A CDC survey indicates that 1 in 13 American adults suffers from long COVID, characterized by symptoms lasting three or more months post-infection. This debilitating condition has led some to seek new treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), despite it not being FDA-approved for this use yet. Amanda Ballinger, who developed long COVID after a mild infection in December 2021, turned to HBOT out of desperation when traditional medical treatments offered little relief. She underwent 40 sessions at the Houston Hyperbaric Oxygen Center, experiencing significant improvement by her 25th session.

Dr. Allison Boyle, a neurologist who co-owns the center, initially treated burn and wound patients with HBOT, an FDA-approved use. However, about a quarter of their current patients seek treatment for long COVID. Although not covered by insurance and costing $180 to $295 per session, HBOT has shown promising results. Dr. Boyle, a skeptic of unproven treatments, acknowledges the positive outcomes she’s seen in long COVID patients. Amanda reports being about 90% recovered, with reduced brain fog and fatigue, illustrating the potential benefits of HBOT for long COVID sufferers.