BootsnAll Travel Community

Any of you who have climbed feel the symptoms of high altitude sickness..there is so much of research out there am getting lost. Any pointers? as how to minimise this affect...want to summit Kili end of the year!

- Spend the time to acclimatise
- Don't overdo it...if you feel severely sick, go down in elevation for a bit...don't force your body to do things it doesn't want to do (I did once, and man, I wanted to die that day).
- Drink lots of water
- Guides with emergency oxygen tanks are great!

I had it bad...I flew into a town at about 9000ft, and had altitude sickness for 6 days. Pounding headaches, lethargy, fatigue, lack of appetite, nausea. The worst by far were the headaches.

I also want to summit Kili, too! I'm just going to take it by the horns, and hope that my body adjusts better than my previous experience!

I had actually debated on taking Diamoxx (you have to take it a few days before getting to altitude), but decided against it as it dehydrates you even more. I forget what kind of side effects it has. It won't work if you're already at altitude either, so it's a decision you have to make beforehand.

quote:

Originally posted by Slip:
Seek out Donovan, he has probably spent more time on Kili than anyone else on the boards.

Donovan has been getting too many questions from me lately and am trying not to bug the guy...

Marisa wrote:
I also want to summit Kili

So girl you coming this dec!!

I'm no expert, but I think aside from all the really good advice other people are giving you, it'd be good to also prepar yourself mentally for the possibility that altitude sickness can hit anyone. If it get's really bad you simply have to call it off, and this has happened to even the best mountain climbers.

I worked in a YMCA summer camp once and one of the other counsellors got altitude sickness. She couldn't hold anything down, not even water. Eventually she just had to go home because it was getting too dangerous with the dehydration.

I have a appt with a Doc next week to see what i can do from now to prepare...hope she can be of some help.

madhu, check out www.basecampmd.com - on the left, you'll see a menu ('guide to high altitude medicine'). they have a very thorough section covering everything from AMS to khumbu cough to heartburn.

working on the deposit now!

I also found that sucking on candy helped a bit, I think the sugar helped (temporary relief). Also, I found drinking caffeinated drinks helped with temporary relief as well (like a Coca Cola); although it dehydrates you...which is not a good thing.

The site xoom posted is pretty with facts. Now that I've looked at all that, I do know that I had AMS, but may have had mild HAPE...I just thought I just got sick or something, but was congested and coughing quite a bit. Felt bad for the people I shared a dorm with. I did have a fever and cold sweats one night.

Also, another word of advice for preparing...start working out now!!! Fitness level is not an indicator of how well you'll take to altitude, but being in shape will definitley help hiking at altitude.

quote:

Originally posted by Marisa:
I had actually debated on taking Diamoxx (you have to take it a few days before getting to altitude), but decided against it as it dehydrates you even more. I forget what kind of side effects it has. It won't work if you're already at altitude either, so it's a decision you have to make beforehand.

I took a Diamox to climb Kili & failed at 5100m due to altitude sickness....I spoke to my GP about it who is a climber & he said it was a personal choice. Yes, it reduces the effects of Altitude on your body...but also if youre taking it then start feeling the symptoms, it makes you wonder how bad you'd be feeling if you hadnt taken it...

Then, if you get really sick it gives the medics one less drug to treat you with...

I turned back cos I was worried about permannet damage to myself...there are a number of graves of mostly japanese trekkers who died up there from pulmonary or cerebral odemas...as they wouldnt turn back due to loss of honour....I thought it wasnt worth risking my life for & didnt ruin my trip in the slightest...

Oh & the main side effects of diamox are tingling in your fingers & toes & it makes carbonted drinks taste like piss...well not literally...but you know what I mean. It therefore ruins your pre-climb beers...maybe not such a bad thing ?

ok so i'm starting to get worried. so, you're not stuck with the same crappy tolerance for altitude are you? i've been thinking about doing some 2- or 3-day hikes around northern puget sound, where it's a bit higher than anywhere in seattle.

i had a couple PM's going on with bear about the everest base camp - he urged me to hike high, and sleep low to acclimate. i wonder how long the acclimitization stays with you after you return from your hike (does that question make sense)?

agh i'm so ignorant when it comes to these things!! but hey i'm starting off with a day hike with a friend later today. although, i think maybe i should get my knee problems checked out soon.

oh one more thing about the diamoxx. i remember reading that some people recommend against taking it because it may mask the symptoms, which can be a freakin scary thing.

xoom, it all depends on your body and genetics. Everyone reacts differently to altitude. I know that I get pretty bad AMS. I had it for 6 days, which is longer than anyone I had met..some people don't get it at all, and some people have if for like 2 days then they're fine. And I have done some really stupid things while I had AMS, like going on a 6 hour hike because I thought it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Suffice to say, I did survive. But it was a pretty stupid decision. Would I do it again? Maybe...I tend to do a lot of stupid things when I travel

I know that I have altitude problems around at least 9000 ft. Some people have altitude problems lower than that, some higher.

At what elevation are those hikes around northern Puget sound?

