24Sep13 Sunny 83 degrees. Rough pain day. During first treatment my pain went from a 6 to a 7 to a 10 to a 7. Then after my morning nap the excruciating pain hit me again,WHAM!, peeking at a 10. So I upped the pain meds. After the second HBOT treatment my pain went back down to a 7. Relief. I became emotional and weeped during the afternoon. I think it was the combination of the higher dose of pain meds coupled with the pain its self being through the roof. Treatment one movie: 'Bridesmaids.' Very funny. Treatment two movie: the rest of 'Bridesmaids' then 'Ice Age.' Love it.

25Sep13 Sunny 75 degrees. During the first treatment my pain went from an 8 to a 7.5 at 1.5 atm. During the second treatment I had an excruciating shocking pain that shot through my left foot up my leg into my knee and on up into my hip and pelvis. It was short lived though, and my overall pain rating by the afternoon was a 6. I've have had 3 days of 2-a-day treatments. I'm still feeling pretty good as far as the weakness goes. I am walking more upright than before as aposed to being hunched over. The first movie was the rest of 'Ice Age,' and the second movie was 'Puss in Boots.' I am really really missing Darrell and Frank. I am used to snuggling with Frank during the day. I miss that furry closeness. He is a tiny little guy, but as far as a therapy dog he is a giant. He is great for my psyche. Same for Darrell too.

26Sep13 Sunny 76 degrees. The treatments continue on. Neck ring; tank; oxygen hood; dive; movie; nap; resurface. My soars on my arms and legs are all but healed. The cramping from my Dystonia/spasticity is confined to my right calf and left buttocks. My feet look more pink than red except in the morning they are bright red. My balance is better. I am more upright. My walking continues to improve, but the left leg and foot point west when my body points north. When I am tired and have my lead boots on, I tend to drag my left foot behind me. I am staying awake more over the last couple days, and I am not as weak as I had been last week. I am always hungry. I'm feeling insecure; I need My support system (aka Darrell). The first movie was 'The Adjustment Bureau.' The second movie ditto.

27Sep13 83 degrees and sunny. Fireworks! Woot! Woot! I reached a 5 on the 10 point pain scale, finally. Five was my goal. It only gets better from here, right? I am ready to do what I have to get my life back. Well, I have always been except now it looks like I might actually get there. My feet were poker red in the morning. Pain was only about a 6 overall, with my feet being about a 7. After the first treatment, the red turned to pink in my left foot. The right looked normal. The pain went to a 5. A FIVE! After the HBOT, I get faint when I first stand up for a few minutes. My walking is still improving though I am shaky. I still walk hunched over with my butt sticking out. I try to force myself to walk upright, but it only makes me more shaky. The cramping continues from the Dystonia/spasticity. I need to drink more water. My mouth is super dry. I must remember to use the NutraSal!

Gram Miller arrived in Ontario this evening to take over as my caretaker for the next 2 weeks. We picked Gram up from the airport and headed back to the hotel for another delicious crockpot dinner: Cheesy chicken picante on tortillas with Spanish rice.

28Sep13 Sunny and 89 degrees. I would have sworn the temperature was in the upper 90s. Both feet were bright red this morning and about a 7 on the pain scale. Before this mornings HBOT my overall pain was a 6 with a few spikes. After, my left foot was pink and my pain was a 5 again. Susan recommended I wear different shoes that would be less painful. I'll try Gram's slippers tomorrow. She also recommended I keep my feet up for the evening. Today's movie was 'Words.' My overall pain is down considerably from when I started the HBOT treatments. I have to contribute it to the HBOT therapy. Incredible. Darrell is excited too.

