Please feel free to contact me for as much information as you would like.
you can also reach me on my cell 908 616 0279 I can try and find you a provider. Or the nearest center.
Kind regards,
Julia
-------------------- Please consult your LLMD before making any changes to your treatment regimen. Posts: 641 | From NJ, USA | Registered: Oct 2001
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
LYMEDAD'S daughter went thru this and made significant progress.
it's in his posts.
dara, you could do a SEARCH found at top
HBOT medical subject line any date leave membership no. blank; hit send
you should get MANY posts/replies about this; good luck!
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My daughter went through 2 months/40 dives in the summer of 2006. She swears it caused damage to her ears, eyes, gave her nasal problems and caused anxiety attacks and heart palipatations.
Now, since she is very ill with Lyme and co it may have happened anyway. Everyone is different. What helps one person doesn't always help another. The people at the center where she went were some of the kindest, most compassionate people I have ever met in my life.
There were people there that swore that it helped them. All I can tell you is that you need to research and do what you are doing here and weigh the pros and cons.
That is what we did before we started the treatment and spent over 2 months in a motel away from our home. We decided since my daughter's condition was getting worse and she was suffering, what could it hurt?
It hurt..............but we wouldn't have known that had we not tried. What do you do, just sit by and watch your child suffer and not try to help them?
Just be careful, there are those people and clinics out there that over charge and take advantage of people who are desperate to help their loved ones. Be sure and research the place you decide to take her if you do.
Take care and if we can help in any way please PM me.
HUGS,
-------------------- ICEY Posts: 468 | From Las Vegas NV | Registered: Jun 2005
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ralph
Unregistered
posted
HBOTs increase oxygen at deeper levels in the body. It is also used for treatment in autism and cancer. Certain diseaes favor living in a low oxygen environment.
A friend who is an MD told me I could come try his but there would be one problem - I would not want to get out. I have not tried it, YET.
On the possible injury, another MD and his assistant (autism specialists) really emphasize that the pressure should be increased slowly, on an ongoing basis. Your body needs to get used to it slowly. If not, I have been told, injury may occur. Perhaps that is what happened.
And I have been told that combining Far Infrared Sauna Treatment with HBOT is very good for those with Lyme. I do use a far infrared from www.sunlightsaunas.com
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djf2005
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11449
posted
this therapy has helped me make gains throughout my ongoing lyme journey.
one caution though:
babesia and bartonella are both red blood cell infections.
babesia is rumored to be made worse from hbot tx, so one would think that is could do the same for bartonella.
i am unsure of the bartonella interaction with hbot, its just my own theory, but if they are both red blood cell infections and the one thrives on oxygen then it makes me wonder....
dont get me wrong, for LYME, hbot is GREAT.
treat co infections first.
derek
-------------------- "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
Bugg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8095
posted
Hi there--
I did 40 dives at 2.8 ATA when I knew I had lyme disease but didn't know if I had other co-infections. During the dives, I definitely herxed and actually, eventually, had more stamina towards the final days of the dives. Unfortunately, about 3 weeks after I stopped, I felt an increase in fatigue, especially in my legs.....had severe heavy legs feeling...couldn't climb the stairs.....Anyway, I found out later I had undertreated/undiagnosed babesia....If I could do it all over again, I would have treated for babs first, would take abx for lyme while doing the dives, and then go back for additional maintenance dives later...I think it helps with the lyme infection but don't know about the other co-infections....Julia on this site knows a great deal about this....I would reach out to her...She has already responded to this thread... Take Care!
P.S. I dove at a center in San Diego and it wasn't Chico...just fyi....
Posts: 1155 | From Southeast | Registered: Oct 2005
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I guess that I have to chime in again. I have been asked not to post my web address so that is not my intent. However, if you send me a PM I will send you some research on HBOT and lyme.
It is my opinion and has always been that anyone with lyme should test for co infections, heavy metals and virals. All of these factors will keep you from acheiving wellness...
