I made it to Pittsburgh early for my appt and they took me right in. THe male nurse is great and the Dr is one anyone would like to have. After all of the Physical things that they usually do came question and answer time. I did learn that is you have lung problems this can create more and it;s a possabilty that your lung could expand and fill with fluid making it necessary to put a tube thru your side to drain it. If you have cataracts, this would make them grow much faster and it is also possible that it could mess up yuor eyesite for a couple of weeks, which is I guess normal and your eyesite will go back to where it was, LOL He told me Don't go buy New Glasses. If you have ear problems, it can swell your eardrums and they will put tubes in them to keep it drained. Nice day and nice drive. Have a good day all.

I forgot to add this one to it. If you wheez or get a cold, they won't treat you. You call and they cancel it so you don't make the drive for nothing.

Jim,
It is possible for the eye sight problems to be permanent. They usually send you for a eye test before you go to HBO so they have a base line. If you start having eye problems, do not ignore them. Let them know.

Did you ask about housing and hotels? You might want to at least cut yourself a break one day a week. Do they know you will be driving 200 miles a day?

Take care,
Eileen

n Yes I told them about the mileage. After the Drs talk today, I will inform him of anything unusual that I feel . He is really up on his stuff and UPMC is one of the better world class Hospitals going. I had a few surgerys there for my shoulders and elbows and was the 1st they tried a staple on to hold a bicept tendon in place.

OK Jim now that you have started the hyperbaric Tx...Is there any treatment, surgery or procedure known to current mankind that HASN'T been done to your body? lol

On a serious note, if this does affect your eye sight, does it happen right after a session? If so, how will you drive the 100 miles home?

Your eyes site just gets a little blurry but he said it wn't affect the driving. And it doesn't happen all at once but gradually. David, Have you ever eaten fried red tomatoes? I came up with this recipe about32` tears ago when we 1st got married. If the tomatoes are juicy and soft, just dip them in pancake flower and make sure the whole slice has flour on it. If they are firm, make a thick batter and dip them in it, Fry them until they are nice and brown. DELICIOUS abd I get 10% LOL

Never have tried to fry the red ones with batter.

Hang in there Jim - you'll come through this fine.
David - It's for sure that Jim will never need a hysterectomy.

Just got the call for treatments. I could have started tomorrow but I want to get my car serviced for the long drives. I will begin Monday at 1 PM and be there daily until 3:30. If anyone finishes treatments I can change to 11 AM if I want. I just used my handmower to mow grass, It is hot as fire out there. But it looks nice for now tho. Have a good day everyone.

I did forget what I was just told. Your ears are checked daily after the treatments.

Jim, hyperbaric treatments are usually not running on time. So many things can affect your appointment time. It depends on others who must clear their ears or have their blood surgar stabalized. Many times people before me were very delayed or couldnt dive at all due to problems.

Take a clear plastic water bottle and remove the label. You can take that into the tank to drink which will help you swallow to clear your ears. Make sure if your ears hurt you tell them immediately so they dont keep going and rupture your eardrums. Cant use any lotions, perfumes, hair dyes, (nail polish and makeup are out too in case there are ladies who need HBO info). No books but they should have tv's which is going to be an adjustment for you. Its not easy for an active person to lay in the tank for 2 hours in the middle of the day watching tv. After I adjusted to the routine and being lazy was necessary then I would take a nap everyday.

Best of luck with your HBO. I want an update the end of next week. If you dont feel a big difference and much better then I will be shocked.

Im going to have my son bring his laptop to the hospital for me to use.

Christine. You know I will post daily . I think the worst part will be dealing with the construction traffic on I 70 between Wheeling and Washington, Pa. It is terrible and there is no way around it unless I go north to Steubenville and then take RT 22 into Pittsburgh. My pastor wants to go with me Monday and I will have to watch my mouth. LOL That will be a no hand signal ride.

Good luck Jim, haven't heard of what you are about to experience, but thoughts will be with you.

J
xx

Thats funny Jim...the pastor will keep you on the straight and narrow. Bahave yourself and be careful. Any chance of getting people to help drive you even a couple times per week?

Best of luck with the HBO. Im gonna be a little busy for a few days so Im looking forward to seeing a good update about how good you feel.

Christine, if I have to lie to my buddy and say I feel better, LOL I will. J/K I will let you know for sure. The Dr and his Nurse said they are hardly ever behind but could be ahead of schedule. I am hoping they can get someone to give up an 11 AM time. That would be better than the 1 PM one for the duration. I just hope he doesn't add 10 and make it 40.

