Hyperbaric Chamber Rx 

Some Web Info on Hyperbaric Chamber Including Info on Experimental Use in Treating Lyme Disease

4/23/97 Hyperbaric Chamber Info (not exhaustive) compiled by N. Berntsen

(New additions are first)

The files are arranged in two sections: more resources & info pertaining to Dr. Fife's research are in the first section; subjective data & personal accounts are in the second section. Disclaimer: These are reprints from public web postings and websites, and the webmaster of this page does not make any claims as to what is accurate or inaccurate.

I have made this info available for you to browse, simply to spare you of hours of websurfing yourself.

Any comments/suggestions, corrections or addendums are welcome. Email: mailto:nancy[AT]lymesupport.com  I will consider posting your contributions at my own discretion.

For an asci text version of this page (good for downloading text only without hypertext markup), click here: HBOT Text file . p> Click here to view Hyperbaric Chamber Webpage Links.

Hyperbaric Chamber Info: Research, Scientific Data, HBOT Chamber Sites, Etc.(NEW, 4/11/97)

***IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT PURSUING HBOT FOR LYME DISEASE,

Please carefully read & heed to the info in this reprint of Dr. Fife's Posting on His Research Regarding HBOT & Lyme Disease.

From - Fri Apr 11 06:54:02 1997

From: Hyperbaric Laboratory

Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.lyme

Subject: HBO and Lyme disease from TAMU Hyperbaric Lab

Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 13:20:13 -0500

Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Lines: 53

Message-ID: <334e80dc.3947[at]acs.tamu.edu>

Reply-To: hyplab[at]acs.tamu.edu

NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.194.32.140

Mime-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

NNTP-Posting-Date: 11 Apr 1997 18:20:23 GMT

X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (Win95; I)

TO: All concerned with Lyme Disease.

FROM: Dr. William Fife, Professor of Hyperbaric Medicine Texas A&M University Hyperbaric Laboratory

I am saddened over some of the things I am reading on the Internet in the sci.med.diseases.lyme newsgroup concerning our Lyme disease study. There is lots of misinformation and unwarranted speculation, all of which slows us down in our effort to find a useful treatment for this disease.

There are several former subjects from our study who have published on the Internet. The fact that they have been here does not qualify them to speak for us. In fact, they have placed quite a bit of misinformation on the Internet. As far as we know, at present the only three people on the Internet who have given accurate information are Dr. Rita Stanley, Rae Record, and perhaps Dave Bower.

We now have more than enough subjects for the present study and for the present will not accept any more subjects without a specific recommendation by a physician with whom we can consult about special cases. In these cases, all contact with the laboratory must be made by the refering physician. Any contact with patients will be initiated by this laboratory.

Although there are more than 200 monoplace and over 100 multiplace chambers in the US, since this is an experimental treatment most of them will not or cannot treat this disease with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). We understand that there are two or three other chambers which are taking Lyme patients for pay, we know of only one facility personally which we can recommend. It is in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida under Dr. Richard Neubauer, M.D. He makes a modest charge for treatments. We have no personal knowledge of any other facility and do not know if they are even using our protocol exactly. Therefore, it is a "buyer beware" situation. We still are making no charge for the treatment here.

I want to note that this misinformation only slows our study and works against Lyme sufferers. We realize that the main interest in Lyme patients is to get well and we OFTEN have been given misinformation from potential patients in order to try to convince us to take them ahead of others. This already has slowed up our work. Our main purpose is to obtain valid scientific information upon which to determine if HBO is a successful treatment for Lyme. To us, this is not a game.

All further information regarding the Texas A&M University Hyperbaric Laboratory's involvment with Lyme disease research will be posted on our internet site, http://acs.tamu.edu/~hyplab/ in addition to being published through standard mediums.

Sincerely,

Dr. William Fife

To access TAMU's Website on their ongoing research, click here: TAMU HOBT Research .

