Since last Friday’s HBOT, Peg has experienced a lot of ups and downs. On Saturday, she felt well enough to do some gardening work in the back yard. Afterwards, she was tired, but generally felt good, even with the extra exertion. On Sunday, she felt up to putting together our Sunday dinner, and then we had a restful afternoon as several families from our Life Group came over to swim and bar-b-cue, and everyone pitched in to help with the details.
So far, this week’s treatments have been mixed experiences. On Monday and Tuesday, Peg gave it a try to drive herself. The driving part went fine, but she said that during Monday’s dive she experienced some Herx reactions and a lot of hot flashes (as that is another “benefit” of being at this place in life). She also felt some reactions later in the evening – pain in her hips and one heel, and the head pressure she sometimes gets. At one point, she said the back of her head went numb, which frightened her for a minute until it subsided.
Tuesday’s dive went a little better, but she had to work hard to keep from being overwhelmed by tears at her half-way break. She still had reactions in the evening (hips, heel, legs, and eyesight), but she felt she was “chugging along”. Peg woke up this morning feeling heavy and tired, though.
The folks at the hyperbaric center changed up the protocol a bit for today’s dive. They followed the training pattern for scuba divers: 20 minutes on, then 5 minutes off oxygen (with the hood off), then 20 minutes on, then 5 minutes off, then 20 minutes on, and they also increased the oxygen feed pressure a bit. The net result was a better dive for Peg – she didn’t feel sick at all in the chamber, and she felt like she was breathing fresh, mountain air. We’ll see how things proceed with this new protocol. In the mean time, this evening’s reactions seem to be pretty mild, as well.
We have some very good news to report. As you may be aware, with me being out of work, we have been struggling to come up with the funds for Peg’s HBOT treatments and the gasoline cost for the daily drive. Well, this week we received some gifts and pledges toward Peg’s treatments from some of our dear friends and our church, as well as a gift from a kind couple across the country that we have never even met! So, our financial situation may be unraveling at the seams, but at least we can just about see our way clear to finish Peg’s HBOT without incurring any more debt. PTL!
Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
- IS 40:27-31 (NIV)
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