Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO)

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? How Does It Work?

HBO is used to treat some medical conditions. The treatment takes place in a chamber that you can see out of. You lay on a stretcher inside the chamber. You can watch TV. You can watch a movie. The chamber is pressurized. You breathe one hundred percent oxygen. Your blood carries the extra oxygen. It is taken to your injured area.

How Do I Find Out if HBO Is for Me?

If you have a wound that hasn’t healed in four weeks, ask your doctor. He will evaluate your wound. They will decide if HBO is for you.

Is HBO Painful?

HBO is not painful. At the beginning of your treatment you may feel pressure in your ears. Like when you fly in a plane or drive up into the mountains. You may have to clear your ears.

The HBO staff will instruct you on methods for clearing your ears:

• Swallow
• Yawn
• Open and close your mouth

What if I Have Diabetes?

Your doctor will discuss blood sugar control with you. The HBO technician will check your blood sugar before and after treatment. Take your medicine as prescribed. Eat before HBO.

What Should I Tell My Doctor Before I Begin HBO?

Tell your doctor if you have:

• An internal battery-operated medical device such as a pacemaker or pain pump. The staff will make sure your device can be used in the chamber.
• If you have an external battery-operated medical device, it cannot go into the chamber. Your HBO physician will contact your doctor for instructions on how to deal with this device.
• Inform your HBO doctor if you have EVER had chemotherapy.