There are a number of great threads on here about adjusting to altitude.

It took me a good year to feel okay when doing outdoor activities after moving from NY to ABQ.

Limit alcohol and caffeine; drink twice as much water as you think you need. Pace yourself.

We ALWAYS carry bottles of water in the car. They get warm, but you don't want to EVER be without water. [The color of your urine will let you know if you are drinking enough - if it is med to dark drink more. It should be almost colorless. Sorry.. ]

It is so dry here, you won't even know your body is hot - sweat evaporates almost instantly.

Use sunscreen and lip stuff with spf 70. Reapply it.

You say you are coming with family; make sure the kids [if any] do the same. Their smaller bodies [if young] are impacted by the heat more than yours. and they might not even know they are getting dehydrated.

Here's one of the good threads:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34865407


Deb

Better to ask your Doctor at home first..or see a Travel MD...

We live at absolute sea level and often fly to Colorado to our place which is just under 11,000 feet. My DH often gets a headache for about 24 hours even drinking water. I, on the other hand, drink lots of water (and being bad, a glass of wine in the other hand..not recommended) and feel fine.

A good trick is for the first night or two to take Tylenol PM which gives a good uninterrupted sleep which can be difficult otherwise.

We visit in Denver often and over the years I have had severe altitude sickness there even. The list of do's and don't's that one poster gave is good.
DS hands us a bottle of water when we land!!
Taking some aspirin will also help some.
As for Pike's Peak--you weren't up there very long!!
Santa Fe is plenty "high" for altitude sickness!

I agree we were not on PP all that long but once you come down to the surrounding area you are still at an altitude that others are having problems with altitude sickness. We spent four weeks in the mountains last summer above the 5-6000 marker with no problems. A good part of the high plains area like Denver and the Rocky Mountains are well above the 5000' mark.

RedRock, I feel like you're trying to argue that altitude sickness doesn't exist just because you've never personally experienced it. Some people get it at 5,000 feet; some don't experience it until much higher altitudes; some never get it. My DH is in the lucky bunch. We both drink tons of water, hit the gym daily, don't smoke, etc. But at high altitudes, he can take off running while I need a lot of time to adjust/wheeze/make the world stop spinning.

WishIwasthere, if you're not usually a camel, the easiest way to make sure you're getting enough water is to buy a one-liter water bottle in the morning, finish it by early afternoon, refill it from the tap, and finish it before bed. If you come close, you're probably hydrated. And just don't plan anything too strenuous for the first 6-12 hours, in case you find you need time to adjust. If you're feeling fine, you can always do more than expected! ;)

Yes, REd Rock. Sometimes I get sick, and sometimes I don't--in Denver, or the high mountains. But one way to forestall it, is to do what has been suggested.

I would recommend drinking 1/2 gallon/day on a low activity day and increase if you are doing higher heart rate activities. May sound like a lot but it's really only a small bottle every ~3 hours you are awake. I am also prone to nosebleeds and think the hydration might help a little.

I did get very mild altitude sickness at Pike's Peak--just a little dizziness/lightheadedness.

While I drank a good amount of water before and during the trip, I had very little for breakfast that morning. It was the rush of making the train boarding etc. If you're a mom, don't forget your own needs (including sunscreen too).

RedRock's attitude is seriously irresponsible.

No one knows how altitude will affect them until they arrive at a particular height on a particular day.

Dehydration is a serious possibility in high dry places.

Someone who drinks only morning coffee and evening glass of wine isn't drinking remotely enough liquid even at sea level. It is not normal to get dehydration headaches.

I don't think you have to be one of those people who constantly totes a water bottle, but my doctor told me at least two litres per day.

If it is dry enough outside, it will transpire from your body and you won't constantly need to find a toilet.

When you do need one, DebitNM is correct about the real test: if your urine is straw colored or paler, you are drinking enough water. If your urine is darker than that, you aren't. This is known to climbers everywhere.

Chewing coca leaves and/or drinking coca tea is also helpful to help w/ altitude issues. Unfortunately, these items which are readily available in South American countries, can't be had in the USA.

