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Long-term daily mHBOT and full recoveries w/ ongoing maintenance

junkcrap50

Senior Member
Messages
1,330
Hi all, I’m starting HBOT at a hospital center tomorrow and will share here. It’s a center that typically treats for diving accidents, diabetes wounds and broken bones (so diff protocol to an MS center.) They treat at 2.3ATA which is 45 ft / 15 meters for one hour of treatment time a day for 4 weeks to start. A bit worried about the length/depth being high to begin with. They don’t give an option to do shorter.

I am housebound with the ability to leave the house for an hour a few times a month if I have good days. My steps range from 700 to 2000. I have had zero improvement in 4.5 years of being ill with any treatment. I’m not doing any other treatment at the same time, so I will know if this helps that it is purely because of it.

How are all of you progressing?

I don't mean to scare you or make you second guess yourself, but I worry about the pressure they're using. Seems to high based on all the other research. Dr. Harch in NOLA who's pioneered HBOT therapy for head injuries, autism, and chronic illnesses prefers 1.5ATA and says better results can be achieved at that pressure. Higher pressures are used for killing Lyme and for typical HBOT uses like wound healing and diving accidents.

How I understand HBOT works is that it creates a spark of oxidation, which then triggers a larger, counter antioxidant response by the body. So, if too much pressure or oxygen is used, it could theoretically cause too much oxidation. But I'm not entirely sure about it.

On the other hand, I have met an integrative doctor who treats chronic illnesses with high HBOT pressure. So, who knows.
 

MEPatient345

Guest
Messages
479
Hi @junkcrap50, yeah it is deep, and obv a lot deeper than mhbot. There are a couple people in the Facebook group who have tried that depth and been ok. Some people say “deeper is better” in that group although most of them were still referring to 33ft at an MS clinic, not 45. I am a bit worried about it, but I’m here now.. I’ll give it a shot and see what happens. I’m only going to pay for one session tomorrow so I can see how it goes.

Thanks for the warning tho..
 

ErdemX

Senior Member
Messages
113
Location
Istanbul
@Silencio I have 40 sessions of experience with HBOT last year at 2.4 ATA. At that time my CFS severity was just like you. As I mentioned earlier, after a couple of sessions I was hit by a huge fatigue wave and needed to rest with zero energy all day without doing anything. But after 2-3 weeks it went away and never came back. After 40 sessions I was a bit better. Also I must say that I wish I have done more than 40 sessions before stopping, because for some people what makes the treatment works is long repetitions.
 

MEPatient345

Guest
Messages
479
Thanks @edermx.. hoping I manage like you! I am prepared to feel worse in the first few weeks based on other feedback too. I may have to just go slower if I need to than every day.
 

junkcrap50

Senior Member
Messages
1,330
Hi @junkcrap50, yeah it is deep, and obv a lot deeper than mhbot. There are a couple people in the Facebook group who have tried that depth and been ok. Some people say “deeper is better” in that group although most of them were still referring to 33ft at an MS clinic, not 45. I am a bit worried about it, but I’m here now.. I’ll give it a shot and see what happens. I’m only going to pay for one session tomorrow so I can see how it goes.

Thanks for the warning tho..

No problem. It may still be alright and work.

Here are some more anecdotal stories. I've received 80 HBOT dives at Dr. Harch's clinic and it's been the single most important effective thing for my CFS/ME (I have a textbook case - viral infection started it, cognitive dysfunction, PEM, etc. - thought my CFS has always been more cognitive than physical). At dive about 76 I felt "cured" and literally fantastic. I felt I had my "swagger" back - like I had taken the pills from the movie Limitless. Unfortunately, I did 3 more dives, noticing my joint pain first and headaches later. My "cure" faded away and I believe I became oxygen toxic or had too much oxidation, going past the point of positive returns.

During my 80 dives, I slowly some incremental progress, punctuated with mini-plateaus. After dive #1, I noticed a benefit right away - my parents and doctor also noticed a benefit. I felt like a weight was lifted off my brain or a cloud disappeared. My irritibility was much decreased and I had a bit of my personality return. It basically felt like I had less brain inflammation and some more brain perfusion. Dr. Harch said that, if HBOT works for them, most people notice a small benefit on their first dive, however but not everyone who improves does. So if no benefit isn't seen after dive #1, one may still see benefit from HBOT.

During my treatment, a parent of mine, who also has textbook CFS and textbook physical PEM (though doesn't have as many cognitive symptoms besides ADD), also did treatment along side me. He/she did NOT notice a benefit from HBOT after dive #1 and didn't notice any benefit until late into 80 dives - not until dive # sometime in the 60s. So he/she had no response for 60 dives and then huge response after 60 some dives. His/her benefits lasted longer than mine and was able to go off all his/her medication. So unfortunately, it took a lot of dives and a lot of money to see a benefit for my parent. Don't know why, maybe it was how our CFS differed slightly.

