Altitude sickness question

[chizelhead]

I'm not a doctor. I have taken it. I'm not sure it helped, but I didn't get altitude sickness up to ~15.5k feet coming from sea level. I've been 0-13k ft a couple of times with no effect. I did a 4kft->10.5k->12.5k acclimation routine, but it was only over 3 days which wasn't enough. I camped at 13.5k ft. I recommend taking Diamox as a preventative if the doc says it's ok. Take it for a few days and see how you feel. You can taper off it if you want. I stayed on it until I got to 10.5k at the end of the hunt. It's a diuretic so you really need to be on top of drinking fluids in an already dry environment. My understanding is you need to take it a day before you start climbing. I'm not sure how it would work if you ascended, got sick, descended, and then started taking it.

The other thing that helps tremendously is improving your cardio/VO2 Max. Enabling your body to more efficiently process oxygen is a big help.

Good luck!

 

[Gun&BowSD]

I would always be skeptical about taking a new medication, deep in the woods, a long way from likely any real medical help. Is there any adverse affects to using it before altitude? Get some extra from your doc and run it for a day or two before the trip to see if you have adverse effects? Never knew there was altitude meds so these are genuine questions.

I came here with the expectation (and input) of text book answer of acclimation and taking your time. But this has been very interesting to read. Learn something new everyday

 

[mtnbound]

Thanks again to all who commented in this thread- I appreciate it. After talking with my doc, I got a script for Diamox. My plan is to not take it, but if I have problems, I'll drop elevation until I feel better, then take it before I head back up. I'd probably just take it right away, but I'm a Type 1 diabetic, so I'm on a number of medications already and it's likely in my best interest to not add another drug into the cocktail I already take each day.
Thanks again!

I think this is very smart on your part not to add another medication to the mix. Shortness of breath is all you mentioned before as a symptom and that by its self does not mean you have altitude sickness. If you start seeing or more importantly when others start seeing multiple symptoms then do as you planned and drop elevation. The most important thing is make sure everyone in the crew understands the signs and symptoms.


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