CO2 Problem

For some time now, Graham has been suffering from horrible headaches (mainly in the morning) and the feeling of suffocation (more so than pre-Christmas).  This is why he has had his last 2 hospital stays.  They have been taking a very painful blood draw from him called a "blood gas."  In the body, most of the CO2 is in the form of a substance called bicarbonate (HCO3-). Therefore, the CO2 blood test (blood gas) is really a measure of your blood bicarbonate level.  With these tests, they have learned that his CO2 levels have become increasingly higher.  CO2 is an asphyxiate, therefore not only is he short of breath from his rejection, he is constantly feeling as if he is suffocating.  This is also what has been causing his horrible headaches.




Last Thursday, Graham went to Clinic on an emergency basis (much easier than ER where they do not know him and all they would do is call Clinic anyways) and his CO2 level was 64 mEq/L; the average person's level is anywhere between 23-29 mEq/L (milliequivalent units per liter of blood)....please don't ask, I DO NOT understand that unit of measurement :)  This is bad, very bad.  So they admitted him into the hospital on IV antibiotics since the fear of putting him on a vent was too high.




To get rid of the CO2, you exhale.  Graham's breathing is so short and shallow, he is unable to excrete enough of it. The best way to clear out the excess poison is to intubate and have a machine exhale for you - not an option for Graham.  Another way is to use a Bi-Pap machine.  Fairly common, I'm sure you know plenty of people on either a C-Pap or Bi-Pap machine; both of our Dad's use one :)  A hospital grade Bi-Pap machine should take 1 or 2 nights to rid the body of excess CO2, then you can move down to the nice little home machine.  Graham's levels to become so high, it almost appears to be too late.  He has now been on the machine for 5 nights and his levels have only dropped into the 50s.  Though he had a good night last night, Jordy and he talked and colored tattoos - it's how we roll - he is again very short of breath today and not feeling so hot.