All the best for your first HBO treatment Jim and remember to watch what you say while you have the pastor in the car
Any other offers for the long drive? Let us know how it went.
Angel Gabriele

Jim...sounds like you will need be on your best behavior on Monday morning!! Good luck on your first treatment!!

Jim...

The truth and nothing but the truth!!!!

When I return to the boards, I expect to see you are feeling really better. Best of luck with HBO.

Please be careful with your long drive. Isnt your daughter around there? Maybe you could hang out at her house during the week. Im just looking out for all the other drivers between yoru house and Pittsburgh

Behave yourself with the pastor and also with the HBO nurses

The Pastor I can behave for LOL but as for the nurses, the only one I saw was the male one. No problem there. Geez, maybe he has a sister. HUMMMM

Jim,

Where in Pittsburgh are you going for your HBO treatments? We will be in Pittsburgh this week moving my son into the U of Pittsburgh (which is actually in the Oakland area).

I got most of my 45 HBO treatments at a hospital about 45 minutes to 1 hour away (depending on traffic). I drove most days myself, but it was a nice drive (mostly country roads). The treatment isn't bad, just long and boring. Just make sure you "clear you ears" when diving or you could have problems.

Jim
You kill me you really do...
only you would get the male nurse in the HBO chamber..I can't wait to hear about it.
Good luck my friend!!
Cheers,
Mike

Sussan, I will be at UPMC right beside Pitt. In the emergency room and straight to the hyper room, But todays news 1st, I am again like Christine and came home with the biggest headache I have had for years, I could only take 3% oxygen and it takes 20 on the dive to get you to 45 ft under water, I have to get tubes put into my ears Thursday and go back to UPMC friday to take the 1st treatment over. I couldn't even get my ears to pop in the chamber. I hope there isn't anything else this body will require LOL I hope Christine isn't too disappointed in my performance today. But everything she told me yesterday was right on the money today.

Jim,

I had problems with my ears at first (and the first hospital I went to). Switched hospitals, and also used nasal sprays (prescription plus afrin), which helped. Also, the 2nd team of nurses were much better at helping with the dive part. They did mention tubes to me but I didn't want another surgery if I could avoid it.

I'm sure Christine won't be disappointed.

Jim.... I hope you got more than 3% oxygene!

Sorry to hear about your ear troubles..... I had that once midway (slight cold) it was not fun. I take it that they showed you how to equalize pressure properly. (squeeze nose etc... just like you do when diving?). Also, a decongestant might help as Susan said.

M

I have tried it all and we couldn't even get my ears to pop. I have no choice but the tubes and I had an appt scheduled with my Surgeon this Thursday. My head ached all day long and it was affecting my thinking, LOL which isn't that great anyway. Me and Denny Dumb Dumb. I took more percs last nite than I did after surgery along with xanax. I haven't touched any today but will at bedtime.

Jim,

Have you tried taking antihistamines?

Has anyone looked in the ears to see if they are clogged up and need to be flushed out?

Chewing gum?

Sorry to hear you are still having problems. And since I'm in Pittsburgh today, I was going to try to track you down!!

I tried everything short of the tubes. I did the ear clearing technique the entire time I was diving, otherwise I had problems.

By the way, chewing gum is not allowing in the chamber. Can't take anything in with you (except water in an approved container).

Geezzzz Jim - time for your to catch a break! Hope your ears clear up soon. It sounds very uncomfortable. Hugs

Donna

My ears weren't congested, They even brought another Dr in tio check them, Just irritated forn the oxygen I guess. Yes I tried to relieve the pressure form the time he 1st turned on the oxygen a little at a time. To no avail. It's just one of the tougher things for me to get thru. I will make it tho.

LOL Looks like I am dyslexic LOL Too big a hurry with this blasted damn headache.

Sorry to hear you are having all these problems Jim.
A couple of years ago I did not even know what Hyperbaric therapy was.
Thought it only related to the bends while coming up too fast from deep sea diving.
Always a learning curve here
Hope things start getting easier for you real soon now.
Love Gabriele

Hope you have a better day tomorrow Jim, thinking of you...xx

I went to my ENT and then he sent me to the Oncologist this morning. This tongue pain has got to go. They are getting the biopsy lined up and I could get a call from the ENT tonite. If I had teeth, he would have had them in tears today LOL. Oncologist gave me another script too. I guess I am what you could call fortified,.The hyperbaric will have to be another time after this other.