Monthly Archives: October 2012

Not an HBOT Virgin any more!

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They say you never forget your first time.

Well, for me, today, 10/2/12 (is that 11:50 in time?- but I digress),  I went in for my first HBOT treatment!

They’re called “dives” as in scuba diving.  I was attended to by the beautiful, warm and friendly and completely qualified owner of  a soon to be more famous (what with the reach of this blog site) hyperbaric treatment center located in South Florida, in Deerfield Beach called the SOUTH FLORIDA CENTER for H.O.P.E.  The owner’s name is Hope and H.O.P.E. stands for Hyperbaric Oxygen Producing Environment.  Nice.

So, how come I did my first dive today?  Well, for one, if I’m in the industry, writing blogs on the subject, it’s time to “take a dive” and see what all the excitement is about.  I also, last week, did something like twisted my knee, and it’s been “puffy” and inflamed and stiff ever since.  I figured 100% O2 under medical supervision will be just what the doctor ordered.  So here’s how it went for me.

First, the lovely assistants, Donna and Keisha instructed me to change into jammers and a T-shirt, 100% cotton exclusively for 100% oxygen.  A precaution to eliminate static and spark while in the chamber filled with oxygen under pressure.  Next, they took a look inside my ears, I asked “How come?” and they said “Just shut up and let us do our job”…  No, no, no…That’s not true, I just made that up to be provocative.  They checked my ears and patiently answered all my questions with smiles and sincere interest in my comfort and well being.  Ears passed inspection for hair, wax and free of clogging.  (That’s so when in the pressurized chamber my ears could “equalize” like in an airplane’s take off and landing).  They took my blood pressure, 112/80, I recall.  Passed.  Took my pulse. That was fine,too. Then they put a little arm collar on me, an anti-static device.  Just a piece of material tethered to a ground, so I don’t produce static.  I assure you, I did not want to produce static!

Most important next step…pick out a DVD to watch, since the “dive” lasts 90 minutes for this knee inflammation treatment.  Dives can last shorter or longer, all depends on why you’re in the treatment chamber.  So, though the ladies made suggestions, I opted for the “chick flick”  The Devil Wears Prada.- I never saw it, and thought why not?  Great movie with Merrill Streep as the evil owner of Runway Mag and Anne Hathaway as the assistant that turns into a fashion siren after her start as a frumpy (A.Hathaway frumpy?) assistant.

I am on a gurney on wheels, puffed up pillows, all cotton, and I’m allowed to wear my glasses but not allowed to use my iPhone while inside the chamber.  I am gently guided into the chamber which is a long acrylic tube with a circular door by my feet and one behind me by my head.  They close the door, start the DVD and off we go down to 2 atmospheres.  It takes roughly 10-15 minutes to “reach pressure” all the while I’m smiling and they are right there checking to see that I’m comfortable.  You hear a slight “white nose” background sound as 100% oxygen is pumped into the chamber.  Oh yes, I was offered gum to clear my ears (just like a plane), and I enjoyed that wintergreen minty chew toy.

The rest was simply enjoying Anne Hathaway transform as her boyfriend, the guy from the HBO show, Entourage, get more frustrated with her transformation. In addition to my puffy knee, I showed Hope that I received several (six maybe) ant bites this past weekend.  She said that the HBOT treatment will likely affect them, healing them and drying them out.

The 90 minutes went by quickly.  All the while, no ear activity, no clicking, and watching the DVD through the clear acrylic tube was just as natural as could be.  No sense of cramped space, no need to pee, and there was no smell, completely odorless.   I wanted to take deep breaths, to maximize the O2 intake, but that got old after a short while.  I relaxed, hands folded on my belly, just chillin’.

Before I knew it, time was up, I was signaled that the chamber will be “coming in for a landing” and clicked my ears, and once pressure was neutral the door to the chamber was opened, Hope asked how I was, and I was just fine. She wheeled me out of the Sechrist brand, Model 3200 HBOT chamber.

Here’s how I felt after just one session.  I felt a bit light on my feet.  Floaty but totally balanced and in control.  We spoke a bit, Hope and I, and I said that I noticed my knee felt more mobile, less puffy, less stiff, but still a noticeable “irritation”.  As I write this blog, while sitting in Starbucks, I am testing my knee bend, and I have to say, it is currently pain-free and mobility is better.  My ant bites, which were pre-HBOT red and irritated, are still red, less itchy, and smaller.  I think I like this HBOT.

Also, my jaw felt “more free”, more “open” as if when I was speaking my jaw was extended open more than usual- it still, 2.5 hours later, is more flexible.  Sorry, in advance, to those that already think I have a big mouth!  I also noted that my curly hair, felt more fluffy, more “alive”.  Cool!

Hope commented that one cannot whistle inside the chamber under pressure.  That’s something I’ll try on my next trip “down under”  I’m an avid whistler and Hope pushed a button, sort of challenge –  I want to whistle next round.

Thanks to Hope for her healing treatment and the the South Florida Center for H.O.P.E.   For more info or to contact Hope, she’s on the web at http://www.SFcenterforhope.com or call toll free @ 1-866-473-4673.  That’s a wrap.  Starbucks is closing.