Re: Dr. Fife, researcher of HBOT in treatment of Lyme Disease:

CSO-PH Nameserver Record for w-fife

name: Fife William P

alias: w-fife

address: Texas A&M University

: College Station, Texas

: CAMPUS MS 3258

phone: 409-845-7708

type: staff

department: College Of Medicine - Administration

dept_name: MEDICINE - OFFICE OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS

dept_loc: 03121902

title: Director

mailcode: 1264

office_address: Texas A&M University -- College Station

: College Of Medicine - Administration

: MailStop: 1264

office_phone: (409) 845-5031

home_phone: (409)774-7533

official_title: DIRECTOR

campus: Texas A&M University -- College Station (from TAMU directory, TAMU home page)

From: Debbie Parrett Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.lyme

Subject: Hyperbaric Press Release

Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 17:04:34 -0500 Organization: LDA Ohio Lines: 47 Message-ID:

Finally received this today from Texas A&M and was granted permission to post it here: Debbie

This story by Gene Charleton (Texas A&M University Relations)

2/19/97 COLLEGE STATION -Daily doses of high-pressure oxygen may be the first effective treatment for the often-crippling symptoms of Lyme disease, researchers say. Early results from studies of people suffering from chronic Lyme disease suggest that hour-long doses of high-pressure, or hyperbaric oxygen appear to permanently relieve the joint pain, neurologic symptoms and other complications of the tick-borne disease, say medical scientists at Texas A&M University. "Our experience so far has been uniformly good," says physiologist William Fife, an emeritus professor in Texas A&M's Biology Department and College of Medicine, who with Dr. Don Freeman of the university's Beutel Health Center, are studying the problem. "But there's still a lot we don't understand and a lot of questions that need to be answered."

Physicians who specialize in treating Lyme disease (mostly from northeastern states, where the disease is most common) have referred more than 90 patients to Texas A&M for the continuing study. So far, however, fewer than 20 have undergone the two-week treatment, and Fife is cautious because other scientists have not yet reviewed these preliminary results. The treatment consists of breathing pure oxygen at about the same pressure as air breathed by scuba divers 45 feet under water, sixty minutes a day for two weeks. The researchers hope that in addition to permanently relieving the arthritis-like symptoms of the disease, the high-pressure oxygen treatment may kill Lyme bacteria sometimes left untouched by antibiotic treatments. The treatment does not reverse joint or tissue damage from the disease, Fife notes. Lyme disease's early symptoms often include a circular rash surrounding the tick bite, fever, headache and nausea. It is often effectively treated with antibiotics, but some patients don't respond to treatment. Untreated, symptoms can range from arthritis-like joint damage to neurological, heart, and liver complications.

CONTACT: Gene Charleton at (409)845-4644 Email:
e-charleton[at]tamu.edu

William Fife at (409) 845-5031 or (409) 774-7533

Hyperbaric Oxygen: More Indications Than Many Doctors Realise

by Kindwall, Eric P

from "British Medical Journal" August 28, 1993 v307 n6903 p515(2)

Subjects: Hyperbaric oxygenation Therapeutic use Click Hyperbaric oxygenation Therapeutic use to access this copyrighted article. There are many references sited at the end of the article.

Full Text COPYRIGHT British Medical Association (UK) 1993

*

HYPERBARIC MEDICINE SERVICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) is a proven, effective, adjunctive therapy to patients suffering from chronic wounds, radiation tissue damage, compromised skin grafts/flaps, gas gangrene, crush injuries, necrotizing soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, smoke inhalation, and myriad of other conditions. At the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, HBO is just one of the many leading-edge technologies being explored to ensure that each patient receives the best care possible.

The University of Virginia's Hyperbaric Medicine Service combines state of the art hyperbaric technology with a warm and compassionate environment for the patient undergoing the process of hyperbaric oxygenation. It operates in conjunction with the Medical Center's surgical and burn/wound care arenas.

For more information on the University of Virginia's Hyperbaric Medicine Service or to initiate a referral please call (804) 982-3999. For your convenience you may also call our Medical Information and Referral Service Office (MIRS) at (800) 251-3627. If you are a referring physician please use the MIRS physician referral line at (800) 552-3723.

