Should I Do Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy AGAIN?!

I know this is desperate, and I know this topic has been covered before on this forum but I don’t know how to proceed with my decision making. I understand that if this were to be effective, I’d need to start it as soon as possible since I’ve had a noise insult last Saturday, 3 days ago.

I really just need people to tell me what to do.

So, I’ve had tinnitus caused by loud noise from a power tool for over 10 months now, but 3 days ago I had a bike tire explode near my ear while I was inflating it.

I’ve been through a few walk in clinics yesterday and today asking for prednisone steroid but none of the doctors wanted to even consider prescribing it for me. I have the option to go do hyperbaric therapy (and then work my ass off 2 jobs to pay the ridiculous ~$5k cost here in Canada), but then I’d have to drop out of classes and go back home where they have these chambers. There are none near my university. I’m turning 22 in less than a week and I’ve only completed my first year of university plus a few second year classes, so I’m becoming concerned that I’m taking too long at school, and dropping these classes to go do HBOT now would set me back even further.

Then there’s also the fact that I’m offered a coop out of the country starting September, but if I were to drop these classes I’m not sure I’d still be eligible for that work term. It’s required for my degree to have 4 coops, and they are not easy to get, so to sacrifice one because of my stupid ears would bring me down. But then again waking up 100 times the past few nights because I’m listening to the new volume of my ringing is devastating as well.

Lastly, I’ve already done hyperbaric oxygen therapy before! I had it done sometime around last January, but that was already 4-5 months after the onset of ringing, right when I realized, “this might be here to stay.” So out of desperation I scheduled the HBOT despite them telling me that it probably wouldn’t work because it’s most effective when it’s started soonest after the noise insult. And it didn’t work that much, but maybe it did a little bit, or maybe that was just placebo. Either way, I know I started it too late so any positive changes would have been pretty miraculous. I didn’t want to start HBOT right away after my noise damage because I was thinking that the ringing might leave by itself. Unfortunately I’ve had no such luck.

So I had just got back into being able to go out and socialize, I saw friends and went to the beach for the first time this summer just last week, but then I got smacked by another dose of tinnitus last Saturday. It’s killing my mood and I’m right back to the darkest place I’ve been since getting this shit.

I’m wondering, do you folks think it’s worth it for me to try the HBOT again? I’m not expecting it to fully cure my tinnitus (a thing only of dreams) but I would do it with the hope that it would bring it back down to the level before that stupid tire exploded.

 

How many sessions are we talking about? In Vancouver there are places that ask for less than $200 per session.

That's how I felt about the impact of the 5 sessions that I had a chance to have...

 

Hi @HollowZer0,

I'd say no--but that's based on my own experiences with HBOT. I did 10 HBOT sessions starting two months after I got tinnitus, and if anything, noticed it slightly increased the t volume. However, it did wonders for settling down my hyperactive brain and nervous system. After about 30 minutes into my first HBOT session, I actually was able to deeply relax, something I didn't know I'd ever be able to do again.

Since discontinuing the HBOT, I've noticed it's not as easy to relax, and my body seems to miss that degree of letting go of all the darker aspects of having tinnitus. While doing the regular HBOT, I could actually feel happiness and joy again. Since I'm struggling in both those departments these days, I'm starting to focus on how I might swing some financing to get a home HBOT unit, which would be considered "mild" HBOT (mHBOT).

mHBOT is done at lower pressures than the regular ones you get at a professional setting, but for somebody needing long-term use, it's actually better. I truly believe having daily access to mHBOT would do more for my state of mind (and spirit) than just about anything else. If you were to change your question to "Should I do mHBOT using a home unit", I'd say yes to that. I believe it's one of the best things any person can do for their brain, and whatever is good for the brain is good for tinnitus.

Most people with tinnitus who've not gotten good results from HBOT only did it for a few short sessions--usually from around 5-20 or so. I read a story by a woman who was bedridden with Lyme for 10 years. She started doing mHBOT, and after 40 sessions noticed absolutely nothing. Around the 45 session, she began to notice incremental improvements. She kept doing it regularly, and eventually (within a year) she had fully regained her health.

I believe that same possibility--complete recovery--may be possible with tinnitus as well. But the only way to really afford that is to have a home unit. If after a year or so you no longer want or need it, it can be re-sold. Probably end up with a couple thousand dollars less than what you paid for it.

All the Best!​

 

Hi,
It has been 37 days since I got tinnitus with hearing loss after a concert.
Do you think that I should do HBOT?

 

From my experience, it's hard to give a definitive yes or no answer, as there are a number of variables to consider. Here's just a things that come to mind:

1) Are you considering going to a clinic that has hard chambers that go up to 2.0 ATM, and cost around $200+ per session? The one I went to where I got 10 sessions was fairly noisy, though I'm not sure all of them are. They did mention they had thought about moving the compressors farther away from the chamber. But the noises they can make are a factor to consider.

2) Are the higher pressures the hard chambers offer really worth it, or can they even been an impediment to the best outcome? I started out at 2.0 ATM, and did that for 7-8 sessions. It felt too much, and I finally asked to have it reduced to 1.75 ATM, which I felt was better for my ears. I came to the conclusion that I didn't need the higher pressures--nor the fairly high price tag that comes with it.

3) Which comes to affordability. What can you afford? Mild HBOT (mHBOT) sessions run about half as much (of $200), and are realtively easier to access. They only go to 1.3 ATM pressures (U.S. law), but I've heard that can be made up for by staying in the chamber an extra 15 minutes or so. -- After having my own home mHBOT, I can say that I wish it went a little higher (to 1.5 ATM or so), and anticipate I'll try to configure it in the future to reach that pressure.

4) If you were to try the mHBOT, and felt they would help you, you have the option (in some places) to lease them out for about $600/month. This not only makes it far more affordability, but gives you a MUCH greater degree of control over your experience. If your ears are feeling a discomfort at any point, you can simply slow the pressurization. You can also make sure you have a "silencer" to minimize the noise even further. Also as important, is you can literally do hundreds of sessions for a relatively affordable amount of money, and see if long-term use at lower pressures will help. I really think that some who tried 5-10 or even 20 session and reported little to no success might have had better results if they had stuck it out for a longer period of time. HBOT often heals slowly, but very well. Ears also heal slowly, and I believe have the potential to heal well if just given the time and protection they need.
---
To get back to your question, I'd answer with a qualified yes. HBOT increases circulation and reduces inflammation, both of which are healing to the ears, whether or not it immediately improves tinnitus. Also, and I believe VERY importantly, one of its most common reported benefits is that it improves sleep. I've had difficult sleep issues for the the past 20-30 years, and noticed on Day 1--or rather Night 1--that my sleep improved dramatically from the get go. And good sleep is really crucial to give your ears their best chance of healing.

Some people will do HBOT for varying periods of time and get varying results. Some results are good, others less so. But I think I can confidently say that if a person undertakes a consistent regimen for a period of several weeks to months, that the odds of making notable improvements stack up in your favor (considerably in my view). -- Just my opinion of course, but one based on some pretty varied HBOT experiences.

 

Hi,

I’ve read your answer the day you write it but I never thank you for answering me. So I just wanted to say thank you !