The itching has started in my ankles again. It is deep like my bones itch. I scratch but there is no relief. I am getting cramps again, both upper and lower body. The cramping in my legs comes with walking. I've upped the Tizanidine to try and combat the cramps. That and my Baclofen pump and the Botox injections should be helping, but the Dystonia/spasticity plagues me. I'm still trying to stand up tall. I'm weak after the treatments, but I do feel like I am getting stronger. My mouth is supper dry. So dry that it is difficult to talk, the skin in my mouth sticks to my teeth, and I can't swallow. I get desperate for water. I have soars all over my dry mouth. It is very tender. I woke this morning at 2:00 a.m. I've had no naps today, morning or afternoon. It has been a long day. No; really.

Gram had her introductory lesson into HBOT and CRPS/RSD this morning. She did good driving a foreign car (meaning not hers) in a foreign land. She helped get me into the tank with my required number of pillows and Jane Jetson bubble hat. We missed lunch for the second day in a row. We took the long way to Denny's for dinner. We got lost going down the block. I tried to use my phone to get us back on tack except I picked the wrong Denny's, which headed us in the wrong direction again. It put us on the highway that we've been avoiding because of cars, lots of them, speed, and anxiety (Gram's not mine). I really need to learn to use my phone on the fly. We found Denny's, eventually.

There was a woman in the booth next to us. She turned to us and started talking about herself, her husband, and their 2014 Kenworth 18 wheeler truck. The truck was broke down again and in the shop for the second time; they've only had it for 9 months. They were stranded in Ontario California after a long haul that brought them here from Georgia. She needed to get home to get her high blood pressure medication. She also suffered from diabetes. Turns out she used to live in Granite. My hometown. She asked us a lot of prying questions that we tried to avoid answering, but it seemed she knew the answers already. I think she was psychic. The whole circumstance made Gram on edge. I have to admit it was kind of strange. It had us looking over our shoulder on the way back to the hotel.

Wow Deb - you did it!!! A five!!!!

I'm so pleased for you. Sounds like a really tough week though, reading between the lines of positives and worries.... Considering you have lost your support system, you have done amazingly.

Things are obviously improving. If nothing else were happening, the fact that your sores have nearly healed points to the HBOT alone, because that's been a long-term problem that wasn't being treated successfully by any other method. So that's a massive plus. And the fact that you can even TRY to stand more upright, walk more certainly, is testament to how much lower your pain is. Definite whoop!!

You need to give yourself time with this treatment. I know it's been weeks already, and truthfully I am so touched by your sheer fortitude in coping wit the whole situation. It takes incredible resolve and strength to keep facing day after day of this. The fact that it is starting to pay off is no more than you deserve! But to turn back the physical problems you've been dealing with for years will take a long time - your muscles will be used to doing things a particular way (hence the shaking when you try ) and changing that will be a long job. You can do it though, I have no doubt.

Brilliant updates Deb Keep 'em coming....

Good luck for the coming week. I'm glad you got to see Ice Age, they are such amazing films and always make me feel good! Hope you get to give Darrell and Frank a hug very soon, I'm sure they will be looking forward to it too, and seeing you improving will be the best bonus for them....

Bram.

"Yippee Yahoo" I am so happy that met your pain goal. I hope and pray that it continues to improve over the next few to an even lower pain scale #.

Gotta admit I am a wee bit jealous

Thank you so much for sharing openly about your experience with this form of therapy, it is very helpful.

Have a terrific day.. watch out for psychic strangers

Tessa

I'm back after being away for a while due to a death in the family, and then my daughter came out of remission and we had to go through a couple of cycles of Calmare treatments to get her back in remission. I'm so glad to see a detailed thread on H-BOT! I know of a really nice lady whose daughter did really well with this treatment. I'm glad to hear more details about it, and REALLY REALLY glad to hear it's working well for you!!!

Please keep up the posts as you are able - it's really helpful for us!

