New Hope- double blind treatment study

[Guest guest]

At Last.

The University of Penn Medical Center in Philadelphia has started a double

blind study of Hypobaric Oxygen treatment for Lyme disease, under the

direction of Dr. Thom. They are seeking chronic Lyme patient

participants.

As you may know, in 1997, Dr. Fife at Texas A & M did a hypobaric oxy study

for Lyme that met with a great deal of success. The theory, which Fife

seems to have proven, is that the combination of pure oxygen and increased

air pressure combine to drive the antibiotic into the cells enabling it to

successfully attack the spirochetes.

Since it was not a double blind study, Steere's bunch have largely

discredited it.

As a result, I know of only three HBO facilities in the country that are

using Dr. Fife's protocol for treating Lyme- and most insurance companies

will not pay for it. Their excuse/reason is that they are waiting until a

double blind study proves HBO treatment effective.

I understand that U of Penn is not exactly following Dr. Fife's protocol.

The Penn protocol is 3 atmospheres of pressure- equivalant to 34 ft. depth

Fife's protocol uses 4 atmospheres- equivalant of 52 ft depth. (sea level

air is considered one atmosphere)

Fife's protocol is 30 one hour treatments- 2 each day Mon-Fri over a three

week period.

The Penn protocol is 24 treatments- not sure of treatment time- may be

longer than an hour each, scheduled once each day Mon-Fri for 4 weeks.

I pray this protocol will prove as dramatically effective as the Fife

protocol.

They are offering this at no cost to the patient; however half of the

patients will receive ordinary air at pressure, instead of oxygen. So half

of the participants can expect no relief.

Their plan is to follow all participants for 6 months before announcing

their results. If the test proves to be of benefit, they say they will

then offer the real treatment to those who were the untreated controls.

For those of us who live at a distance from Philadelphia, it would be quite

expensive to go there and stay for four weeks, with a 50% chance of waiting

6 months and then going back for another 4 weeks to get the real treatment.

However, for those of you in the Philly area, this is a real opportunity!

And, I am told that it is not an unpleasant experience, except for the

strong herx reaction those getting the real treatment may experience.

(despite the double blind protocol, I imagine most patients will know

rather quickly which group they are in- but who knows- perhaps the pressure

treatment may be of some benefit even for those on ordinary air.

When I called to inquire about the program I was advised that the patient

must be referred to them by his/her physician.

Their phone number is 215-898-9102

So- you Philly area folks can hope for a very effective treatment, and in

addition, know that you will be spearheading what may prove to be the best

hope yet for a cure.

God Bless

Colby Van Atta

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/22/99 2:23:35 AM Eastern Standard Time, vanatta@...

writes:

>Fife's protocol uses 4 atmospheres- equivalant of 52 ft depth. (sea level

> air is considered one atmosphere)

I was a participant in Dr Fife's HBO study and his protocol uses 2.36

atmospheres, equivalent to 45 ft below sea level. Not sure where your figures

came from, but since I was there, I was privvy to the protocol. Also, it is

called hyperbaric O2, not hypobaric as you indicated. Not trying to be

nitpicky, but wanted to set the record straight here for those that do not

know much about this. Hypobaric would defeat the purpose, creating a low O2

environment, which would give those those chetes a field day :-)

Also, on another note, anyone with any of the coinfections should think twice

before trying HBOT. I had tested negative for babesia twice, so went off to

the HBO study last year. I felt okay during the treatments, cept the usual

little herxing stuff that I had,,,until I left there. Then I herxed like heck

for at least two months, then had a great week or two, then crashed,,,,never

to be quite the same again. I did however, test positive for babesia twice

this fall though, which would help to explain why the HBOT not only did not

help me, but made me feel alot worse. Just a word of caution....

Marci

> As you may know, in 1997, Dr. Fife at Texas A & M did a hypobaric oxy study

> for Lyme that met with a great deal of success. The theory, which Fife

> seems to have proven, is that the combination of pure oxygen and increased

> air pressure combine to drive the antibiotic into the cells enabling it to

> successfully attack the spirochetes.

>

> Since it was not a double blind study, Steere's bunch have largely

> discredited it.

>

> As a result, I know of only three HBO facilities in the country that are

> using Dr. Fife's protocol for treating Lyme- and most insurance companies

> will not pay for it. Their excuse/reason is that they are waiting until a

> double blind study proves HBO treatment effective.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info Colby, I forwarded this info to my Support Group Leader,

she had the HBO treatment at great expense at a land facility a year or

so ago....maybe she or someone else in her group would like to try it....I

don't think it is for me, I am about 20 minutes from Philadelphia, but

cannot picture how I could drive myself there daily.

