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Post by nhnancy on Nov 3, 2014 18:15:18 GMT -5
been thinking of you all day....hoping it went well!
Nancy :-)
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Post by christel on Nov 3, 2014 19:57:16 GMT -5
It went very well! I rarely get to lay down in the middle of the day and do nothing but watch some mindless tv show! The 45 minutes actually went by very fast, and my worry about being cold was remedied with an extra blanket before we even began. I believe the time will increase gradually until we get to an hour. I was so excited just to be able to be there! I look forward to going back tomorrow and as I breathe in all of that good oxygen, I imagine new blood vessels being formed and, of course, my wound healing!
The other advantage of this facility is that it is just 10-15 minutes from my home, something many people do not have the luxury of having as these daily treatments usually last from one to two months, easily.
All in all, I am optimistic this will work!
Christel
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Post by nhnancy on Nov 4, 2014 12:07:36 GMT -5
Hooray Christel! Breath baby breath! I am wondering about meditation while your in there or do they warn against it? Breath and heal....think that its working...the mind is more powerful than we know! ❤️
Nancy-
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Post by christel on Nov 5, 2014 7:48:03 GMT -5
It's funny how I already feel like a 'regular' there. Yesterday, I was in the chamber for 58 minutes, and that will likely increase, per the technician, as the doctor orders new times according to how I am tolerating the treatment. Pretty cool, and the best part is that is is a medical treatment that doesn't hurt and will help me heal!! How's that for an optimistic attitude?
Christel
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Post by jeffn on Nov 5, 2014 11:24:35 GMT -5
Your attitude is always good Christ. I trust your improvement will increase with the new treatments and like you say it does not hurt. From what I read the process shows a lot of promise.
I have a question about the chamber. I am thinking you are in a hyperbaric chamber? What it the depth or depth equivalent that they take you down to. Pardon the questions but I used to dive a lot and am very curious about hyperbaric medicine.
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Post by christel on Nov 5, 2014 16:50:11 GMT -5
The hyperbaric chamber looks like a long tube. A gurney slides into it and them gets sealed. I know the pressure went up today and I am tolerating it well, so they are going to up it again on Friday. I heard the numbers but will have to ask the technician again who runs it to see how it compares to the diving equivalents.
I think I doze off once in a while because the time goes buy rather quickly; the double blankets help! 74 minutes total today including increasing the pressure and decreasing it again. The worst adverse effect is the popping of my ears on the way up and down. Piece of cake, relatively speaking!
C.
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Post by grammie on Nov 7, 2014 9:13:04 GMT -5
Such good news Chrystal and great news that it is going well. Now for the healing to continue! I use to dive too and an curious about the numbers. Grammie
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Post by christel on Nov 7, 2014 14:26:14 GMT -5
Day 5 is complete. But who's counting?!
The pressure is 2 atmospheres, which is the highest pressure they use there. I have been fortunate not to have any problems with this. Actually, I am able to walk a little more normally and quite a bit longer without pain! I even took myself to Target and Walgreens today and was able to browse for a little while. Woohoo!! I feel like I may be coming back to the life of the 'normal' again.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
C.
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Post by nhnancy on Nov 7, 2014 15:29:35 GMT -5
. Fantastic Christel, keep that positive attutude....baby steps are still steps, small gains...in the right direction...remember to have a good belly laff, that good medicine and also eat good food, natural food, pineapples..are a good healing food, with anti inflamatory properties! Our bodies got enuff toxins from several sources, we need to eat really great stuff.....Do you like baked Salmon? wild of course...
happy for your little shopping excursion
<3. my friend
Nancy :-)
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Post by christel on Nov 8, 2014 7:29:07 GMT -5
I generally eat good quality food, with an occasional splurge, and then it is amazingly well-controlled! I love to bake, breads and sweets, and am always tweaking recipes to decrease the sugar and fat. I actually do not even care for full fat and sugar foods anymore.
One thing I just cannot develop a taste for is salmon. I have tried it prepared many ways and know it's good for me, but no go... I have never been a big seafood eater, with the exception of a few things.
C.
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Post by grammie on Nov 8, 2014 15:43:10 GMT -5
Glad for you on the positive steps forward....and the great laugh! May both keep going.
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Post by jeffn on Nov 10, 2014 18:35:53 GMT -5
My wife is salmon fan while I have never been able to develop a taste for it. Living where I do you would think I eat a lot of seafood, in practice not too much. I do enjoy some of the fish I catch and sometimes when out to dinner I opt for seafood. Cherrystones are a favorite and those I can gather myself.
Interesting on the pressure of the chamber. You are diving to the equivalent of 33 feet. So happy you are feeling positive effects of the treatment! From the little read about hyperbaric medicine it appears to be very promising. Another question - Do you have digital ulcers, sorry I can not remember. If so are they improving too?
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Post by christel on Nov 10, 2014 19:50:30 GMT -5
I haven't had any full-blown ulcers since my digital sympathectomies 8 1/2 years ago. Ironically though, I have an ulcer starting in my right ring finger for the past week. Of course, I am already getting the best treatment possible for a developing ulcer. I see the hyperbaric doctor on Thursday for a recheck of the leg wound. I will be curious to know how it looks and measures to her. I have started an informal photo journal to monitor the progress of the treatments. The important thing for me is to not overdo my activities, as I did last weekend...
C.
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Post by christel on Nov 14, 2014 6:56:08 GMT -5
Good chilly morning to all of you!
I had the first wound recheck yesterday since my hyperbaric treatments began. The doctor is astounded at how much healing of the wound has occurred! It was interesting to see the color of the wound and the immediate surrounding area-bright (good) pink! The hard part is that I still need to pace myself so as not to overdo it and continue to give the leg the rest and time it needs to get better. I definitely still have burning and pain when I am on my feet too much. The doctor said this is not unusual for me as the wound is so close to the bone and in my lower leg which is hanging down most of the time. I have no lack of things to work on while off my feet (eg. Piles of paperwork, sorting, general organization, etc.!). It is so tempting to just keep popping up and doing other stuff that is so far behind already. I know, I know, what a great housekeeper I must be...hmmm!
More updates, as they occur!
C.
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Post by nhnancy on Nov 14, 2014 15:16:48 GMT -5
Hi Christel, sounds great! good to see pink! :-). Its hard to sit, especially when you have a busy personality, I love being productive
and measure most days by my productivity! So when I have a days that I take it easy, thats productive too.(..I must
convince myself of that! ) I am glad you are healing...my friend...
Its chilly here in NH today breezy and cold, which makes it feel colder, we had a dusting of snow when we woke up today
I am not so thrilled with that!
the days are so short.....If I dont get up with the sun, then. the days seems only a few hours!
have a great weekend, stay warm!
Nancy
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