The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) is the major scientific society of hyperbaric medicine in the United States. The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Committee of the UHMS is tasked with an ongoing review of published data on hyperbaric oxygen therapy. From this review, the Committee publishes a periodic report listing recommended medical indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, accompanied by a summary of the supporting data for each indication.

In the 1996 edition of the Committee Report, only the following conditions are listed as approved indications for treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy:

1.Air or gas embolism 2.Carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation 3.Clostridial myonecrosis (gas gangrene) 4.Crush injury, compartment syndrome, and other acute traumatic ischemias 5.Decompression sickness 6.Enhancement of healing in selected problem wounds 7.Exceptional blood loss (anemia) 8.Necrotizing soft tissue infections (subcutaneous tissue, muscle, fascia) 9.Osteomyelitis (refractory) 10.Radiation tissue damage 11.Skin grafts and flaps (compromised) 12.Thermal burns 13.Intracranial Abscess

It is the view of the UHMS that only those conditions listed as accepted indications in the Committee Report should be treated with hyperbaric oxygen, except under institutionally-approved experimental protocols.

How to Contact UHMS

Phone: 301 942 2980 Fax: 301 942 7804 Mail: 10531 Metropolitan Ave., Kensington MD 20895, U.S.A. Email: uhms[at]uhms.org URL: (UHMS Webpage) UMHS.

*

From xxyyxx[at]aol.com (Xxyyxx)

Organization AOL http://www.aol.com

Date 19 Mar 1997 15:37:45 GMT

Newsgroups sci.med.diseases.lyme Message-ID

yes joe and all of my work on hbo and lyme started with your post on hbo and lyme 3 years ago on prodigy. thanks again joe, one of the frist to go to dr fife in texas was jackie b. several other had read the post to.

some low cost hbo who treat lyme michelle reilo rn. balitmore md 410-528-0150 e mail gasbear[at]aol.com 6 person tank

columbia hbo columbia pa 717-684-3228 2 mono chamber (third will only go to 33 feet need 45 or more) (per dr fife ..also dr fife set up this site)

dr neubauer lauerdale by the sea fl. 7 mono tanks 954-771-4000

dr david hughes san bernardino, calf one mono , two more in shipping 909-884-1790 sat thru wed

trish planck reno nevada 702 828 1500 e mail
hbot[at]greatbasin.com

Re: hyperbaric nyc

From xxyyxx[at]aol.com (Xxyyxx) Organization AOL http://www.aol.com

Date 15 Mar 1997 11:23:12 GMT

Newsgroups sci.med.diseases.lyme Message-ID

columbia pa is following dr fife work i have spoken to him many times and he wants anyone to treat lyme and will help any hbo treatment center there are no patents in hbo oxygen is oxygen tanks in our area

baltimore md 410-528-0150 six person tank

columbia pa (set up by dr fife direction) 717-684-3228 2 mono tanks

lauderdale by the sea 954-776-5800 seven mono tanks.

To access hyperbaric chamber web links, click here. Many of the documents on this page are included in those references.

Click here to return to the Berntsen Family's Homepage.

Subjective Data/ Personal Accounts & Info on Hyperbaric Chamber

(In order of newest entries to oldest entries)

From - Sun Apr 13 08:04:02 1997

From: cpuppergo[at]aol.com (Cpuppergo)

Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.lyme

Subject: HBOT #

Date: 13 Apr 1997 05:30:43 GMT

Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com

Lines: 13

Message-ID: <19970413053001.baa24218[at]ladder01.news.aol.com>

NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder01.news.aol.com

X-Admin: news[at]aol.com

this is the Ph# to the clinic in Cal. that is highly recommended. I don't want to use names, but we'll just say from those that know.

