Back to news item 17/04/09 HBO at The Samson Centre – your questions answered What’s it all about? Additional oxygen can reduce or even prevent further scarring occurring and thus slow down the progression of MS and perhaps reduce some of the symptoms. There is plenty of evidence to show that oxygen therapy can improve the quality of life for many MS sufferers. There are around 70 oxygen treatment facilities operating at MS centres in the UK. In the oxygen chamber, you breathe 100% oxygen through a mask. This is around ten times the normal levels of oxygen that we breathe. If you artificially increase the oxygen levels in the blood and then drop that to normal levels, your immune system is triggered to produce a rush of white blood cells and new stem cells, thus boosting the body’s ability to repair itself. Breathing pure oxygen does not feel, taste or smell any different to air and you do not feel any different. There are some minor physical effects on the body – the increase of pressure is felt in the ears and you will have to equalise the pressure by swallowing or holding your nose and blowing gently (exactly as you would do in a plane). Prior to a first treatment, you may be apprehensive and need to be reassured and relaxed. The procedure will be talked through with you and you may be able to see a treatment being conducted on someone else and also try breathing oxygen outside the chamber. What is the cost of using the Oxygen Therapy Room? If you are a new user, we request a minimum donation of £75.00 for 15 introductory sessions (sessions are recommended ideally twice a week). For all sessions after the introductory sessions, we request a minimum donation of £10.00 per session. Can the MSTG(G) reclaim Gift Aid on my donation? We are able to claim back tax via Gift Aid for UK tax payers so Gift Aid forms will be available in the Oxygen Therapy Room. How frequently do I need to use the chamber? The initial 15 sessions should be done as close together as possible. After the initial sessions, one session per week is normally sufficient. Who has used the Chamber so far? Our willing guinea pigs have been John Hambly, Sylvia Alper, Claire Dean and Fiona Simmonds. We are sure they would be happy to have a chat with you about the experience and access into the single person chamber. When can I start? Prior to use of the Chamber, you will need an assessment by one of the Physios. We will also ask you to get a form signed by your GP, notifying them that you will be undergoing HBO treatment. How long does a session in the Oxygen Chamber last? The sessions themselves are usually an hour long, and it is good to allow 1.5 hours in total. When is the facility available? Currently the chambers are available for bookings on Mondays and Wednesdays, but when there are sufficient Volunteers trained as Operators further sessions on other days will be available. I’m interested! What do I do next? Please let the Office know and they can take bookings. Jackie, Carol or Ruth would be happy to talk to you further about this and make a note of your interest. We also need a large number of volunteers to operate the oxygen chambers and if you, or anyone you know, such as your carer, would be willing to be an operator, please let the office know. Full training will be given to anyone who volunteers to help. Back to news item