It can kill you; that's why they really watch CO2 levels in people with COPD, encourage us to exercise (all that deep breathing helps blow off CO2) and teach us pursed lip breathing. The CO2 can take up so much space in our lungs that there's no room for O2, and that is fatal. I don't believe that the CO2 itself does any damage to the lungs, but if we can't get rid of it, we die.

That said, there are things you can watch for that are signs of high CO2: being sob when you O2 sats are still in the 90s; headache; confusion; lethargy, flushed skin, full pulse, muscle twitches, hand flaps, reduced neural activity, and possibly a raised blood pressure. The first line of defense is pursed lip breathing; then a bi-pap or Trilogy machine and finally intubation.

Remember, that when most of us get sick enough to be hospitalized, our CO2 levels will be up: that's part of what happens then we do get sick. So it's perfectly normal for us to arrive with elevated CO2 levels. That does not mean that we'll continue to retain CO2 when we get better. if your doc's smart and knows about this (don't count on all of them knowing, though!) an ABG will be ordered after you are better. Even if it's slightly elevated, it's not a cause for worry unless you develop the signs listed above.

Stacy, the "bad air" you're talking about means that there's no room for O2. It doesn't do damage and then go away. If you can't get rid of the CO2, there's no room for O2 and that's what kills you.

Hand flaps means the hands make flapping motions (don't ask me why; they just do). Full pulse means a heavy pulse; easy to find and much more noticeable than normal. The symptoms I listed are all that are seen; most people will only exhibit some of them, and usually the more common ones like confusion, headache, lethargy and flushed skin.

@A MyCOPDTeam Member,
Re Co2 retention:
Hand flaps???
Full pulse?
Please explain???
Thank you.
SuZz

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A MyCOPDT...

sounds like I need to wear my bi-pap--they said it would help take out the CO2. I get severe headaches.