It’s finally over, and I was able to sleep in this morning. Nowhere to be at a specific time, no appointments, not even a scheduled call to my boss. A real, honest, day off.

Why? My hyerbaric oddyssey is officially over. My 30th, and final dive, was completed at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. My surgery was last week. I do have to go see the surgeon to have a follow-up exam, on Friday, but that’s not today.

My boss is eager for me to return, he has lots for me to do - but that’s not today, either.

Now that it’s all over, would I do it again? Absolutely. The more I’ve been diving, the more I’ve learned about HBOT.

At normal atmospheric pressure, at sea level, the pressure of air is 14.7 PSI, or 1 ATA. 1 ATA is the weight of a 1″ column of atmospheric air, about 50 miles high, which weighs 14.7 pounds (at sea level.) The level of 2 ATA is the weight of that same 1″ column of air, if it were 100 miles high, or 29.4 PSI. Since it is not possible to increase the Earth’s atmosphere to a depth of 100 miles from 50 miles, we do it by mechanical means, with an air compressor.

Why? Injured tissue begins to heal when oxygen reaches it. Oxygen reaches tissue through blood cells, blood plasma, cerebral-spinal fluid and other body fluids. In order to promote healing, more oxygen promotes more tissue growth and the ability to carry away disease. It also promotes growth of new capillaries.

At 1 ATA, in normal atmosphere, the body inhales about 6 pounds of oxygen per day. At 2 ATA, the body is forced to inhale more deeply and by introducing a pure oxygen atmosphere, the body will inhale 2.4 pounds of oxygen! Red blood cells pick up this extra oxygen immediately and carry to the body.

When I come out of the tank, my skin is pink, so I know this is true.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is used to benefit those who are at risk for infection, as I am. Other theraputic uses include stroke patients and those who have suffered industrial accidents by inhaling toxic fumes. It also benefits those with Lyme disease and traumatic brain injuries.

HBOT is also being used, and very successfully, for autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, mitochondrial disorders, even chronic fatigue and migraines.

You can read more about it at the website of the International Hyperbarics Association.

I’m a believer!

And I’m also enjoying my day off.