As the founder and Managing Director of Just Breathe O2, I live and breathe (pun intended!) the incredible benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact it has on so many of our clients, supporting everything from recovery and well-being to managing various health challenges.

But sometimes, even when you’re deeply immersed in something, you can forget to apply those very principles to yourself. That’s exactly what happened to me over the past nine weeks. I’ve been battling a relentless, productive cough, a constant companion that has significantly impacted my sleep, energy levels, and overall well-being.

Last week, in a moment of sheer exhaustion, I finally sought medical advice and was prescribed a course of steroids. The relief within the first 24 hours was remarkable. The persistent, nagging cough seemed to quieten, and for a brief period, I felt like myself again. And then it hit me – the steroids are powerful anti-inflammatories. If that’s the mechanism providing relief, then surely HBOT, with its well-documented anti-inflammatory properties, should offer a similar benefit!

It struck me as almost comical – here I am, championing the power of oxygen therapy, and yet I hadn’t immediately thought to use it for my own ailment. It’s a stark reminder that even those who “know” can sometimes overlook the most obvious solutions for themselves. We become so focused on helping others that we forget to practice what we preach.

To give you some context, this cough began rather abruptly around the 21st of February. It followed a minor cold and coincided with a period of significant stress, both personally and within the business. It gradually intensified, and by the tenth day, I was experiencing back pain with each breath. A visit to the doctor reassured me that my oxygen saturation levels were good and my chest sounded clear, ruling out an immediate infection. I was advised to return if my breathing became difficult or if I coughed up blood. Thankfully, neither of those scenarios materialised, but the cough persisted stubbornly.

By week three, the nocturnal coughing had become so disruptive that sleep was a luxury. I resorted to using dispersible aspirin and propping myself up with multiple pillows, which thankfully offered some respite. I eventually stopped taking any medication around week seven, hoping my body would naturally recover. However, by the following week, with no improvement in sight, I contacted the doctor again, leading to the steroid prescription.

As I mentioned, the initial impact of the steroids was wonderful, a brief glimpse of my pre-cough self. But sadly, this relief was short-lived. By Friday, just four days into the course, the cough had returned with the same intensity, although the phlegm was slightly lighter in colour.

Finally, on Saturday, I had my first HBOT session. Thankfully, my wonderful husband James was able to come into the clinic and operate the chamber for me. I underwent a 60-minute session, with 45 minutes spent at 100 kilopascals (kpa). While the immediate, almost miraculous relief I experienced with the steroids wasn’t replicated, I definitely noticed a subtle but significant improvement. In fact, I even managed to sing a little in church yesterday evening without my voice completely giving way – a small victory that felt huge!

Today, I’m looking forward to another HBOT session, this time with our fantastic team member Steph running the chamber. I’m committed to documenting my progress and will be sharing an update later this week on any further benefits I experience.

This personal journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes the best solutions are right under our noses. It’s also a testament to the potential of HBOT to support the body’s natural healing processes, even in situations where conventional treatments might offer only temporary relief. Join me as I explore whether practicing what I preach can finally help me conquer this persistent cough!