Ocean Hyperbaric Center

Richard A. Neubauer, M.D., Medical Director

4001 Ocean Drive

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL 33308

*Our hours are 8:30 am to 5:30 pm e.s.t Mon - Fri

*Our telephone number is (800) 552-0255 or (954) 776-5800

*Our fax number is (954) 776-0670

i just copied from their website to make sure i got it posted right. cin

From: cpuppergo[at]aol.com (Cpuppergo) Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.lyme Subject: HBOT facilities that are highly recommended Date: 13 Apr 1997 04:48:20 GMT Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Lines: 56 Message-ID: <19970413044801.aaa21358[at]ladder01.news.aol.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder01.news.aol.com X-Admin: news[at]aol.com hi fellow lymies:) I too am shocked: I'm awake for a while tonite! Just wanted to fill yall in on this. It just so happens that my dad's Lyme doc is also a hyperbarist. Without even knowing about me in TX, one of the first things he told dad was to go for HBOT. He recommended a certain facility in California which i've located on the web. Here's their site:
http://members.gnn.com/hoi/homepage.htm This may have already been posted, but here is a list of other places as well: bit: http://www.etcusa.com/hbo_link.htm I can't say that I'd recommend all of them, but can only speak for the ones I do know for sure about, for sure being first-hand information. One NOT to go to is the one in Baltimore. I'd rather not go into the why-nots here. Also, the larger facilities rather than the "mono" or "tube" type setups are by far the better ones. I'm by no means an expert on this, but just from being here in TX have picked up quite a bit of knowledge and information. Enough to know what questions to ask and what is preferred over other chambers and also picked up just some of those "helpful hints" for when you go so you get the most out of it. As I said, no doubt i can answer all the big scientific stuff but if anyone has a question or two, feel free to em me. I've found lots and lots of other sites on the web concerning HBOT as well. Are yall worn out with it or do ya want me to post some? Is no trouble if ya want 'em. all be WELL, cindy:) here's just a little page that might explain a bit: http://www.etcusa.com/hbo_intr.htm p.s. I also found out yesterday that Dr. Fife has now filled all of the spaces from "the list" that he is going to for his research. While coming across as mmmm a little gruff maybe, he is truly the most compassionate man and I truly believe would love to fit every single person in there. That's just not possible though. I'm very thankful that i got in on the tail-end of it and with the change in protocol, ....todd and i had been on the list for quite a few months now. I'm only saying this cause i think that those who are interested should start booking at other places. I also think (personal opinion here and also different for each case) that follow-ups will probably be due. Just my thinking here....or maybe all done in one whack rather than 3 weeks or so at a time. I don't know these answers really and don't think anyone does. Like i said, this information that the slots for the research are full is just what i was told. Never hurts to call of course, but also never hurts to have a really good backup plan either. ......just make sure that backup plan is a good one. If you're gonna go, then go to one that's good. and here's the HBOT web-page from here at Texas A&M: http://ACS.TAMU.EDU/~hyplab/index.html (can't get that durn drag-n-drop thingamajig workin' tonite so just copy and paste...sorry)

From - Sun Apr 13 08:06:20 1997 Path: From: cpuppergo[at]aol.com (Cpuppergo) Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.lyme Subject: Re: HBOT facilities that are highly recommended Date: 13 Apr 1997 06:31:09 GMT Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Lines: 11 Message-ID:
<19970413063100.caa28043[at]ladder01.news.aol.com>References: <19970413052200.baa23711[at]ladder01.news.aol.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder01.news.aol.com X-Admin: news[at]aol.com don't get too upset yet Denim......it could change just as soon as i get through too. I think i mentioned somewhere too about the woman i know who had a very similar experience to yours. The herx came after she was long gone and she said it was the worse she'd EVER had....all symptoms back in high gear! She told me that lasted for about 5 weeks (the herxing) then tapered off and now she feels better than ever. I'm just prayin' the same goes for you. Just from hearing what others say and even watching the group that's here now with me, it seems to be different for each person. Sounds like obviously you hit a "chete cycle" in there somewhere for all of this to happen and that's the reason for the increased time anyway; to get 'em while they're cycling. Hang in there, k?.....i'm pray:) love, cin

From - Sun Apr 13 08:06:40 1997 Path: Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.lyme Subject: Re: HBOT facilities that are highly recommended Date: 13 Apr 1997 07:22:59 GMT Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Lines: 3 Message-ID: <19970413072201.daa00627[at]ladder01.news.aol.com> References: <19970413044801.aaa21358[at]ladder01.news.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder01.news.aol.com X-Admin: news[at]aol.com just a fact: baltimore md hbo 5 person tank has been helping people with lyme for some time now. lowest cost hbo in usa.

