Hyperbaric oxygen

[JFH]

Has anyone here tried Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (breathing oxygen in a high pressure chamber)?

Does anyone know of any research into its efficacy?

I just started a course of treatment (1 dx for 3 weeks). The centre I'm going to makes no great claims, only that about 1 in 3 see an improvement in symptoms specifically improved bladder function (frequency and urgency) and improve fatigue levels. Since my current routine is to start yawning at 4pm fall asleep at 8.30pm, get up every 90mins therafter to use the loo, then wake up tired at 6am - I thought I'd give it a try. I'll post more if I see any positives.

[SarahLonglands]

John, I would be very interested to see what you make of it. We have a centre nearby and people used to say I should try it, but me being me, I used to scoff at it and never went. Now I don't need it but it would be interesting to see if it really does help some people rather than just having a kind of placebo effect, so I can pass on the information to other people who have now asked me.

Sarah

[Shayk]

John

Definitely do let us know how you fare with this. I really haven't done any reading about it. However, you may also want to have your physician check your DHEA level.

In mice with spinal cord injuries, DHEA was a useful "adjunct" for bladder functioning

Since I just posted some info on DHEA and progesterone, here's another abstract Progesterone Increase Under DHEA Substitution in Males

Two case reports of men suffering from excessive fatigue and depression are presented, both treated with 50 or 25 mg DHEA per day over a period of 1 year. Under DHEA treatment one subject reported being less tired and the other experienced improved well-being without depressive episodes and an increase in libido.

I hope you find some relief. If you pursue DHEA at all, be sure your physican continually monitors your hormone levels. As you can see, it is a hormone that "cascades" into other hormones. Balancing hormone levels is pretty tricky.

Sharon

[Arron]

interesting John, do let us know how you get on with it.

[CureOrBust]

Does anyone know of any research into its efficacy?

I came accross the following, and it reminded me of this thread.

Bennett, M. and R. Heard (2004). "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for multiple sclerosis." Cochrane Database Syst Rev(1): CD003057.

....snip...

MAIN RESULTS: We identified ten reports of nine trials that satisfied selection criteria (504 participants in total). Two trials produced generally positive results, while the remaining seven reported generally no evidence of a treatment effect. None of our three a priori subgroup analyses placed these two trials in the same group and were therefore unable to account for this difference. Three analyses (of 21) did indicate some benefit. For example, the mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at 12 months was improved in the HBOT group (group mean reduction in EDSS compared to sham -0.85 of a point, 95% confidence interval -1.28 to -0.42, P = 0.0001). Only the two generally positive trials reported on this outcome at this time (16% of the total participants in this review). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: We found no consistent evidence to confirm a beneficial effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and do not believe routine use is justified. The small number of analyses suggestive of benefit are isolated, difficult to ascribe with biological plausibility and would need to be confirmed in future well-designed trials. Such trials are not, in our view, justified by this review.

You can find the full abstract at http://lansbury.bwh.harvard.edu/ms_reviews_2004.htm

Actually, there is a lot of interesting reading there.

[JFH]

Thought I'd report back on my ++O experience.

I've done 12 "dives" now over 3 weeks. We sit for an hour at 1.5 or 1.75 atmospheric pressure and breath 100% oxygen through a tight fitting mask. At worst it's dull - but I've read four books - no laptop or electrial equipment allowed of course!

So has it made any difference? Well maybe I seem to have a little more energy not falling asleep so early, and perhaps my bladder is behaving itself more as a grown-up's ladder should. But I can't say there's cause and effect.

So I think my next step is to try to investigate this more throroughly. I'll report back again.

[CureOrBust]

While looking for other things, i accidently came across the statement that "HBOT ... cause Jarish-Herxheimer-like reactions"

Did you experience anything transitory like this?

HBOT appears to be a possibly effective treatment for Lyme

http://www.cincinnatihyperbarics.com/lyme_disease.html

All except one of the 91 subjects developed severe Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, usually appearing within the first 5 days of the beginning of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. In most cases, the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction continued throughout the series of treatments, and in many instances continued for up to a month after the treatments were finished. Most subjects then began to show major improvement that in some instances has continued for 8 months.

[ReneeK]

A friend suggested a Dr. in CA who prescribes ozone baths for MS.
We bought a portable unit from Therabreath for $110
http://www.therabreath.com do a search for ozone generator.

You ozonate the tub of water for about 20 minutes and then soak in it for another 20. It like transdermal medicines, you absorb through your skin.

The theory (which I don't really understand) is that due to reduced glutathione in MS, there is an interuption in the ATP/KREBS cycle (I was sleeping in Biology class too, and had to look that up). The ozone fills in the gaps.

Whatever it does, it WORKS here. It is pleasant and without side effects and it really helps. When the unit broke and my husband went without it for a few weeks, he really felt it!!

I hope this helps!!!

[gibbledygook]

I tried hyperbaric oxygen every week for about 8 months during 2004/early 2005. It was a good hangover cure but otherwise had no effect on my MS.