29Sep13 Sunny 90 degrees. Movie: 'Silver Linings.' Didn't even see the opening credits. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. My appointment was an hour later this morning. I had one treatment. My feet were red and painful before HBOT. The dive did the trick. I headed back to the hotel at a level 6. I rested the rest of the day. When we left this morning there was a Kenworth truck parked in front of the hotel. It was still there when we got back. :0/

30Sep13 Sunny and 89 degrees. No HBOT today. Mondays are off days. Gram and I had dinner at Denny's then went on down to Target for soft shoes. I used their motorized cart. By time we were done my left foot was pretty swollen. My left leg is pink and both feet are still red much of the time. My hip and ankle feel like the tissues are tearing. My knees are sore too. These pain sensations are different than the normal CRPS pain I usually feel. I have that too. My overall pain level was a 6 most of the day; at bedtime it was a 7. I don't feel as weak as I did coming out of the HBOT yesterday, but I do black out when I stand up too quickly. Water, water, water! I must start drinking more water. Even so, my walking is getting better. I'm not going to be walking any distances for a long time yet, if ever.

Frank is still sick. He had a few good days after his Vet visit. He was given pain meds and sent home to Grandma/pa Hasty's house. Now, the meds don't seem to be working as well. For one thing he can't keep them down. He has been vomiting and is lethargic.

01Oct13 Sunny and 82 degrees. Overall pain is a 6 with a few spikes into the 7s. The tearing pain in my right ankle and left hip remains. The itching remains too. My soars continue to heal but I do have a few new ones popping up on my left arm and right leg. I woke at 12:00 am, but slept most of the day. Only one dive. Today's movie was 'Silver Linings.' It was limited to one hour because I was nauseous. On the way home we got a little confused and had to make a few Uies. I missed calls from Darrell (2), Ri, Kelly and the concierge yesterday. I didn't even check my phone till today. I don't know what planet I was on but it wasn't earth. I'm still trying to push the water.

02Oct13 Overcast in am. Partly cloudy in Afternoon. 76 degrees. I didn't know they had clouds in sunny Southern California. We could not see the mountains all day. Their presence was missed. I felt nauseous again this am when I woke up. It improved with breakfast. Only one treatment today. Movie: 'The Water Horse.' I slept through entire movie. My overall pain level in the morning was a 6. After the dive it improved to a 5. I'm really feeling good. Better than I have felt in a long time. I still have the pins and needles in my feet coupled with the numbness. I had splotchy redness on my feet before this morning's dive that practically went away afterwards. The burning and aching still nibbles at my pelvis, leg and left foot. I have shooting pain that runs up and down my leg into my pelvis. Again it nibbles at me from the background. I could almost ignore it. Almost. The tearing sensation in my right knee and ankle stops when I sit down. It is from use. It is my body complaining about me walking again after taking years off from the sport. It was suggested that I use a wheelchair for a few days to let the knee and ankle rest. I am thinking about it. I borrowed a walker to improve my stability. I don't know if it is the weather or constant sunshine, but it seems I am always hungry unless I am nauseous. We are hoping to fix my bladder problem too. I've been cathing for 5 years because the nerve damage makes it difficult for me to urinate. I have a neurogenic bladder with hematuria. I have frequent bladder infections. The problem has been tied to my CRPS. Hopefully my bladder will wake up too with these treatments. That would be fantastic.

Gram is doing great. She has the trip between the hotel and clinic down already. She is still a bit nervous driving, especially at night. That would be me too if it were me driving. We went to Walgreens to pick up several of my prescriptions after my morning treatment. I did take a rest while at the pharmacy but otherwise walked while shopping. It felt good to walk for a change. I expected cramping as a result, however it was confined to my right calf and improved with medication and sleep. The spasticity has been much worse in the past; my Dystonia takes over my forearms, hands, legs, and feet leaving me in a painful contorted posture.

