altitude sickness on lhasa to kathmandu via everest

Replies: 7 - Last Post: 14-Jun-2007 07:18 Last Post By: vistet

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Juule

13-Jun-2007 05:03
Posts: 5

altitude sickness on lhasa to kathmandu via everest

Hey folks,

I'm on an organised tour with Royal Mountain Travel in Nepal (booked via ResponsibleTravel.com) from 05 August from Lhasa to Kathmandu on the Friendship Highway, stopping at Everest Base camp. We have 3 days in Lhasa to acclimatise to the altitude, and then make our way to Kathmandu over the next 9 days. At one point we do over 1,000 metres in a day by LandCruiser. All of the stuff I read about Altitude / Acute Mountain Sickness says don't do over 500m in a day, and always sleep at lower altitude. This doesn't look possible with our itinerary, but since it's a common tour, I guess there are ways to cope.

Any advice on best ways to deal with the altitude? I've been told Diamox tablets are good to take, but also heard elsewhere that they can merely mask the signs of the AMS and you can be just as ill anyway(!)

If anyone has done the same route or has any advice to share, I'd be really grateful.

Cheers,

Ross

Laker31

13-Jun-2007 07:56
Posts: 311

Altitude affects everyone differently, so there is no way of telling in advance how you are going to handle it. Some of the ways to help cope with it are drinking plenty of water, take it nice and slow when moving around, and cutting back or abstaining from alcohol. Aspirin or ibuprofen can help with the headaches, but do not take to much, just stick with the recommended daily dosages. If the symptoms get really bad, the best thing to do is get to a lower altitude as quickly as you can.

As for the diamox, I have never tried it. I seem to cope with the higher altitudes better than a lot of people. Some people I have talked to swear by it, others say it didn't help all that much, while others refuse to use it. I think the effectiveness varies with each person, much like the effects of altitude.

Yaks, Yaks, Yaks. Need I say more?

westwood

13-Jun-2007 13:09
Posts: 10,544

We found by overnighting at Gyantse and Sakya helped until we slept at Base Camp. Then it became the night from hell for some of us. Plus it was really cold at night which didnt help either.

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

arju

13-Jun-2007 18:03
Posts: 42

altitude sickness can be a hit and miss affair....not everyone will be affected and not all will be affected in the same way...diamox dosent mask the symptons and wont stop you getting altitude sickness but it will reduce the off feelings....i have been lucky in my 4 visits above 5000 metres and I have been with people who have been affected.
you will possibly fel more when you first walk around in lhasa.....and the body will acclimatise quickly so dont get overly worried ....the rate of ascent isnt that great when you get to rombuk.....we treked in last year from old tingri and had a great time only 1 person felt hard of breathing at night .....just maintain your water intake ......

vistet

14-Jun-2007 05:35
Posts: 2,282

Quote
All of the stuff I read about Altitude / Acute Mountain Sickness says don't do over 500m in a day, and always sleep at lower altitude.

... don´t ascend more than 500 meters in sleeping altitude, going higher than that in during the day will actually help your acclimatisation.

With a night each at Gyantse (3900-ish) and Shegar or Sakya (4300) it´s almost within safe ascent rates to sleep at 5000 . Don´t sleep lower than 4300 on your last night before EBC.

Diamox doesn´t mask symptoms , it allows you to hyperventilate by shifting the acid balance in the blood.

high road to ..

arju

14-Jun-2007 05:58
Posts: 42

diamox is a diuretic which means it makes you urinate very often and in effect you keep drinking stay hydrated and you reduce the effects of high altitude...very true work high and sleep lower than the highest point you have climbed ...not driven too.... so the drive is okay as your not walking working ...not as pronounced as the flight from xian or chengdu beijing where you have gained 2000 mtrs very quickly...you will be okay

vistet

14-Jun-2007 07:05
Posts: 2,282

so the drive is okay as your not walking working ...not as pronounced as the flight from xian or chengdu beijing where you have gained 2000 mtrs very quickly...

high road to ..

vistet

14-Jun-2007 07:18
Posts: 2,282

Coffee withdrawal symptoms , what I meant :

Quote
so the drive is okay as your not walking working ...not as pronounced as the flight from xian or chengdu beijing where you have gained 2000 mtrs very quickly...

Chengdu is at 500 , but there is no real difference between that and for example Kathmandu : there is no acclimatisation taking place below 1500 , and very little until 2000+ .

Quote
diamox is a diuretic which means it makes you urinate very often and in effect you keep drinking stay hydrated and you reduce the effects of high altitude...

Diamox increases the secretion of bicarbonate via the kidneys , giving the mentioned acid balance shift. The increased urine output also raises the concentration of hemoglobin by decreasing the blood volume . There are no new red blood cells coming in to the system until the end of the first week , it takes at least 4 days until they are finished.

high road to ..

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