Nausea at altitude

[aweskamp]

It seems like you found the likely culprit in that supplement. As Scott hit on, exercise at high altitude dramatically affects how the body processes nutrients. I like your plan of seeing your physician and nixing the Perpeteum for the next climbs. If you don't mind, could you post after and let us know if cutting out the supplement helped? Good luck!

[oldschool]

Thank you all. The thoughtful community of climbers is one I'm glad to be a part of.

I will keep you posted. As this is new to me it's disconcerting as I have always felt good and determined in my activities.

[cedica]

I have also experimented with Perpetuem this summer and so far it looks like it works wonders for 2 to 4 hours bike rides on lower altitudes. But unlike Sustained Energy it only comes flavored, not sure why. Unfortunately Hammer Nutrition is not saying from where maltodextrin is derived from, but since they claim "Made in USA" and "Gluten free" my guess is corn starch.
Best of luck Mike, please keep us posted.

[TallGrass]

I'd rule out AMS because it's linked to physical stress not altitude

Without arguing, I would politely disagree that it couldn't be related to altitude, unless it also happens at lower altitude. One test might be to really push yourself at a lower altitude, to same point as being exhausted and see if the symptoms are the same. If it also happens at lower altitude, then I would agree 100%.

No.....this doesn't happen at all at "lower" elevations. It has happened the last 2x on 14ers (San Luis and Castle/Conundrum) and thinking back it also happened to me when I was 35 miles into my R2R2R in April of 2015. There is some altitude on that but nothing over 8000 ft.

[PaliKona]

So I've been experiencing some issues lately while at altitude that I don't get. I am going to see my doc about it, but wondered if anyone had an idea on how to help the situation in the meantime.

I've been in Denver for 11 years and have a place in Summit. For the past 4 years, I've rented it out. This summer, I took it back and have been up there on the weekends. However, in those 4 years, I was regularly up in the high country hiking, skiing and camping/staying at a hotel. I've noticed that by sleeping at 9,600' more regularly, and for multiple nights in a row, I'm not feeling so great while up there. It hasn't been every day or every time, but I've been feeling way more tired and have been getting headaches.

The thing that doesn't make sense to me: I've climbed 3 14ers this summer and slept at 11,600' no problems.

I also drink a lot of water.

Thanks for any thoughts.

[Hiker Mike]

I've been in Denver for 11 years and have a place in Summit. For the past 4 years, I've rented it out. This summer, I took it back and have been up there on the weekends. However, in those 4 years, I was regularly up in the high country hiking, skiing and camping/staying at a hotel. I've noticed that by sleeping at 9,600' more regularly, and for multiple nights in a row, I'm not feeling so great while up there. It hasn't been every day or every time, but I've been feeling way more tired and have been getting headaches.

Perhaps the problem isn't the altitude but the place. Maybe there is something there that is causing your discomfort? Mold, cleaning chemicals, new allegery?

Mike

[RhodoRose]

Disclaimer first, I do not have medical training; but long(!) ago, when I was a newbie, it was suggested to me to take a couple of aspirins before heading up the trail. The reason was purportedly to "thin the blood" and prevent altitude sickness symptoms. Since then, I've done enough research to know that aspirin doesn't thin the blood directly, and its coagulation inhibiting effect may be undesirable - but for me, it has helped both the occasional headaches and nausea. I've also seen references saying that Ibuprofen is considered more effective than aspirin. For me, that works, too. And Gatorade-type drinks for electrolytes - nothing everyone here doesn't already know.

Good luck, I hope you are able to resolve your symptoms.

And happy Labor Day hiking to everyone!

[oldschool]

This is a follow-up to my OP about my nausea problems. I experienced them again recently.

Short answer...no health issues.

Long answer.....I had thought that the energy product Perpetuem from Hammer Nutrition might be at fault. I stopped using this but the problem persisted. I began to get more detailed about the climbs I did and when I did them, about what I was eating and drinking, and so on. Bottom line is acclimatization/AMS. I have done 50 different 14e'rs since my first in 2008. Almost all of those were done when I was living in Colorado from 2007 until Sept of 2014, when I moved to AZ. When I lived in Colorado I lived in Grand Junction but worked at or above 8000 ft in altitude. I believe this helped me feel comfortable at altitude.

The climbs in which I felt bad nausea were done after driving up from AZ. My nausea was on Castle/Conundrum and most recently Quandary just yesterday, 12/30/16. These were done after coming from AZ (1000 ft above sea level) and ascending to summits in no more than 30 hrs.from leaving AZ. I did several 14er's in 2015 and felt no nausea after coming up from AZ but I was in and at altitude for many days before doing any summits. I spent 10 days in the high country and felt good and strong.

Acclimation was mentioned by several people in response to my OP. Thanks for the suggestion. I was not originally keen on this being the culprit but....

Thanks again to all......Mike

[Voshkm]

happy you found the cause, sorry you had to move out of CO
There are worse things than nausea... like HACE.... violent projectile vomit... being eaten by a mountain lion.
However having found the cause perhaps you can add a day to your return trips to allow for acclimitization

[skycripp]

In all seriousness, talk to your doctor about Viagra. It was originally being researched for several medical uses, one of the primary being AMS. You could also try taking NSAIDs 12-18 hours before getting in CO to start thinning the blood. I realize that this is controversial and isn't great for the body overall, but it depends on what's important to you.

Lastly, I've found that some GU's/energy gels give me stomach problems while other flavors of the exact same formula don't. Could be as simple as that.

[paul109876]

Had a similar issue, nausea at 10,000 ft. +. Turned out the long term NSAIDS I was taking for my osteoarthritis caused me to be anemic. Found out through a blood test.
Stopped the NSAIDS- 8 weeks later and next trip and I was fine.

I had read about Viagra being used on Everest for AMS. But caution should be used.

(I apologize in advance for the next line)

A summit that last longer than 4 hours may require medical attention.

Dedication in trying different things in order to pursue something you love is the definition of "Persistence" which is slowly becoming a lost art.

Congrads on being an Artist.