Also, the length of time that the acclimitization stays with you also depends on your body. My last trip, I was mostly at high altitudes, but did go down to the beach for a few days. Then went back up. I wondered how my body was going to react being back at high altitude. I was fine, no AMS, just really gassy I did go down low and back up a few more times on my trip, and was fine.

i just came back from a day hike at discovery park. it kicked my ass at times, but for the majority of teh time, i was alright. we hiked to the top, but i'm sure it was nowhere near even 1000 feet. i'm trying to find some friends to go to orcas island for a long weekend to hike up mount constitution though (LOL only 2400 meters). we'll see how well i adjust. or if i can find anyone to come with, even.

hey, you gotta start somewhere! There aren't any mountains around me, and I did the "most difficult hike in central Texas" without a hitch. I have to go more for endurance instead of altitude when I want to hike close to home. I also carry a daypack and load it up to add to the workout.

2400 meters is quite high! If I were in the area, I'd go But the highest thing I get to hike is 1825 ft at the summit! But it's only 425 ft to the top. Keep at it, girl!

quote:

Originally posted by stiv:

I took a Diamox to climb Kili & failed at 5100m due to altitude sickness....I spoke to my GP about it who is a climber & he said it was a personal choice. Yes, it reduces the effects of Altitude on your body...but also if youre taking it then start feeling the symptoms, it makes you wonder how bad you'd be feeling if you hadnt taken it...

Then, if you get really sick it gives the medics one less drug to treat you with...

i wish i could get it. my doctor wouldnt hand it out, and said if you acclimatise properly you wont get AMS. also she wasnt sure how much and wouldnt ring anyone to find out. stupid english doctors.
i thought some people got it and some people didnt. of course acclimatising helps alot.

Who told you this? Your guide? Porters? Ha Ha.

quote:

I turned back cos I was worried about permannet damage to myself...there are a number of graves of mostly japanese trekkers who died up there from pulmonary or cerebral odemas...as they wouldnt turn back due to loss of honour....I thought it wasnt worth risking my life for & didnt ruin my trip in the slightest...

Listen, I have seen short, fat overweight woman make it to the top in five days, and strong mountain men struggle to even make it three days on the trail. There is no rule of thumb or no promise that you will, or won't summit. It just depends upon how well your body can adjust.

To increase your chance by about 40 percent, the best thing to do is to spend a day to acclimatise, drink loads of water, and take some diamox, if you want. Also if you go really slow "pole, pole"in Swahili, right from the start it will help conserve your energy. Other that that, pray to the mountain god, and the rest is pure luck.

I can't wait to see all of you on the mountain this year.

Donovan

Do you guys think me living in Florida at sea level for the last 13 years already puts me at a disadvantage?

Donovan, I know you said a lot of it has to do with how your body specifically deals with altitude as well as luck... but i'm wondering if the fact that I live so close to sea level that it would make a difference.

I have been doing some research and they say lot can be controlled with mental state as well...humm i guess I should take out those notes from my meditation classes and put em to practise....

Some of it is mental (if you're really anxious and really worried about it, you can get yourself worked up and believe you have symptoms). Some people told me it was *all* mental, which is a crock of shit. I hadn't heard of altitude sickness when I was in Vail. But now I know..why I was ill. Also, those killer headaches in Quito for 6 days straight...I wasn't worrying about altitude sickness then, but it got the best of me!

yesterday, at REI, i attended a lecture on preparation for summiting mt rainier, presented by someone that works as a guide with cascade alpine guides. at one point, someone asked about altitude sickness, and he suggested that they start drinking as much water as possible, as that may help in preventing altitude sickness. he suggested drinking somewehre between 3.5 to 5 litres of water a day during the climb, and if you don't want to keep peeing every 10 minutes, start drinking that much water in the weeks before the actual expedition so your body can get used to holding that much water.

also, he recommended against taking diamox. he said something about the side effects are almost the same as the symptoms itself. plus, he also pointed out that if you do end up needing medical attention and you're already on diamox, that's one less thing they can treat you with.

quote:

he suggested drinking somewehre between 3.5 to 5 litres of water a day during the climb

Sage advice, but it can be difficult to do this on the side of the mountain. Water bottles freeze SOLID on long climb days. See This Study

Your priorities on cold mountain days:

1) Drink lots before you leave camp so you don't have to carry as much. lighter loads=less sweat

2) Boil the water before you leave camp. It'll stay liquid longer.

3) Insulate your water bottle. Those sweet little Nalgene Parkas are too expensive. Save yourself the money: cut up an old ensolite pad and use some duct tape.

As I live in FL but love the mountains, I am always "scared" of AMS when I go but I have never had a problem, even out in the Rockys (I know it is not the same).

We acctually had this discussion in Phisiology class the other day and the good Dr. (both MD and PhD in Phis.) had some advice.

Get your self into as good caridovascular condition as possible. I know it all matters how you acclimate, but more Aerobic exercise will up your RBC count which means more O2 supply which REALLY helps.

Hydration. If it (your piss) "ain't clear and copious, it don't count and drink more."

Spend several days get up to starting altitude. Apperently we go too high too fast and it catches up 1-2 days later (never heard that before but he should know.)

No Alcohol or drugs for week before hand.

And finally just be in "good" health before hand. he said extra weight "CAN" be a big problem because all that mass (like on me ) has to not only be carried but hydrated and oxygenated as well.

I know that he has done Fuji, Killi, and I think Rainier or someother American summit but I can't remember what it was. He also said the drugs were a mainly, although not entirely a placebo effect.

As I said, this is mainly just info that I am passing on.

The exercise is all that I did before any trip and I have never had a problem. I think that O2 is the biggest issue.

CM

PS the free asinders of Everest (the ones that don't use canned O2) he called "crazier than a cardiologist on a bad day." not sure that is supposed to mean, but I tend to agree.