94 Main Street, Suite E
Hilton Head, SC  29926
Our Patient Testimonials
(843)-681-3300
At first I noticed the stiffness in my fingers and feet.  The swelling and pain increased to include my wrists and elbows.  Driving became impossible and walking was becoming increasingly more difficult. 
Blood tests helped my doctor confirm that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I was given oral medication and told it would take 3 to 6 months for the medicine to reach its full effect.  I could then expect to begin feeling relief from my symptoms. 
As a respiratory therapist being familiar with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, my sister suggested that I try HBOT.  It was truly like a miracle.  The swelling and pain subsided.  I could drive again and walk normally.  Down to only one old pair of stretched out shoes, I could again wear all of my other shoes. 
I am completely convinced that HBOT helped alleviate my symptoms as my therapy took place only three weeks into the start of my oral medication.                                         - Sheila Hunt


The whole concept made sense to me. Scientifically trained, with a 30+ year career in research and development, I was aware of the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. I had also followed the success stories of professional athletes being treated for injuries with HBOT.  After undergoing extensive open back surgery that involved five vertebral discs, my recovery was unremarkable but still entailed a great deal of post-op pain and stiffness. I began twice daily HBOT treatments 18 days after surgery. The benefits that I experienced were extremely fast healing of my large surgical incision and the ability to significantly decrease the heavy doses of medication needed to control pain. Each succeeding day of treatment brought added relief from pain and stiffness. After a total of 8 days in treatment, my improvement was so substantial that I was functionally a different person. I would recommend anyone recovering from surgery should strongly consider HBOT as a route to accelerating recovery and the healing process.  
- Phil Wagner.   



Symptomatic since age 3, my daughter, Contessa, was finally given a
diagnosis at age 10 after many frustrating years. Multiple Sclerosis (MS),
an auto-immune disorder causing plaques or lesions to form in her nervous
system, was to blame. She was placed under the care of a neurologist and
conventional treatment was started.
My husband and I researched the Internet for all available and cutting edge
treatments currently used worldwide in the combat of MS. We found many
people using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy with reports of positive results.
We started HBOT in September of 2007 and Contessa has been free of
relapses for the past 18 months.We soon noticed improvements in her skin
tone, ability to concentrate on school work and decrease in mood swings.
Great news came with her latest MRI results that showed no new lesions
and significant healing of some previous lesions.
Contessa has found increased stamina from her HBO treatments, now
actively participating in Girl Scout activities and Heroes on Horseback.       
- Deiha T. (Tessa's mom)

The news was bad. My orthopedist reported the ankle sprain that I suffered during my school basketball game was the most serious of its kind – a Grade III, requiring immobilization in a hard cast and possibly months to heal before returning to sports. Understanding the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and knowing that high profile, professional athletes have used it to accelerate recovery, my dad,  immediately contacted Hyperbaric Therapy of the Lowcountry and within 24 hours of my injury, I started HBOT. My pain was quickly gone and the swelling was dramatically decreased. Under the care of a physical therapist, I soon progressed to a walking boot and was able to shed it in one third of the projected time. By the end of week three, after a series of 15 HBO treatments, I was solidly into recovery and was able to press forward with rehab by running on the treadmill. In a little over four weeks, I was cleared to return to the court.
- Peter S.



Sixteen months into her young life, Emily was failing to thrive and was diagnosed with Autism. Under the care of nationally recognized D.A.N. (Defeat Autism Now) physician, Dr. Dan Rossignol, it was recommended that Emily immediately start a multi-pronged biomedical treatment plan to combat the condition. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy was part of the plan and at 17 months of age she began her treatments. Emily’s family was committed to her therapies. The progress that Emily has made over the past year overcoming the many symptoms that accompany Autism and her return to normal developmental levels has delighted her family and has been an amazing story to see.
                                        Eileen (Emily's mom)



I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for over 20 years.  I was experiencing another bout of chronic, debilitating inflammation when I decided to try hyperbaric oxygen. My response was dramatic. The fingers in my left hand straightened out completely. The joints of my right hand which had become quite deformed began to regain their normal shape and function. The swelling in my feet was reduced so significantly that I had to buy shoes a half size smaller. Other beneficial changes I’ve noticed included a reduction in chronic muscle tension, improved sleep, and skin changes. For example, the chronic skin problems on my feet completely cleared up and my overall skin tone has improved.  The increase in energy, clarity in thinking, and sense of well-being that I feel with the hyperbaric oxygen is wonderful!  The chronic joint pain is gone. And unlike RA medications I’ve tried, I don’t have to worry about side effects.   
  Susan Auger



  Excerpt from Carson's Story (click to read full testimonial)
                      


After a normal pregnancy, Carson was born by C-section without                                 complications.  For the first six weeks of his life, he was a well baby.                             At six weeks of age, Carson became extremely ill, having contracted                             pertussis.  Hospitalized and placed on a ventilator, his condition worsened and he suffered cardio-pulmonary arrest. Although hospital staff performed CPR and were able to resuscitate him, he sustained anoxia to the brain.......At age 2 years and 2 months, Carson underwent his first set of 40 HBOT treatments..........With each HBOT treatment thereafter, it became very evident that his muscles were getting looser and by the twentieth treatment, he was sitting up, unassisted, and starting to play while in the hyperbaric chamber.......After this second set of treatments we saw the greatest improvement in his speech as he began to mimic words and use multiple word sounds in sentence form.  He became socially interactive and playful, loving to tease his older brother, Dillon.  We noticed his eyes had more depth and he was so much more alert to his surroundings.  His balance and weight bearing continued to improve and he began walking with a medical walker.  He continues to love his new found mobility.......Currently, Carson is in the process of completing his third set of 40 HBOT treatments since he started hyperbaric therapy in the fall of 2007.  To us, the concept of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is so simple to understand – getting the dormant cells in Carson’s injured brain filled with oxygen and functional so that he can experience the best quality of life that we can give to him. We are so proud of his progress.  We thank the Lord and the natural healing power of 100% pure oxygen.

                                                                          - Tana S. (Carson's mom)


It took me by surprise.  The painful spider bite on my upper arm was rapidly worsening and the wound was growing larger.  My doctor told me that the Brown Recluse Spider bite I had was further being complicated because of my diabetes.  Suffering daily with tenderness and pulsating pain, I was unable to do household chores and night time pain interrupted my sleep.  Before resorting to a skin graft, my surgeon suggested I try HBOT.  My family and I watched with our own eyes as each successive treatment aided my wound closing and finally healing.  An even bigger surprise was the improvement I had with problems relating to a stroke I suffered in 2004.  I can now walk much farther, keep my balance, speak more clearly.  Thank you to Dr. Stephens and Hyperbaric Therapy of the Lowcountry - I am so grateful!

- Elaine Delph



While lifting weights at a local gym, I suffered an injury to the discs in my back.  My pain worsened and I sought treatment from my orthopedist who recommended surgical repair.  After surgery, I began HBOT treatments immediately post operatively.  My surgeon and his staff were extremely pleased and impressed with my accelerated healing and the positive impact HBOT made on my post surgical recovery.
- Andrew Carrabba.



My doctor told me the very exercise and active lifestyle I was leading in order to stay healthy, caused me to have a condition known as “overuse injury”, and as the name implies is a result of joint overuse.  I began taking prescription anti-inflammatory medication, but if I missed a dose, the pain was back.  I could no longer complete my workouts and my lifestyle became compromised.

I decided to try Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for its anti-inflammatory benefits.  My results were significant. After 17 treatments, I became pain free, no longer use the medication and am back to leading an active lifestyle with family, work and returned to my previous exercise workouts.
-Tom Curry.

For the past eight years I have suffered with painful bursitis of the hips.  I had exhausted the list of remedies – anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone shots, ice and heating pads.  Nothing seemed to offer me complete relief.

Being an avid NBA basketball fan, I noted that Dirk Nowitski, of the Dallas Mavericks, suffered a serious ankle sprain and retuned to play two nights later.  The television announcer, in describing his treatment, extolled the benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as the reason for reducing the inflammation in Dirk’s ankle and his rapid return to the court.  It dawned on me that the pain of bursitis was essentially also caused by inflammation and that I, too, might find benefit from giving HBOT a try.

After each session in the hyperbaric chamber, my condition improved and I no longer suffer with unmanageable pain.  I began sleeping better, as well.  Shortly before I started treatment, I had also had a number of sun lesions treated on my hands which caused them to be so red and thin looking.  The chamber reduced the redness and made my hands feel and look so much better.

In the future, if I need to have any type of surgery, I most definitely will have Hyperbaric Therapy of the Lowcountry assist in the healing.  I am totally convinced of the benefits of this therapy. 

- Barbara Ryan

After having symptoms for the past 6 years, doctors at MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) finally gave me a diagnosis of scleroderma.  I was losing the use of my hands because of stiffness and ulcers that were developing on the tips of my fingers.  I was overcome by fatigue and depression from dealing with the unrelenting pain that plagued me day and night.  I struggled with simple daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing and preparing meals.  I was under the care of a pain management specialist.

After reading the success story of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, I decided to give HBOT a try in hope that it would also help my condition. 

I feel that the treatment saved my life.  Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy caused my digital ulcers to heal, the stiffness decreased and the ability to use my hands improved in my estimation by 90%.  Most importantly, I am
pain free without the use of my previous medications.  My energy level has returned, I am able to work full time and I can complete household chores.  I have a social life again and feel normal. 

My doctors at MUSC are pleased with my dramatic improvement and encourage me to continue with HBOT.  Thank you Dr. Pete Stephens and the staff at Hyperbaric Therapy of the Lowcountry, you saved my life!

- Laura Dempey

A year ago he lost his ability to speak, stopped making eye contact, acquired repetitive behaviors, became self-injurious and was no longer a part of this world.  He was locked inside of his toxic body at 2 ½ years old.  My son, Cole, was diagnosed with Autism.

We sought the help of a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctor who prescribed chelation therapy, anti-fungals and an anti-yeast diet to help eliminate the typical gastrointestinal problems that many Autistic children suffer with.  Our DAN doctor, Dr. Dan Rosignol, also encouraged us to get Cole into a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber as quickly as possible.   He explained to us that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy could help to reduce the inflammation surrounding the brain and immune system and that many of Cole’s stomach issues could be resolved with treatment.

To date, Cole has undergone 20 HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) treatments and we are already seeing some big “wows” in his recovery.  His teachers and therapists notice a positive change at school and state that he is more “on” than usual.  He is calmer, sleeps better and is making more direct eye contact. Many of Cole’s OCD behaviors have stopped.  He is also more aware of his environment and has better spatial awareness. He is showing greater interest in interacting with the rest of the family and best of all, he called me “mommy”, put three signs together to communicate “please more kisses”, and then he kissed me.  They say it takes about 35 treatments to see the real “WOWS”.   Fixing nutritional and digestive deficits with various therapies, detoxification and reduction of inflammation with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy….this is our battle plan to unlock our little boy.

- Eileen R. (Mother of Cole)

I sustained a deep puncture would in my lower leg when I accidentally backed into a sharp metal object.  By the next day, the puncture was severely infected.  I sought the help of my family doctor who put me on a combination of antibiotics.

After a month my leg was still swollen and the wound had become larger and refused to heal.  As an artist, I was having difficulty standing at my easel to paint because of the pain and burning I was experiencing in my leg.  My doctor suspected that my infection was being caused by highly antibiotic resistant bacteria called MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). 

A friend suggested that I try Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) along with the antibiotics I was still taking.  After only a few treatments, the remaining infection cleared, the wound healed and the swelling from the inflammation went away.  My only regret is that I wasn’t aware of the benefits of HBOT earlier in my ordeal.

- Cheryl  Eppolito

I first read about HBOT in a book called Children With Starving Brains by Jacquelyn McCandliss.  This book is about bio medical intervention for children with Autism.  It is very supportive of HBOT and lists detailed benefits that help almost all children on the spectrum.  Alex, my four year old son, was completely non-verbal before he started HBOT.  He has gained a total of 37 words after completing 40 dives of HBOT over the course of eight weeks.

Alex never used to look at me or anyone else in the eyes for any reason.  Now, when he hears my voice especially, he looks up at me and makes our eyes meet.  It has proven to me that he is beginning to become aware of his surroundings and is in tune with what is going on around him.   It is as if he is “waking up.” 

A wonderful effect of HBOT has been Alex’s receptive language.  He is gaining the ability to understand what I am saying to him.  Before HBOT started, my commands to him made no sense and he never responded to anything I said. Now he seems to listen and truly understand what I am saying.  For example, if I say, “let’s put your shoes on…”  Alex will sit down and put his feet out. 

When I first brought Alex in to be treated with HBOT, his feet were cracked open and bleeding from severe eczema.  He was on Diflucan anti fungal medication, but it was not working. Photos were taken at the clinic that show how severe his feet were.  After 30 dives, Alex’s feet were healed and smooth.  There was slight redness but only due to mildly dry skin.  The healing of the eczema made Alex a much happier little boy because he was getting better sleep at night and not waking up to scratch as he was before.  This change was an amazing and undeniable added benefit, documented by photographs.  

Alex’s life has changed dramatically with just 40 dives of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.  He is happier and healthier.  Words are too pale to express the gratitude I have for Dr. Stephens and his staff providing treatment to Alex.  I would never have been able to have explored this therapy, which Alex has responded so beautifully to, without your kindness, patience, and understanding.  We are forever indebted to you, as you have started us on our path to healing and recovery.  God Bless.
- Jennifer M. (Alex's mom)

Standing for long periods of time without moving, during my long career as a retail pharmacist, resulted in an unfortunate consequence for me – insufficient blood circulation in my lower extremities. For many years I have been treated for hypertension and poor peripheral circulation and even with medication and the use of support stockings, I experienced tired legs and my condition did not improve. I decided to give Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy a try.

My results were dramatic. I refer to it as "synergism" or "one plus one equals three".  The addition of HBOT to my treatment protocol, along with my usual medications, helped to decrease my blood pressure and my tired legs felt rejuvenated. Overall, my feelings of general well-being were greatly improved and I am able to enjoy golf again. The addition of HBOT to my treatment regime added up to a correct answer to my problems.

- Richard DeKany

My daughter, Taylor spent the summer being a mother’s helper to a family whose autistic children require daily Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. After checking with the doctor (to clear her medically first), part of Taylor’s job was to accompany the children as a dive partner into the chamber for their treatments.  I soon began to realize that she too was beginning to reap the benefits of HBOT.

Taylor was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder five years ago and although she had been treated with medication, school work and reading continued to be a challenge for her.  After about 20 dives, I noticed a considerable change in Taylor’s ability to concentrate.  She began a summer reading assignment and was able to stay focused on eight chapters over the span of two days.  Taylor’s sense of accomplishment was monumental.  Who would have thought that a summer job could have led to improvement in my daughter’s own condition?  I am truly convinced of the effect that HBOT had on Taylor.

Thank you Dr. Pete Stephens and staff!
- Michele C. (Taylor's mom)


I didn’t pay much attention to it when it happened.  It was some type of an insect that stung me on my foot while I was doing some work inside of a dark shed.  But, within a few hours afterwards, my entire foot began to swell and the pain began to intensify at an alarming rate.

I went to the Emergency Room at Hilton Head Regional Healthcare where I was seen by a doctor, received medication and was told that my bite was most probably from a brown recluse spider. I had no idea that such a highly poisonous spider lived in our area and that so many people have been bitten and suffer serious consequences.  My parents contacted Hyperbaric Therapy of the Lowcountry and I started HBOT right away.

After receiving four treatments, my foot and leg returned to normal. The hyperbaric therapy reduced the inflammation and swelling and helped me to avoid the terrible wound complications that can result from this type of poisonous spider bite.  
- Matthew C.


     





Please click
to read our feature story.in 
CH2 Magazine - (August 2008)
“Happy Cracker” and Other Stories: Hyperbaric Therapy of the Lowcountry

2009 Hyperbaric Therapy of the Lowcountry: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. All Rights Reserved.