lymphedema - Hypervarit Oxygen

mrsnjband

Has anyone had Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments to heal wound.  I alo have trunctal & arm LE and I am concerned about the Hyperbaric making the LE worse.  I have been thruogh enough & I don't want to add any more!  Any and all advise would be appreciated. NJ

Nordy

Norma - I have not had to have treatment in a hyperbaric chamber and am not all that familiar with it - however, the chamber is generally a high pressure with 100% oxygen - (the opposite of going to higher elevations where there is little air pressure and minimal oxygen) so in theory, it should be beneficial not only to your wound, but for your lymphedema as well. The pressure is similar to going under water - somewhere between 40 - 50 feet! That is a lot of pressure! And it will be on your entire body, not just your arm. And besides that, it sounds like you have a wound that won't heal... open wounds can lead to more problems like infection and sepsis. Your priority here needs to be wound care - but in my opinion, the hyperbaric chamber will be like slipping into one big body compression garment!

Good luck with your treatment!

Nordy

Norma - I just did some research and found some information that said you shouldn't be in a hyperbaric chamber if you are currently taking or have recently taken the chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin (Adriamycin) or Cisplatin. I don't know how long ago your chemo was, but since Adriamycin is so common in the treatment of BC - I thought maybe I would mention that. Just double check with your doctor and see how far out from chemo a patient should be for safe hyperbaric wound treatment.

Binney4

Norma June, Dr. Andrea Cheville, who's a lymphologist and one of our research heroes, actually did research into hyperbaric treatment for lymphedema, for the same reasons Nordy noted. And while it didn't cure the LE (which was what she was hoping for, of course!) it sure didn't cause any problems with it. As Nordy says, it may even temporarily help the swelling, and I hope it does! Certainly clearing up any wounds will help most of all. Please keep us posted.

Real gentle hugs,
Binney

KS1

A plastic surgeon I saw for a non-healing wound (due to radiation + multiple surgeries) told me that he would do a trial of hyperbaric O2 before resorting to a skin graft.  He said the hyperbaric O2 would probably make my LE better, not worse.  Thankfully, my wound started closing up on its own.  KS1

mrsnjband

Sorry for the typo

Thank your for your replies. You have comfirmed my thoughts, the pressure from the hyperbarics won't make the LE worse but may help but not cure it. 

The wound issue is my biggest concern. I didn't explain that the wound was caused by scar boost radiation.  

After my second acute round of cellulitus that I believe is from the open wound. I have decided to do the treatments and get the scar revision in order to get a good clean scar. 

I don't care if I have reconstruction I just want this part of my cancer journey over.  I know I will deal with side effects from treatment for the rest of my life but I this part over.

Thanks again for your replies! NJ

mrsnjband

They did discuss with me about chemo drugs.  It's been 3 years since I had my chemo.  They said that there is only one chemo drug given that can never do hyperbarics and that is bleomycin. 

The nurse said she had never met any one who had ever had it. Well, my husband has had that drug. They told him that he had to be careful with any future surgeries to be sure that he didn't receive too much oxygen, so it makes sense.

Thanks again, NJ

kira66715

Norma June, hoping the hyperbaric oxygen finally heals you and may help your LE. You've been through such an ordeal.

Kira

kira1234

Nora June, I so feel for you and what you are going through. I was also told if my insision didn't heal I would need hyperbaric oxygen treatment. My scar is just being held together by scar tissue, and often drains if I lift anything heavier than 5 pounds. I've more or less been told this will never get better without the hyperbaric treatments. I would love to knwo how it goes as who knows it might me my future as well.