HBOT - 10th+ Dive

It's 8:25pm on Monday night and I'm doing but I bet no one else is doing right now. Anyone else in a HBOT chamber with their child?? I'm laying here with my laptop while Aleks is also using a laptop and watching a movie. We're 30 minutes in and I have to say that I now look forward to our time in here. It's strange, but the quiet, hum of the compressor and oxygen concentrator, plus Sting in my headphones is actually quite calming. The thing I've been surprised about this HBOT chamber is the time commitment it takes. When we got it for the month we didn't realize that both of us would have to be here to go for a dive to happen. With Aleks so young and a little frightened of going in by herself it takes two people to operate. Someone has to be on the outside to get the outside zipper and to monitor the pressure and take us in and bring us out of a dive. We've actually timed it so we could do the pressure valve by ourselves, but the zipper is still the biggest issue. Anyway, it's a rare sunny, beautiful day and we decided to let her play after camp vs. doing the chamber before dinner. That's how it got to be 8:30 now and we're only halfway done with tonight's dive. What I'm thankful for is that despite the odd time and the fact that I have to get up by 4am, we're still in here and making a go of it.

I've been asked what changes are we seeing. Honestly, it's hard to say but I feel like we've seen an increase in language but also an emotional increase as well. Aleks emotions seem to be heightened after a dive. She cries easier, but if we can get some fish oil in shortly after a dive she is better. I'm hoping that from what I know the emotions coming out are all part of the healing going on inside. Night! xo

More Than Just A Dad

On this Father's Day I want to say a very special thank you to my wonderful husband. If you're a special needs father, this thank you applies to you too.

To be the father of a special needs child requires a special heart and a special kind of commitment. Over three years ago both our lives changed when Aleks was diagnosed with autism. Although we were both like fish out of water when it came to our knowledge of autism, we were committed to figuring this diagnosis out and getting help. Our jobs were different, but both part of the puzzle. I was the primary researcher and Bill would follow through and implement the needed therapies, diet, supplements, etc. Ever since we moved to MN and Aleks was diagnosed, he has selfishly given up a good chunk of his life to help our daughter . At one point he was at Children's Hospital four days a week for therapies, in addition to driving an hour plus round trip to take Aleks to her DAN doctor. He kept Aleks calm for her chiropractic adjustments, ran to the store to get her supplements when we would run out and sat through countless hours in the observation room and waiting rooms at Childrens. I know we wouldn't have the recovering little girl today that we have if it weren't for her daddy. That is why on this Father's Day I want to say thank you to the most committed father I've ever met, my husband. As Aleks says, "You're the best daddy in the whole entire world and I love you."

xo

Getting 'Glutened'...Seriously annoying!

I recently (Thursday morning) went out to breakfast with my boss and co-workers. As I always do, I asked the waitress about gluten free and what/if anything they offer. I listened and made my choice upon her recommendations. Fast forward an hour and I've been eating and am certain that I got 'glutened'. Not sure if that's a real word, but it's my word for when gluten gets in the diet of someone with Celiac or on a GF diet. So, I got glutened and felt like I've had the flu for the next two days. I had an awful headache, stomach ache, other stomach/intestinal issues and my thoughts were very foggy. I had trouble putting words together and an even harder time trying to 'find' my words. If you listened to my show on Friday, you probably heard a lot of that. :)

One thing I've become aware of, gluten infractions don't get taken seriously by most restaurants and employees. I understand that my throat won't close up or that I'll need an Epipen, but getting glutened is a serious physical problem for those of us who can't eat gluten. This blog isn't meant as a rant as much as it is an awareness and learning experience for me and hopefully you. I believe that you can't force other people to change, but you can try and educate them and learn for yourself. What I learned is this:

1. Don't take a server's word on GF - TALK TO A MANAGER

2. Ask them to check the labels of food - Better - CHECK LABELS YOURSELF

3. IF they aren't 100% certain - DON'T eat it

4. Carry GF digestive enzymes with you at all times

5. Take GF enzymes with food when you're out - That way IF you get glutened your body will get some extra help in breaking down the infraction gluten

6. Be prepared to feel badly if you get glutened - If your child gets glutened be patient and prepared for crabby behavior

7. Don't be embarrassed to stand up for yourself or your child regarding asking for a GF food item. Also, don't be shy about stating the importance of making sure that NO gluten gets in the food.

