Hyperbaric chamber

[Highlander50]

Just wondered if anyone with fibro has tried a hyperbaric chamber and if so, how did you get on?

[Fibroguy66]

Hi Did,not know of any hyperbaric chambers in the UK sorry also known as the breath of god

[Torti68 in reply to Fibroguy66]

Forgot to say - it doesn't take hours. It takes roughly from start to finish an hour and a quarter xx

[Midori]

Hi Highlander,

There are a few Hyperbaric chambers , mainly in the London hospitals, but you would have to get referred by your doctor or specialist, and probably go private. The only other places I know would be on Naval Bases, where they are used to bring divers back up to surface pressure, and I doubt they would help.

The hospital I trained at had one back in the 70s. The problem is, it was used specifically for Patients with badly infected wounds, or those with Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

A hyperbaric treatment takes hours, you are in a tube, and someone will be there to chat with you, but many folk panic, and the pressure cannot be lowered quickly, so I would not recommend it to anyone with claustrophobia. Some folk say it helps, others say No, it's a waste of money.

Cheers, Midori

[Goldenhaze]

I’ve never tried it. There was one local to me years ago and I never got around to it. Now I’ve moved, it’s 4 times the price here.

It’s recommended for things like MS (my old one was associated with MS, but they would take anyone). If you do try, please report back on how you get on.

[Highlander50 in reply to Goldenhaze]

HiHad my first session which was an hour and a half. They say it will take around 5 sessions to get real benefit but 2 days sfter the first session, what a clear head I had, not had that in a long time so fingers crossed. Going again next week and I will report back for anyone who is interested.

[Goldenhaze in reply to Highlander50]

Sounds like a great all rounder. I might have to book myself in to the MS centre in Leeds next time I’m down.

[Torti68]

Hi, I've used hyperbaric oxygen for over 12 years. And I have to say it really worked for me. I've had to stop using it as I my red blood cell count is too high. The hyperbaric oxygen treatment creates more red blood cells with the increased oxygen. The chamber I used sits 5 people comfortably. The pressure on the ears is exactly the same when you fly. I went through a MS Centre in Sussex. The first few times I ended up with a headache but that soon passes. I would highly recommend it! Depending on where you live, Google MS Centres in the country that have oxygen chambers. Good luck! xx

[Briecheese]

Found it to claustrophobic for me. I am a bit of a loner so like to pick and chose where I sit. Prefer space so didn't really do it enough to find out if it would help.

[Pipido36]

Hi, I used one for a couple of months. It really helped a lot. I used to go in it for 45 minutes to an hour. That was in middlesbrough. It was run by an MS charity but not sure if it's still there.

Take care xx

[Sparky57]

hi think there is one in Norwich, my son looked into it when his broken ankle was taking ages to heal and he needed to get back to work, he didn’t actually go due to not being able to take himself and didn’t want to bother other people as it’s about an hour’s journey each way from us in Suffolk

Take care 😘

[Judithdalston]

I did quite a lot of research on HBOC more related to my Long Covid which has increased the fatigue/ aches/ pains of fibromyalgia. In reality there is a large range from the type divers need to ‘health’ ones you might find in a spa so from 4 atmos.of pressure to 1. Published research from Israel is with the 4 atmos.type with pressurised varied oxygen control…shows there is benefit , other reports tend to be anecdotal. The higher compression chambers, or even ‘rooms’ take time to compress up/ down to 4 atmos. Can cost anything in £200-400 per session, and the Israeli research included up to 40 sessions, so extremely costly. A US anaesthetist whose forum I belong re Long Covid was getting increasingly concerned that too much oxygen in these tests, if not properly controlled/ monitored could cause toxicity. Some hospitals and local charities have chambers, more likely 2-2.5 atmos. which might be free on the NHS ( though don’t think fibro.would qualify) while some charities subsidise costs to their clientele group eg children, again you’d have to find out from any one near to you. Nearest to me was 2 1/2 drive away, so not realistic to do for eg a little often. What I did find was that the chambers can be hired to use at home ( or where ever if you find a group of you fancied hiring/ using it), worth considering from time taken, cost of sessions, number etc to convenience of at home….from hard to soft walls 2.5-1 atmos…have a Google there are about 3 firms in Uk. Never went on with it as was not convinced in science, v. cost, v. I get claustrophobic!

[Midori in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you for bringing me up to date on current methods; I trained in the 70's and it has obviously changed a great deal.

Cheers, Midori

[Chrisbel]

I read the research on HBOT and decided to give it a go, and since then I have used the hyperbaric chamber extensively, and have found it to be immensely helpful, got rid of my fatigue and brain fog and reduced the pain levels, but I did 80 x1 hour sessions to begin with -5 per week, at 2 atmospheres (33 ft) it made me tired to begin with but after a dozen or so sessions it started to increase my energy levels. I now use it once a week. There are over sixty chambers around the country , as they are used to treat multiple sclerosis by the M.S. Charities and anyone can join the charity and pay to use the chamber, it is much less expensive than going to a commercial chamber, I use the one in Aberdeen, but there are plenty others.

[Midori in reply to Chrisbel]

Thank you for that information. I have a friend with MS, so he might be interested.

Cheers, Midori

[Highlander50 in reply to Chrisbel]

Many thanks for your reply. I did wonder how many times you could use the chamber in a week. My energy levels are in my boots. So here's hoping.

[Chrisbel in reply to Highlander50]

there are a few supplements that I take that really help with my energy levels, coenzyme Q10, in the ubiquinol form, NMN (nicotinamide riboside) and Rhodiola rosea, are some of the most effective for me

[Highlander50 in reply to Chrisbel]

Many thanks Chrisabel

[HyacinthBouquet1 in reply to Chrisbel]

This is wonderful news. Which charity has the link to the chambers online, please? I live in London. Thank you.

[Chrisbel in reply to HyacinthBouquet1]

if you google M.S. therapy centres, the MS trust is there and if you go into that there is a find a centre near me facility, more usefully there is a phone number to call so you can ask for the nearest centre with anoxygen facility. Cheers

[HyacinthBouquet1]

Thank you very much.

[susypsmith02]

hi in leicester we have a hyperbaric chamber at the MS centre and our fibromyalgia group have an agreement to be able to use it . Before the pandemic it was £10 per session I’m not sure how much it is now . I tried the recommended 40 hour course and expected to be cured at the end of it unfortunately I’m not . I have friends who got a lot of benefit from it and still use it now , however it wasn’t for me too claustrophobic.

[Moonstonebrightpoet]

hi I tried a hyperbaric chamber and at first it seemed to help. I ignored all the fibro suffererers who said if I really had fibro I’d know that there’s no cure so I obviously didn’t have fibro in the first place! 😢 after a few months i didn’t feel any effect from the hyperbaric and it was extremely expensive to pay every week and it not do anything. Some people I know had instant relief though so it’s definitely worth giving it a go because we’re all different.