posted
I'm looking to try doing hyperbaric chamber treatment in Austin, TX. I've heard the type of machine you use makes a great difference. Could anyone help point me in the right direction of which facility to use?
Posts: 21 | From Austin, TX | Registered: May 2017
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Phoiph
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posted
HW88~
A couple of thoughts about the weight gain.
First, as your gut heals with mHBOT and diet, you will start absorbing nutrients/calories again.
Second, when you had gastroparesis, consumed only 400-600 calories/day and lost 30 lbs., your body likely went into starvation mode which slowed your metabolism.
As you get better, you can very gradually add light resistance training to build muscle mass, which will help increase metabolism. Also, be sure to eat enough protein.
About your concentrator filter. If you have the AirSep, just remove the mesh filter on the back (ideally once a week or so), wash it in warm, soapy water, rinse and air dry thoroughly overnight before replacing.
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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Phoiph
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posted
atxlyme~
The type of chamber you are using (e.g., hard vs. soft), is not as important as the degree of pressure (mild), whether you are using supplemental 02, and the length and consistency of your sessions over time.
Most of us here are using home chambers, because chronic conditions like Lyme require daily, consistent, long-term treatment, which is not usually cost effective in a clinical setting.
Some people feel more comfortable experiencing their initial sessions in a clinical setting, however. If so, make sure the staff allows you to work up slowly to the full hour session over time/multiple sessions. Often, clinicians are not aware of how sensitive people with chronic Lyme can be to this powerful therapy.
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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The thoughts on weight are interesting. Hopefully with time, my metabolism will increase.... as well as my endurance for exercise.
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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Phoiph
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posted
HW88~
It will in time...but don't rush anything!
Not a good idea to cut calories while you're healing; be sure to continue to eat lots of good fats and protein.
Maybe look into the keto diet as per Digby...
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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Phoiph
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posted
Also...
When cleaning your Airsep filter...it is very easy to forget to put it back in the concentrator; and running it without is not at all good for it.
I put a sticky note on the front of my concentrator whenever I remove the filter to remind myself...:)
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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posted
Thanks phoiph, I'm not planning on 'dieting' for weight right now. I'm just so happy I can eat better.
I'm going to work on my diet for health and nutrients.. I will continue looking into the keto diet. It is far from what I eat right now, so I might just have to make small changes at a time.
Good idea about the sticky note...
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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posted
Have you tried other oxygen therapies like ozone or EWOT, and if so how did they compare to your experiences with this?
Posts: 21 | From Austin, TX | Registered: May 2017
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posted
atxlyme....I'm not sure who you are asking but I have done extensive Ozone therapies and tried to do EWOT. These therapies have their place but nothing helped me more than mHBOT.
Posts: 550 | From NW Arkansas | Registered: May 2003
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yes....I did for months and felt it made the abx more potent?
however,my gut started healing and felt it was working again after I stopped the abx and just went chamber only.
hope this helped)
-------------------- Chronic Lyme Posts: 36 | From Florida | Registered: Jun 2016
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kgg
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posted
HW88, I know what you mean when you say they start to feel like poison. My hat is off to you for making it that long. After 30 days, my gut and body say no more!
I have not taken antibiotics with the mHBO, so I can't help with the weaning. I would hope that mHBO would help the process.
Posts: 1761 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
I'm noticing I feel better on the days I don't take my antibiotics. I'm on a 4 day on, 3 day off.
I don't know if that means I need to keep taking antibiotics and I'm herxing, which I hate, but I guess is good???? Or if I would heal faster without the antibiotics messing up my gut.
I go back to my Dr. in early January. I think I'm going to see what his thought are on doing a 3 month break of antibiotics and see if I keep progressing without them.
posted
HW88, FWIW, I was much improved on mHBO after stopping antibiotics.
Posts: 550 | From NW Arkansas | Registered: May 2003
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Phoiph
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posted
I was not on antibiotics when I started mHBOT, but have had the opportunity to work with a lot of people who were.
Generally, it seems the most successful plan is to stay on whatever antibiotics you are already on when starting mHBOT. Then, once you have gained enough stability and strength through extended mHBOT, begin to VERY GRADUALLY wean off of the meds, one at a time (with practitioner's supervision), while continuing mHBOT.
If done slowly (as to not shock your body), many people will begin to make strides forward in their healing after this process, as the body can begin to traverse the layers of toxins and heal the gut, etc.
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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posted
Does anyone here have any experience with Newtowne Chambers specifically the class 4 27 inch? Thanks
Posts: 261 | From California | Registered: Sep 2017
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posted
Wanted to report that I'm continuing to have ups and downs and still have a lot of symptoms... but...
Since my first dive on 9/20/17 (80 dives total) my TNFa has gone down substantially, 77 to <5; Ref <22, and my NKC function has gone up 9 to 22; Ref 7-125.
Of course correlation is not causation, but previously my TNFa had been steadily inching up.
Posts: 16 | From Los Angeles | Registered: Sep 2017
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kgg
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Love hearing about improved lab markers! I hope that you have more up days than downs going forward.
