OxyGeneration: a cutting edge treatment facility for long-term conditions
Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBOT) used for conditions such as 'long Covid' and various injuries
The only private facility of its kind in the West of Ireland, OxyGeneration is a revolutionary treatment centre using hyberbaric oxygenation therapy (HBOT) as an adjunct therapy for serious infections and injuries.
Located on Merchant's Road, Galway City, and a short walk from Eyre Square, OxyGeneration opened in 2018 and is ran by one of the founders Brian Lynch. A solicitor by profession, he first came across hyperbaric oxygenation over thirty years ago while working on an injury case. But after a severe accident in 2015, his own life changed.
“I was in an accident seven years ago that left me temporarily in a wheelchair. I did 20 sessions out the National Hyperbaric Oxygen Centre in Dublin, getting a wheelchair taxi from St. James's Hospital to attend the centre.
“My pelvis was broken and had other injuries. The treatment really helped my recovery and I did 57 sessions in all in Dublin to recover.”
Meeting many people getting the treatment, he saw the potential in setting up a service in the West and has seen even more people use the facility since last year, including people suffering from 'long Covid', Parkinson's disease, sportspeople looking to return to action and individuals with various injuries or infections.
In addition, Irish Life Health, The GAA Injury Benefit Fund and/or Schools Accident Insurance can cover certain medical conditions in OxyGeneration subject to policy coverage including diabetes complications, prevention of limb amputations, concussion, and sports injuries.
“Twenty-five percent of people come in with long Covid. We've had people come in from Limerick and west Cork. We've had sportspeople with Covid who want to get back on the field again. We've had some people chronically living with Covid for months and months not being able to do things come in here and within a week or two, they're getting their lives back together again.”
It involves a process where a person is breathing almost 100% oxygen in an increased air pressure chamber. As you breathe oxygen under pressure, your lungs can gather more oxygen than what's possible breathing it at normal air pressure.
When the blood in your body carries extra oxygen it fights bacteria and stimulates the releasing of growth factors and stem cells, which can promote healing.
The number of sessions, which start at €120 for a single session or €550 for five sessions, can vary depending on the users response and doctor's advice. It works best when users consistently attend regularly until their number of sessions are completed. Bigger blocks of sessions to book are also available.
EXPERIENCE
The experience itself is fascinating and something this writer got to try first hand last Monday afternoon. New clients must arrive at the facility 45 minutes before their first session to be fitted with an oxygenation mask, familiarise themselves with the clinic and chamber (which has the feel of a cabin on a private plane) and advising you on equalising techniques for your ears when the air pressure initially builds in the chamber.
All other clients are required to be at the clinic 15 minutes before hand in order to start the sessions on time.
Staff member Jennifer spoke to me about the process, answered any questions I had and couldn't put me at any more ease.
We were all brought into the chamber shortly after 3 p.m. The air pressure builds in the chamber, like on a plane, and takes ten minutes for the appropriate pressure to be reached.
As the pressure increased, so did the pressure on my ears and owner Brian, who was to my left, and Keith, a paramedic from Ballinasloe who was sitting across from me and using the facility after being affected by long Covid, assisted me as my ears took longer than expected to 'pop'. There's always one!
After reaching the appropriate pressure, an announcement on the intercom by Jennifer confirms we can now put on our individual oxygenation masks, which connect to a oxygen delivery system behind one's seat.
The chamber stays at this pressure for an hour while you breathe in the oxygen and you can read, browse your phone or laptop, watch the installed television screens or just sit back and relax.
Following the hour, the chamber begins their depressurisation back to normal level, which takes around another ten minutes. Once completely depressurised, the door is opened and you leave the chamber.
OxyGeneration, Merchant's Road, Galway, H91 YX82, is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bookings and enquiries can be made on (091) 394 444 or by emailing info@oxygenation.com or by visiting their website on https://oxygeneration.com/time-table/