Problems at 12,000'
 

For altitude sickness I have a prescription for Diamox. I tried it for 2 days at home and had no ill effects. But now my ophthalmologist is concerned about the effects of high altitude on my glaucoma. I also saw a glaucoma specialist and he is just concerned about my low blood pressure at that altitude. My lower number (diastolic) is 68-70 in mid day and evening but is 76-78 in early morning. Anyone have any knowledge or experience of high altitudes with glaucoma and low Blood pressure? Not sure if my travel insurance would pay. Though I do have pre-existent conditions coverage, they want one to prove that this is some new happening since the day I bought the insurance. HELP! I am supposed to leave in two weeks!

Your doctors are your best source of information on these matters.

Where are you going in Bhutan? Most of the tourist towns where you will be staying are at lower elevations. Paro, where the airport is located has an altitude of 7200 feet. Tiger's Nest outside of Paro is a climb to 10,000 feet. Thimphu, the capital is at 7500 feet. The town of Punakha is one of the lowest at 4400 feet. In central Bhutan, the town of Jakar in the Bumthang Valley has an altitude of 8700 feet. There are some mountain passes between the towns, where the altitude is higher. For instance, Pele La is at 11,200 feet. However, you won't be spending much time there. Overall, the average altitude in Bhutan is 8,000 feet. With these figures in mind, you should ask your doctor what the impact will be.

All I can do is relate personal experience regarding blood pressure. My wife has low BP ~100-110/60-70. She did absolutely fine at Kala Pattar (~18,000'), carrying a full backpack on the Inca Trail (~14,000' pass), and on Kilimanjaro (19K')

BUT ... we followed all the recommended acclimatization steps: stayed hydrated, moved up in altitude slowly, maintained a steady, even, sustainable pace while moving. We did not use Diamox (though I have at higher elevations).

There is no predicting how altitude will affect a given person from one trip to the next, but the odds are better if you follow the standard guidelines.

Good luck, have a safe and fun trip.

Kathie is absolutely right, the only people that you should seek advice from are you own medical,practitioners. Anyone else's experience is largely irrelevant.

If you have coverage for pr existing conditions then presumably you were required to disclose these conditions when taking out the policy. If so, and they accepted risk, then you would be covered. I am not sure I understand what you mean when you say "they want one to prove that this is some new happening since the day I bought the insurance" if this has happened since buying the policy and you have not disclosed the conditions then it is highly unlikely that you will be covered.

Here is one of the acknowledged medical specialists on the subject:
http://www.altitudemedicine.org/inde...ch/dr.-hackett

They have a page on preexisting conditions:
http://www.altitudemedicine.org/inde...ing-conditions

You can contact them for more information to supplement what your doctors are saying:
http://www.altitudemedicine.org/inde...e/support-ifam

If you do that it would be interesting to hear what they have to say.

Do C your MD . I can say as a health professional that BP numbers need to be evaluated in context with your overall condition by your MD