From - Sun Apr 13 08:11:34 1997 Path: connix.com!news-pen-4.sprintlink.net!news-dc-26.sprintlink.net!news.sprintlink.net!news-east.sprintlink.net!news-peer.sprintlink.net!news.sprintlink.net!sprint!howland.erols.net!newsxfer3.itd.umich.edu!portc01.blue.aol.com!audrey02.news.aol.com!not-for-mail From: cpuppergo[at]aol.com (Cpuppergo) Newsgroups: sci.med.diseases.lyme Subject: nother Cpup HBO update Date: 12 Apr 1997 21:01:13 GMT Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Lines: 36 Message-ID: <19970412210001.raa16026[at]ladder01.news.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder01.news.aol.com X-Admin: news[at]aol.com I won't write long, cause i don't thing i can stay awake very long. Here's as goes. Some may be repetitive, my apologies if so. Starting this past Wednesday, which would be middle of the second week of tx) that's the day I evidently don't remember. Todd says he got me to the first session, but after that i fell asleep and nothing was to move me. Thursday of 2nd week of tx: Just remember being sooooo tired, but todd says he did get me awake enough to make both sessions. Slept during sessions and constantly after. Friday of second week of tx: Again just sleeping but went to both sessions. That was last nite and i was up last nite enough to go to dinner then walked thru the local mall and was even up on the computer kinda late. I think it was around 1am i went to sleep. Today: (have finished second week of tx and no tx on weekends) I think it's around 4pm now and about 15 or 20 min ago i woke up. well, kinda up.... todd says i look worse than ever. geez thanks:) i have a headache but for sure not the worst i've ever had. Mostly i'm just exhausted feeling. Is hard for me to even lift a finger. see how much i love you guys to do this;) .....time to sleep again,,i just can't keep my head up. todd will make sure i dose tonite.....what would i do without him?? just sleep right through i'm sure. He's had ups and downs like my first week so far, but he hasn't gone comatose(sp??) yet. Is ok today he says. I don't know that this is how it goes for everyone...i'm sure is some different for all. From the first session even, i had "the headache"....my usual herx headache. up and down since and now just soooooooooooooooooo tired. there's lots more to tell, like what the chamber is like, etc, and i'll update yall on that soon as possible or anyone ask ?'s if ya want. Hope this helps some tho. love, cin

.

From cpuppergo[at]aol.com (Cpuppergo)

Organization AOL http://www.aol.com

Date ; 6 Apr 1997 07:55:47 GMT

Newsgroups sci.med.diseases.lyme

Message-ID <19970406075501.DAA08363[at]ladder01.news.aol.com>

hey all!

I'm not sure if my post went out the other day or not. I tried to send it anyway. I am gonna do my best to write in daily or at least every other day while i'm here. Whoops!.....now let me go back and explain that!:) Todd and i both are at the study Dr. Fife is doing at TX A&M. Our first session was this past Monday. So, so far i've had a total of 10 "dives."

The sessions run M-F twice a day for 4 to 5 weeks now. I am still doing the Rocephin 2gm daily as my abx tx. (And of course yall know me.....am

pitching in a Ceftin when i can take it:)) I'm definitely in a herx, but am managing to keep it tolerable. I'm taking my computer with me each day

and unless laid out on a gurney hope to get online in between sessions. I'm going to copy what I wrote out earlier in the week to some

friends.......hope it will be of help to everyone else. Anyone else please feel free to call.....i'll letcha know if too much for me:)!

