Frequently Asked Questions
Is mHBOT painful?
No, mHBOT is harmless, painless and non-invasive. If you can tolerate the air pressure normally encountered in a jet plane, you can receive mHBOT. Only severely claustrophobic people have some difficulty. There are ports (small, clear vinyl windows) to see outside the chamber.
What does mHBOT mean?
It means “mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy.” Hospital-grade chambers are capable of higher pressure and use 100% oxygen. One treatment in one of those chambers can cost between $400 and $1200 per hour! Most major hospitals own and operate hyperbaric chambers but few uninsured patients can afford the treatments.
Does my child need a doctor’s prescription for mHBOT?
No prescription required. It is suggested that your doctor be informed your child is a candidate for mHBOT. Many doctors are not familiar with mHBOT and are not enthusiastic about this program. However, more and more doctors are referring children to us. A major stumbling block for doctors is that issues we treat child for are not FDA approved. We treat the “off label” cases. For a list of “off-label” uses, go to www.hbotreatment.com.
Do we stop the doctor’s therapy to have mHBOT?
No, mHBOT is in addition to whatever the doctor ordered. Remember, mHBOT is harmless.
Does the Chamber of Hope provide housing, meals or transportation?
Sorry, we are stretched financially just to provide the mHBOT at no cost and simply do not have the funds for other needs. Some of our needy families receive help from churches, civic clubs and other groups in their communities. We might be able to help a family obtain housing in a Ronald McDonald House, of which there are three in St. Petersburg, about 2 miles from our Center.
Is your staff licensed?
In Florida, where we provide our services, the pressure at which we operate our chambers (below 1.5 ATA) and the concentration of the oxygen administered (less than 100%) is not considered “medical treatment”, and thereby exempts us from state licensing requirements. Our staff is totally volunteer and trained to perform the necessary procedures.
Does mHBOT cure autism, cerebral palsy or other issues?
Depends upon the medical issue, but in each and every case, a child has gained skills and capabilities that were previously considered not possible. This makes life much easier on the child and the caregivers.
How many treatments will my child receive?
If you live within commuting distance, your child will receive a one-hour session, Monday thru Friday, for two months. If from a greater distance, we will try to have two dives a day, at least four hours apart for one month. This does vary with circumstances, but this is the normal program.
A “dive” ?
That is a term often used for each treatment since this therapy’s history began with helping deep-sea drivers who had the bends. There is a glossary on this website if you encounter other unfamiliar terms.
Then each child receives 40 treatments?
Yes, that is the goal. After a break of a couple of months, many return for additional treatments.
My child is too little or too frisky to be in a chamber for an hour alone. How does that work?
All our chambers are the deluxe models, which means they are large enough to accommodate two persons, usually a parent and child. The parent makes sure the nasal cannula, the source of the oxygen, is not removed. The parent also receives the same treatment given the child. The parent may entertain the child by reading, playing games, teaching numbers, etc, but many times, both fall asleep after a few minutes.
How does mild HBOT (‘mHBOT’) work?
This is covered elsewhere in detail on this Website and its links, but the simple answer is that the entire body is flooded with highly oxygenated blood. By being under pressure, it forces circulation into parts of the body that were not previously receiving adequate blood circulation.
How much do we pay? What is the cost for the treatment?
Again, there is no charge or pressure of any sort to pay any fee or contribute, but for those able to financially help, we gladly accept donations. We also suggest that donations be requested from other family members, your church, sport team, civic or fraternal groups and neighbors. If you are not able to muster any financial assistance, your child will receive the same treatment, as do all other children.
How can people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility get in and out of the chamber?
We use a Hoyer Lift to safely get those with limited mobility in and out of the chamber. Our staff are trained to use this. Please inform us ahead of time if you will need this kind of assistance.
