Altitude Sickness?? (Denver, Castle Rock, Vail: living, moving to, foods)

[Harper34]

I'm moving to Denver in March from Madison, WI. I've heard a lot about altitude sickness and have done a little bit of research on it. Most of the sites I've been to says you get it at about 8,000 feet, but I've heard different. Has anyone recently moved to Denver and had a problem with this?

[zionvier]

Typically 8000feet is deemed as that magic number. But everyone's body reacts differently. I've had out of shape friends come from sea level straight up to 8150ft when I lived in Vail who were fine. I've also had in shape people from sea level come up who spent their second day throwing up. I've had the reverse as well. Can it happen down at 5k? I'd have to say yes, but I'd think it would be extremely rare and suggest you get checked up on by a physician if you experience major issues at only 5k. Since altitude sickness is caused by lack of oxygen to the brain, having major sickness down at 5k from that could mean you have an issue your heart and/or blood vessels not getting your brain oxygen. (Could be something you've had your entire life and just never knew it)

Don't get me wrong though, you'll notice a difference carrying your furniture up the stairs, but that's different than nausia, throwing up, etc.

I think you'll be find coming to Denver. Hydrate for it a day or two in advance like you would for a 5k run or something and you'll be fine.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

do a search on the forum for this subject -- there's been a lot posted. There's a recent thread that is still getting postings. It's titled "Allergic to Denver" and discusses this very issue.

[subsound]

I've known a few people to get it when they came, including myself...while some people just shrug it off. If you do feel sick you might feel a bit tired and lethargic, almost fluish, but it goes away in a like 2 days. Water is the big thing, since it's much drier then WI.

[zionvier]

subsound: Is it really more common down here in Denver than I thought? I've never known anyone personally that has had an issue down here.

I used to travel in an out of the state while I lived up in Vail. Basically 2 weeks a month I'd be elsewhere, so my body was constantly trying to adjust and never really got completely acclimated. I remember the one time I felt the onset of it was when I decided it would be a good idea to hike Quandary Peak with some friends 2 days after a 2 and a half week trip to Key West and Orlando for work. I was fine during the hike, but then we had to sprint back down because of an incoming storm. That night and the next day I had a massive headache.

That kind of made me wonder if the reason it seems to randomly effect people and not effect people is influenced by the weather. Meaning, if you had two friends flying in from different places on the same day. Say one from NYC and one from Miami. Both are pretty much coming from sea level to the same altitude, with roughly the same flying time. NY is having a low pressure system move through, so the barometer is down at like 27mmHg, but Miami has a high pressure system so they are at say 31mmHg. While Denver also has a low pressure system and we're at 27mmHg. Since the one from Miami has to deal with a 4mmHg drop in pressure on top of the already existing lack of oxygen, but the one from NY only has to deal with the oxygen issue.

Does anyone think this could be an additional reason why some people get sick and some don't?

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

When my wife and I moved to Castle Rock - approx 6300 ft - she suffered from altitude sickness for about 2-3 days. Her parents live for half the year in Breck and she visited them several times a year and still gets it. She'll even get it on occassion when we go up to Breck on the weekends and we do that almost every weekend in the summer and winter.

It has never bothered me.

[subsound]

I would give it a 50/50 chance. I'm betting it's mostly from spending all day day moving junk in you can get to feel the altitude more. I've never had a guest get sick, but usually some one moving in won't feel great for a day or 2. A day or 2 doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of things.

[formercalifornian]

I'd like to add, stay away from alcohol until you're fully acclimated. Even after two years in Denver, I get an absolutely terrible hangover from one scant glass of wine. Hydration is key. Drink lots of water and take an OTC pain reliever for any headaches. Expect to be tired for a few days while you adjust. After living here for six months or so, you will be fully acclimated.

Also, for the first few days after moving here stay away from the cabbage soup! Although increased gas is more common above 10,000 ft, anecdotal evidence suggests that avoiding gas-producing foods is prudent, particularly for sensitive individuals. Having a few tablets of gas-x on hand isn't a bad idea either. When friends come out to visit our family, we always tuck a package in the guest-room care basket, and it's always used up by the time they leave!

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by zionvier

I used to travel in an out of the state while I lived up in Vail. Basically 2 weeks a month I'd be elsewhere, so my body was constantly trying to adjust and never really got completely acclimated. I remember the one time I felt the onset of it was when I decided it would be a good idea to hike Quandary Peak with some friends 2 days after a 2 and a half week trip to Key West and Orlando for work. I was fine during the hike, but then we had to sprint back down because of an incoming storm. That night and the next day I had a massive headache.

That sounds absolutely brutal. I sure hope that if I have to do travelling for work, it's to other high elevation western states and not the low country!

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by Harper34

I'm moving to Denver in March from Madison, WI. I've heard a lot about altitude sickness and have done a little bit of research on it. Most of the sites I've been to says you get it at about 8,000 feet, but I've heard different. Has anyone recently moved to Denver and had a problem with this?

As Zion and others mentioned, I'd advice you to drink plenty of fluids, gatorade or water type liquids.
From what I am hearing, for those who may get hit by the altitude sickness, it'd be a day or two before your body adjusts to the elevation.
During those couple of days, try not to do any heavy physical work (lifting/ carrying weights, hiking, sex , etc.) and also do not consume any alcohol , continue drinking plenty of water which should ease the transition.

Anyhow, this is what I found out during my search on this topic.

Good Luck.