Treatment procedure

After a thorough talk with the operator, who presents hyperbaric chamber operation, describes the treatment procedure and informs one about the treatment, one changes into comfortable cotton clothes. For breathing pure oxygen, an oxygen mask is used, which one tries to breathe with already outside the chamber. This is followed by entry into the chamber and settling on a comfortable mattress, so one can see the operator clearly through the windows. The chamber environment is warm, comfortable and equipped with cotton pillows and blankets.

When the environment becomes familiar, what follows is the step of sealing the chamber and preparation for increasing pressure. The pressure increases gradually and with ease (approximately 1 m per minute), so there is enough time to equalize pressure in your ears. In the ears one can feel the equalization of pressure, which is the effect of change in pressure (one can also feel this during air travel).

Usually the simplest methods of equalization in the ears are swallowing and yawning. If that doesn’t help, pinch your nostrils shut and blow gently. It helps if one takes a swallow of water just before the treatment to moisten one’s throat.

The compression takes 10 minutes, depending on the anticipated pressure of the treatment, which is decided upon by the trained and certified operator. When the specific treatment pressure is reached, we start timing the treatment, which lasts approximatelly 60 minutes at a constant prescribed pressure. During the treatment one may rest or even nap. The operator watches over one closely for the duration. After the completed time of the treatment, decompression begins for taking the pressure down to atmospheric level, which takes as long as compression.

HBOT is a pleasant experience, but we are all claustrophobic to some extent, so expect to feel slight apprehension because this is normal. Operators are trained so the treatment proceeds as relaxed, pleasant and calm as possible.

After the completion of the treatment in a hyperbaric chamber, the treatment goes on for 6 more hours because of a higher concentration of oxygen in your body. You feel great, relaxed, concentrated, energized, but you can experience a pleasant tiredness.

Effects of the treatment can be seen right away or a day or two after the treatment. The number of necessary treatments depends on the reason for your visit.