Sleeping at Altitude

For he past two nights I have not slept well.  Two nights ago my sinuses were stuffed and I didn't want to breath exclusively by my mouth.  I was afraid I'd wake with a sore throat so sleep was fitful.  Last night I was beginning to reconsider my choice to drop taking Diamox.  I found I developed a low level headache and some anxiety.  The headache seems to have been cured with Motrin.  The anxiety was a new thing for me.  I found myself feeling somewhat trapped in my mummy bag.  Or perhaps not trapped as much as constricted.  Part of that is likey my own doing.  I had two Nalgege bottles full f hot water in my ba to ore-warm it.  The result though was I felt a bit strangled.  So it was another fitful night of sleep. 

I am not going to resume Diamox yet.  So far poor sleep and my minor headache have been my only symptoms of AMS.  Let's see what tody brings as  head to Lobucheand higher elevations.

The Daimox Delima

Diamox is supposed to lessen the effects of altitude.  I started taking it a few days ago because I figured it couldn' hurt to have every available edge.  As of this morning I have changed my mind.  One of the other members of our party mentiooned that Diamox can casue loose stools.  I thought, gee perhaps it wasn't the wather I used to brush my teeth after all that caused that.  Then I decided to check all the side effects.  We were told by our guides it increases urination.  Looking it up I found out why.  Not sure how I missed it but Diamox is a diaretic.  That explains having to get up multiple times to pee last night.  The deciding factor though is that it causes tinnitus.  Crap, I already have that thanke to the USAF F16's at Bagram.  OK no more of that stuff.  We ae acclimating very slowly, only hiking a few miles a day, a few rest dys thrown in.  I shall be fine and to hell with Diamox! 

Altitude

Last night we were at 3820 mt.  I think we go above 4000 tonight and remain above that until we run back downhill.  The air is thinner here but I have been at or near this altitude quite a bit in the past year.  Practicing Tai Chi Chuan up here is interesting as my breathing rhythm has to shift to compensate for the O2 level.   I did begin taking Diamox a few days ago and need to drink more fluids as a result... which I haven't been.  The Diamox causes tingling in the fingers and toes.  It' actually more like needles and pins.  So each morning I debate if I should continue it.  For those of you who are not sure what Dimox even is, it's supposed to help prevent or at least lessen AMS (Acute mountain sickness... aka altitude sickness.  I have had to deal with this little malady once or twice above 4000 mt so thought I'd give this newfangled drug a shot.

At Dingboche tonight and tomorrow night.  Tomorrow we have a shot 2 hr hike to check a loop in the course and grab a view of Island Peak.  We just got word that the Hillary Step has collapsed.  That could potentially kill ascents from the South Col.  It would have a major impact for the region.  I don't think the trekking will change much but the coin that expeditions spend to move gear will definitely impact both the regula porters as well as the hight altitude porters.

It's cold out tonight.  We are now above timberline until the run.  That means more wind and colder temps.  I may actually have to break out my thermal undies soon, at least at night.

One last quick update on posts.  I don't know when I'll have a good connection for my tablet so I will probably post a group of updates at a time.  Sorry about that.  OK time for bed.