.....Also, if this is NOT at all helpful, yall please let me know that as well. Just trying to help what i can.....love yall lymies! cpup

Below are the em's i sent out this week.....in order. .....and as i wrote

in one of them, anyone feel free to call or em me. I'm a little more

"with it" neurologically tonite.....and hope will be pretty "with it" most

of the time for the duration. I'll do my very best to answer all ?'s. Be

patient with me though......i'm still on that lymetime:).....but gettin

better! i think being on the iv has made a world of difference....along

with the twice daily and longer treatment. It does knock you pretty herxy

though....whew!....

4/4/97

hey guys......look at
http://acs.tamu.edu/~hyplab/ ..................this

will explain pretty much what is going on and the reasoning for treating

Lyme. This won't be on the web til next week. The guy who is head over

it (under Dr. Fife of course) just leaked that out to me!:)) so everybody

mark this sucker down!....i'm sure to lose it! not so tipsy so far

today....cin

4/4/97

>>There is reason to suppose that O2 might help for some mechanism I don't

>know

>>about for Lyme, but it should work to just breath O2 from a bottle

rather

>>than go through hyperbaric.

Spirochetes are functionally anaerobic, so they can't stand the oxygen and

it kills them. As far as why going down so many levels, etc. ........It

gets the oxygen, as well as the abx intracellularly. This makes a HUGE

difference! There is one guy here who has been to more than quite a few

before coming to this one. At one of the places he went, he was like the

control group. So he took no abx the whole time. The chamber still

wasn't anything like this one, but he said that even still those who were

on abx did have some improvement while he and the others who got no abx

had absolutely NO improvement. After that one even, he went to a chamber

that is considered to be very good, but still not able to do what this one

can. It seems that it pushed the 'chetes out from his body, but didn't

completely rid him of them. Matter of fact, his doc, dr. Fein, did a

biopsy and in his outer tissues....just cut right out of the outer skin on

his arm, 5 spirochetes were isolated from just a very small biopsy. This

even further proves the point of how it works and that they were being

pushed out from the inner cells, but just not quite enough, .....and from

what he said and his doc and others, no matter how many times he had gone

to that chamber, it just wouldn't have done it.

Today is what?....my 5th day of doing this. I can definitely tell i'm in

a weird herx.....just different than usual for me. Did have a really

terrific headache last nite that kept me from sleeping, but i'd already

slept the entire afternoon and every break i could in the morning. I'm

like you Jeff......i think the O2 should if anything make one wired and

energized, and it does seem to do that to some. However they have a herx

in spite of that. Guess i'm weird on everything else, but for who knows

why if anything it makes me so sleeeeeepy! I need to ask about

that....makes no sense to me!

Please nobody take anything that i'm writing wrong, k?.....Lordy, Lordy,

by NO means would i even qualify at a technician or even receptionist

here! I'm just relaying to yall what i find out. Just wanted to make

sure that was clear from the get-go......i can just imagine getting some

kind of technical ? on this!!...LOLOL!!!! Anyone do feel free to ask away

though....i'll find out what i can.....and do my typing when my brain is

on this planet!...as Pat will tell ya, she called the other nite, and

while i was asleep.....whew.....i was absolutely plastered too! Am just

takin' my abx.....needed a little last nite for the HA, but really, that

O2 does some funky brain stuff!! ....geez,,,,,i'm still missin you guys!!

love, cin

(NEW)

First Person Account of HBO therapy in newsletter

From cresch1[at]aol.com (CRESCH1)

Organization AOL http://www.aol.com

Date 5 Apr 1997 17:49:51 GMT

Newsgroups sci.med.diseases.lyme

Message-ID <19970405174900.MAA11797[at]ladder01.news.aol.com>

Just want to let you all know that the April issue of our newsletter

"Spotlight On Lyme" contains an article written by Rita S. about her

experience with HBO therapy at Dr. Fife's facilities in Texas this year.

The article covers the background of HBO treatment, an account of Dr. Fife

and his work, Rita's own experience with the therapy, and her conclusions.

Rita has done an outstanding job in writing this article, and it should

answer many questions.