My hope is that in the years to come that people with gluten allergies/sensitives/Celiac disease will be taken more seriously. Sometimes it seems like people think is a new diet I'm on or a fad way to eat. It's not. It's serious and has life altering consequences. To those of you working in the food industry who take it seriously... a big, hearty THANK YOU.

xo

HBOT Day 4

Day 4 - 60 minutes - w/Bill

We still feel like we're seeing more talking immediately after HBOT. Today, we saw her being a bit sassy after she came out of the chamber. She was talking back and just being a little bit difficult. So, we gave her apple juice with Fish Oil(Nordic Naturals - liquid). After the first glass was finished she seemed to calm down. Now it's been almost an hour and a half post chamber and she seems more calm, still talkative but not as sassy.

xo

Melissa

HBOT...DAY 2 & 3

Day 2- 6/8 - 5PM for 50 minutes w/Bill

Recap of Day 2 w/ Bill yesterday - 50 minutes in the chamber

First, we didn't notice a difference with her sleeping the night after her first treatment and we didn't notice any sleep pattern changes last night after the second dive. We do feel like she was more talkative yesterday after her dive. She also seemed to be in a better mood and more alert. It was still difficult to get her in the chamber yesterday, there were a few tears, but better than day 1.

Day 3 -6/9 - 3:35PM for 55 minutes w/me

First, a huge success today...no tears!! She actually told me that we were going to get in the 'sub' (HBOT chamber) together today after I got up from my nap. When I got up, I asked her and she willingly climbed in there with me The best part is that she didn't freak out, didn't cry and made it with minimal ear discomfort for this dive. Then we made it for a full 55 minutes, victory! I don't feel like I saw any changes in her talking today, but to be fair she went and played with a friend in her room after the dive. Her appetite was the same but we did see a little arm flapping post dive. This could be just her or it could a post dive reaction. I know I've read that some children have symptoms like hyperactivity due to yeast or fungal die off. Tomorrow day 4 and then we can do 2 dives a day Saturday and Sunday. More updates will be coming...

xo

** VERY IMPORTANT**

You must be taking fish oils while doing HBOT treatments. I have been exhausted this week, mono like exhausted and couldn't figure out why. I called our doctor who said it is imperative that you take fish oils while diving. Why? Your body is detoxing and must have the fish oils to do its job. I took 6 of them today (high dose because of being so depleted) and already feel like myself again. Side note: Aleks was already on a high dose so she has been fine.

HBOT - Day 1...

The HBOT - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy chamber is up and in our home. The chamber, concentrator and compressor are the three parts that deliver oxygen in a pressurized chamber. To better understand HBOT and why we're using it to help heal Aleks, here is a link to the Holland Center which is located here in MN. They are a FANTASTIC organization and a great place to start if you're new on the autism journey. They do a great job explaining HBOT and what it can do for our children.

Day 1 - June 6th - 5pm - Time in fully pressurized chamber- 45 min.

Post Dive Changes: Mood seemed better post dive/More talkative?

This is truly our first full session today using the HBOT chamber. The first time we actually tried the chamber we underestimated the pressure it puts on the ears. This scared Aleks and sent her into a panic. This time, we were prepared for the ear pressure and also for the panic of being in such a small space and the noise of the chamber.

I think both Bill and I also underestimated how difficult it would be to get our daughter into the HBOT unit. The chamber is seven feet long and once inflated just tall enough for her to sit up in and tall enough for me to sit up in, if I'm bent over. It's meant for laying down and is big enough for both of us to stretch out in. Aleks didn't mind crawling in with her blankie, Pillow pet and iPad, but she did mind when we zipped it up and started the concentrator and then the compressor. You could actually see the panic in her eyes. I saw it firsthand, because I was in there with her. In fact, one of us will be in there with her every single time we go in for a 'dive'.

The chamber pressurizes slowly and effects your ears a lot like flying. I would say it's a little more intense than flying but once it's fully pressurized you don't feel the ear pressure anymore. Today when we went in for our 'dive' I could see Aleks start to panic(pounding and screaming to let her out) and complain that the chamber was "freaking her out". We had given Aleks her first half stick of gum for her ears and also taken some juice in there for her so that she could swallow and allow her ears to pressurize. It wasn't easy keeping her calm and in there but after the first 10 minutes she did calm down and was able to watch a movie on the iPad. We actually got 45 minutes out of her before she had to go to the bathroom. All in all, success!

From here on out I'm going to update how long we went in and any changes we see with her behavior, speech, sleep or whatever the HBOT effects. Both Bill and I did notice that after the chamber she was in a great mood and seemed more talkative.

xo

Melissa