HBOT is not a cure for lyme,,, However it will bring you to a much better place in your healing.
Words of caution, please have your ears checked for fluid prior to going to hbot. Especially if you have a history of sinus or ear infections.
This will not preclude you from the sessions they would just have to be "managed" with a slower descent. In some cases ear planes can be used as well.
HBOT should in a best case senario be offered along with abx therapy now that the oxygen carries the drug accross the blood brain barrier. At least that's the theory..
You should have a method of detoxification down pat. You will be releasing toxins and this may cause you to become sick or Herx sometimes continuously.
You may not feel the benefits of the HBOT for a few weeks or until you rid your body of toxins.
I strongly suggest follow up therapies at least one, once a month to six weeks. In order to keep your immune system healthy.
As for Babesia and Bartonella. I would also agree that you must target these first or during the treatments.
I do not however believe that at 2.4 ATA the organism will thrive. It could however thrive at lower pressures. I could be wrong, but I have treated several people with Bart and babs with success.
I hope that this is helpful here is a link to the efficacy of HBOT and lyme:
-------------------- Please consult your LLMD before making any changes to your treatment regimen. Posts: 641 | From NJ, USA | Registered: Oct 2001
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oxygenbabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5831
posted
HBOT: GOOD.
Deep dives at 2.4 ata are very strong, and if you do with abx, will increase your herx; if you do w/o abx, will herx some and suppress the infection and heal tissues.
Dives in home portable chamber keep infection somewhat in check and help all tissues and cellular function.
It has been a major therapy for me and continues to be.
Never did it with abx because ethey give me such fungal issues my ears and sinuses swell and I can't equalize ear pressure.
Julia--per ears, I did have a problem after the one dive in your chamber----I think slow descent is *very* important even without pre existing ear problems. Should defer to a slow descent for all folks imo.
Earplanes are really useful.
Keep eyes closed in a monochamber or using a hood in a multichamber to protect the lens from oxygen diffusion across the cornea. The lens is vulnerable to oxidation.
Don't overdo it. I think 90 minutes a day or 60 minutes twice a day is overkill.
I don't worry about babesia and bartonella for most folks in terms of hbot, I have babesia and so have others who did hbot...it helped us get better not worse. We've discussed this before, a bug has to be aerobic or a facultative anaerobe like yeast that can switch to aerobic to be stimulated by hbot. It's not where it resides but whether it is aerobic. I do believe yeast problems can get worse on hbot.
Posts: 2276 | From united states | Registered: Jun 2004
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
I HS years ago with unknown chronic lyme, I used to get a huge sense of relief from something at the bottom of the 21 foot diving pool. I would dive and stay at the bottom as long as I could. I didnt know I had lyme, but I did tingle like abx do after doses. So I think it was killing. I have babs bart and lyme now and tryed to stay on the bottom of my 2.5 ft hot tub using breathing tube. The first day, I forced myself (had to lower temp of course) to stay asap. I was in there about 1-8 hours. Next day I felt ALIVE!!! I was shocked. I read that the mild, which is what about 2-6 ft deep under water would replicate (4 psi) mild hbot may not kill, but it does aid the body in detox. I been going under water often. I feel better too! Still sick as hell but better. I agree babs as far as illness is concerned is horrible. I am atempting to tx all 3 and its a nightmere. But a nessary evil.
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posted
Don't overdo it. I think 90 minutes a day or 60 minutes twice a day is overkill.
Thanks for the reminder! Some can tolerate this very well. However for the new "diver" I would not suggest it
Kindly,
Julia
-------------------- Please consult your LLMD before making any changes to your treatment regimen. Posts: 641 | From NJ, USA | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Originally posted by oxygenbabe: We've discussed this before, a bug has to be aerobic or a facultative anaerobe like yeast that can switch to aerobic to be stimulated by hbot. It's not where it resides but whether it is aerobic. I do believe yeast problems can get worse on hbot.