Also included in our April issue is an article titled "My Story"; an

account written by Tom Grier about his personal experience with Lyme

disease. Tom is president of the Lyme Disease Coalition of Minnesota, and

an active member of the Lyme community. He is also author of the widely

read book "The Lyme Disease Survival Manual". We feel everyone will relate

to Tom's story.

The April newsletter is printed and ready to send out. If you would like

to subscribe, you can e-mail me your snail-mail address (this means your

house address, so we can mail it out to you via the old-fashioned, US

Postal Service.) at Cresch1[at]aol.com.

There is no charge for our newsletter.

Alot of people have asked why we don't charge for our newsletter, and how

we can afford to send it out without charging a subscription fee. We don't

have a subscription fee because we don't want anyone to be denied having

this connection to the Lyme community because they can't afford a

subscription. We rely strictly on donations, believing that you will send

what you can afford to help cover our costs. We have faith in the goodness

and fairness of people as a whole, and so far that faith has paid off.

Thus far, we have managed to cover the costs every month, because of your

generosity, and we want to continue our present method as long as we are

able. The strange thing is, we always seem to have just enough to cover

the costs - not too much and not too little. We may have a little left

over to start on next month's costs, but as of yet, we haven't had to take

anything out of our own pockets. Thanks to all of you who have supported

us in our efforts - we couldn't do it without you!

The April issue of our newsletter will also be available on our web site

within the next month, for those of you who would prefer to read it there.

The address is <
http://www.egr.msu.edu/~suther18/> We hope you check out

our website - there are several back-issues of our newsletter there,

(back-issues are no longer available by snail-mail or e-mail) as well as

lots of other interesting and informative stuff. We update and add

material periodically, so check back every once in a while. We hope to

have our newsletter available via e-mail soon! We appreciate any comments

or suggestions you have about our website or our newsletter. If you would

like to submit your story, or other information concerning Lyme disease,

for consideration for inclusion in our newsletter, we would love to hear

from you. We send our newsletter to several hundred people who are not

on-line, also, so they can keep abreast of news from the Lyme community,

so send us names of your off-line friends who would like to receive the

newsletter. Our snail-mail address is Lyme Alliance of SCM, P.O. Box 454,

Concord, Michigan 49237.

Sharon and Maria, Editors

(NEW)

Re: First Person Account of HBO therapy in newsletter

From "Rita Stanley" <
ritastan[at]worldnet.att.net>

Organization AT&T WorldNet Services

Date 5 Apr 1997 18:15:59 GMT

Newsgroups sci.med.diseases.lyme

Message-ID <01bc41ec$df1c6a80$537893cf[at]default>

References 1

CRESCH1 <cresch1[at]aol.com> wrote in article <19970405174900.MAA11797[at]ladder01.news.aol.com>... >

Just want to let you all know that the April issue of our newsletter > "Spotlight On Lyme" contains an article written by Rita S. It's ok to use my whole name, Rita Stanley, Ph.D. - NW Lyme Disease Support Network, Portland, OR.

Hyperbaric Chamber - Dr. Fife

From "Rae D. Record" <
record[at]capecod.net>

Date Mon, 07 Apr 1997 13:19:51 -0400

Newsgroups sci.med.diseases.lyme

Message-ID <33492CB7.1A18[at]capecod.net>

I talked to Dr. Fife at Texas A & M Friday about his current HYPERBARIC

CHAMBER protocol. The information is posted here for anyone interested.

To qualify you must meet CDC requirements for diagnosis of Lyme -

according to him this means that you have to test positive on the

Western Blot on the bands CDC calls positive. He has to have a copy of

the lab work and a copy of a physical exam and know your physician is

agreeable. If your physician forwards the medical records, that tells

him the physician is agreeable.

Currently his protocol calls for three weeks of treatment with two

one-hour long treatments in the chamber per day five days a week - in

other words 30 treatments in all. He said the protocol changes.