Several years later, the same parent did another round of many HBOT dives, however, this time for an infection and wound-healing in his/her foot. This was done at 2.4ATA or thereabouts and numbered in the 20s. We were excited he/she was eligible for HBOT and that insurance paid. But were surprised that he/she noticed no improvement or difference in his CFS. It was effective and curative for his/her infection and wound.

So, it was interesting that the higher pressure didn't help that time. But I can't be sure if it was due to the dive depth or because he/she was a slow/very late HBOT responder. It's a toss up.
 

MartinK

Senior Member
Messages
364
Hi all!
Im really happy - last week I was started HBOT after long mailing with our hospital...
This chamber is for 4 peoples - only sitting (that is really hard for me with my OI and bad back) but I'm trying hard to prove it! We go down to 14 meters and one relation is for 120 minutes.

I feel immediately after HBOT some changes - brain fog i gone, muscles pain is smaller and inflammation too. Fatigue is better...really good feelings!
But, fact is...when I'll get home, after 1 - 2 hours after HBOT I feel really tired, I want a lot of sleep, its like a PEM...but little bit different.
Someone had same problems after first HBOTs?
I'm little bit scared from this changes! Any help, experience?

Bath in epsom salt help me a lot, when this PEM coming after HBOT session.

I would like to try so much HBOT, when I lie down! Now I dont know, if this short, but big PEMs and drowsiness are from HBOT or from my OI - exertion, when Im sitting in chamber...

Is possible that this worsening after HBOT make detox process or killing Lyme and viruses?
I hope so a lot!!!

HBOT is my way with herbs from Cowden, because KDM treatment with "persister" protocol was too scared and dangerous (KDM himself tell me this), I want to try everything but I do not want to destroy many atb (I was on many protocols for Lyme in past...)

thanks all for some points!
best regards and brighter days for everyone!

Martin
 

MEPatient345

Guest
Messages
479
Sharing an update..
I’ve done 31 sessions of 2.4 ata hbot so far, over a 2.5 month period. Unfortunately I haven’t seen any results. I still have all my same symptoms, days of bad PEM, headaches, constant cognitive fog, weakness and fatigue etc. Am quite disappointed this didn’t work for me. I will do 5 more sessions but I think that will be it for me.

Does anyone else have an update who had seen results with hbot? Did they stick?
 

MartinK

Senior Member
Messages
364
Hi!
Im after 10 sessions in 2,4 ATA too!
And I feel little bit better! PEMs are gone - I make little activity on the weekend and without PEM - Im so happy!
But, OI is still the same.
I think, its too early to say more in my cause...
But I see results...good results...

Next week I start HBOT with a deck chair - this help me with muscle pain from my OI I hope!

Martin
 

Jenny

Senior Member
Messages
1,388
Location
Dorset
I've done about 40 treatments now, mostly at 33ft. I felt a lot better after the 14th treatment and this lasted several weeks. In January I got flu and the ME symptoms returned to some extent, but not too badly. But the flu meant I had a few weeks off oxygen. In Feb I got back to it and I still go once or twice a week. I'm not quite as bad as I was last year but the improvement I had over Xmas hasn't returned.

Either it was just coincidence- my symptoms fluctuate a lot anyway, or I need to have O2 4 or 5 times a week. That would be very difficult as the centre is an hour and a half away. I guess there's a possibility that O2 has a cumulative
effect. So I'm carrying on for a while going once or twice a week.
 

MEPatient345

Guest
Messages
479
Thanks Jenny.. yes it’s difficult to know with fluctuating symptoms. I never had a noticeable improvement in symptoms even with 4 to 5 treatments a week, will be doing my 35th session tomorrow, so I think I will probably give up then. There are not enough patients recounting improvement that only happens after 40 sessions to convince me to keep going. From my basic analysis of the anecdotal reports. it seems the ones who do find it beneficial know either immediately or at least within 15 to 25 sessions. Keep us updated here as to how you get on.
 

used_to_race

Senior Member
Messages
193
Location
Southern California
Just wanted to throw my hat in the ring with all of you here... After trying out 5 sessions of mHBOT at a local center in Southern California, I have rented a machine from a contact elsewhere in the US. The machine I got was a Vitaeris 320 (1.3 ata), and I've had it set up in my apartment for a week now. I've been doing daily sessions at around 60-75 mins per session. I'm typically mild but occasionally (and more frequently in recent months) moderate, and can go over my specific symptoms in more detail if anyone would like to discuss, but I've noticed a little bit of improvement almost across the board since starting. Could be due to placebo effect at this point, but I plan to continue with daily sessions for at least 2 months before considering whether to stop the treatment.