03Oct13 Partly cloudy and 73 degrees. No mountains again. I woke at 2:30 am.
Two treatments today. Movie: 'The Hunger Games.' Watched the movie plus all the documentary after. Awesome movie. Managed to stay awake during both dives. 4! That's a FOUR! Yep. A four. I still have CRPS pain that gnaws at me, but it is so much improved. I am ready to go dancing or cycling, but I remain cautious. Not today. My overall morning pain was a 5, it was brought down to a 4 with the magical HBOT machine. My afternoon and evening pain levels fluctuated between a 4 to a 5 to a 6 and back to a 4. I call the pain in my feet 'the three sizes too small lead boots' pain. Too small because my feet feel like they are being squeezed very tightly. Lead boots because they become heavier and heavier the longer I am on my feet. Sometimes I can barely lift them. Today the pain is 'one size too small lead boots' pain. I returned the walker; it made walking even more exhausting for me.

I'm told I need to separate the RSD pain from the original nerve injury pain. The pain that runs up and down my leg was initially caused by the accident when I fell. Having that pain now is good because it indicates that the nerves are waking up. It typically shoots through the bottom of my left foot up my leg and lands in my left hip and buttocks. After today's second treatment it is stopped at my knee some of the time rather than my hip. The pinkish redness in my leg and feet is all but gone. My sores are still improving. I have new sores though on my right leg and both upper arms, and I can feel others just below the skin. I'm told they are caused by high doses of opiates. I am still convinced they are from my skin breaking down due to the CRPS. Either way, I am ready for them to be over. I have scars that will likely be with me for life, but they tell a story about a disease and an incredible ride back to health.

My family stress level is high because I am here and Darrell is back home. This makes me feel as though life is rumbling just beneath the surface ready to explode. I understand the necessity but it brings me no comfort. Money talks; especially now. Darrell has to work. Frank. What can I say. I miss the furry little boy. He is sick again. I am unsure how much life he has left. Does he feel abandoned and alone at the Hasty house as he nears the end? My Mom is here; she eases my anxiety.

Tomorrow after my dive, I have another Medtronic baclofen refill. Hopefully I can find the place. It is a right and then another right. The Doctor's office is on the right. Sounds simple enough. We will see. It doesn't take much to make it a challenge. Then, to the airport to extend the car rental for two more weeks. Oh, and the hotel too. Busy, busy, busy.

Hi Deb

A 4!!!!!!!! OMG I am so happy for you! I want to try this HBOT myself....

So glad you are doing so well, and coping with the separation from Darrell and Frank. I hope Frank improves soon, you must be very worried about him being so far away from you, but at least you know he is in good hands with people who love him too. Darrell must be so excited about the magical 4. I hope you can see a time coming where you might get down even lower....

Keep it up and well done for persevering with this through all the stress and anxiety. It's incredibly inspiring to read your diary about this treatment, thank you so much for all the information, as well as your thoughts and feelings on each day.

I'm rooting for you here, and hoping to see a 3 perhaps?!

Bram.

04Oct13 Overcast and 86 degrees. Santa Ana Winds. Winds whipping around at 20-25 mph. I woke at 1:00 am. One dive today. Movie: 'True Grit.' The day started out at about a 6 on the pain scale with pain shooting up to the 7-8 range. The burning and aching were back in my feet and left leg/hip. After the morning dive my pain remained at about a 6 but the shooting pain improved considerably. My red feet turned to almost a flesh color. They were not as tender to the touch either. I was so tired after the dive that we had to return to the hotel for a quick nap before going on to the pain clinic. Recalculating. We had planed to go out for lunch but those plans were squashed; Gram had to fend for herself. After, we headed to the pain clinic for my pump refill. The directions were simple enough. Make a right onto Holt and a right onto Euclid, and the pain clinic was on the right about 2 miles down. We found it but there was no parking lot, only a residence. Recalculating. Parking and access was from the rear. After the Doctor filled my pump we headed to the airport. Again, it should have been simple enough. Get back on Euclid, make a left onto Holt, make a right on Vineyard. Vineyard becomes Airport Drive. Follow the signs to the rental car 'pick ups.' I insisted not the returns. Recalculating. A few turn-arounds later we found Enterprise Rental Car. I tried to help Gram pull the scooter from trunk. We assembled it and headed in except we were told to go to the returns instead. Recalculating. We headed back to the car, took apart the scooter, and shoved it back into trunk. Frustrated, I carelessly spilled the contents of my wallet onto the pavement behind the car. Remember the Santa Ana Winds? Yeah. My stuff went flying and Gram went chasing. Convinced we found all my cards: credit, insurance, license, etc. we headed to the car returns and took care of extending the rental contract. Exhausted we headed back to the hotel for dinner and rest after a very busy day. My pain levels while at the airport escalated to an 8 with pains shooting to 9 even 10. I had cramping in my legs too. I took my afternoon pain meds and a nap, but the pain continued at an 8. Because my numbers were so high, I was told to come in for another dive in the afternoon, but I was too tired to leave the hotel again. I chose not to go but stayed in bed instead. My pain continued all evening and night at an 8 even 9 now and again. Rethinking it, I probably should have gone back in for another dive.

