In Thursday (3 days ago), I started feeling really bad chest pain in school, which worsened when I breathed in. A few hours later, I developed a bad pain in my neck whenever I spoke.

I went to the hospital in the evening, 7 hours after it happened, and it was diagnosed as Pneumomediastinum (a condition where air is trapped in the chest area). I was taken in an ambulance to an emergency room of another hospital, where they said they'll treat me with a mask that delivers 100% oxygen - the medical staff said the increased oxygen supply will help absorb the trapped air.

I was treated with the 100% oxygen mask for about 32 hours from the total 42 hours I've been at the hospital, got 6 X-Ray scans to my chest, and finally went home in Saturday's noon.

Now it's Sunday here, and I feel something different about my PCS. I feel brighter and less confused. My brain fog only happened for 1-2 hours in the last 24 hours - as opposed to the usual 5-6 hours in 24 hours. In general, it feels like I have had a significant improvement in my PCS recovery. I really do feel something that I haven't felt in a long time - a special kind of clarity and more cognitive flexibility.

I don't feel that I recovered 100% - I still have PCS, but I feel much better than I have felt in the last 2-3 months (PCS symptoms feel less pronounced).

Could it be that the 100% oxygen mask I had helped me recover faster?

Thanks,
-ProAgonist

I doubt the O2 helped you heal from a physiological point. But it may have helped you improve your blood chemistry, especially to your brain so that your brain has more energy. It would be interesting to ask the doctor if there was anything in your blood chemistry besides your O2 levels that improved with the oxygen therapy.

A simple way to self test for this would be to get a pulse oximeter. They can be purchased online or at local drugs stores or medical supply companies. They can cost as little as US $15.00.

Having one in the house would help you rule out O2 issues when you are experiencing brain fog.

Mark, interesting point. Is brain fog definitely linked to low O2 saturation of the blood? I hadn't thought of this before, but it would follow since brain fog for many is typical during the first few months and subsequently diminishes with time. During that period, the metabolic changes do create a more anoxic environment in the brain that also alleviates as the healing process occurs.

From what I have found out, it is rare for O2 levels to drop below the high 90's, usually 97 to 98 %. But, a pulmonary event that causes O2 sat to be low would throw off a whole lot of blood chemistry. Getting that blood chemistry corrected would be important.

The toxic cascade of a concussion without an anoxic event would still have a negative impact on brain function. It's just like a CO or CO2 event. One can die from CO or CO2 poisoning with 20% oxygen available. The CO and CO2 block the absorption of oxygen just as toxins in the brain disrupt proper metabolism. That is the basis for the vitamin and supplements regimen, help the brain metabolise as it slowly detoxifies.

The injured brain is known to be more sensitive to O2 at altitude. This is a metabolic situation based on molecular pressure across cellular membranes. O2 sat is not the primary issue. It is molecular pressure. This is how HBOT works. It increase the molecular pressure. HBOT works with normal atmospheric O2 levels (20-22%). Pro's issue was his lungs were not absorbing the O2 so his O2 sat was low.