Before starting your therapy, team members will discuss preparations and go over a checklist with you. Here are some important things for you to know:

• Medications. We will need to know any drugs you are taking during a course of hyperbaric therapy. If changes are necessary in your medication schedule, your personal physician will be consulted.
• Colds and Other Illnesses. It is important that you notify staff members if you have symptoms of a cold or flu, such as a fever, cough, runny nose, cold sores, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. With these symptoms, we may need to be postpone HBO therapy until your symptoms have subsided and our doctor has cleared you to resume treatments.
• Smoking. Nicotine causes small blood vessels to constrict, decreasing circulation and oxygenation. Once hyperbaric therapy has been prescribed, you should stop smoking. The “no smoking” rule applies to all smoking materials.
• Cosmetics. For safety reasons, do not use any make-up, hair spray, perfume, deodorant or shaving lotion before your treatment. To be sure you are free of cosmetics, please take a shower or bath before coming for your treatment.
• Clothing. You will be given a 100% cotton gown during your treatment. No other articles of clothing are to be worn in the chamber. Please leave watches, rings and other jewelry, hard contact lenses and other prosthetic devices at home.
• Scheduling. Staff members will schedule your treatments on a daily basis. Every effort will be made to consider your other activities when scheduling your treatments. Occasionally a life-threatening emergency may arise. If a critically ill patient needs immediate treatment, your appointment may be postponed or cancelled. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please call the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit as soon as possible.