05Oct13 Sunny and 90 degrees. Two dives today. Movies: 'True Grit' again and 'Iron Man 3.' My overall pain level was a 7 with shooting pains in to the 8-9 range. I felt as though I might spontaneously combust, feet first. My feet were not red but more pinkish instead. Regardless, they burned and were painful to the touch. After the first dive my pain remained at 7 but the burning pain in/on my feet had eased considerably. My left arm pain was back, and both hands ached. My left hand and arm cramped and curled in the afternoon. By bedtime my pain level remained a 7 but the shooting pain and cramping was back to 8-9. I heard and felt a loud snap in my left hip as I was getting ready for bed. I am worried that the RSD pain has come back in a vengeance. The increased inflammation was caused from the stressful trip to the airport. I need to keep my stress levels down. Gram reminds me that the day, especially the time at the airport, was really not all that stressful. The next time my pain dramatically increases like that, I need to head to the HBOT clinic for a dive to take care of the inflammation right away.

Waiting room factoids: Gram learned today that in winter there is snow on the tops of the mountains here in sunny Southern California, and the lows can reach into the 30s.

Surprise! Darrell showed up here this afternoon. When he spoke to me on Friday he thought that I sounded down. He rushed to buy a ticket and flew out to Cali on Saturday morning. :0) Gram and I had just arrived at the hotel. We didn't even have time to set down our Frosties when the bell rang. Cool! The man was here and I had to admit I felt a whole lot better. We three had a nice dinner out.

06Oct13 Sunny and 91 degrees. 2 dives. I woke at 12:00 am. Movies: end of 'Iron Man 3' and 'Juno,' with some 'Hunger Games' thrown into the mix. My pain level was a 7 going in. With the first dive it was brought down to a 6, but it went right back to a 7 by time we got to the hotel. I had shooting pain and cramping in my hands and stabbing pains in my left eye. My left foot felt like it was broken. I was wobbly when I walked and pretty hard for Gram to handle. Darrell purchased a transport chair that was lighter and easier to pick up and put in the trunk. My scooter was too heavy for Gram so I started using the chair to get around due to the increased pain.

We took Darrell to the airport at about 3:30 pm. for his flight back to Omaha. Then it was back to the clinic for my second dive. Gram and I were back on our own. I rested for the rest of the evening.

07Oct13 Overcast in morning/mostly cloudy rest of day. High of 86 degrees. I woke at 1:00 am. Being Monday, it was an off day for HBOT. I started the day with an overall pain level of 7. I had pink feet, but they still burned and were sensitive to the touch. There was some swelling of my left foot. I was able to get it in my shoe anyway. I had periodic pain stabbing me in my left eye too. The pain and cramping was back in my forearms, hands, and back. Gram wheeled me in the transport chair any time we left the hotel room. I've been in sunny Southern California for a full month. I have 2-3 weeks left to go. The diving is going well. I no longer need to have the Ativan in my pocket to keep me in the tank.

