feed back from the doc. Says level is borderline high and not to concerning. He said we will keep an eye on it.

[Morbius]

Got some feed back from the doc. Says level is borderline high and not to concerning. He said we will keep an eye on it.

Using the H-H Equation, your pCO2 works out to be 55 mmHg, which IMO is concerning.

Just sayin'.

[derek_305]

I have had this show up on blood work too; while I am no doctor I believe mine is caused by something congenital where one side of my diaphragm doesn't move. For me it's likely been there all my life and my body has learned to compensate for it.

To put you're mind at ease I had a level of 31 about 6 years ago and I've been Ok, I've been having a lot of anxiety lately about some crackling noise I hear early in the morning while lying on my left side (my heart is perfect) and that took me to the x-ray that found the diaphragm thing, and that's when I studied my old bloodwork. Also when you are anxious your CO2 rises and your SPO2 will be lower. any SPO2 over 95 is normal and no "clinical" doctor will do anything unless it's under 90.

I have 2 pulmonologist appointments this month to ask twice about it and either treat it or forget about it. Hope this helps.