Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has a way of sounding more intimidating than it actually is. Most first-time patients arrive expecting something closer to a medical procedure and leave describing it as the most relaxing couple of hours of their week. Here's what actually happens.
Before you book: a referral
HBOT is a prescribed medical treatment, so we'll need a physician referral confirming your diagnosis falls within one of the indications we treat. Once that's on file, we book your consultation and walk through your medical history to confirm hyperbaric oxygen is appropriate and safe for you specifically.
Inside the chamber
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Check-in and prep.
You change into 100% cotton clothing we provide; synthetic fabrics and anything flammable stay outside the chamber for safety.
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Compression.
The chamber pressurizes gradually over several minutes. Most people feel a sensation similar to descending in an airplane or diving; equalizing your ears resolves it quickly.
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The session.
Most treatments are 90 minutes of oxygen while lying comfortably, about 2 hours in the chamber in total; longer protocols can run up to 240 minutes of oxygen (285 minutes in total for the long decompression treatment table). Many patients listen to something, watch TV, or simply nap.
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Decompression.
Pressure is released gradually, and you're free to resume normal activity right away, with no recovery downtime.
What it treats, and why it takes a course
HBOT increases the amount of oxygen your blood plasma can carry, reaching tissue that's struggling to heal: non-healing wounds, radiation injury, and a number of other indications recognized by hyperbaric medicine societies. Because the effect builds gradually, treatment is delivered as a course of sessions rather than a single visit, with your medical team monitoring progress throughout.