Posts: 1761 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
Hi everyone! I used to post on here as Lymeboy. But then I had a freakout and deleted my account! Anyway I am back. I have a LOT to say. But for the moment I will just say that I've been doing MHBOT for over a year and I can report amazing results. Mind you, I didn't get where I am with just the chamber alone. But in conjunction with everything else I've done to get where I am, it has been a friggin miracle. Literal miracle. I am not "cured" but Iam in better physical shape than ever and I feel grateful and healthy every day and still going at it. It's late, so I'm gonna cut it short, but I will be checking in to help out and answer questions for anyone looking for their path. (We are all different and what worked for me may not for others) I had a bad case of neuro Lyme. I had heart issues, fatigue, severe shivering chills, and over the course of 6 years or so, I had every damn symptom lyme can throw at you! Today I am winning the battle. Let's hope it is for good.
It can be won. For me, I wouldn't be alive if I hadn't undergone a complete change of lifestyle and way of thinking. Sounds like a lot but it is the simplest part of all this Lyme business.
Posts: 7 | From Southern CA | Registered: Sep 2016
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posted
Tickboy/Lymeboy, Congratulations on your success treating with mHBOT. It has turned my life around. From wheelchairs and home bound to hiking and biking! Yet, I can also say that I am far from fully healed. It's an interesting journey.
I don't think mHBOT is a complete cure for everyone but it raises the baseline health enough that other treatments are well tolerated. Figuring out those other treatments to get to full health can be an ongoing challenge but much more manageable when you are coming from a body that has some energy and a mind that can think clearly!
Keep up the good work!
Posts: 550 | From NW Arkansas | Registered: May 2003
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TF
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posted
Hey, Lymeboy! Great to hear from you. And I love your good report. I have thought of you often. So good to know you are now in a good place, and also in California!
Keep in touch with us!!!!
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I will keep in touch. I've been out running around living the life I thought was gone forever. In fact, being crazy already, I went a little crazier and lived about 3 years worth of life this past year. Injuries sustained and all.
I want to help those that are still suffering. I've been through a lot and I think I have some good stuff to offer here.
Posts: 7 | From Southern CA | Registered: Sep 2016
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posted
It's great to hear good news from others. It always brings so much hope.
I wanted to jump on and update also. I am SO grateful for mhbot. I as well continue to go up and down, but feel I'm moving in the right direction.
These last few days have been some of my BEST days in YEARS!! I know this is a 2 step forward one back, but I figured I would post on a good day.
I took around neighbor christmas treats with my husband yesterday. 1. I actually MADE neighbor treats this year 2. I actually enjoyed talking to people and not just thinking, "when can we go so I can lay down."
Happy diving, team. and Merry Christmas!
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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posted
tickboy, what were your other treatments that you did along side mhbot.
Also, you say your are in good health, but don't consider yourself cured? Curious what you mean by that. Are you symptom free, or just functioning? Just curious?
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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Phoiph
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Hi Lymeboy~
So happy you have come back to share your success story...it is an amazing one!
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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posted
HW88, I am not totally symptom free. I have not been able to shake Bartonella. But I do manage it with A-bart. Stuck on this one. I'm not sure if certain strains of Bart can be eradicated. Not giving up though.
If I have a bad day, it's a few hours, and it's more of an annoyance than anything else. Most "flare ups" involve temper flares, which I was (much less) prone to before getting sick. I do feel a bit of insanity now and then.
"Protocol" - Clean eating, yoga, and MHBOT, along with A-Bart, rotated in with various Bartonella herbs I've been messing with.
I will stress that I had a strict diet for 5-6 years prior. I quit drinking completely in 2010. I started yoga in late 2014. But I didn't come to health, as I'm calling it, until adding HBOT. This was what made me feel normal again. And after so long just scraping by, I felt superhuman at times. There is A LOT to add here. I cannot say I am cured. I don't know if you can walk around w/ Lyme for 10 years and be rid of all the infections and damage it does. But I am in very good physical health and the best mental health I've experienced in many years. I feel better than I've felt in decades in many ways.
After the holiday craziness dies down, I'll give some more details. It's not quite as simple as I made it out to be. Happy merry holidays everyone!
Posts: 7 | From Southern CA | Registered: Sep 2016
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As someone who is in the 3rd year of treatment I can say I didn't feel 100% until around 30 months and nearly 900 dives.
I felt well enough at 2 years to go back to full time work but still hit a few bumps trying to find a balance in life. I rarely dive now and have gone almost 2 months with no dive. I have residual damage from 20 years being undiagnosed but I'm very confident my lab tests that were recently taken are going to show great things.
Keep diving mHBOTers
Posts: 233 | From AZ | Registered: Jan 2015
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Phoiph
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Happy Holidays to everyone!
Congratulations to all who are now well and able to enjoy their holidays.
For those who are still struggling...I truly understand how difficult the holidays are. Have hope and keep the faith. I never thought I would see another holiday, much less enjoy or participate in one. If it was possible for me to become well, it is possible for you.
Looking forward to healing for all in 2018. The best is yet to come...
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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posted
Hi Everyone! Happy almost New Year! Tickboy!! Wow~ it is so good to hear from you... Phoiph told us you were doing well! It is great to hear it from you!!
