Hi all. Sorry I have been absent but with my broken hip, sciatica and taking care of Alan, I have no time to do anything. Yesterday the podiatrist told me that his foot ulcer is not healing. It's not getting any worse it's just stuck and needs a jump start. He needs to off load with the crow boot at all times. Not easy for him.

So the doctor prescribed Colaginase Santyl and it arrived today. Cost $219 for a tube. But nothing else was doing anything so tonight we start doing that.

Also the doctor said "Alan needs Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (I know what this is). We have an appointment on June 23 at Maimonides Wound Treatment Hyperbaric center to have him evaluated to see if he's a candidate for this.

I read the possible side effects. Because of the change in pressure in this chamber it can affect the ears (for awhile) until he gets used to it. Like when you fly on a plane.

Here's my concern. Alan needs SOMETHING to heal this foot ulcer. He has had it on and off for YEARS. He was given a stent in 2006, sent to cardiac rehab and they put him on a treadmill. Since the guy has neuropathy for over 20, whoever deemed it good to make a man who can't feel his feet go on a treadmill, well, he got a foot ulcer. It did heal from time to time. Only got one infection in 11 years and that was cleared up with antibiotics but that was YEARS ago. We've done the medi-honey, the solocite, and other stuff but this time, it's not going away. I even tried desitin because zinc oxide is supposed to heal. He takes zinc also. Nothing worked. So as of yesterday his podiatrist feels this is the logical step to heal his foot ulcer.

Here's my concern. I dont' know anyone who has done this therapy. Alan has menieres and slight tinnitus for years. He sometimes gets a little off balance because of his neuropathy but he uses a rollator walker and he's good to go.

Can this therapy hurt him in any way. Will he get nauseaus or disoriented? I know I can ask these questions on June 23rd but I thought I would run it by you guys.

Oh, on a funny note, he's been telling people, "I"m going for Bariatric Therapy." I then clear this up by saying 'No, not Bariatric, Hyperbaric Therapy" I can see where he would get confused. lol

So I hope all of you are fighting the good fight.

Oh, one more thing. I read on the internet that this type of therapy might help neuropathy. Now wouldn't THAT be some thing??

Melody

Melody, a friend went thru hyperbaric chamber at UCLA and it was a long hard journey for quite a long time. She said she didn't think it helped that much as she was dealing with a wound from radiation done on her leg. And she deals with squamish cell cancers. She dealt with a lot of neuropathy from statin use and she also had a bad fall years ago that put her in a wheelchair for some time. She trusted so many doctors for so long.

She finally heard me about grape seed extract and that antioxidant got her off gabapentin...so look at this antioxidant support for immune system. I can't talk enough about it.

What my friend said healed her wound was Silver Sulfadiazine USP 1% which I think her daughter found online.

She said it took 2 yrs to heal that wound.

My sister just passed from MS and my bil said she had a wound that would not heal. They didn't consult me for help so I had to keep my mouth pretty shut. A doctor I'm not, thank goodness.

Good luck and look into the Silver product. C

This looks good too and otc:

Amazon.com : Colloidal Silver Gel - 4oz : Tattooing Products : Beauty

HI. I have made my own colloidal silver for years.
We take it every day. I even tried it on his ulcer. We have used the various creams and gels etc. Nothing works. That's why they want him to try the oxygen therapy.

I just want to know if this can hurt him in any way. I don't even know if we can afford the 20 percent co insurance. This is all new to me.

Thanks to all who replied. All input is welcome

Melody

The chamber didn't hurt my friend but it was a daily thing and for like 45 minutes a day. She must have done this for 2 weeks...the Silver script I mentioned worked for her. Your doctor should know if it would hurt Alan and if he can handle it. C

Hi. Alan could never do this daily. We don't have the money. We would have to take access a ride back and forth. Alan is wearing this Crow Boot. It's hard enough to wear it in the house, let alone, go down the stairs (we live on the second floor), go outside and go to the hospital for this oxygen therapy.

What do you do with the grape seed extract? Put it on the ulcer or take it orally. Sorry if this is a stupid question but I have to ask. I told Alan and he said 'Oh I know what this is, it's Pycnogenol". That's pricey too.

Everything is pricey today. I think if he continues to wear the crow boot and off loads it, it just might heal. I have a call into his podiatrist with my concerns. My friend works in the office. Thank god I know someone.

Thanks so much for replying.

Melody

Pycnogenol is what I started with in 1995 and took it for first year and it was $40/month back then....then I found grape seed ex and have been taking it for over 20 yrs...Internally, it's capsule form, And for me averages about $16 for 60 days or so. I'm not saying this is for wounds but for Immune System totally. I'm never sick and do deal with bodywide OA and I'm 79 soon.

PureFormula ships all their supplements free. So I go there often but my most favorite is iherb and they ship free with $20 or $35 order, they keep changing.

Someone just mentioned transdermal CO2 therapy for neck arthritis and I'm going to do a search of it and also I've asked them more about the product they use.

Look more at the Silver Sulfadiazine product and it's not collodial silver but has sulfa in it. This is what my friend healed her 2 yr wound with....wound on leg from radiation.

Just found this on transdermal CO2 therapy:

https://www.doxyva.com/v/vspfiles/PD...e_Overview.pdf

If interested do a search for products. I will some time today.

Alan is highly allergic to Sulfa drugs

Oh well. Thanks much

Melody

Hi Melody,
I tried it a few times for neuropathy but it didn't help. It is suppose to be very good for wound healing as I'm sure you know. I'm not sure if he'd be in a single chamber or a group. The single chamber is somewhat claustrophobic plus the guy who was assigned to watch me left the room and didn't come back for about 15 minutes. I had to calm myself down because I was getting worried I'd be trapped in there as you can't open it up yourself. I'm only telling you this so if this is the scenario perhaps you could stay in the room. They did have the tv on as a distraction which was helpful. My experience was not in a hospital setting because my insurance didn't cover it and I had to do it at a "spa"
setting which probably explains my fears.

I would ask the doctor about any potential problem with Alan's having tinnitus.
Hope this helps.
Carol