Currently, he has a waiting list of 150 patients which would indicate

about 3 months to get in, but he says that is misleading. Everyone on

the list is on call. They will call you when they want you to come

down. Some who are on the waiting list are not available when called so

they move on down the list.

p.s. I've never posted here before, but I appreciate all who do.

From - Mon Jan 20 07:30:46 1997 Path:

From: racer91[at]aol.com Newsgroups:

sci.med.diseases.lyme Subject: Re: Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Date: 20 Jan 1997 05:11:24 GMT Organization:

AOL http://www.aol.com Lines: 12 Message-ID: References:

NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder01.news.aol.com X-Admin: news[at]aol.com

X-Newsreader: AOL Offline Reader In article ,

yfeldman[at]ix.netcom.com(Betsy & Joel Feldman) writes:

>Does anyone know how successful this has been so far, and whether >anyone has shown improvement using this?

The 2 people I have spoken with who participated in the Texas A&M hyperbaric study both claimed to have made major improvements. Both said that they still had some symptoms and were unsure whether those symptoms would dissapear over time.

Steve

*

Subject: Re: HBOT-- Please--Tell me more!

Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 14:29:30 -0600 (CST)

From: *

To: *

Sure, I'd be glad to give you the information about the HBO treatments. I must admit that it is somewhat new to me, as I've also found about it through reading the newsgroup.

As you may know, the study in Texas is done by a Dr. William Fife at Texas A&M University (College Station Texas) who is quite well known and respected in the field of hyperbaric medicine. I believe he will publish the study results at some point, but he is now revising his tx protocol. In order to qualify at this point, you need history of positive tests (as defined by the CDC) and your MD would have to send Dr. Fife your medical records. I believe there is a waiting list, but I don't know how long. The treatment is no cost, but you'd have to pay for transportation there, and lodging. Which I imagine would add up since you'd need to stay for two weeks. I'm sure he(Dr. Fife) would be willing to talk with you if you wanted additional information. His phone number is: (409)845-5031. Awhile back, Debbie Parrett posted the press release which described the research. (I believe the post was on Feb. 19th)

There is also a hyperbaric chamber in Baltimore which is quite reasonable. It is called Life Force and their number is 410-528-0150. I understand that they follow Dr. Fife's protocol and they have been in contact with him. ... Where did you say you lived? There is a guy in Connecticut I corresponded with who said he used a chamber in Norwalk and he has improved. But I'm not sure they are treating people on an ongoing basis.

*

Rita's Personal Account (posted on th e WEB Mar., 97, sci.med.diseases.lyme newsgroup):

I have just returned from Dr. Fife's laboratory. I will be writing up my experiences and opinion as to obtaining private funding for the continuation of Dr. Fife's preliminary work for the Lyme Alliance of SCM's monthly publication. It will also end up on their website. Preliminary results will be presented at the AAAS, SW & Rocky Mountain Division, Meeting on May18-22, 1997, at College Station, TX. Exact time to be determined. Very briefly, I am very encouraged by Dr. Fife's work; presently he is working to optimize his treatment protocols. I, myself did undergo a series of HBO treatments. The ultimate goal of his work would be to make it an approved method of treatment for Lyme disease by the UHMS. Following such approval, insurance could then pick up the tab. Dr. Fife has been involved with hyperbaric medicine for about 30 years, and has been on the executive committee of the Undersea Medical Society. He knows what it takes to get this treatment method evaluated and approved. It truly was a pleasure to meet with him, his staff and patients. His dedication to this endeavor was based not on career development (Dr. Fife is an emeritus professor), but to actually help Lyme patients. The open-mindedness was a breath of fresh air and hope. I cannot go into details as to treatment protocols since this is propriotary information at this point and undergoing modification. He will be submitting a manuscript for publication this month to a journal where information can be published relatively rapidly. Rita

Click here to view Hyperbaric Chamber Webpage Links.

"Never give up. Never surrender." (Galaxy Quest)

The information presented in these pages is for resource and educational purposes only. Nothing herein is intended to be medical advice. Only your physician can give medical advice!
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