Before you arrive
Your first hyperbaric session starts before you reach the clinic. You will have completed medical screening, providing your health history, medication list, and information about any surgery or conditions relevant to treatment. The clinic should have reviewed this and confirmed that HBOT is appropriate for you.
On the day, eat a light meal one to two hours beforehand. Avoid alcohol, and go easy on caffeine and carbonated drinks. Wear comfortable clothing, and avoid petroleum-based lotions, perfumes, or heavy hair products. Bring your medication list, any surgical information the clinic requested, and something to pass the time if the chamber setup allows reading material.
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Arrive with enough time to check in without rushing. The staff will likely go over the process again, answer any last questions, and show you the chamber. This orientation is normal and helpful, especially if you feel nervous. Most first-time patients do, and the feeling passes quickly once the session begins.
Entering the chamber
You will change into approved clothing, usually 100% cotton scrubs or a gown provided by the clinic. You will remove jewelry, leave electronics behind, and store your belongings in the locker or area provided. The staff will do a final check to make sure nothing prohibited goes into the chamber with you.
The chamber itself is less intimidating than most people expect. Modern monoplace chambers are clear acrylic tubes, so you can see out in all directions. They are well lit and have enough space to lie comfortably. Multiplace chambers are larger rooms where several patients sit together. Either way, you will be able to communicate with the staff throughout.
Once you are positioned comfortably, the chamber is sealed. Take a moment to settle in, adjust your position, and let the staff know you are ready. There is no rush.
Pressurization: the first 10 to 15 minutes
Pressurization is the most active part of the session from your perspective. The staff gradually increases the chamber pressure, and you will feel it in your ears first. The sensation is like ascending in an airplane in reverse, or diving to the bottom of a pool: fullness and pressure that needs to be equalized.
Equalize early and often. Do not wait until you feel significant discomfort. Swallow, yawn, move your jaw, or use the gentle Valsalva maneuver (pinch your nose and blow softly) at the first sign of pressure. The staff will coach you and will slow the pressurization if you need more time. There is no prize for rushing this phase.
Some people also notice a warming sensation as the chamber pressurizes, which is normal physics: compressing air heats it slightly. The temperature stabilizes once target pressure is reached. You might also notice your voice sounds slightly different under pressure, which is normal and temporary.
If you cannot equalize despite trying, tell the staff immediately. They will pause or partially reverse pressurization. Never try to push through significant ear pain. The session can always be rescheduled or adjusted, but an injured eardrum is a real setback.
At pressure: the main session
Once the target pressure is reached, the active part is over. You simply rest and breathe. Depending on the protocol, you will breathe pure oxygen, sometimes with periodic air breaks where you breathe normal air for a few minutes to reduce oxygen exposure. The staff will explain the specific protocol.
This phase typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Most people find it deeply relaxing. Many fall asleep. If the chamber setup permits, you can read. Some clinics have entertainment screens. The staff monitors you throughout and can communicate with you at any time.
There is nothing you need to do during this phase except remain in the chamber and breathe normally. If you feel unwell, uncomfortable, or anxious at any point, let the staff know. They can talk to you, and if necessary, they can depressurize and end the session. You are never trapped.
Depressurization and exiting
After the treatment period, the staff gradually reduces the pressure back to normal. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You may feel your ears equalizing again, usually more easily than during pressurization, as air naturally escapes from the middle ear. You might notice a cooling sensation as the expanding air cools slightly.
Once the chamber reaches normal pressure, it is opened and you exit. Take a moment before standing if you have been lying down for a while, especially if you are post-surgical. Change back into your clothes, collect your belongings, and check out with the staff.
Most people feel completely normal after a session. Some feel relaxed or slightly tired. There are no activity restrictions after HBOT itself, though your post-surgical restrictions, if any, still apply. You can drive, work, and go about your day normally.
After your first session
Mild ear fullness that resolves within hours is common and not concerning. If you experience persistent ear pain, hearing changes, dizziness, or other symptoms that do not resolve, contact the clinic or your doctor.
Do not expect to feel dramatically different after one session. HBOT is a cumulative therapy, and a single session is the beginning of a course, not a complete treatment. The first session’s main value is familiarization: you now know what to expect, which techniques work for your ears, and how the routine feels.
Subsequent sessions follow the same pattern and typically feel easier as the process becomes familiar. If you have questions or concerns after your first session, raise them with the clinic before your next visit. Good clinics welcome this communication and will adjust their approach based on your experience.
Tips for a smooth first experience
- Communicate. Tell the staff how you are feeling at every stage. They can only help with what they know.
- Equalize early. Do not wait for discomfort. Stay ahead of the pressure.
- Relax. Tension makes equalization harder. Breathe slowly and let your body adjust.
- Ask questions. No question is too basic. Understanding the process reduces anxiety.
- Bring patience. The session takes the time it takes. Use it as rest.
Your first hyperbaric session is straightforward and, for most people, uneventful in the best way. Knowing what to expect removes the uncertainty, leaving you free to rest while the chamber does its work.
Have questions about hyperbaric therapy?
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