Gram and I made a quick trip to the Stater's market after having dinner out. I used the motorized shopping cart. Getting into the car after the market, I had a loud pop in my left foot. In the evening I had fierce cramping in my calves. I took 2 magnesium (combo mag, cal, d3, zinc) to help ease the cramps along with my evening meds, which include 2 tizanidine. Of course, the baclofen pump runs constantly into my spine, but sometimes the spasticity is too much for it to handle.

08Oct13 Overcast and 75 degrees. Two dives. Movies: 1) 'Iron Man 3,' 2) 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' I woke with a pain level of 6 at 1:30 am. My morning was fairly good. I did have a couple loud pops in my left foot. My pain level rose to a 7 in the afternoon. By evening I was at 9 with severe cramping taking me up into the 10 range. I had cramps in both legs, arms, back, pelvis, ribs, and chin. I had a raging bladder infection that peeked at about 8:00 pm in the evening, coupled with constipation that only made it worse. I was in misery. I took a ciprofloxacine, phenazopyridine, and 2 magnesium multi in addition to my regular meds and tried to rest.

09Oct13 Rainy and 63 degrees. Yes; it does rain in the high dessert after all. Two dives. Movies: 'Ironman 3,' and 'Mrs Doubtfire.' I woke at 4:00 am with a pain level of 8 after a night of broken sleep. My first dive helped bring me down to a 7 on the pain scale. Other than the dives I spent the day trying to rest. I was back in the transport chair with Gram pushing. My bladder infection raged on. I had cramps nagging me in my calves and left arm. My muscles and left wrist were sore after the night of severe cramping. I had a couple loud pops in my left foot and hip again. I continued with the mag multi, cipro and phenazo on top of my daily meds.

10Oct13 Sunny and 77 degrees. One dive. Movie: 'The King's Speech.' Susan gave me some magnesium/potassium powder to help with the cramping. I'm still using cipro and phenazo too. Feeling adventuresome, Gram and I opted for Marie Callender's for lunch. This is normally not a big deal, but we were in a foreign place and our pallets were starting to grow bored of the Denny's menu. I used my handy map app and we ventured out. Satisfied after lunch we fueled the car and headed back to the hotel for rest.

11Oct13 Sunny and 67 degrees. One dive. Movie: 'Life of Pi' again. I was at a 7 all day. Exhausted after the previous few days of cramping and infection, I slept in missing my morning dive. Day 3 of cipro, phenazo, along with the mag/potassium powder. I decided I will head home after next week. The dives have helped to bring my overall pain level down but also seemed to have topped-out pain wise. What treatments left will be once a day at a shallower depth to treat the remaining brain miscommunication.

Waiting room factoid: Gram read that Indonesians still throw sacrifices to their gods into the flaming volcanic calderas. Because the islands are made up entirely of volcanos, the residents depend on the volcano gods to protect them from explosions and fiery lava flows.

There used to be a member here that has passed on now, but he did in depth research on HBOT, and he recommended that the dives should go no deeper then 1.5 atmospheres. He said that deeper then that wouldnt be good for CRPS II. He also was spurring me to try this, but I could never get approval. He always told me that 80 dives at 1.5 would be the perfect way to battle the RSD, and said if I went deeper it actually would do more harm then good. He does have old posts in here, his name was Vicc.

Quite the ornery old guy, but I believe he did do his research, and have always wanted to give it a go.

Thanks Deb

Sorry you've had a rough week there, sounds like that bladder infection didn't help things at all...

I bet you'll be glad to get home next week - being away from all you know and love adds stress anyway, and as time goes on the pull just gets too much.

Overall I think it sounds like a success. It'll be interesting to see how next week goes and how you feel once you are home and settled again.

Bram.

Djhasty, I just wanted to wish you well and hope you feel better soon. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Take care.