Hi everyone, thanks for getting this topic rolling and all the feedback as I have been interested in this myself as I know have others.
Oxygenbabe, and others, you mentioned that HBOT is a non-issue unless the organism(s) is aerobic. I recall in Buhner's Healing Lyme book that he mentions Bartonella is indeed an aerobic organism.
Any comments on that, oxygenbabe, or anyone else in this discussion?
Posts: 85 | From Texas | Registered: Dec 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment) is a wonderful adjunctive therapy for Lyme disease. It is best done while on aggressive antibiotics. HBOT typically begins with 30 treatments in a row, once or twice daily. After that you do a 6-8 week break, then do 30 more, and so on. Usually after the initial batch of 30-60 you need 5-10 every 6-8 weeks as maintenance. The best way to do it is while on antibiotics to get the maximum effect.
I found HBOT to be instrumental in my Lyme treatment and recovery. After 90 treatments, I was well enough to be physically active again and go on vacation. The IV antibiotics, IM Bicillin, oral Flagyl and the intense HBOT brought me back to life, and it was worth every penny.
There are 3 main types of HBOT chambers/treatments. I tired them all and found the single person (monoplace) chamber to be the best, and most effective for treating Lyme disease. The 100% pure oxygen is pressurized all over your body, and especially your skin where spirochetes like to hide to avoid the heat of your body's core. My LLMD told me that the monoplace chambers are the most effective type to use for Lyme, and so I followed the Lyme protocol exactly. I dove twice per day at 2.4 ATA. It only took me one treatment at 2.0 ATA for my ears to adjust. Some people have ear issues and require temporary tubes in the ears.
I did try the multiplace (multiple person) chamber and did not experience the same benefits as I did with the monoplace chamber. You breathe the oxygen through a hood so your skin is not exposed to 100% pure oxygen at pressure. There are problems with air leaking our of the gaskets, the mask, and treatment delays involved with other patients in the chamber.
Mild (home chambers) are not powerful enough to treat Lyme disease. they are only capable of "diving" to about 13 feet down, compared to about 45 feet in a monoplace chamber. They may be able to help boost your immune system, but they do not have the ability to treat Lyme effectively. Some people swear by them, but in my experience they were wimpy.
The trick with HBOT is to keep up the treatments. If you can only afford to do 30, or 60 treatments, then space them out. I would say to do 30 initially, and then at least 5 treatments as maintenance every 8-10 weeks as you are able. Ask your LLMD what is best, but in my experience the more the better, and keep it up!
I agree to start out slow, everyone is different with this stuff.
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posted
Nicole's mom- it helped me dramatically cognitively and other ways but I had 6 wks at 2.4 ATA 6 days a week, 2 sessions a day (very expensive). It wore off though but it helped me to know I could feel better and was an encouragement. Maintenance afterward is important and this is my challenge now.
-------------------- RV Posts: 249 | From Healing in USA | Registered: Mar 2005
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oxygenbabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5831
posted
Regards the question about bartonella, I don't know, but in general hbot is a really good therapy in chronic lyme. We don't know everything but most people improve on it, even if they go through herxes.
Wildcondor lived close to a chamber, that was ideal for continued therapy. I forgot to add, and agree with her, that maintenance is important--time. A short burst is not the best.
In retrospect I would've done 2 months in deep dive once a day and then immediately switched to home chamber. I had no center close enough to me to fit it into my day comfortably. The first time i did it, going once a day, basically took the whole day, so for a month that was all I did and the second time just basically moved to Great Barrington for the summer, that was 90 m a day. In retrospect I would've known about mild chambers and had one waiting for me at home after that 2 month period of dives and done them 2-3 times a week and then slowly down to my current, once a week.
Unfortunatley I didn't know about mild chambers so by the time I got one I had "relapsed" (a year later).
Mild chambers cause me some herxing, not as intense as deep dive. THey also help so much in so many ways.
