Hyperbaric chamber
The multiplace hyperbaric chamber at Wesley Hyperbaric is the only accredited private day hospital in Brisbane, Queensland for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Discover the hyperbaric chamber
I have a referral and am eligible. What’s next?
As you read this, you would have had your initial assessment with one of our hyperbaric doctors here at Wesley Hyperbaric. They have assessed you and, they believe you will benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. So, what is next?
HBOT journey: Welcome to your first session
After you have signed the consent papers, our receptionist will give you 100% cotton clothing with no pockets, and guide you to our changing room. You will get a personal locker for any possessions you have brought with you. Your general health will be reviewed once again on the day, and we will check that you don’t have any haircare or hygiene products on your skin or body. If you do have any banned products, you will be asked to clean them off before entering the hyperbaric chamber.
Here’s a list of banned products in the hyperbaric chamber:
- Metal products (except internal metal like pacemakers, joint replacements, etc. which are ok),
- Mobile phones,
- Any electronic or medical devices,
- Alcohol based grooming products,
- Hairspray, makeup, perfume and aftershave,
- Hair extensions, false nails and nail polish, false eyelashes
- Hearing aids,
- All jewellery and other personal items,
- Flammable substances such as tobacco products, matches, cigarette lighters etc.
On the day of your treatments, make sure you bathe or have a shower. But do not apply any powders, creams or moisturisers.
Here’s what our admin staff will ask for on your first day:
- Personal details, next of kin, emergency contact details
- Private health insurance membership number
- Medicare card and/or DVA card
- Doctor’s letters, reports, correspondence (if applicable) and all relevant x-rays and scans
- An up-to-date list of ALL your current medications
- Certified copy of your Advanced Health Directive (if applicable)
- Credit/debit card, cash or cheque
If you are running late, please contact our admin team to let us know.
We usually run 2-3 sessions a day, and if we can accommodate you in the next one, we will, but we can not guarantee a space.
Wesley Hyperbaric is open from Monday to Friday, 7AM – 4PM.
We will then ask you to move from the waiting area to your seat and perform our final checks before closing the chamber door. Once the nurse gives her final OK we will start pressurising the chamber.
Your first session in the hyperbaric chamber
HBOT treatment is generally painless, however, there are a few things that you will notice once the pressurising starts.
- You will hear a hissing noise,
- You will feel a slight temperature increase in the chamber,
- You will also feel a fullness in your ears, similar to flying in an airplane or when you are diving. You will need to equalise your ears frequently until we are at treatment pressure.
Once the treatment pressure is reached, your nurse will apply your breathing device and turn on your oxygen.
- You will notice that the chamber cools down during treatment,
- Your ears may pop as they adjust to the pressure in the chamber.
You are welcome to read a book or magazine during this time. At the end of the treatment, you will notice a bubbling sensation in your ears and this is perfectly normal. As the gas in your inner ear space expands due to the pressure reduction, it will bubble out through your eustachian tube.
As the temperature in the hyperbaric chamber may drop a few degrees, you may ask for a jacket or blanket, which are available for anyone who feels cold.
Once the chamber has dropped back to atmospheric pressure, the chamber door will open and you will be free to leave, get changed and return to your normal day.
Before your treatment begins you will be taught different ways to pop your ears. There are a few different techniques that can be helpful and our staff will help you learn what works best for you.
The Valsalva maneuver:
Gently pinch your nose closed and close your mouth. Shortly and gently, attempt to blow through your nose while holding it shut. This gentle maneuver should allow ear pressure to be released
Other Methods:
Try yawning, swallowing, or drinking small sips of water.
Lift your tongue to the roof of your mouth and swallow
You may have to repeat these methods several times during the pressurisation of the chamber. If you have difficulty with your ears, please tell the chamber operator immediately. Pressure sensation in the ear is to be expected, but it shouldn’t hurt.
Yes. There is always a hyperbaric trained doctor onsite during treatments. Our doctor will formally check your progress every 10 treatments, or more frequently if required. Registered nurses work in both our wound clinic and hyperbaric chamber and have undergone further specialist training in hyperbaric medicine and wound care.
Monoplace vs multiplace hyperbaric chamber
Duration of a hyperbaric session
How many HBOT-treatments will I need?
Are there any risks/side effects of the treatment?
Side effects after HBOT treatment are unlikely. With 40+ treatment sessions, there is a chance of a change in your distance vision. This is temporary, but we monitor your vision regularly so if you do experience any visual changes, it is not a surprise and can be managed until it returns to normal.
Possible symptoms or side effects after HBOT can include fatigue and lightheadedness.
More severe problems can include:
- Lung damage,
- Fluid buildup or bursting (rupture) of the middle ear,
- Sinus damage,
- Changes in vision, causing nearsightedness, or myopia,
- Oxygen poisoning, which can cause lung failure, fluid in the lungs, or seizures.
Side effects are generally mild as long as:
- The therapy doesn’t last more than 2 hours
- The pressure inside the chamber is less than 3 times that of the normal pressure in the atmosphere
Your journey starts with these 3 steps
When you have completed your hyperbaric sessions, your condition is reassessed by one of our doctors.