This is a blog detailing how hyperbaric oxygen therapy has helped me, along with the power of dreams. Mahalo for reading
 
For nearly two years following my traumatic brain injury, I wasn’t able to dream. My injury was the worst of its kind, a severe grade 3 diffuse axonal #tbi. It took them an unusually long time to extract me from my work vehicle, so there is really no way of knowing how long I had a lack of oxygen to my brain. When they finally extracted me using the jaws of life, I remained unconscious for several weeks. The lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain seems to have caused my dreams to stop. It wasn’t until a few rounds of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) that my dreams returned. HBOT floods the body full of oxygen. I am beyond grateful for this modality of treatment.
 
Typically, we only breathe in roughly 21% oxygen at room air, but hyperbaric therapy allows the body to absorb up to 100%. This profusion of oxygen can produce all kinds of radical positive changes. For myself, it restored my dreams, and that alone should speak volumes on the healing power of HBOT. Not only has it restored my dreams, but it has also greatly helped my spasticity. Due to #tbi, my muscles are very tight and spastic. Only when I reach pressure inside a hyperbaric chamber can they relax. So, not only have my dreams returned thanks to HBOT, but it seems to be the only modality of treatment that can get my very tight muscles to fully relax.
 
Speaking of dreams, someone told me recently they had a dream where I was walking independently again. Anyone who’s followed this blog knows that’s my biggest goal, and I feel very strongly about the power of dreams. So, it was great to hear; I hope it comes to fruition soon. I am going to keep working hard towards my goal in the meantime.
 
There have been very few drawbacks to HBOT. The drawback is that my ears tend to pop rapidly during ascent and descent from pressure, a common side effect. Once at pressure, or full deflation, this popping ceases. It doesn’t hurt, really, but it is certainly noteworthy. Ear popping, while a minor inconvenience, is the only drawback I can attest to for hyperbaric therapy. The positives far outweigh any negatives, and I highly recommend trying it. It’s my belief everyone could benefit from HBOT.