28 January 2021
CO is called the “Invisible Killer” because it’s a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.
Our Superhero Purrkins
Purrkins needed no cape for Howloween this past year, but evidently, he felt the need to show us he is 1000% a superhero kitty because he saved all of our lives!
We had carbon monoxide leaking into our home!
If you have been reading our posts, you will have seen we had furnace issues and have been without heat.
When the furnace people came out, they found soot on the outtake pipe of the house. He tested for carbon monoxide and found unsafe numbers over “2000 parts per million it should be under 100 parts per million at the exhaust!”
“We had Low levels in the house still dangerous.”
We have three detectors in the house, one on each floor, not one went off because the levels were too low on those particular detectors.
But high enough to cause symptoms to cause harm! Cause Purrkins to have seizures!
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in cats?
CLEAN AIR
They had us open the house all up and get fresh air flowing thru. To get the poison out of the house~ He said our heat exchanger would need to be replaced. They could not tell the exact cause w/o getting into to replace it.
They got into the furnace and found a massive crack in the heat exchanger leaking carbon monoxide into the house and thru the outtake pipe outside the house.
When they came in to look at the furnace, I had Purrkins upstairs recovering from his MRI upstairs! I hear all this from upstairs!
MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS PURRKINS. DID THIS CAUSE HIM TO HAVE SEIZURES ??!!?!
I start hollering from upstairs because I cannot leave Purrkins. I tell him what Purrkins has just gone thru MRI/SEIZURES and ask if this caused this?!?!
YES, it is possible. He advised us to let our vets know !!!!!
I emailed Dogwood Neurology, Dr. Matt, & Dr. R (kitty vet) right away. Saturday, I heard back from Dogwood, not Purrkins vet, but another neurologist. He looked over my email and ALL the info and had the front desk call me.
Saying YES carbon monoxide can predispose Purrkins to seizures!
I heard from Purrkins Neurologist today. Dr. Isaacs confirms what his colleague said and set up a plan with Dr. R to get Purrkins off the Phenobarbitol in 6 months if Purrkins remains seizure-free.
The saving graces –
- Purrkins is ALIVE – he will be ok. We are all ALIVE!
- The testing would have been the same. We both needed to hear that! Does that make any of this easier? NO WAY
- Purrkins having to spend the night at Dogwood was the greatest gift. Being sedated for his MRI on oxygen and fluids, yet another lifesaver!
Hanging out by the Heat Registers
Purrkins hangs out by ALL the heat registers. The first time I noticed a mild whisker twitch was in Oct. when we would have started the furnace. I have videos of Purrkins seizures in front of the heat registers. Of course, I notice this now !!
Smart Sensitive Sexy Saxton
Saxton has not shown any symptoms! (looking back now, I can put the pieces of this puzzle together. Saxton used to hang out by the registers but has not for some time! I never questioned Saxton moving his sleep spots. The boys do change their sleep spots quite often. But still, this was a clue I missed!
Saxton must have sensed something/felt something and started lying on the sofa. It spared SMART SEXY SAXTON from harm!
We have angels watching over us, and they all came to Mr. P.’s rescue! I have no words, you guys. WE ARE SO THANKFUL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE! IT BREAKS OUR HEARTS PURRKINS HAS SUFFERED AND HAD TO GO THRU ALL OF THIS!
Human symptoms
Mark and I also experienced symptoms! Nausea, headaches, aura headaches, tired, my brain (hard to process and pull information like normal. HAZEY! I remember posting in the forums and telling a member my brain is not like it used to be and blaming it on the pandemic. Pandemic brain, NO, it was CO BRAIN!
ALL the symptoms Mark and I attributed to all the stress we have been going thru for months. I have been drinking ginger tea daily for nausea.
New Heat Exchanger Installed
We now have a new heat exchanger plus they replaced all the burners, gas orifices & exhaust. The heat exchanger was under warranty; the furnace is not even 10 years old.
Carbon Monoxide Monitors
So apparently, carbon monoxide detectors have a massive difference in how many parts per million can be picked up?!
We discussed this with the furnace people!! Why did our 3 detectors not alert us?!? He explained that our levels in the home were not high enough for these particular detectors to go off.
Purrkins suffered; we had symptoms at what point would those of have gone off! I suspect we would all be dead by the time ours went off!
Who knew there was a massive difference in carbon monoxide monitors?
WE DID NOT! THIS SHOULD BE COMMON KNOWLEDGE!
He told us there is a big difference in detectors and the amounts of poison detected – we bought ours at a big box store years ago. I remember paying 30 bucks apiece. We do test these and change the batteries etc.
So after the long discussion and him explaining the DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEVELS AND WHAT IS DETECTED. THE SENSITIVITY!
We purchased a monitor that picks up low levels.
This is our new carbon monoxide detector.
Low-Level Carbon Monoxide Monitor National Safety Institute Model 3000
THIS WILL PICK UP under 5 parts per million.
You have to buy this model thru a licensed HVAC company.
Find an NCI-Certified Professional in Your Area?
Our manual and useful information
COST
This monitor was $250, no not cheap, and worth all of our lives!!!!
The furnace tech said most everyone balks at the price of this unit, which ends the conversation. Mark told them to please use us, Mr. P, as an example! We were fortunate to have the lower levels and not be dead! Purrkins being a cat small and hanging out by the registers, is lucky to be alive.
Different Types of Detectors Available
DOMESTIC CO DETECTORS AVAILABLE
Please do us a favor!!
- Get your furnaces checked out! We usually have someone come out each year for a tune-up and did not because of covid! (we have to live with that decision.💔
- Please check out what parts per million your carbon monoxide detectors pick up! Please do not settle for less!
- Purchase a maintenance program thru your HVAC company we did! They will be out in the spring for the air conditioner tune-up and fall for the furnace tune-up. If we have a problem in the meantime, they will come out and wave the dispatch fee of $75.00. 10% off all repairs and parts.
Protecting Your Pets and Your Family from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Thank god Purrkins will be ok that we are all still here to share this god awful experience! We can ONLY HOPE & PRAY our story.
Purrkins story will spare other souls & SAVE lives. It has to!
Ok, my friends, that’s all we have for you today and a lifetime, honestly! ALL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AT PURRKINS PALACE!
LOADS OF LOVE, THANKS & AMEN 🙌🏻
💝💝💝
More useful links below:
DEFINITION OF ACUTE, CHRONIC, AND OCCULT CO POISONING
What signs and symptoms suggest CO Poisoning
What Does a Carbon Monoxide Detector Do and How Does it Work?
About carbon monoxide detectors?
Carbon Monoxide Information Center
Chronic and occult carbon monoxide poisoning: we don’t know what we’re missing
