hyperbaric oxygen therapy for small bowel damage following radiotherapy

[Macoun]

has anyone experience of this treatment

[Jimbo65]

I've not heard much about this treatment but anything that helps stop/repair radiation damage is certainly worth a try. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Romian]

I had 60 sessions of hyperbaric chamber oxygen treatment. I had an ulcer and bleeding from the radiation. This treatment helped a lot. The bleeding almost disappeared (about 90%). You just stay in the chamber and breathe 100% pure oxygen. The pressure is high. It affects your eyes. I got more near sighted.

[AlfredSaxon]

I'm having the therapy for radiation cystitis which is damage to the bladder because of radiotherapy to the pelvic area. I don't yet know how effective hypobaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) has been for me, however there has been a lot of positive feedback about this treatment. Finding a treatment centre may be difficult, there are a small number operating in partnership with the Multiple Sclerosis Society ( MS) they are usually charities. Good luck

[Mariecapp]

Hello. Yes, I had 40 hyperbaric therapy treatments almost 4 yrs ago. I initially had terrible rectal bleeding from radiation. It helped so much. I don't bleed too much today but I am still affected by PRD. Those aftereffects seem to never go away. Best to you

[Sarah_PRDA Partner]

Hi Macoun , you may be interested in a previous post in the group about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) healthunlocked.com/prda/pos...

I would add to Romian 's comment that changes to eyesight are temporary and don't affect everyone who receives HBOT.

"Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments can temporarily change the shape of the lens in the eye. This usually results in worsening myopia (nearsightedness), but improvement in presbyopia (the inability to focus on objects near the eye due to age-related changes in the lens).

This change usually reverts back to its pre-treatment status six-eight weeks after treatments stop. Rarely, the change will not completely return to its baseline level."

[Memagh]

Hi Macoun,I'm currently 30/40 sessions through Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for radiation damage. I have 13cm of damage to my large bowel, radiation proctitis, radiation cystitis and a pelvic insufficiency fracture. I had daily blood in stools, regular but intermittent blood in urine and some heavy bladder and rectal bleeds. Currently I have not had any blood in stools for 8 weeks and no blood in urine for 6 weeks. This is all very positive but I agree with what Mariecapp said above, that I still have PRD symptoms like stomach discomfort, bloating etc. I have discomfort with my ears during every session but I have seen many people pass through the chambers during my 30 sessions and they don't have the same problem. A pair of pressure equalizing ear plugs has improved things a bit for me (not regular ear plugs). I wasn't able to access this treatment through the NHS so I attend my local MS Therapy Centre who offer the sessions at a much more reasonable rate compared to going private. My treatment plan is 20 sessions in a row Monday to Friday for 4 weeks and then 1 a week for 20 weeks. It's a big time commitment but I would say it's worth it.

Best of luck with your decision.

Maria

[Hidden]

Hi Macoun. Yes, I had approximately 25 treatments and they probably saved my life. Many of the issues that I read about on this site have been minimal to nonexistent. I cannot say whether it was the HBO treatments or not. Within the last year I have had more food intolerance issues as well as urogenital issues. The thing about our symptoms is that age can also be responsible for similar symptoms. I hope this helps. My HBO therapy was back in 2014.