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Doctari
12-23-2004, 15:40
I seem to have gotten altitude sickness, or at least what I think of as a mild case, my last few trips to the AT. Almost as soon as I get to altitude I get mild flue like symptoms, that linger for about 5 to 6 days. I live at about 400 ft, seems that near about 1200 the symptoms start.
This is nothing I'm really worried about, as I said, the symptoms are mild & pass quick enough, just posting to see if anyone else experienced this at such low altitude.

Doctari.

Bloodroot
12-23-2004, 16:05
I seem to have gotten altitude sickness, or at least what I think of as a mild case, my last few trips to the AT. Almost as soon as I get to altitude I get mild flue like symptoms, that linger for about 5 to 6 days. I live at about 400 ft, seems that near about 1200 the symptoms start.
This is nothing I'm really worried about, as I said, the symptoms are mild & pass quick enough, just posting to see if anyone else experienced this at such low altitude.

Doctari.Man that is a low altitude. This has happened several times you say? Were you moving pretty fast up to 1200'?

food
12-23-2004, 16:32
You better never fly. According to my altimeter the airlines only pressurizes the cabins to about 7,000 ft.

Mags
12-23-2004, 16:37
Most people know to not suffer from altitude sickness that they should slowly acclimate to higher elevations.

What is less known is the importance of hydration as well. Drink lots of water, drink often. If you have the typical hikers diet, you probably have enough salt to go with all the water.

If you are not hydrated, your body is less efficient in carrying all the 02 throughout the body. Are you hydrated enough?

Finally, though altitude sickeness can strike at any altitude, it is indeed extreme to get it as low at 1200 feet. You may have a low V02 rate (how efficiently your body processes 02 essentially). Your bodies V02 rate is mainly set from birth. You can improve it by being in good health, but again the base level is pretty much determined at birth. If you go up in altitude, you tend to be less efficient in 02, esp. if the VO2 rate is low.
There are a few drugs that can help compensate. Diamox being the most well known and there is some research that Viagra helps as well (seriously!).

You will want to consult a physician. A real doc would tend to know more than someone posting on the internet (like me. :D). Of course, OB is a real doc who does post on the Internet. Maybe he can chime in.

Mags
12-23-2004, 16:41
Also, this link should tell more about this concept as well.

http://www.hastc.nau.edu/text/vo2max_text.htm

Groucho
12-23-2004, 17:16
I seem to have gotten altitude sickness, or at least what I think of as a mild case, my last few trips to the AT. Almost as soon as I get to altitude I get mild flue like symptoms, that linger for about 5 to 6 days. I live at about 400 ft, seems that near about 1200 the symptoms start.
This is nothing I'm really worried about, as I said, the symptoms are mild & pass quick enough, just posting to see if anyone else experienced this at such low altitude.

Doctari.

Dorothy Laker spoke of having altitude sickness when starting her hikes. In Hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Doctari
12-23-2004, 20:39
Yea, I was "going pretty fast" for the elevation change, ususllay starting fairly high after being dropped off at the trail head for a section hike.

My O2 use usually is fairly good, but my average O2 sat is 98% mayhaps that affects me?

I have flown before, several times, but not since I began to have these symptoms, if indeed they are symptoms of altitude sickness & not just coincidence, I.E. I get the flue every time I go hiking. Which I guess is possible, even probable, just seems to only hit when I have done the go to the mountains thing. Anyway, I love to fly, just havn't had any reason to do so in the last few years.

As I said before, its not that much of a problem, mildly annoying is all, & seems to pass as quickly as it comes.

Seems my question was answered tho don't it: I am probably a rare case to get sick at lower altitude. 1200 may be a low guess, first time was a section hike: along the south end of SNP. Started almost as soon as I hit the park, ended about 1/2 way home to Cinti. Almost as if someone flipped a switch.
I was fit, only 3 weeks after a 100+ mile trip in NC/TENN (ending at newfound gap in the smokies) with NO symptoms. & every trip since starts with at least 4 days of mild nausia & (non hiking) muscle ache. I normally DO NOT get sick, , EVER!

Doctari.

Footslogger
12-23-2004, 20:49
I seem to have gotten altitude sickness, or at least what I think of as a mild case, my last few trips to the AT.
Doctari.=====================
Pretty unlikely that it was bona fide altitude sickness at those elevations. Hard to know for sure but my guess is that you may have had an underlying cold and became a bit dehydrated.

'Slogger
AT 2003

flyfisher
12-23-2004, 20:59
I have had headaches from altitude sickness... but never on the AT. I have had headaches beginning a hike that I attribute to caffene withdrawl - I drink enough water that I doubt that as an etiology, though it also can give me a headache.

Pencil Pusher
12-23-2004, 21:33
I thought 1200 was a typo and you meant 12,000 which is more understandable. But on the AT?:confused: Is it even possible? It seems like you'd have to do a lot of things wrong all at once...

Ridge
12-23-2004, 22:27
...and/or a sinus problem. I have had real altitude sickness in extreme high elevations, but have had something similar, but was actually an inner ear inbalance or something, on Mt Mitchell (little over 6000') near Asheville,NC and once on LeConte in GSMNP. My problem is worse if I have recently been scuba diving.

grrickar
12-23-2004, 22:40
...and/or a sinus problem. I have had real altitude sickness in extreme high elevations, but have had something similar, but was actually an inner ear inbalance or something, on Mt Mitchell (little over 6000') near Asheville,NC and once on LeConte in GSMNP. My problem is worse if I have recently been scuba diving.
I agree with Ridge - I used to have horrible sinus issues and flying usually brought about a raging sinus infection. Earaches, stuffy nose, sinus headaches, pressure, and body aches. I do not have allergies, and my ENT diagnosed me with non-allergic chronic rhinitus. He wrote me a scrip for Flonase and Astelin. Very few sinus issues since.

I doubt you had altitude sickness at that elevation, but I suppose it is possible. If you have sinus issues from time to time ask your doctor about the possibility that it is your sinuses. I flew once and on the way up my ears popped as they should have to equalize pressure, but on the way down they did not. It was quite possibly the worst pain I have ever felt, and I could not hear correctly for several days, and I had fluid in my ear.

The highest I have been is about 9100, and I think I had a mild case of altitude sickness then. It wasn't debilitating, and I kept going, but i was really winded and felt weak despite being in good shape.

One more thing on sinus infections - I went for about 6 months where I did not really feel like doing much, and my energy was low. I was working out in the gym constantly and thought it had something to do with it. I finally went to a doctor, who told me that it could be an ongoing sinus infection that I really never get over, so my body is constantly fighting it off. Again, after using the prescription nasal sprays I have not had very many issues.