You will seek Me and find me
when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
Miles participated in FREE Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT)
in a portable "soft shell" made by Vitaeris
through the gracious people at Chamber of Hope
(unfortunately they are no longer operating)
Marley's patiently waiting for him
What is mHBOT?
Mild Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mHBOT) is a medical treatment which enhances the body's natural healing process by inhalation of 90% oxygen in a total body chamber, where atmospheric pressure is increased and controlled. It is used for a wide variety of treatments usually as a part of an overall medical care plan.Under normal circumstances, oxygen is transported throughout the body only by red blood cells. With HBOT, oxygen is dissolved into all of the body's fluids, the plasma, the central nervous system fluids, the lymph, and the bone and can be carried to areas where circulation is diminished or blocked. In this way, extra oxygen can reach all of the damaged tissues and the body can support its own healing process. The increased oxygen greatly enhances the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria, reduces swelling and allows new blood vessels to grow more rapidly into the affected areas. It is a simple, non-invasive and painless treatment.
What are the benefits of HBOT?
It has long been known that healing many areas of the body cannot take place without appropriate oxygen levels in the tissue. Most illnesses and injuries occur, and often linger, at the cellular or tissue level. In many cases, such as: circulatory problems; non-healing wounds; and strokes, adequate oxygen cannot reach the damaged area and the body's natural healing ability is unable to function properly. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides this extra oxygen naturally and with minimal side effects. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the quality of life of the patient in many areas when standard medicine is not working. Many conditions such as stroke, cerebral palsy, head injuries, and chronic fatigue have responded favorably to HBOT.
What conditions does HBOT treat?
Hyperbaric oxygen is used to treat all conditions which benefit from increased tissue oxygen availability, as well as infections where it can be used for its antibiotic properties, either as the primary therapy, or in conjunction with other drugs. Insurance and Medicare consider the following conditions for HBOT to be covered for payment:
Air or Gas Embolism
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Compartment Syndrome/Crush Injury/Other Traumatic Ischemias
Decompression Sickness (Bends)
Diabetic and Selected Wounds
Exceptional Blood Loss (Anemia)
Gas Gangrene
Intracranial Abscess
Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection
Osteoradionecrosis and Radiation Tissue Damage
Osteomyelitis (Refractory)
Skin Grafts and (Compromised) Flaps
Thermal Burns
The following conditions are off-label which may or may not be covered by insurance or Medicare:
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Lyme Disease
Migraine
Multiple Sclerosis
Near Drowning
Recovery from Plastic Surgery
Sports Injuries
Stroke
Traumatic Brain Injury
Is HBOT safe?
Although there are minor risks like all medical treatments, overall hyperbaric oxygen therapy is extremely safe. The risks will be discussed with you before you sign your consent form for therapy.
What are Hyperbaric Chambers?
There are many types of hyperbaric chambers in all shapes and sizes, but they are not all equal. The term “hard-shell” chamber refers to chambers made of steel and acrylic that can achieve pressures equal to three atmospheres and beyond. There chambers that are small one person monoplace devices all the way up to submarine sized 30 person multiplace chambers. The hard-shell chambers can be compressed with 100% oxygen or room air, but if they are compressed with room air, as all multiplace chambers are, there are oxygen hoods or masks given to the patient(s) so they can breathe in the enriched oxygen. The “soft-shell” or portable chambers come in all sizes as well, but the largest of the group are approximately seven feet long and 33 inch in diameter. They only inflate to 1.3 atmospheres (under current FDA regulations), which is about 12 feet of seawater pressure (the pressure you would feel if you were swimming 12 feet below the surface of the water). Soft-shell chambers can have oxygen pumped into the chamber by an FDA licensed oxygen concentrator, but even 1.3 atmospheres of compressed room air will increase the partial pressure of oxygen by almost 50%. Oxygen concentrators will increase the oxygen level but this varies based on if the patient wears or does not wear a mask.
How many treatments are required?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is prescribed by a physician based on that patient’s need. Typically for Autism Spectrum issues combined with other co-morbid medical conditions therapies are typically prescribed in 1 hour increments once full pressure is obtained. Treatment length varies by case. Typically treatments are between 20 – 80 separate appointments. Hyperbaric oxygen therapies are more efficacious to be performed in sequential days. Doctors will work with patients to evaluate individual needs and come up with a treatment plan. Each treatment plan varies. This therapy could be prescribed in groups. For example, a doctor may prescribe three separate 20 treatment sessions as part of a treatment plan. Please check with your doctor for additional details.
How long is a treatment?
HBOT derives its name due to the delivery of oxygen at pressures of 1.5 ATA or lower, at a concentration of less than 100%. Our chambers operate at 1.3 ATA, delivering oxygen at a concentration of 90% pure with a 10-liter flow. Under Florida law, HBOT can be administered without the need for licensed operators or a physician’s prescription. We administer HBOT in addition to whatever regimen an attending physician has prescribed for the child/patient. HBOT sessions are one per day, usually one hour per treatment, for a 20 to 40-sessions schedule (sessions regimen may sometimes vary from case to case). Those families from afar who do not have local accommodates may use the facilities of this area’s three Ronald MacDonald Houses and those children receive two HBOTs per day.
Miles getting ready for his session
See you in 1 hour!
Marley ~ Yep he's still in there...
Waiting on Miles
There he is!
Miles' treatment lasted 37 days. During his first few days I saw no improvement but noticed Miles was irritable. By the end of the 1st week his irritability went away & his sleeping improved.
Previously Miles had been tossing & turning during the night. Marley was happy when Miles began sleeping better.
Miles' Physical Therapy sessions also began improving after his 2nd week of HBOT. His times were improving for running, walking & endurance.
By the end of Miles' 37 days his sleeping, behavior & lego building improved and so did his Physical Therapy sessions.
Miles held a fundraiser for the Chamber of Hope
during the Walk for Autism in Tampa
More HBOT information can be found at:
The Mayo Clinic
Have you or your child tried mHBOT? Let us know what you found beneficial!
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