Have you found a reliable prophylaxis for altitude effects?

[zippetydude]

Rob: I just re-read my post, and let me say I was not implying that you are out of shape! It doesn't look like you took it that way, but my post sounds kinda goofy. I was trying to give extreme cases where the the altitude factor does not seem to be the primary cause of fatigue (like trying to go fast up San Bernardino or going on lots of runs in Yosemite) so that other possibilities could be drawn out.

I looked up th CoQ10 you mentioned. I hadn't heard of it before. I came across this statement: "The clinical effect is not immediate and may take up to eight weeks." Do you start a few days or weeks in advance? I'll be interested in hearing about your experience!

Perry: I've heard of people sleeping high and training low, but you're saying the short time at lower altitude may help the body adapt and avoid AMS and HAPE? That's perfect - it gives me a great excuse to drive back down to Lone Pine for a good breakfast before a long hike! As a matter of fact, if I try out the CoQ10, it is best taken with a meal that includes fat, so I can even have bacon and eggs with some biscuits and gravy...this is getting better and better!

z

[magikwalt]

There was a large scale study cited back in 2004 that concluded Ginko Biloba does not prevent AMS. It apears that as recently as 2006 the drug of choice remains Acetazolamide.

We conclude that 125 mg bd of acetazolamide is not significantly different from 375 mg bd in the prevention of AMS; 125 mg bd should be considered the preferred dosage when indicated for persons ascending to altitudes above 2500 m.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10 ... .2006.7.17

[Rob]

Perry wrote:

I would sleep at high altitude and then come back down to low altitude, then go back up to climb. The return to low elevation seems to prevent that for me. For example, sleeping at Horseshoe Meadows at 10,000 feet, . . .

Perry, good idea when schedule allows. Certainly when my hoped-for future rematch with Mt Whitney occurs, I must camp at Horseshoe Meadows (is that a good campsite?) for a couple of nights prior. In past few months I camped at Barton Flats (6,000') three times to acclimate for three forays into SGW; however, I cannot say that 6 hours of restless sleep at 6,000' really helped me beat fatigue above 8,000'. The score was 1 good hike (Forsee), and 2 not-so-good (South Fork & Momyer). I wish I knew why that one hike went well.
-------------
z wrote:

I looked up the CoQ10 you mentioned. I hadn't heard of it before. I came across this statement: "The clinical effect is not immediate and may take up to eight weeks." Do you start a few days or weeks in advance?

z, I think I found the source of your quote: http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/supplem ... ymeQ10.htm, toward the end of the article. Perhaps time differences depend on the ailment being treated. I found one article that recommended 1 week for AMS -- http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400213.
---------------
magikwalt wrote:

It appears that as recently as 2006 the drug of choice remains Acetazolamide.

magikwalt, yes, everything I've read points to Diamox (Acetazolamide) for most people. I'm concerned about side-effects (kidney stones?) from long-term use (years?), so I'm willing to try other things before I begin Diamox regimen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetazolamide#Side-effects
http://www.webmd.com/kidney-stones/kidn ... -your-risk
--------------------
An internet doctor of unknown reliability wrote:

"And watch for information about off-label use of the erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra and Cialis to prevent and treat severe symptoms of mountain sickness. They increase blood flow to other vital organs, not just the penis, and some mountain climbers report better success with them than with Diamox."

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400213 (final paragraph)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viagra#Altitude_sickness
First, my apologies for mentioning the "Bob Dole" treatment. Second, my wife would not approve of this medication for me. Third, if they conduct clinical trials for AMS, I hope I'm far away. Fourth, if this catches on, it could change hiking as we know it.

[HikeUp]

Do we need to start a new topic on hiking poles?

Edit: How come I can't delete nonsense like this?

[Hikin_Jim]

In past few months I camped at Barton Flats (6,000') three times to acclimate for three forays into SGW; however, I cannot say that 6 hours of restless sleep at 6,000' really helped me beat fatigue above 8,000'. The score was 1 good hike (Forsee), and 2 not-so-good (South Fork & Momyer). I wish I knew why that one hike went well.

This is what Diamox is supposed to be really good for (sleeping soundly).

[magikwalt]

I have a routine of using Melatonin prior to big hikes. I take a 3mg tablet about 2 hours before I intend to sleep and then another 3mg as I lay down. It allows me the full completely restoring sleep that seems to fade as I get older.

I don't hawk the stuff but I know it works for me. I've also found it to not bother me if I don't take it. As in its not addictive.

[zippetydude]

[quote="Rob"] my wife would not approve of this medication for me. Third, if they conduct clinical trials for AMS, I hope I'm far away. Fourth, if this catches on, it could change hiking as we know it. [/quote]

LOL. Thanks for a cool post.

Incidentally, you mentioned one of the less successful adventures was on the Forsee Trail. Me too! Only it's gotten me twice. I'm not sure if it was altitude getting me, or if Forsee is steeper than it looks or what, but one time I got weak and shaky about 3 miles in, the other time I accomplished all of a half a mile and then had to lie down on a log. At a half a mile?! Both times I eventually dragged myself back down to my car, but it wasn't pretty.

The dreaded Forsee Factor.

I must not be that bright - for some reason, the quote thing doesn't see to work for me, but everyone here but me seems to know how to use it. Can anyone help out this slow learner?


z

[magikwalt]

What I did was to copy the section of your email I wanted to quote by highlighting it, right click and select copy, and then open a reply. Next I click the quote button once, past in your words and then click the quote button again.

Sure hope it works.

The dreaded Forsee Factor.

[magikwalt]

It looks like you already have the reply open so playing with it now that I have started the post.

Incidentally, you mentioned one of the less successful adventures was on the Forsee Trail. Me too! Only it's gotten me twice.

I don't know how you got the [quote="Rob"] part at the front of your quote.

[Rob]

Concerning syntax for quoting, here is bbcode info found at http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php?mode=bbcode#f20:

Code: Select all

Quoting and outputting fixed-width text
Quoting text in replies
There are two ways you can quote text, with a reference or without.
When you utilise the Quote function to reply to a post on the board you should notice that the post text is added to the message window enclosed in a [quote=""][/quote] block. This method allows you to quote with a reference to a person or whatever else you choose to put! For example to quote a piece of text Mr. Blobby wrote you would enter:

[quote="Mr. Blobby"]The text Mr. Blobby wrote would go here[/quote]

The resulting output will automatically add "Mr. Blobby wrote:" before the actual text. Remember you must include the quotation marks "" around the name you are quoting, they are not optional.
The second method allows you to blindly quote something. To utilise this enclose the text in [quote][/quote] tags. When you view the message it will simply show the text within a quotation block.