Safety and what a session feels like
A hyperbaric visit should be understandable before you are in the chamber. At Oxygen Clinic a technician stays with you, explains the pressure change, and you can see out of a clear monoplace chamber.
You are not left alone
Your hyperbaric technician stays for the treatment and can talk with you throughout. Before you enter, they explain how the pressure feels, how to relax, and how to clear your ears. They tell you when the chamber is at pressure, when an air break is due, and when the session is nearly done.
If you need to stop, say so. It takes about ten minutes to bring the chamber to a pressure that is safe to exit. You can also shift position. You do not have to lie perfectly still the way you would in an MRI.
The chamber and the room
Treatment uses a Sechrist 3600 monoplace chamber: one person inside, clear acrylic so you can see the room and the staff. Many people find that less enclosing than a metal compartment. There is room to rest. A screen may be available. Ask what is offered when you schedule.
Who needs a closer look first
Tell us about lung disease, a collapsed lung, ear or sinus surgery, recent illness, pregnancy, and every medicine you take. An untreated pneumothorax and some lung conditions can make HBOT unsafe. Congestion is a reason to reschedule. Temporary nearsightedness, fatigue, and ear pressure are the effects people mention most often. Screening is part of the first visit, not an extra formality.