Re: smoking connection - Carbon monoxide

[Guest guest]

Bob, in May 2006, my boiler flue was found to be faulty - in effect I

had been exposed to low-level CO poisoning for at least 8 years. My

hypot symptoms began in ernest around the time my son was born in

February 2008 which was shortly after that dodgy heating system had

been installed.

During that time I felt truly awful, though as my complexion was so

rosy (probably due to CO poisoning), I didn't look as ill as I felt.

My ferritin levels were indeed low, though I was not pale enough to be

considered as anaemic. My main symptoms were periodic total mental and

physical exhaustion and weakened achy muscles; no obvious headaches

just a muzzy drunken feeling. I caught colds once or twice a month and

had a permanently runny nose. I lost lots of hair too. Oh yes, and a

sore throat which lasted for 8 years!

I didn't immediately put 2 and 2 together on the faulty flue and the

CO poisoning but over the 3 months following the removal of the

dangerous heating system, I experienced a miraculous improvement in my

health. Then, in August 2006, the next-door neighbour unintentionally

filled my house up with car exhaust fumes and I suffered a major

relapse. Most of the old symptoms returned immediately I stepped

through the door and had what was like an allergic reaction and almost

stopped breathing.

My ferritin levels remained low and it is only thanks to the liquid

iron supplement that it is up to the much more acceptable level of 62.

It had hovered around 12 to 18 for many years.

I'm currently being checked out by the toxicologist at Guys to see if

the CO poisoning has damaged my brain. Unfortunately in the period of

my exposure, when my symptoms were worse, no GP took my symptoms

seriously and I was treated as an attention-seeking nuisance.

When my symptoms recurred AFTER the original exposure had ceased it

coincided with a rise in TSH and a drop in T4. Improving my ferritin

levels made no difference.

As there is such a high incidence of hypothyroidism in my family and

genetic cousins, there was always the possibility that I too would

succomb at some stage. For years I intentially made health and

lifestyle choices to maintain good health. I DO wonder whether the CO

poisoning was the trigger in switching on my condition.

Have you come across anything likely to tie in with this?

Tracey

>

> Hi Gill,

>

> It's possible that the Carbon Monoxide in cigarette smoke

> disables the haem (contains iron) unit in the cytochrome enzymes.