I don't know whether you'd have any problems ordering it online. This is the tea I drank when in Peru last year >>> http://www.peruviancocatea.com

And yes, it does have the active ingredient which when processed/refined, becomes cocaine. However you don't get 'high' from drinking the tea.

Ackislander -- RedRock's attitude is seriously irresponsible.

Ya know sometime something just may be in your head and to dwell on it you may be causeing some of your own problems. As you so stated: "No one knows how altitude will affect them until they arrive at a particular height on a particular day." I can agree with that.

If you will read one of my first post to the OP I stated live a healthy life style but and take care of yourself and you most likely will be ok with things. Ill post it in part here again for you.

"Just live a healthy life style, take care of yourself and take the days as they come. Most of all stop worrying!"

RedRock - OP stated she has dehydration issues at home and asked how much water to drink in/around Santa Fe because she's read that will help ward off altitude sickness.

That's hardly 'worrying herself sick' as you initially stated. Your response was flippant and as someone already said, sounds like you think because you have never had a problem then OP won't either.

And to now suggest it might just be in people's heads is just silly. Next time I see any advice from you, I'll consider the source.

WhereAreWe -- If you live a healthy life style you should have little or no problem. Having a problem with not drinking enough H2O at home at sea level and getting dehydrated does not mean you will have problems if you increase your altitude. How much water is enough? I am sure that would depend on the individual.. I live in Florida, its hot as hades here a good part of the year. That requires some thought as how to live and be outdoors, the same would apply in the mountains or desert.. You cannot plan in advance for every conceivable problem or situation in life. That is why I mentioned to the OP to live a healthy life style, that includes eating, drinking and getting adequate rest. I think the OP is an intelligent person and knows good and well what I was saying. I think this was evident in their reply to my first post.

I have to jump in here and say what you have all said is fine, BUT....
we live at sea level and were in northern NM, Durango & Ouray, CO in Sept and my husband ended up with a severe case of "Acute Mountain Sickness" or AMS as the medical people called it, caused by the altitudes we were at for 5 days (7000-10,000 ft). We didn't drink any alcohol, rested and drank lots of water, did all those wonderful things mentioned. It was the most scary thing! He woke up on the 5th day and couldn't think and was very disoriented. The doctor said his brain could have become swollen and he could have been in deep trouble if we had not immediately gone down to 4000 ft. At 7000 ft you have lost 30% of the oxygen we are used to - I think that is quite a lot. It isn't anything to fool around with and doesn't always happen in the first 24 or 48 hours. No, I wasn't affected - everyone is different. Believe me, it is not your imagination or anything that you have control over. Just be aware. Do a search for Acute Mountain Sickness if you are interested in reading more about it.

I do not mean to be negative here but it is a lot of useless information to think that you can will yourself not to contract altitude sickness thru good health habits. It is true that some bad health habits can make it worse but it is not a disease that skips over the virtuous and it is--or can be--very serious and life-threatening.

First you have to realize you have altitude sickness. The OP did not.

OK. Believe me, after a little while, after not feeling well, having a headache, and then feeling like you have the flu, you have altitude sickness. After a couple of bouts, BUT NOT every trip, in spite of my hydration attempts, I was sick as a dog, and missing out on some very nice social opportunities.
Does that do it for you REd Rock--congrats on not having it. You're a j lucky person. Some of us get it, even being healthy individuals. Get over yourself.

I never said altitude sickness was not a real sickness. My contention is don't worry about it until it happens. Especially the first time... Why worry your self sick worrying about getting sick. The OP was at sea level and was simply wondering about altitude sickness when they went to Santa FE.. A person could die in their sleep tonight, why stay awake all night worrying about it.

che sara, sara

Altitude sickness in NM? Have been to all SW states and only had a problem in the Breckenridge area; but their altitude is higher than other ski resorts. Don't think altitude will be a problem there, you can try taking a prescription for Diamox, a drug used to treat glaucoma also effective for altitude sickness/headaches. I think drinking a quart of water per day will take care of you just fine.