Am I a Candidate?

Before Choosing HBO

There are a few things you should think about in determining whether HBO treatments are right for you.  Your questions should be asked and research should be done before making your decision to pursue HBO treatments. On the website Hyperbaric Solutions have tried to include as much general information as possible including public articles and links to associated websites to aid you in this decision.

If you have a personal or family physician and are intending to ask for their opinion do not be surprised if their knowledge of HBO is limited. To date HBO is not taught as part of the normal training program that your physician would have taken to become a qualified physician. Therefore we ask that you have your physician visit our For Doctors section constructed to answer most of the medical questions your doctor may have and view examples of results achieved with HBO. This section is restricted to doctors only and password protected therefore we ask that your physician email us at doctorinfo@hyperbaricsolutions.com.

Listed are some of the things HS feels should be considered before choosing HBO:

Eligibility

In general age is not a consideration but each will be considered on a case by case basis. A screening or discussion with your doctor (after reviewing the For Doctors section) or a Hyperbaric Solutions doctor is the best way to determine if you are a candidate and what your probable outcome may be.

The risks with HBO are minimal but some patients may experience common complications including claustrophobia, fatigue, sinus squeeze or temporary changes in vision.

Patients with upper respiratory infections, chronic sinusitis, seizure disorders, emphysema with CO2 retention, high fevers or pregnant mothers should not undertake HBO treatments without approval of their doctor.

To schedule a consultation to find out if you are a HBO candidate , please call (905) 688-0560.

Expectations

What kind of results can I expect?

No one can promise to remedy 100% of your condition to what we would term normal. The goal of HBO is to achieve the best result in the safest way. The goal is not to eliminate your condition but to dramatically reduce the symptoms of your condition which made you consider HBO in the first place.

This is why we stress the need to establish a base line of data which will help us establish when the maximum result possible is achieved with HBO in relation to the cost.

Price

What does HBO Cost?

The price of the HBO sessions required is determined by the condition to be treated and the physical state of the patient when entering the HBO session. For example for patients with diabetic ulcers and wounds the nutrition level of the patient is a very important factor in determining how fast the healing process will occur. For information on pricing for your condition please call (905) 688-0560.

When you look at the cost of a HBO program make sure you are considering all aspects of the procedure, such as the pre-treatment consultation and post-treatment follow-up. Consider the experience and knowledge of the hyperbaric and medical staff. Does the HBO provider have all the required regulatory approvals and certifications for their equipment and facility? Many do not even know what approvals are required.

Technology

Multiplace vs. Monoplace Chambers

Multiplace chambers are capable of accommodating two or more persons and range in size from a little over one meter in diameter to over four meters or more. The very old chambers have only one compartment but most of the newer ones have at least two locks. The chamber is pressurized with air and the patient breathes 100% oxygen through a mask, or hood placed over the head which can make some patients feel uncomfortable.

In the past few years monoplace chambers, designed for one patient, have been the choice of most HBO patients since a hood or mask is not needed. The entire chamber is pressurized with 100% oxygen and new advances in acrylic materials have allowed for a portion of the chamber to be transparent to allow the patient to watch TV and freely view hyperbaric staff at all times.

Hyperbaric Solutions use modern Sechrist 2500B Monoplace chambers for greater patient satisfaction.

Preparing For Your HBO Sessions

Pre-HBO Education

We ask that you gather as much information as possible regarding HBO to aid in treatment of your specific condition. On this website we have tried to present some of the articles and links to websites which may help you in making a decision of HBO. Consultation with your doctor or our Hyperbaric Solutions staff is always suggested.

Your HBO Sessions

Pre-Session

Before the sessions there are a few safety considerations;

Additional considerations before a treatment are:

• Let us know if you are taking any medications or vitamin supplements and what they are. Some medications and/or vitamins may reduce effect of HBO. (ie. antioxidants such as vitamin C or E)
• Smoking also reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry and therefore reduces the effect of HBO. If possible try to quit smoking well in advance of the sessions.
• To go to the bathroom before the session
• Do not wear contact lenses, dentures or hearing aids
• Do not drink anything carbonated within one hour of the session. Carbonated drinks may cause stomach discomfort during the session.
   

HBO Session

Before the session the nurse will go through a checklist on your background health including the other consideration listed above. Depending on the condition being treated the session will last any where from 60 minutes to as long as 120 minutes.

The physical risks are normally ear discomfort similar to that in an airplane and possible visual changes (improved vision). To reduce the ear discomfort frequent swallowing is suggested during pressurization. Visual changes usually return to the pre-treatment vision level in 6 weeks to 6 months.

During the session you can nap or watch TV or a video. At any time you can talk to the nurse or technician supervising your session and if required the session can be stopped at any time.

Post-HBO Session

The second part of checklist will completed listing any relevant information.