Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatment 1

  The list grows longer but more precise of what is "wrong" with me. Breast cancer has thrown me through a true loop that seems to be bringing me back to life. The therapies did their proper thing and also did their damage. So been healing my "hot mess" of a body from everything.... pretty much. I have also been having such pharmacological issues that I have instead studied gut health, hormone health, and more (with certifications even) to change up my diet to be sure I am getting healing nutrients that I can ingest and digest. In my internet travels, a video appeared suggesting that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) helps immensely with ischemia, a side effect from one of the medications, with which I have been struggling.

Finding a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy location within an hour drive from home was like serendipity speaking to me. Even better, its a former paramedic to be a part of opening up the one and only clinic in the Maritimes: O2 Hyperbaric Centre, https://o2hyperbariccenter.ca/, here in Dieppe, New Brunswick. Jason was fantastic on the intake call and even asked to call me back to ask and answer more questions. Quite realistically, I am a complex case with having the disabilities and lived medical experiences that I do in my forty years on this green earth. I am also a librarian who knows medical and health information and love to do my own. Very gratefully, Jason encouraged my research and answered questions I came upon. Well, I booked to go in the next Friday to try it out.

Friday I woke up nervous and made my way across the city to my appointment. It helped that the location is where a restaurant that had the best wings in town growing up was once established; familiarity does help breed comfort. I got an idea from the articles, videos, and links of what to expect but still... medical trauma lasts. I wanted to record a video before going in and it totally blanked my mind as I focused on this attempt to try something new. There were way too many things that it helps with that I struggle with to not give this a solid attempt. The facility was welcoming and I got through the intake process with the Director of Operations, Jason, and another nurse practitioner located literally through the next outside door. Lots of questions asked back and forth which included inquiries regarding my prosthetic eye and how that plays out; he even called his mentor to ask. So, I explained the surgery, showed him my spare eye, and had a good laugh.

Now, let's talk claustrophobia for a minute. It sucks. Well... there was a gentleman in the chamber when I went in, looking as comfy as could be, watching a tv above the chamber. The hyperbaric oxygen chamber itself glass all around you, three sides in a curve with you pushed in on bed laying down, feet first. There's a mask on the bed - I had to look around as it was placed on my blindside but I did find it. The mask was also much to big for my face but for the first time, that was probably okay to not have my face entirely covered in there. That said, laying in the chamber, I did not feel trapped or limited. The room is open, with Jason at the desk right beside the chamber AT ALL TIMES, like dude is set up with a mini fridge and all right there so he can be there for you at all times. He put on my Netflix request (Star Trek Voyager with subtitles on) and talked to me over a phone attached at the chamber. I did not feel alone at any given time not trapped. It was a good surprise, a relief.

Once the chamber closed, the pressure was gradually changed to a half atmosphere more than standard and I had two sessions of oxygen via the mask while in the chamber. I will have to remember two things of the mask: need the smaller one and to wash my face after to prevent skin irritation thereafter. I could taste the oxygen or the mask material for a bit after. I could get Jason's attention easily, the volume was good for the tv show and I just laid there. After a bit... I could feel little itching in my insides... I felt an intense need to stretch after a while longer... and I could wiggle my toes much easier. Bubbles moved around and I wasn't feeling so inflamed. I was almost happy dance wiggle in there to get the stretch out. I did not feel any effects on my prosthetic other than it did not leak while I was in there (I asked and as provided tissues to have in my pocket in case). I was also given a bottle of water to sip on while in there. No jewelry or metals - only approved cotton provided by the facility, aside from your own underthings. Comfy though and I love cotton clothes, so it works out well. 

At the conclusion of the session was the hardest part for me where I had to ask him to slow down the return as my ears were needed to be popped faster than I could keep up with safely and comfortably, to which he obliged. Apparently I am one of the rare ones that struggles with that part. Otherwise, it was your standard exit from a medical machine and got changed again. I noticed my body felt different, like it wasn't struggling as much. Even my speech didn't seem so damned elusive with words coming to me easier, like not requiring the usual intense struggle. I felt lighter. What is curious about this is having felt trapped, squeezed, like I cannot breath, that sensation for so long is that when it lets up, its almost an absence. I had read that those with cptsd, depression and other such ailments who have done the counselling, done the work, but still have the physical effects have some relief in their bodies of being able to... for lack of another way to put it, breath again. I felt like I could breath a tad better, and even an iota is noticed at this point in my life. My toes were not curling tense and that has lasted through to today, Sunday, two days later. It seems to be holding stable though, which is encouraging. 

Today is Sunday and I am feeling tired like I would usually but not the existential tired as heavy as I am accustomed to in my life. I slept last night and the night before without several layers of blankets on my legs and my toes were not stiff in the morning. I had energy on a Saturday night to out, get a haircut I had been trying to get done for weeks, and hang out with friends until a reasonable social hour. It felt so nice and even better was not feeling like I was going to dearly pay for it the next day or two later. Part of my curiousity was to see how long the effects lasted and what effects remained after how long. I am quite intrigued and happy with these results. Due to the enormous expense, I need to be very wise with how I approach this treatment. Usually it is quite intensive with an hour a day for so many days in a consecutive row (save for weekends, which may be by appointment as well for some). Meanwhile, I booked to return Friday for sure and I may add more sooner than later. My next step is researching protocols. Given that I am an oddball and do not react to standard as a general outlier, I find I must do the research to see how a standard is obtained than advocate for the outliers such as myself. Thankfully, a collaboration is welcome. 

Overall, I will be back again for sure. I am surprised by the minor and positive changes found in my mobility, cognition, inflammation, and overall existential feeling of hope in my chest that had been near snuffed out.