When complications from diabetes prompted surgery, 74 year-old Bill Marchment of Potomac knew that he had a long journey ahead of him. With the recovery process proving to be a significant challenge, Bill’s care team at Carle recommended an advanced approach to healing that would offer him a better solution.
That’s when Bill received a referral to a resource close to home that would significantly increase his ability to heal quickly.
“My wound was wrapped with a wet cast that I changed weekly, but we just weren’t seeing the healing move as quickly as we would have liked,” Marchment said. “After trying HBOT, I would recommend it to anyone.”
Bill’s physician recommended that he undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in one of Carle’s hyperbaric chambers. Patients like Bill lay comfortably in the chambers, which resemble large glass tubes, while receiving therapy.
HBOT increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry. With repeated scheduled treatments, the temporary extra-high oxygen levels encourage healing and growth of new tissue and bone and also acts to kill bacteria and viruses while breathing under its pressure.
This therapy also increases the strength of certain antibiotics and reduces edema to the tissues.
“I would undergo treatment in the chamber for two hours a day, five days a week for three months,” Marchment said. “At first it looked like an old iron lung, but I had the mindset that I was going to heal. You can’t be apprehensive or intimidated.”
In fact, many report finding time inside the healing chamber to be calming and relaxing. Marchment notes that while in the chamber, he would take advantage of the time to sleep and unwind. Each chamber is also equipped with a television for patients to watch while in treatment.
Carle’s team of wound experts consists of certified hyperbaric technologists, nurses, infectious diseases specialists, and board-certified hyperbaric medicine physicians.
Patients can find this treatment option at Carle Foundation Hospital and Carle BroMenn Medical Center.
Sanjiv Jain, MD, hyperbaric medicine, Carle Health notes that this treatment is improving outcomes and providing significant advancements for patients with hard to heal wounds.
“This treatment option is truly making a significant difference in the way we are able to quickly heal wounds that may prohibit patients from getting better” Dr. Jain said. “Our team wants to provide a warm, comforting environment for you to get the best treatment possible. You can sit back while this technology advances your healing and gets you back to your healthiest self.”
This therapy isn’t just limited to wounds related to diabetes like in Bill’s case. HBOT provides solutions to a variety of complications from radiation treatment, hearing loss, skin graphs and more.
Marchment gives credit to the staff at the Carle Wound Center for their encouragement and expertise in keeping him safe and on a better road to a healthier life. In fact, it was his care team in Hyperbaric Medicine that encouraged Bill to also get a COVID-19 vaccine, as someone with increased risk of complication from the virus.
For those that think that they may benefit from this treatment, Marchment strongly recommends this treatment option.
“By all means, do it,” Marchment said. “Don’t be afraid of it. Go into it with a positive attitude and a willingness to want to get better. I really enjoyed my treatment and getting to know the team.”
Patients can consult with their provider if they believe they are a good fit for this therapy and would like a referral.
Visit carle.org for more information on the Carle Wound Center and how this treatment is healing patients in a community near you.
That’s when Bill received a referral to a resource close to home that would significantly increase his ability to heal quickly.
“My wound was wrapped with a wet cast that I changed weekly, but we just weren’t seeing the healing move as quickly as we would have liked,” Marchment said. “After trying HBOT, I would recommend it to anyone.”
Bill’s physician recommended that he undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in one of Carle’s hyperbaric chambers. Patients like Bill lay comfortably in the chambers, which resemble large glass tubes, while receiving therapy.
HBOT increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry. With repeated scheduled treatments, the temporary extra-high oxygen levels encourage healing and growth of new tissue and bone and also acts to kill bacteria and viruses while breathing under its pressure.
This therapy also increases the strength of certain antibiotics and reduces edema to the tissues.
“I would undergo treatment in the chamber for two hours a day, five days a week for three months,” Marchment said. “At first it looked like an old iron lung, but I had the mindset that I was going to heal. You can’t be apprehensive or intimidated.”
In fact, many report finding time inside the healing chamber to be calming and relaxing. Marchment notes that while in the chamber, he would take advantage of the time to sleep and unwind. Each chamber is also equipped with a television for patients to watch while in treatment.
Carle’s team of wound experts consists of certified hyperbaric technologists, nurses, infectious diseases specialists, and board-certified hyperbaric medicine physicians.
Patients can find this treatment option at Carle Foundation Hospital and Carle BroMenn Medical Center.
Sanjiv Jain, MD, hyperbaric medicine, Carle Health notes that this treatment is improving outcomes and providing significant advancements for patients with hard to heal wounds.
“This treatment option is truly making a significant difference in the way we are able to quickly heal wounds that may prohibit patients from getting better” Dr. Jain said. “Our team wants to provide a warm, comforting environment for you to get the best treatment possible. You can sit back while this technology advances your healing and gets you back to your healthiest self.”
This therapy isn’t just limited to wounds related to diabetes like in Bill’s case. HBOT provides solutions to a variety of complications from radiation treatment, hearing loss, skin graphs and more.
Marchment gives credit to the staff at the Carle Wound Center for their encouragement and expertise in keeping him safe and on a better road to a healthier life. In fact, it was his care team in Hyperbaric Medicine that encouraged Bill to also get a COVID-19 vaccine, as someone with increased risk of complication from the virus.
For those that think that they may benefit from this treatment, Marchment strongly recommends this treatment option.
“By all means, do it,” Marchment said. “Don’t be afraid of it. Go into it with a positive attitude and a willingness to want to get better. I really enjoyed my treatment and getting to know the team.”
Patients can consult with their provider if they believe they are a good fit for this therapy and would like a referral.
Visit carle.org for more information on the Carle Wound Center and how this treatment is healing patients in a community near you.
Categories: Staying Healthy
Tags: Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, therapy, wound