Its individual of course.
Posts: 2276 | From united states | Registered: Jun 2004
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ralph
Unregistered
posted
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Wildcondor and Oxygenbabe. Good to hear your results.
Oxygenbabe, can I assume Great Barrington, MA ? I ask because I lived in Stockbridge for 3 years and canoed the Housatonic on a regular basis.
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oxygenbabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5831
posted
Yes, Great Barrington. Wonderful doctor a wonderful person whose family has lyme now and they moved to New Mexico to get away from ticks. She had a big multichamber and lymies begged to be treated and she learned a lot about lyme not only thru us but unfortunately thru ticks.
No longer there, tho.
Posts: 2276 | From united states | Registered: Jun 2004
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Bugg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8095
posted
Just a word about costs....There can be great variations in prices from center to center...You really want to do your shopping in terms of the history of the center in terms of its experience treating lyme patients and the cost of the sessions...Also, remember, you can try to negotiate reduced fees at some of them...Don't necessarily accept the price quoted...Finally, I know she can't post her website on here, but JBoer, Julia, I believe is an excellent contact regarding HBOT. I had a friend who dove at her center and was extremely impressed with her knowledge and care. I also believe her center charges very appropriately for care.....I encourage anyone interested in HBOT to reach out to her....
Posts: 1155 | From Southeast | Registered: Oct 2005
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-------------------- Please consult your LLMD before making any changes to your treatment regimen. Posts: 641 | From NJ, USA | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
I am trying to find a HBOT in my area. I live in western Wisconsin. My condition has progressed over the last year while on aggressive antibiotic treatment (Including 5 mo IV Rocephin) I am now using a walker and losing ground. My LLMD is very good and said this is the next thing he wants to try. He hasn't run into anyone with my degree of ongoing disability but will not give in to Lyme! What would a typical HBOT treatment cost? Thanks for any advice you may have. God Bless, Suzy
Posts: 15 | From Menomonie, Wisconsin | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
i am far from an expert and most on this sight know ooodles more than me - all i can really say is what our experience was with the HBO chambers
my wife did hbot w/ abx
it seemed to help slightly after treatment was halted - but i must say since this was not her first IV - the improvements (at that tme) could have just as well been from the abx
as usual she got better but when she crashed again, 9 months later and symptoms came back they came back so much worse- that other guy who mentioned heavy legs - my wife cant walk at all now
another interesting point is that my wife had tested neg. for babs more than 1 time prior to hbot-
after the hbot she tested highly positive and her seizures got worse
currently she is getting abx/mepron cocktail for babs and seizures are less and air starvation has improved slightly
if we had to do it again - we would not do the hbot
it was very expensive and not a silver bullet even if it helps it isnt the be all to end all you want
if money isnt an issue and you can afford to take financial losses then maybe it will help - but i would recommend spending that money to make sure you are seeing the best LLMD there is
as far as it being bad for babs - i never connected the dots
after reading this post and also recently reading more about how babs invadeds the read blood cell
and how a symptom of babs is air hunger and lastly my wife has purple limbs and seizures (which could be from lack of oxygen to the brain)
it all seems to fit in a neat box - babs must actually like oxygen -- i guess it seems logical based on what has happened in our case
maybe - i guess - i dont know........
Posts: 25 | From Florida | Registered: Jul 2008
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oxygenbabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5831
posted
I have babs and HBOT was my lifesaver. I have a home chamber now. It is not a cure, therefore, if you do a month of deep dives, it can augment abx treatment, but you have to continue some kind of treatment. Or continue your HBOT longterm. Julia (boejr) got a deep dive chamber at home and continued treatments while doing bicillin shots, for at least a year. I did deep dives twice--for a month and eighteen months after that (in relapse state) for 2 months. I recommend 2 months of deep dives and then a home chamber or doing deep dives twice a week for another six months or a year.
Posts: 2276 | From united states | Registered: Jun 2004
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