mnf

We just got back from BC/Vail and used Ginko for the week before we went and while there. None of us got altitude sickness and we skied our fist full day there.

I should note - we ALL (DH, DS - age 5, and me) got some form of altitude sickness (tiredness, sleeplessness, vomiting, etc.) when we travelled to Quito over the summer - so a combination of slightly lower altitude and the ginko seemed to work for us.

I would use ginko again.

skibunny

On my first ski trip to Breckenridge, I got altitude sickness. I was so miserable--bloated, headache, tired but couldn't sleep. I found it hard to keep up with the recommendations to drink fluids as my stomach felt so distended. Thankfully, it passed after a few days.

That being said, I told myself I had to do something different the next time I took a ski trip.

When I went to Heavenly, I got a prescription for Diamox. It really worked- no major problems whatsoever. It's unusual when you find out what Diamox is--it's a diruetic. Counterintuitive, but it works by altering the bicarbonate buffer system in the kidney that keeps the fluid balance in such a state you don't get altitutde sickness.

The only drawback was the strange, intermittent tingling I felt. However, I will own that I drank alcohol and caffeine which may have had something to do with it. Annoying as it was, it was much better than missing out on the first few days of vacation with altitude sickness.

babs001

On a trip to Breckenridge my mother had to be taken to Frisco to the small hospital there - severe altitude sickness (determined after heart attack was ruled out - similar symptoms). She was then sent to Denver. Everyone else headed on home and I stayed in Denver with her. Her doctor said that they repeatedly tell people to NOT fly into town and immediately head to reaort, but to wait a day or two, say in Golden, and start getting adjusted to the altitude. The doctor said if people would have a little more patience in getting to the mountain alot less altitude sickness would occur.

abram

A prescription for Diamox can certainly help, but Heavenly is more than 2000 feet lower than Breck, which can also make a significantt difference.

skibunny

Well, we leave for Breckenridge tomorrow and I started Diamox today. I'm sure the difference in elevation between Breck and Heavenly accounted for something. I'll see how I do this time.

etpiv

We live in Colorado and offer this advice: Stop soon after landing at the airport and buy a case of water. Start drinking immediately. Take an ibuprofin, but most importantly, LEAVE YOUR WINDOWS OPEN. You are trying to get what little oxygen there is into your room when you are sleeping. Even if it is just a crack, open the windows and turn up the heat if it is really cold.

MaureenB

We live in Colorado and visited Los Angeles this past week. We walked around thinking that sea-level is almost as hard on us as the high altitude is on people who visit the mountains. Too much oxygen maybe?? For the first two days we all three felt very tired, headachey, and blah in general. Is that just our imagination or do others feel that way when going from high altitude to sea level? We've noticed it on the East Coast as well.

Grasshopper

Maureen, When you walked outside did you feel like you could chew on the air? I spend about half my time in SF and half in Summit Co. I know exactly what you mean. Although I think I adapt pretty quickly these days, the first half hour I can really feel the different in the air.

MaureenB

Grasshopper, so I guess it's not just our imagination, eh? I can't say we felt we could "chew" the air, but I do have that feeling in the humidity of the Midwest, like I'm walking into a wall when I leave the air conditioning in the summer. We had glorious weather in L.A., 80-something temps, so not hot and humid. But, boy, did we feel heavy and tired and wanted to take a nap the first two days! Then it wore off and we were fine. As for just about any ailment, drinking water helped.