Blogger turns to oxygen therapy to heal old wound


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SALT LAKE CITY — Blogger and author of "One Good Thing," Jill Nystul talks a lot about saving money and how to live a more green life. She believes in natural alternatives when it's possible but is always the first to point out sometimes modern medicine is the way to go.

"I will tell you for certain that if it weren't for the hyperbarics, I would very likely not have a foot," Nystul said. She's talking about hyperbaric chambers, or oxygen therapy.

Originally developed to help divers overcome the "bends," or decompression sickness, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used today to accelerate the healing of wounds.

"I had surgery on it when I was 16 to remove a non-cancerous tumor. Back then, back in the day, they did radiation therapy on it, which ... took the tumor but also damaged the good cells, the healing cells," Nystul said.

That wound broke open 10 years ago. Doctor's performed a skin graft, but when those started failing, Nystul said, "When it got really desperate and we were really worried abut losing the foot that's when I came here." Here is the Salt Lake Regional Medical Center's Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center.

When the wound broke open again this winter, she knew exactly where she needed to turn.

"You know it's completely painless experience, but when I found out I had to do it again, I was devastated only because it's a time thing," Nystul said.

Five times a week for an hour and forty minutes, plus drive time from Heber is a lot of time to devote to the procedure.

Depending on the wound, it could take weeks or months. Nystul is looking at months.

Kurt Bernhisel, M.D. Medical Director Salt Lake Regional Medical Center Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, said, "When you dive somebody you put them under more atmospheric pressure and it allows oxygen to fully saturate your blood ... so you can supercharge your blood and plasma with oxygen."

Patients use the chambers for radiation injuries like Nystul's, as well as diabetic wounds, stroke patients and carbon monoxide poisoning. "You can reverse that (carbon monoxide poisoning) much faster with oxygen under great atmospheric pressures," Bernhisel said.

Some patients get a little claustrophobic and may have trouble with ear pressure as technicians dive you down to what equals 33 feet of sea water.

Nystul has also seen some added benefits. "I find my skin is clear, my hair's been growing faster and it's thicker," she said.

Now, Nystul's just hoping for some patience. "Patience is not a virtue of mine and you really kind of have to be patient with this treatment," she said.

Nystul said she's looking forward to giving up her crutches and getting her days back.

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Erin Goff

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