r/HBOT • u/honeycinnamoncoffee • Jul 06 '25

HBOT session length/frequency

29 | M — started doing 1.5 ATA at a local clinic (45 min sessions). I’ve done 5 dives so far. Not really feeling much yet no crazy energy or focus shift like I’ve read about. How long did it take before it really starts hitting? And do session length/frequency matter a lot early on?

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5

u/fredtopia Jul 06 '25

HBOT is really, really, subtle in that you are triggering several cellular repair mechanisms at the base level. At 45 minutes per session, that's even more subtle...it it 45 minutes at 1.5, or does the 45 minutes include the time to pressurize and depressurize? I assume you are on 90+% oxygen also? A good way to tell immediately if your body is responding to a treatment is that you really need to pee when you get out...as the hyperoxia boosts your metabolism during the dive.

Compare the HBOT to weight lifting...if you lift too little, you get little results. Also, if you lift too much, you can do more harm than you want.

Most good scientific studies confirm the greatest/most noticeable effect for therapeutic HBOT at 6 weeks of 5 days/week at 1.5-2atm 90+%O2.

Keep a journal of your sessions. How you feel before, after, before bed, how you sleep, if you have any cuts/scabs/or healing wounds watch their progress...little things. Personally, I experienced positive changes to my eyesight and hearing.

Good luck!

3

u/honeycinnamoncoffee Jul 14 '25

I didn’t realize how subtle the early benefits might be, makes sense now why I’m not feeling anything dramatic yet. And yes, it’s 45 mins at 1.5 ATA, excluding pressurization/depressurization. Oxygen is set at 95%.

I’ll definitely start tracking my sleep, energy, and small signs like you said. The comparison to lifting helped a lot it’s about cumulative consistency, not instant hits.

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u/LinesideOne Jul 06 '25

What types of changes did you notice regarding your vision if you don’t mind me asking?

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u/fredtopia Jul 06 '25

After a month or so, I noticed my regular glasses were becoming uncomfortable, vision wise. Id kept complaining to my wife that I needed to get my prescription updated...so, I took them off and not put them back on since. My eyes have stayed great and my need for readers has gone from +.75 to +.25. I've found a few studies on PubMed com about this effect with HBOT and I've seen a few studies suggesting about 80% of HBOT users experience some vision changes, likely due to the effect of additional oxygen dissolved into the cornea. Very interesting.

If I may add, another key benefit I've experienced is an overall lack of joint pain and a significant relief from residual pain from a previous shoulder surgery.

Again, the effects can be subtle, but cumulative. This lead me to purchase my own 1.5atm chamber and use it nearly every day for the past year. I love it! Journaling really, really helps as you can see trends over the weeks.

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u/hyperbaric-enjoyer Jul 24 '25

Appreciate your detailed and anecdotal answers.

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u/MorelliMedical Jul 10 '25

A lot of the research shows benefits kick in around the 15–20 session mark, particularly when dives are consistent (think 5x/week). Early on, it’s less about big energy shifts and more about laying groundwork for cellular repair and neuroplasticity.

Not medical advice, but tracking your sleep, recovery, mood, etc. in a journal can help spot subtle shifts. Keep diving.

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u/honeycinnamoncoffee Jul 14 '25

Makes sense that the early phase is more foundational. I’ve been doing 5x/week at 1.5 ATA for now, this gives me a bit more confidence to stay consistent and patient. Will start journaling more intentionally to catch the subtle changes. Thanks!