Peimomma- so good to hear from you and that you are still doing well!! HW88 - sounds like real progress is being made!
Sorry I have been out of the loop. I pulled my back out at the end of November and thankfully, am well on the mend now. Still doing my daily dives and on January 29th it will be a year So happy!
I have made great strides. I fought my doctor on LDN as it made me herx a lot but he told me that was my immune system turning on so I pushed through and I believe that with mhbot has been life changing. I have very little migratory pain anymore and no headaches to speak of. Pretty dramatic.
Thank you, Phoiph, Digby, Peimomma and all those that came before me. You all are beacon's of light...
To 2018 and continued healing for all.... HUGS!!
Posts: 859 | From Southeast | Registered: Mar 2011
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I need a bit of advice tonight. I gradually came off antibiotics. I was on a 4 days on 3 days off scenario for a while. Then gradually dropped less and less.
I felt the BEST I had since being sick for about 2 weeks after completely stopping antibiotics. Then, crash. I haven't felt like this in a while, which induces quite a panic.
So, my question is: do I go back on antibiotics? Is this normal for coming off antibiotics and if I keep going, I will get over this and continue doing better soon?
Any advice would be really appreciated tonight. I just need some hope and advice from those that have been there.
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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posted
HW88, Is it possible that without the abx on board, your immune system is kicking in and causing the symptom flair?
I don't think anyone can really answer your question definitively but if it was me (ok, actually it was me at one time) I would stay off the antibiotics and give the HBO a chance. The hardest part is wrestling with the fear when symptoms return.
I hope your flare is short lived. If it is a herx type reaction, you should be feeling better than ever in the next couple of weeks.
Hang in there. May this new year bring us all improved health!
Posts: 550 | From NW Arkansas | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Thank you digby! I really just needed to hear from someone tonight and their opinion.
The fear that I will suddenly crash back to where I was at the beginning is hard to fight... well, that and all the bart mental symptoms, but I need to trust in the process and healing methods I've chosen.
I'm hoping it's just a herx and I will be feeling even better in a few weeks. I've said all along, one of the most frustrating things with this is not know what is going on... is it good that I feel worse? is it from this? from that?
I really do hope it's a good thing and I will be doing MUCH better soon!
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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posted
Hi HW88: I agree with Digby too. He is right - the fear is the worst. Dr. H- whom I still see - says that typically you will never go back to where you were. So, Praise God, you are making strides and you just have to keep moving forward. The way I look at is -- you can always go back on the ABX down the road if you really feel the need. I know when my thyroid doc wanted me to do ldn due to my mom dying of amyloidosis- in essence, preventative medicine for me- and I flared heavily and I mean heavily- I freaked. I told him NO way. He looked at me with these sad eyes and his nurse and observing nurse - the same eyes and I felt I was the worst patient. So he said, after telling me my immune system was coming back on board and it was a herx not a flare- (And that I needed to call things correctly as well - love those humbling moments)- that I needed to try one every other day and that I could probably push through and if not, I could stop forever. Well, I went home and said, he knows of what he is talking so I went back and pushed through. Gosh am I glad I did. It was a missing key for me I think with mhbot. Praise God for both modalities and for abx when I needed them. For me it has been all about the right tool at the right time... I pray you will start turning the corner. Believe you will... I think that helps too... The mind and body connection cannot be overlooked either. Godspeed friend.... WBT
Posts: 859 | From Southeast | Registered: Mar 2011
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Phoiph
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posted
HW88~
I'd like to add that it is often overlooked that many antibiotics have anti-inflammatory effects, and if your body is used to them, there can be reactions when you come off.
Technically, it is not the bugs themselves that make people feel badly; even when it is the flu, for example. It is actually the immune system reacting which makes us feel badly. So, that lends more credence to the idea that you are feeling your immune system kick in, without the benefit of the anti-inflammatory effect of the antibiotics.
As mentioned, know that it is always an option to go back on antibiotics if you feel the need to. I have known people who have done this; waiting until they had more mHBOT under their belt, then successfully have gone off on the second try.
Just like anything else with healing from Lyme, even "good" changes have to be made slowly as to not throw the reactive body into shock.
Remind me...how many consecutive dives have you done to date?
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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posted
yes, everyday with oxygen?
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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Phoiph
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HW88~
So, you have done roughly 6 months at the full protocol.
At 6 months, I had improved in many ways, but I was still very unstable. I clearly remember contracting the flu and was absolutely sure that I was regressing and going back to square one. It was very scary.
Turns out, I came through each of those rough patches a little better than before I went into them.
This may be the case with you as well!
Posts: 1977 | From Earth | Registered: Jul 2013
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This is my hope. I look back on this journey and since starting treating, I've dipped and usually come out better afterward. I just have to remember that.
Thank you everyone for the love and support!!!
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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posted
Hi All: I second that Reminder! HW88 -- at 6 months- I was not at the best place that is for sure. Phoiph is always the best authority for questions of this nature. I remember well dealing with not having the anti inflam effects of abx. It is very real. Hang in there girl! You can do this!
Posts: 859 | From Southeast | Registered: Mar 2011
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