What to expect — so you walk in calm and ready.
A short guide to your first hyperbaric session at ReEnergized Long Beach. Read this the day before — it answers the questions most first-time guests ask in the lobby. Questions left? Call (562) 689-9888 and we'll talk you through anything.
Before you arrive
First-visit intake takes about 20 minutes — health questionnaire review, ear-clearing competency check, and a tour of your chamber. After that, you'll arrive 5–10 minutes before each session.
Cotton t-shirt, cotton joggers or shorts, cotton socks. No synthetics, no nylon, no polyester. This is a fire-safety requirement of any hyperbaric chamber. We have cotton scrubs available if you forget.
Lighters, vape pens, battery devices, lotions, perfumes, cosmetics, hair products, deodorant aerosols. Phones and metal jewelry stay outside the chamber. Eyeglasses are fine.
A light meal 1–2 hours before is ideal. Avoid carbonated drinks and heavy meals right before a session. Bring water. Caffeine is fine in moderation.
4434 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90804. Street parking and lot parking available. Allow a few extra minutes during PCH rush hour.
What happens in the chamber
Three phases. None of them are uncomfortable when you know what to expect.
The chamber gently pressurizes. You'll feel a sensation in your ears — like an airplane descent. This is normal. Equalize early and often (see below). If you can't clear, tell us via the in-chamber intercom — we'll pause and re-descend.
You'll breathe 100% oxygen via a mask or hood (Fortius) or the chamber atmosphere (Vitaeris/Quamvis/Respiro). Most people read, watch shows on their own device (we'll show you the setup), listen to music, or nap. Time goes faster than you'd think.
We bring you back to surface pressure slowly. No ear work needed on the way up — gas comes out of the middle ear automatically. You'll feel completely normal when the door opens.
What's allowed in the chamber — and what isn't
Hyperbaric environments concentrate oxygen, which raises the fire-ignition risk for the wrong materials. This list is universal across every credentialed HBOT facility — and yes, we'll check at the door. Front desk holds your phone, keys, and anything else not on the green list.
- ✓100% cotton clothing — t-shirt, joggers, socks (we provide cotton scrubs if you forget)
- ✓Plastic-frame eyeglasses (no metal components)
- ✓Bottled water in an approved container
- ✓Hypoallergenic 100% cotton blanket — we provide one
- ✓Hyperbaric-safe mobility aids (we'll coordinate in advance)
- ·Synthetic fabrics — nylon, polyester, fleece, wool
- ·Metal — jewelry, watches, belt buckles, hairpins, zippers
- ·Phones, tablets, smart watches, fitness trackers, wireless earbuds, vape pens, lighters
- ·Lithium batteries of any kind (thermal-runaway fire risk under pressure)
- ·Lotions, cosmetics, lipstick, hairspray, alcohol-based sanitizers, scented deodorants
- ·Food (water only)
Our rule: "If you're not sure, leave it with us." Staff will swap, store, or substitute anything you bring in good faith.
Ear clearing — the one skill that matters
The only physical sensation in hyperbaric is in your ears, and it's the same sensation as an airplane descent. Every diver, pilot, and HBOT patient learns this in 60 seconds. We'll practice with you before your first session.
- ·Pinch your nose and gently blow against pinched nostrils — the Valsalva maneuver
- ·Yawn widely and swallow
- ·Wiggle your jaw side to side
- ·Combined technique — swallow, wiggle your jaw, and gently blow against your pinched nose all at once (best for stubborn ears)
- ·Stay ahead of the pressure — clear every few seconds during descent, not when it hurts
- ·If you have a cold, congestion, or recent ear surgery — reschedule. We'd rather move your session than risk a barotrauma
The chamber you'll be in
Your consultation determines which chamber matches your goal. All four are quiet, well-lit, and climate-controlled.
Medical-grade hard-shell · 2.0 ATA · the published recovery-research depth. Full mask or hood.
Soft-shell · 1.3 ATA · cognitive and longevity work. Open feel, plenty of light.
Soft-shell · 1.5 ATA · mid-depth therapeutic work. Most versatile.
Soft-shell · 1.3 ATA · introductory and membership-tier sessions.
Chamber and room oxygen are continuously monitored and held under the 23.5% fire-safety threshold. This is the same standard used by credentialed wellness-based hyperbaric centers — and the reason we're strict about the no-synthetics, no-electronics rule.
You can talk to your operator at any moment during a session. If something feels off — ears, breathing, anxiety, anything — we hear you immediately and adjust pressure or pause. You are never alone in there.
Tell us at intake. Most people manage it easily with breathing technique, lighting choice, a familiar show on a tablet (Fortius), or a shorter first session. Mild sedation, when appropriate, is coordinated with your physician — never an in-house decision.
Tell us every visit — even if it feels minor
Your intake is detailed, but your body changes between sessions. Before every chamber visit, a staff member runs a 60-second check-in to catch anything that's shifted since last time. None of this is meant to gatekeep — it's how we keep your ears, your blood sugar, and your protocol on track.
- ·Any change in your health, medications, or supplements since your last visit
- ·Cold, flu, sinus or chest congestion — even mild (it changes how your ears will clear)
- ·Possible pregnancy
- ·Skipped a meal before today's session
- ·Recent insulin dose if you're diabetic
- ·Any new injury, surgery, or imaging since intake
Some medications (certain chemotherapy agents, high-dose opioids, specific stimulants), and some hardware (central lines, PICCs, ports, tracheostomy tubes, infusion pumps, neurostimulators) need a quick compatibility check before your first session — not because they rule out HBOT, but because the protocol and timing may need to shift. We handle this through the o2providers safety screening; your referring physician is looped in for anything beyond routine.
Questions before your session?
Our IBUM-certified team is trained to answer every "is this normal?" question in plain language. Nothing about hyperbaric is meant to feel uncertain.
Three paths — risk assessment, fitness assessment, physician consult.
Five chamber depths from 1.0 to 2.0 ATA — what each one is for.
10, 20, 40, 60-session packages with research backing.