Two nights ago my mother was admitted to the hospital due to pneumonia and carbon dioxide narcosis. She was extremely confused, disoriented, short of breath, etc. They believe she has beginning of CHF and COPD (yeas, she's a smoker) - anyhow, the ER dr. indicated that these epsidodes may become more frequent. Does anyone have any information about this specific condition, and what I can do to help prevent it?

She needs to be under the care of a pulmonary specialist. It can be controlled with medication in many cases. As for the CO2 retention she will need to learn pused lip breathing to rid her body of the CO2 which she is retaining because her lungs are not working properly. this is serious stuff a I found out the hard way. 6 days on a respirator. That was in 98 and no more events like that due to meds, available O2 and knowledge of the disease. Without treatment it will surely get worse. She must stop smoking also. Easier said than done. It took me until recently to stop even with what I had been through. If she had an infection(which I did then) it will cause the lungs to work less efficently. Smoking will increase chance of infections. But first of all she needs a workup by a pulmonologist now.

Sorry, I meant pursed lip breathing. In over 4 years of being on lung forums and reading extensively as well as going thru pulmonary rehab I have never heard of CO2 narcosis. I have heard of CO2 retention, hypercapnia, hypoxia and hypoventilation. Are you from the US? I just don't recognize this word in relation to lung disease.

Thanks for your replies. In response:

Mom had a heart attack in 2000, they put in a stent and did a balloon angioplasty. At that time they said she has indications of CHF and COPD. She saw a pulmonary Dr at that time, who ordered home O2, and that was really the extent of it. She’s been on O2 at night since that time.
She also recently started smoking again, which I think quickly worsened her disease. She’s very overweight and doesn’t get any sort of exercise. She also has severe orthopedic problems and pain issues.
She’s in the hospital now, and is seeing a pulmonogist. They ordered a Bi-Pap (sp)? Machine for her take home since she also has sleep apnea – It’s some sort of positive pressure O2 treatment.
We are in Jacksonville, FL. I’d never heard the term before either, and I went through all this with my dad, too.

I don't know how old your Mom is. I may have missed that but if she is very overweight that is contributing to the apnea and the lung problems. As someone that has recently lost 35 lbs. I can assure you that less weight makes breathing easier. As for the smoking, I recently quit smoking also so I know how hard it is and nagging won't help. I smoked for 53 years and bad Copd, numerous hospitalizations and still I did not quit till recently. Smoking while on O2 is dangerous for everyone. She will have to work on one thing at a time because trying to lose weight and stop smoking is tough. It all depends on her attitude. She has to know she will get worse the way things are going but she has to care. Perhaps she is depressed. COPD, weight problems,e tc. are enough to depresss anyone. I am a fairly, young recent widow so it took a lot to get control of my life again. Perhaps an antidepressant like Zyban which is used to quit smoking may help two things. I wish you well but nagging won't work.