Advanced Wound Healing with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a treatment in which the patient breathes 100% pure oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber. The air pressure inside a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is about two and a half times greater than the normal pressure in the atmosphere. This “hyperbaric” (or high pressure) dose of oxygen helps your blood carry more oxygen to your organs and tissues to promote wound healing. It also activates the white blood cells to fight infection.

Edward Taylor was happy to share his experience at Trinity Health Hyperbarics – Muskegon Campus and the results of his HBO therapy.

In 2020, Edward Taylor was diagnosed with prostate cancer and began receiving radiation therapy for treatment. However, because of the prostate’s proximity to the bladder, he began to experience several side effects from the radiation, including blood in his urine and blood clots. The effects persisted, and Ed even needed to catheterize himself due to the damage to his bladder.

Ed’s wife, a nurse, researched the symptoms and found information about how HBO therapy could help his condition. After speaking with a representative of Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital, they learned that the hospital offered this treatment.

Ed went to the center for a consult but was apprehensive, at first.

“Looking at the chambers, it seemed pretty scary,” he explained. Nevertheless, Ed continued treatment and became more comfortable with every session.

“I found that watching television during treatments really eased my worries,” he said. “And the glass was kept so clean that it did not even seem like I was in the chamber unless I reached up and felt the glass myself.”

After nearly a week of treatment, Ed’s bleeding began to wane. About two weeks prior to the end of his treatment, the bleeding completely stopped.

Although Ed is still recovering from the side effects of radiation therapy, he is glad that he followed through with HBO therapy.

“The staff was friendly and knowledgeable,” he adds. “I do not have anything bad to say about my treatment!”

Side effects of radiation treatment are just one condition that HBO therapy can heal. Learn more about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment.