Friends have asked what it’s like in the hyperbaric chamber, and if I can take books in with me. I can’t take in anything ‘cept what my mama gave me and 100 percent cotton scrubs (no velcro, eyelets, elastic, etc.).
Here’s a list of exclusions:
- Ointments
- Hairspray
- Hair accessories
- Hair gel or mousse
- Books
- Deodorant
- Lotions
- Makeup
- Perfume
- Cell phones
- MP3 players
- Jewelry
- Underwear
- Socks
- Drug patches
- Eyeglasses with titanium
- Hard contact lenses
- Petroleum-based products
The problem with all of these things is that they could cause a spark, create static electricity, or provide fuel in a flash fire. The attendant straps a grounding band around my wrist so that I myself don’t create static. Human bodies apparently are great fuel in that highly oxygenated environment.
When during my first consultation I learned that patients can only wear pure cotton scrubs, I thought I’d sew myself a special, ritualistic set in a special emblematic print. The doctor said I could, if I provided content labels and let him inspect them. So I went to the fabric store looking for a print that would represent oxygen, clouds, healing . . . but all that jumped out at me was a flame print. I considered it for a moment, since I regard fire imagery to represent powerful change.
But I told the doc this would be too dark. Just too dark. And he agreed.
