Smoking cessation CO2 result higher than when I smoked

[Wheezydog]

What brought me to look at the posts on this site.

I went to the smoking cessation clinic today with my partner we have both been cigarette free for 4 weeks now but today my CO2 reading was a 9 and I only blew a 6 when I was smoking. Needless to say, the health advisor did not believe us (partner blew an 8) even though we were emphatic that neither of us had been smoking. There would be no point in lying because we would only be hurting ourselves. The only thought we can come up with is that we have had a calor gas heater burning day and night in our bedroom as our flat is freezing cold and only has electric heating which costs a fortune to run. I am somewhat relieved to see a post from 4 years ago when another person had the same issue.

Any thoughts anyone?

[Hidden]

Hi Wheezydog

First and foremost well done for even trying to stop smoking and I congratulate you on four weeks of being smoke free.

I hope you weren't judged in any way by those who are helping you on your cessation program. Even when we do have the odd lapse, there's little point in finger pointing. It's really disappointing when you know you've been doing well.

Of course you should make absolutely sure that the cause for your raised CO2 level isn't your calor gas heater. Calor gas has a website on which it offers advice on the safe use of its heaters (calor.co.uk/gas-heater-safety), and in its list of advice it does say don't use these heaters overnight, and, even when you are using them, you should allow some fresh air into the room where it's burning.

Have either of you been in any other area that was smoky or polluted? Don't forget that includes city streets too, as when it comes to carbon emissions, that includes carbon dioxide as well as carbon monoxide.

But overall, try not to feel too disappointed by your higher CO2 reading on this occasion. You know you haven't been smoking so don't get de-motivated by this. That could stop you from keeping up your good work. Just do what you are supposed to be doing, and put this blip behind you.

I know how hard it is. I've now clocked up 40 years as an ex-smoker, but I still well remember the early days of giving up my 20 a day habit. I know you can do it, because I did, by being determined. Four weeks smoke-free is no mean feat.

Congratulations again for becoming a non-smoker!

Best wishes.

[Wheezydog in reply to Hidden]

Hi Callendersgal, Both I and my partner have not gone back to smoking, the smoking cessation sessions are more aimed at him because he is the one who is showing signs of COPD he already had asthma as well. I have not been back to the clinic since because I work full time. But my partner having scored an 8 that week since the calor gas fire has been off ever since and his last reading went down to a 3 so I guess she (the smoking cessation advice worker) may actually believe that we were telling the trust. So I am guessing that due to not lighting up the heater my reading will also have dropped. The odd thing was that over many years when II have been tested my reading come up as a non-smoker because I know the health workers never believe if you state you smoke less than 10 a day. But as I have always explained to my GP surgery, I cannot smoke whilst I am at work myself so smoking had always been pretty low for me. It was just upsetting that my reading had been even higher than when I had actually smoked a cigarette. So it does go show that all environmental factors do need to be taken into consideration. Many thanks for your support with kind regards Kim