HBOT for SFN and ME/CFS

J

johann1

Messages
6
Objective
Considering HBOT (Hyperbaric oxygen therapy) (1.3 bar) for a friend who suffers, among other things, from SFN and ME/CFS

Background
I have read anecdotal user reports that HBOT has helped with SFN and ME/CFS. This has been—or is still being—investigated in small studies.

Opportunities

  • The increased oxygen partial pressure can improve the oxygen supply to tissues, including in the brain and peripheral nervous system. In SFN, this could help support nerve repair processes.
  • It is suspected that HBOT has anti-inflammatory effects. Since chronic inflammation and immune system dysregulation play a role in ME/CFS and SFN, this could lead to symptom relief.
  • Improved oxygen supply can contribute to optimizing mitochondrial function.
  • There is evidence that HBOT has neuroprotective effects and might help alleviate the “brain fog” symptoms.
Risks

  • Increased cardiovascular strain (heart valve insufficiency and POTS) due to the elevated pressure
  • Risk of MCAS activation
  • Risk of overstimulation and crashes
  • Increased oxidative stress
Measures to Mitigate the Risks

  • 1.3 bar is generally milder than the frequently used 2.6 bar
  • Vitamin C infusion to counteract oxidative stress
  • Gradually increase the pressure to 1.3 bar, starting with shorter sessions
  • BHI mitochondrial diagnostics
Special Conditions

  • ME/CFS
  • SFPN
  • POTS
  • Heart valve insufficiency (mild mitral insufficiency, moderate tricuspid insufficiency, sinus tachycardia)
  • MCS
  • MCAS
  • Hereditary thrombophilia
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Prediabetes type 2
  • Gastroparesis
Genetic Peculiarities

  • CYP2C19: Reduced (heterozygous) enzyme activity – slowed metabolism of many psychotropic drugs.
  • NAT2: Reduced enzyme activity (genotype 5/5) – slowed metabolism of various medications, including some antidepressants and antipsychotics.
The multitude of conditions and potential interactions (especially within the serotonergic, cholinergic, and catecholaminergic systems, as well as regarding the heart, kidneys, liver, and MCAS) makes medication selection very risky. Strong withdrawal symptoms have also been observed in the past.

Question to You:
What experiences have you had with HBOT (1.3 bar or 2.6 bar)?
 
Wayne

Wayne

Senior Member
Messages
4,521
Location
Ashland, Oregon
johann1 said:
What experiences have you had with HBOT (1.3 bar or 2.6 bar)?
Click to expand...

Hi @johann1 -- I've been doing mHBOT (1.3 atm) for several years now. Interestingly, after doing it regularly for a year and believing I was getting good benefits, it got burned in a house fire. I debated whether to purchase another one, and didn't have access to one for almost three years.

When I started doing them again last year, I noticed more pronounced benefits than the previous time. I felt it definitely improved my brain and neurological function(s), and gave me consistently better energy. I did notice however, that when I started again, I had hours and days of "adjustments" my body was going through. I don't know what was all involved, but mHBOT can break up biofilms, and I suspect that I was experiencing detox symptoms either related to that or something else. Those "adjustments" stopped after about 3-4 weeks.

Regarding your other post on depression: I find mHBOT to be one of the most relaxing, restorative, anxiety reducing, stress reducing modalities I've ever experienced. I have ongoing ligamentous cranial instability, which can lead to rapidly changing mental and emotional "waves", depending on how my cranial nerves are being affected at any given time. mHBOT can take me from feeling intense discomfort and deep depression to a sense of well being in usually less than 20 minutes. The only thing that really compares is the regular therapeutic coffee enemas I do with 10-12 grams sodium ascorbate added--in conjunction with doing energy and polarity balancing exercises at the same time.

These two modalities plus some pretty diligent body stretching and lymphatic massage and drainage techniques have brought me from around 4% functionality (a few years ago), to about 75% functionality today (I'm 72 now and feeling I'm living a miracle life compared to how debilitated I was at one point). -- I don't know what SFN is, so not able to comment on that. BTW, mHBOT chambers can be rented by the month in some locations if you wanted to look into that. I think the risks are generally quite low, with the main requirement being that a person is able to equalize the pressure in their ears as the chamber pressure increases. -- BTW, I also have a PEMF machine that I find very helpful.
 
Last edited:
cfs since 1998

cfs since 1998

Senior Member
Messages
786
I have been considering this as well. I did 1 session of mHBOT and did not see a difference, however, it is my understanding that it can take 20 or more. On the bright side, I also had no negative effects. It did not adversely affect my POTS/heart/MCAS in any way.
 
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