HBOT: 26 March 2018

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen at higher than atmospheric pressures in an enclosed chamber. This increased flow of oxygen stimulates and restores function to damaged cells.
I go for oxygen therapy once a week and I find it really helps with the fatigue element of the condition. I definitely have more energy in the couple of days following a session. However, I really dislike going for a couple of reasons….

Firstly my ‘local’ centre is an hour away which means that it is a 4.5-5 hour round trip. In term time (I am a teacher…) I go after work which makes for a long day. But on the plus side, you always get a fantastic night’s kip after a session!

The other reason I find it hard is because the possibility of what could happen to me is laid bare in the form of the deterioration suffered by others at the hands of MS. This is something that I really struggle with. Things aren’t so bad for me at the moment but I have witnessed the rapid and significant worsening of the condition in ‘tank companions’ and it is hard to ignore the reality of what this disease can do.

I have no doubt that it benefits me but I do find it hard to motivate myself to go sometimes…. Although, I am lucky to have access to this treatment and that there are volunteers prepared to run sessions in the evening for those people with MS who are still lucky enough to be able to work.

So…..tomorrow’s adventures in my quest to fix myself involve a trip to Ilford (bit of a trek to be honest…) to see TJ Wang who specialises in treating brain related conditions with acupuncture and an array of other Chinese medicines… I am feeling quite positive about it :)…. even though I hate needles..!