When You Arrive At The Center
After an initial consultation and examination at the Center, you will be ready to begin your therapy. When you arrive, you will receive complete instructions regarding your treatment. Before starting, you will change into a 100% cotton garment provided by the Center. For safety reasons, no other clothing may be worn inside the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber.
What To Expect During Treatment
Once you are comfortably positioned inside the chamber, the pressure will gradually be increased and the temperature will temporarily rise. You may experience fullness in your ears as a result of the increased pressure. The technician will instruct you in ways to help clear the pressure and relieve any discomfort. Most treatment sessions in the chamber last approximately two hours. While undergoing treatment, you may watch TV or videos, simply relax or even sleep.
Getting Ready For Your Visit
For safety reasons there are certain items not allowed inside the hyperbaric chamber. Please do not wear or bring the following into the chamber during your treatment:
- Makeup
- Perfume
- Aftershave
- Hairspray/hair oils
- Wigs/hairpieces
- Nail polish
- Alcohol or petroleum based products
- Cell phones/pagers
- Metallic items (such as jewelry, titanium frame eyeglasses, keys, watches and coins)
- Flammable materials or heat producing items (heating pad, lighters, cigarettes)
- Hearing aids
- Food, gum or candy
Ask your hyperbaric physician for advice on wearing contact lenses during treatment. You should also refrain from smoking or the use of any tobacco products over the entire course of therapy. Tobacco use will prolong or even prevent healing of a wound site due to its constricting effect on the blood vessels in your body.