Hyperbaric- some advice please

Can he not get proper antibiotic treatment? I do not know anything about HBOT sorry. I would recommend that he see a lyme literate medical doctor as they are the most trained and knowledgeable in lyme.

Hi Cardio

Welcome to the forum!

While some Lyme patients find the hyperbaric chamber to be helpful as a supportive therapy, it is not known to be effective as a sole cure for Lyme.

There are several other alternative treatments in use if you want to avoid antibiotics. Take a look at our "New to Lyme?.." thread several of those natural protocols are listed.

These protocols are best administered by an experienced Lyme Literate naturopath, of course.

Good luck with your research, let us know how we can help!

There is not extensive research particular to Lyme with HBOT. However, other anearobic bacteria have been shown to be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It is VERY important to note that HBOT is a peice of the entire treatment. While, it is understandable that you want to go with more natural remedies. HBOT has also been shown to work in synergy with certain antibiotics (making them more effective at doing their job). As an HBO tech and educator I agree with the moderator on the take that it supposed to be used as a supportive therapy. Here is a good resource:

http://www.hyperbariclink.com/Conditions/LymeDisease.aspx


Good luck to you!

Here's some information you may find of interest.

Ninety-one subjects completed a total of 1,995 hyperbaric oxygen treatments, although nine were eliminated later due to the presence of another medical problem not apparent during their treatments. These other medical problems were such things as babesiosis, ehrlichosis, hepatitis C, and previously unidentified neurological problems. Two subjects were eliminated due to the development of septicemia from IV catheters, and one because of recent breast cancer, although all three of them later showed an improvement of Lyme symptoms with hyperbaric oxygen administration.

Subject evaluation was carried out by an abbreviated questionnaire taken from a standard questionnaire used by several Lyme specialists as part of their evaluation. This questionnaire was designed so that zero reflected no symptoms, while ten reflected severe symptoms.

Although additional statistical evaluation still is being carried out, it appears that approximately 84.8% of those treated showed significant improvement by a decrease or elimination of symptoms. Only 12 subjects (13.1%) claimed no apparent benefit.

Before treatment, the subjects had an average score of 114.12 (of a possible 270), and after treatment they averaged 49.27. This reduction of 64.85 points was statistically significant in a paired t-test (p=0.000). The variability of the scores from patient-to-patient declined as well after the treatment series. The standard deviation of the scores was 56.00 before and 44.14 after treatment. The p-value of this reduction is 0.057 in a Fisher's F-test. Further, 58% of the respondents had score reduction of 41.86 points or more.

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.

The full article can be found here: http://www.cincinnatihyperbarics.com/lyme_disease.html

I should expound upon my above post. When I say "practically ineffective", I mean that the improvements seem by Lyme patients are typically marginal to moderate. But the treatments tend to cost a LOT of $$$. So, my own personal assessment is that HBOT is not worth the extreme amount of $$$ expended to get mild to moderate improvements. There are many, many other less expensive ways to get major improvements - abx, herbals, supps, exercise, FIR sauna, etc. Just my 2c and sorry for any misunderstanding. Anyone who has had HBOT here and disagrees, I'd love to hear differently cuz, as I often say, Lyme is a very personal disease with very personal treatments!

Thanks for all your comments. Appreciate all you time. Such an epidemic!

It's a jungle out there- such a individualized response.

I'll keep you posted on what's working and what isn't.

All the best,
Cardioprimadona

Thanks Jess1ca,
That's a great point too. Depth. I have read 2.36 atmospheres. But they may not be deep enough.


Will check on the co-infections others are writing about as well. Ozone's a good idea too. Less expensive and you can do it at home with the tank and body bag.

Appreciate your input.