Marta

>From: " Colby F. Van Atta " <vanatta@...>

>

>At Last.

>

>The University of Penn Medical Center in Philadelphia has started a double

>blind study of Hypobaric Oxygen treatment for Lyme disease, under the

>direction of Dr. Thom. They are seeking chronic Lyme patient

>participants.

[Guest guest]

My doctor wanted to refer me to the philly study. The only thing is that you

need a postive blood test right now. My blood used to come out postive, but

after all this treatment my blood is either negative or borderline. my urines

come out postive, but it wasn't good enough. i just came out postive for

babesia and echliol. i was diagnosed with lyme in 89. maybe they will take

this into consideration. anyone eles who is lucky to still have postive blood

tests get in this study!! it sounds great.

good luck,

christine

[Guest guest]

Marci,

I'm sorry your HBO experience was so difficult. I am wondering why it

made the babesiosa and ehrlichia worse.

Ellen

[Guest guest]

Colby, it is so nice of you to share this with all of us. Will you please

keep us informed of the results. I fear that I will forget to ask about this

down the road.

Take Care

Amy

[Guest guest]

My daughter Annie is currently recieving Hyperbaric Chamber treatments in

Chico, CA. We have heard only wonderful results from every one we have

talked to. We do realize that it doesn't work for everyone however. Annie

has just finished 28 dives and will do 32 more for a total of 60. We are

staying in a wonderful Bed and Breakfast. The owners are giving a reduced

rate to Lyme patients and their families. The cost is $55 a night, with a

hugh breakfast every morning. There is a small refrigerator and microwave

in the room and many people are bringing an electric skillet with them.

Most all of us are doing all are meals in the rooms. This really helps with

costs. There is also several apartments available that you can share with

other patients or use by yourself. The cost of those are $45 I believe,

half that if you share with someone else. I must say that we have met some

of the most understanding, helpful and knowledgeable people about Lyme while

we have been doing the treatments. I will keep you posted on Annie's

progress. We have heard not to expect much until about 3 to 6 weeks after

treatments have ended. Please feel free to email me for more info.

hughes@... Meg

>From: ellenlu@... (Ellen Lubarsky)

>

>Marci,

>I'm sorry your HBO experience was so difficult. I am wondering why it

>made the babesiosa and ehrlichia worse.

>Ellen

>

>

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[Guest guest]

At 08:55 PM 1/30/99 -0800, you wrote:

>From: hughes@... (Annie )

>

>

>My daughter Annie is currently recieving Hyperbaric Chamber treatments in

>Chico, CA.

Hi. Sounds like things aren't too bad for you out there. Sure hope this

works for Annie. I'd be interested in knowing where you're staying and how

far it is to the treatment center. Is the Chico treatment center at a

hospital, a university, or is it a private concern. I'm really trying to

get all the info I can about Chico and it's hyperbaric chamber. Best

wishes. Raine

[Guest guest]

Meg,

I live near Penn and I'm considering whether I should ask my doctor for a

referral for the study. My problem is that I am TERRIBLY claustrophobic! I

can't even have a regular MRI -- I've gone to the open ones instead. What is

the chamber like? Is it completely enclosed? How long do the sessions last?

At this point I will try just about anything! Thanks for any information you

can share.

[Guest guest]

Dear Ann,

IT was a very uplifting letter you wrote. I'm so happy to hear it is a

positive experience for you both. I have wondered if I could go through

that, but since I have late stage lyme, the thought of being enclosed

would be a fearful experience, because I would probably have a panic

attack. Is that a problem for the patients there? Good luck, and keep us

posted.

KAREN

[Guest guest]

, Annie also has late stage Lyme and so do many of the other patients.

The chamber holds six people at once so you are at least not alone and they

watch movies which helps take your mind off it somewhat. The technicians

are wonderful and very helpful about everything. Meg

>F

[Guest guest]

At 02:26 PM 1/31/99 EST, you wrote:

>From: SCSullivan@...

>

>Meg,

>I live near Penn and I'm considering whether I should ask my doctor for a

>referral for the study. My problem is that I am TERRIBLY claustrophobic! I

>can't even have a regular MRI -- I've gone to the open ones instead. What is

>the chamber like? Is it completely enclosed? How long do the sessions last?

>At this point I will try just about anything! Thanks for any information you

>can share.

>

>

The HBO chamber is like a small room with several people seated in it.

A claustrophobic person might find it uncomfortable, but not intolerable.

Colby Van Atta

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