Incidentally, I looked up the part number on the pressure control valves that my chamber came with, and it looks like the valve company makes parts with the same physical dimensions that open at different pressures. So presumably I could easily modify the chamber to be 1.4 ata, 1.5 ata, or even higher. Currently I'm thinking of sticking with the 1.3 ata, but in the future I may go ahead and swap the valves. I would imagine the zippers and other parts are rated to at least 1.5 ata, but I may check with some folks more knowledgeable than me. The main thing is that there doesn't appear to be a huge difference clinically between 1.3 and 1.5.
 

cigana

Senior Member
Messages
1,095
Location
UK
I tried 2 months at 1.3 ATA with an oxygen rebreather. After about 6 weeks, I had two short periods (an hour or so) where I definitely had much improved stamina, and I'm certain it was due to the mHBOT. This wasn't sustained, but I wanted to carry on long term. Then I came down with chronic sinusitis, which I've never had before, so I decided to stop the mHBOT/oxygen in case that was the cause. I might consider starting again if the sinusitis ever clears up (it's been months now and it's not going away).
 

xrayspex

Senior Member
Messages
1,111
Location
u.s.a.
I tried 2 months at 1.3 ATA with an oxygen rebreather. After about 6 weeks, I had two short periods (an hour or so) where I definitely had much improved stamina, and I'm certain it was due to the mHBOT. This wasn't sustained, but I wanted to carry on long term. Then I came down with chronic sinusitis, which I've never had before, so I decided to stop the mHBOT/oxygen in case that was the cause. I might consider starting again if the sinusitis ever clears up (it's been months now and it's not going away).
sorry to hear that!
any thoughts on what the mechanism would be to cause sinusitis?
 

cigana

Senior Member
Messages
1,095
Location
UK
sorry to hear that!
any thoughts on what the mechanism would be to cause sinusitis?
The sinusitis began after I had flu with sinus symptoms, so I don't think the mHBOT caused it, but it may have made it harder to clear, as the air is quite dry when wearing a rebreather. I did also wonder if exposing the sinuses to more oxygen could change the state of the sinus microbiome (which has been linked to chronic sinusitis).
But this is all conjecture, maybe the sinusitis and mHBOT is all coincidental. I haven't heard of this problem with any other mHBOT users.
 

Peyt

Senior Member
Messages
678
Location
Southern California
Hi Jesse2233,
Thanks for creating this thread,
I am wondering which type of machine did you get?
The reason I ask is I talked to a friend who told me he initially rented one which was 21 inches in diameter for a month and then he went ahead and bought another one which was 27 inches in diameter (which he is currently using). He says he thinks the 21 inch one was better for him because he thought the pressure was more immediate and he felt it through his lungs.... I am wondering what your experience has been with different machines?
Thanks
 

used_to_race

Senior Member
Messages
193
Location
Southern California
Hi Jesse2233,
Thanks for creating this thread,
I am wondering which type of machine did you get?
The reason I ask is I talked to a friend who told me he initially rented one which was 21 inches in diameter for a month and then he went ahead and bought another one which was 27 inches in diameter (which he is currently using). He says he thinks the 21 inch one was better for him because he thought the pressure was more immediate and he felt it through his lungs.... I am wondering what your experience has been with different machines?
Thanks

I don't know how likely Jesse is to see this at the moment but his is an OxyHealth Vitaeris 320.

There will be no difference in the pressure or blood/tissue oxygenation properties of chambers with different diameters. A 21 inch diameter is really small and I would recommend at least a 27 inch model if you are a normal sized adult, although 21 inches would not be totally impossible to use.
 

Jenny

Senior Member
Messages
1,388
Location
Dorset
I've done about 40 treatments now, mostly at 33ft. I felt a lot better after the 14th treatment and this lasted several weeks. In January I got flu and the ME symptoms returned to some extent, but not too badly. But the flu meant I had a few weeks off oxygen. In Feb I got back to it and I still go once or twice a week. I'm not quite as bad as I was last year but the improvement I had over Xmas hasn't returned.

Either it was just coincidence- my symptoms fluctuate a lot anyway, or I need to have O2 4 or 5 times a week. That would be very difficult as the centre is an hour and a half away. I guess there's a possibility that O2 has a cumulative
effect. So I'm carrying on for a while going once or twice a week.

Just to follow up on this. For no apparent reason I went into a bad relapse about 2 months ago, after 53 treatments. Been bedridden a lot so can’t get to centre. So have to conclude it’s not working for me, at least at only once or twice a week. I might try intensive treatment again at some point though.