Category Archives: Blog

Day 7 in the Hyperbaric chamber

Here we go again……..

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Sitting in an oxygen chamber for an hour and a quarter is beginning to feel like a normal part of my life!  I am definitely sleeping more soundly, and although I still wake with pain, I don’t stay awake for hours. So, even if this is the only improvement to my life with this therapy I will be grateful. Other patients at the centre say that major improvement comes after the 15 sessions …….. fingers crossed.

Day 5 in the Hyperbaric chamber

Big challenge today with mask trouble again…. I am getting a permanent ‘dint’ on the bridge of my nose now. I’m ok for about 20 mins, then the pain starts. Everyone else just sits there reading, iPad ing, or doing crosswords, and I am packed up with pillows, blankets, neck pillows, and a footstool. No one else adjusts their mask, or breathes strangely, or fidgets to get comfy like I do, I must be such a pain to be in there with, I even had 2 of the patients taking their masks off and trying to help me adjust mine……….  I’m trying to look on it as a ‘practice’, something to be mastered, and am counting the days off. What a wuss! How dare I even complain…………. Hey ho, there’s always tomorrow.  Oh, yes I forgot my iPad too.

Day 4 in the Hyperbaric chamber

Day 4 in the Hyperbaric Chamber – sneaky selfie during therapy. Better session today, listened to my body scan CD, and played sudoku on iPad, think I’m getting used to this malarkey………. Deffo more energy in my legs, and less pain in the night  meeting some very interesting people as well  out there in the world again – it has got to be good for me.  And another adventure getting home again as all the slip roads on southbound M62 were blocked due to flooding.  Took an hour and a quarter via Bradford ring road, never thought I would like motorways……only takes 25 mins door to door  image image

My Hyperbaric oxygen therapy journey………..

I have decided to try hyperbaric oxygen therapy for my chronic pain and fatigue. The story so far:-

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Day 1 in the hyperbaric chamber!

Well then! That was one of the strangest experiences for a long time. An hour of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the MS therapy centre in Leeds for my chronic pain. I have to go every day for 3 weeks, gulp! I thought it would be 2 or 3 sessions, when am I going to get my Christmas shopping done?!?

Day 2 in the hyperbaric chamber…..

Much better today, I was much calmer and didn’t over breathe. My lungs felt very peculiar after yesterday’s sesh. This morning I actually leapt out of bed! I asked if I was imagining the improvement and was told it can be very quick. Also slept deeply, until Izzy started choking and trying to be sick……………

Day 3 in the hyperbaric chamber (said in the Big Brother voice)

Today was difficult – my mask didn’t fit properly and I alternated between being Hannibal Lector and Darth Vader! It hurt my nose for the whole hour and a quarter, and made clicking noises on the right, and farting noises on the left. I switched between calm meditation and complete panic……

Positives – less pain in legs, sleeping deeper,and more spring in my step. So all good really. 3 down, 12 to go, glad we are off to Neil’s in 3 weeks time cos I am going to wonder what to do with myself when I’m not tootling up and down the M62 every day..

Just walked round the block with Iz and my legs definitely moved more quickly!