Hope Hyperbarics: Refresh, Renew, Revive

Client J's daughter noticed that her dad's posture and balance improved significantly. "He can stand." His wife says, "He's more independent in maintaining his balance. He's beginning to take more control of his healthcare and wanting to do more for himself. He wants to be more independent in his activities of daily living. He has a desire to be more involved and in control. I definitely felt that my husband was worth whatever it took to improve his quality of life. I was willing to do whatever I needed to do to make it happen, which was a promise I made to him whlle in the hospital."

When Client J's wife, a Registered Nurse, requested a prescription from a medical doctor for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for her husband's stroke recovery, the medical doctor declined. She sought the services of a naturopath who was open to and aware of the benefits of HBOT. He wrote the prescription needed for her husband's recovery. She said, "I was dumb-founded to discover how little the medical profession in my community knew of HBOT. Yet, all I had to do was go to my computer and see where other medical doctors in other states were using HBOT with significant results for stroke patients. I googled hyperbaric oxygenation for stroke patients and discovered the possibilities that existed for my husband during his recovery phase. Therefore, I set out to keep a promise I made to him in the hospital that I would find a way to see that he had the opportunity to discover the benefits of this type of treatment. After making many phone calls to various non-hospital based HBOT centers ... After getting over the hurdle of a prescription, the next hurdle was how do we get my husband who was paralyzed on the right side, in and out of the chamber. Thus, came the idea to go to a medical equipment supply store and rent a hoyer lift to assist him into and out of the chamber. My family members take turns assisting him in and out, along with the clinical assistant. Because he's a tall man, It takes three of us working with the lift to move him in and out . Now I've been able to fulfill the promise I made to him and am already pleased with the ongoing results."

Client M described events in his life with multiple, 10 word or longer sentences. His speech is getting clearer and his ability to communicate has improved significantly over the month. When I asked him if he noticed how much better his ability to speak had become since starting therapy, he shook his head no. Yet, his wife said, at the beginning of treatment that he spoke mostly in on to two word sentences.

Client M, last week, proudly showed me how high he could lift his partially paralyzed right leg.He lifted it up and down. Then he walked to show how his gait had improved. The difference in the movement between his right and left legs was barely noticeable. His wife confirmed that he no longer drags his right leg.

A few days later, he declined using a step to get into the chamber. He lifted himself into the chamber with his left leg, and then raised his right leg easily into the chamber.

Client J's daughter reported, "In the last 4-5 days, his stride has become more natural, as he walks with a cane and assistance. Instead of needing assistance to lift his right leg in a forward motion, he has developed his own momentum. He can stand up, most times, on his own strength."

The caregivers' workload was reduced when Client J's (stroke survivor) incontinence improved after a few sessions of HBOT.   

As Client J's family arrived on day 3 for the third 90 minute session, they reported:

His stride is longer. He requires less assistance standing and walking. His speech is clearer and his volume increased since yesterday's single 90 minute session.

Client J is a recent (weeks ago) stroke survivor whose wife, a registered nurse, determined to get him to hbot, asap. She did extensive researched on the advantages and patient outcomes for hbot. She read about neurologists in other states who use hbot and "couldn't wait to get him in hyperbaric oxygen therapy." after his stroke. Client J's wife is the one who encouraged me to call stroke patients--survivors--not victims. It's a totally different mentality. "Survivor" focuses on the positive. Thank you for the positive vocabulary, Mrs. Client J.:)

Stroke survivor, 82, came within weeks of initial stroke, paralyzed in legs and arm, with limited verbal skills and multiple skin bruises (fragile skin and blood vessels).

His doctor recommended 90 minutes of mild HBOT 1-2 times per day, as tolerated by patient, for 20 sessions in one month's time. The plan is to proceed to forty appointments total.

The family reported, as they arrived for his second appointment, that when they went to help Client J get out of bed, that he stood up before they even had a chance to assist him. That happened multiple times through the day. They were very surprised by this rapid progress.

Client J's voice volume also improved significantly over night. The small bruises and tiny cuts all over his arms seemed to, also, have improved significantly over the same 24 hour period.

Continued from previous post:

At end of day, I asked Client M if he noticed any differences as a result of HBOT today.

"Ummm. No."

However, as he reached for the door, I asked about his plans for tomorrow. He responded with an eleven word sentence, albeit faltering, but eleven words! Just a eight days ago, he was speaking with 1-2 word sentences.

Day Six - Evening session

Client M's countenance and eyes seemed brighter, more alert. I asked him, "How are you doing?"

He indicated he was regaining the ability to "feel" in his hands and feet. I asked, "What kind of feeling?"

He seemed hard-pressed to describe it. So I asked, "Light touch?" He shook his head no. "Medium touch?"

He rocked his head as though that were not quite it. "Pressure?"

He reached for the balance bar and patted it with his hands, as though checking. "Yes, ... pressure. I lost that from diabetes." He looked down at his feet as he stomped them gently,  and then looked up and smiled, "I can feel ..."