Posted , 7 users are following.
8months after diagnosis I am on 8mg prednisone. Wondering if anyone has experience with high altitude or diamox, a medication referred to me for my upcoming trip to 3-4000 meters.
0 likes, 13 replies
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Flutterbie57 Miki680
Posted
I was unwell at the time of going to high altitude, but I wasn't diagnosed. I wasn't on Pred and did not choose to take anything else, but to drink lots and lots of water. I went with a friend who was similar in declining health. We were old, tired and worn out then, but we both had no trouble at high altitude.(not quite true... we both had to stop for a breath as we were mid way between 2nd and 3rd floor of hotels while dragging our luggage with us).
The mid aged, fit, mountain climbing, travel Dr I saw before I went, had collapsed at the same altitude. I can't remember the height, but it was Macchu Pichu. I do not know if water was our secret, but we were better off than others.
EileenH Flutterbie57
Posted
Machu Pichu is 2,400m, just under 8,000ft which is the altitude at which altitude sickness becomes a problem - but Cusco is 3,400m/11,150ft. Did you go up slowly or fly in? Mind you - you probably did far less at Cusco than the fit, mountain climbing travel doc!! And that would make a difference.
https://www.whereverwriter.com/prevent-altitude-sickness-cusco-machu-picchu/
is an interesting read I thought
Flutterbie57 EileenH
Posted
We went up to Cusco by bus, but flew into Quito which is closer to 9,000ft I think. We did not have any trouble there either. Bizarrely tho, we met a man in his 50's who had lived in Quito all his life and he got altitude sickness in Cusco. Travel doc said they could not predict who would have trouble and who would not. I bet he was more active than us tho.
EileenH Flutterbie57
Posted
So you acclimated slowly as the bus went up - which apparently also makes a difference. I'd love to go to Machu Pichu - ain't going to happen though!!
That other 2,000ft makes a BIG difference.
Flutterbie57 EileenH
Posted
Is it because of health that you won't go Eileen ? We could still do it, couldn't we ????
EileenH Flutterbie57
Posted
OH struggles enough at 2,000m - he had a lung removed because of cancer 25 years ago and had radiotherapy which didn't do the other a lot of good either! It wasn't lung cancer, just a tumour all tied up in the lung tissue.
Flutterbie57 EileenH
Posted
EileenH Flutterbie57
Posted
Exactly what I often tell people who think PMR is the end of the world. May slow us down a bit - but there's been a discussion on the HU forum about how people feel they have benefitted from learning that skill! - but it doesn't kill or maim and can be managed pretty well with the right dose of pred and some lifestyle adaptations.
We live at 850m and are away at present at about 650m at the top end of Lake Garda, going down to under 100m next week to the other end of Garda.
Miki680
Posted
EileenH Miki680
Posted
Miki680 EileenH
Posted
OK, thanks, I'll post if I actually go ---
Flutterbie57 Miki680
Posted
We are keen to go down the Amazon again. I am not sure whether we are getting older and wiser or older and sillier
Have fun and let us know how you go.
Miki680
Posted
My hope is that as we age we get all of the above: older, wiser, and sillier, We need all of them to deal with the PMR. Stay in the present, smile, be grateful.