The lights are on: Coming back to life with HBOT for Long Covid

Hello there again. This is my 4th posting relative to my experience with Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for the Long Covid symptoms that were wreaking havoc on my life.

I have had a total of 16 "dives" as they say, although they have not been given with the desired intensity because of two set backs. The recommended intensity in my case is five HBOT's a week for 8 weeks. They determine this in my case because of multitude of symptoms, over two years. The set backs were minor. An ear infection, which delayed me a week, and a torn meniscus, which put me behind two additional visits. Two things of note. Though I missed treatments, the cognitive, and energetic gains I had made, did not diminish during my absence from treatment. And the spontaneously torn meniscus, done while walking, no fall, trip or stumble involved, is healing so fast, it will be curious where it is at in the healing process by the time I get the MRI for my knee, as it's still 12 days out.

Overall I am cautiously confident. I feel so good cognitively! I was going to try to come up with a more quantitative way to express my subjective experience, when I realized the fact I am even thinking of a quantitative way to convey my improvement is self-evidence of improvement. In October of 2023 it took me two hours to compose an email to my functional medicine practitioner to describe my condition and ask a question. So, cognitively, my mind was so sluggish it was often at a stand still. If Beau was trying to tell me something, I would just look ahead, with a blank stare, and say I do not have the energy to comprehend what you are telling me right now. And he would understand, and try later. By and large, I'm engaged in more complex thought processes, not overwhelmed by conversation, and can even multitask! My organization and prioritizing skills are coming back, as I set about returning to life, and again, the fact that I even need to organize anything relative to my time or schedule is an enormous change. Two months ago, I could not have a social life to organize. That was way too much to think about. I lived day by day, allowing my body to dictate to me what was on the agenda. And it was bare minimum. I could move a laundry basket, and let the dogs out. That may have been all I had in me for that day.

My physical energy once again continues to improve. For example, yesterday, after an 0830 am workout with the trainer, I went to HBOT, then drove 75 minutes away to see my bioenergetic therapist for 90 minutes, drove 75 minutes back home, and then later I went out with my husband to meet a group of people at a fish fry. I felt refreshingly energetic, and more importantly fully present to those around me. Today already, we met some of his family for a brunch in a town 45 minutes away. Although today I do not feel bubbly as I did last night, I was able to engage by listening fully. I did not have energy for sharing, but I did have enough to sit and listen. So this was also a refreshing way of being out, within limits of how I feel. I used to come home from watching the kids, and collapse at 6:00 pm, and fall asleep while my incredibly loving husband made us dinner:) For over 7 months, I took daily naps. The question was whether once or twice a day. Sometimes it was all day. Now, most days it does not cross my mind. I have the energy to meet basic life needs at this time, and have energy left over for social activities .

Now onto sleep. Sleep is one part of a multifaceted program of recovery through University of Michigan Long Covid Clinic. I would wake up multiple times a night, I would have ear buds in listening to the news all night, with my phone screen nearby to watch in the middle of the night if I wanted to. I never felt a sense of letting down, and letting myself drift to sleep. I fell asleep hard, and then would start waking up multiple times the rest of the night. So beyond just the HBOT, I cleaned up my sleep habits. All that for a later blog. The good news is I am going to bed around 9-10:00pm, hours after my normal 6-7:00pm time, and I am getting up earlier feeling well rested and clear headed. I do not wake up at all. I go to bed, and I wake up. I am even having dreams again. Additionally, I only nap maybe 1 day a week now. It is unusual when I do nap, and even Beau will ask if I'm okay. For several weeks, I have not needed daily naps, but I do allow myself them, especially as part of self care. In the early days of my ear infection I was tired, and napped. But not since then.

Overall, my desire to engage and to do things again is strong, and I pray for the wisdom to engage in the things I can, while taking care of myself. My greatest challenge right now is using my energy for self care, and healing and balancing a return to my life. I'm not out playing pickle ball like I want, or planning parties, and retreats as my soul pines to, yet I am beginning to think about these things again. And this is all part of reclaiming who I really am with God's hand. Manifesting a miraculous recovery, in deepest gratitude to God for all your tender mercies!