Trekking at altitude

[COYW]

I want to go trekking in Nepal up to about 5000 metres. Does anyone have experience of CAD and altitude? I haven’t had a HA but did have 80% blocked LAD 10 months ago which now has two stents. Thanks all. 😀

[Hidden]

That sounds risky. Probably a question you should ask your heart doctor. Altitude plus Im guessing cold temperatures will definitely tax your heart. If you decide to go, I hope you will share your experience with us.

[Chappychap]

I wrestle with a similar dilemma in that I'm a keen sailor who has had a heart bypass operation. I feel as fit as a butcher's dog, but if I have an incident far from shore then it's not just me that's at risk, potentially I've endangered lifeboat and coastguard personnel plus the remaining crew on my boat.

It doesn't seem right to put other people at risk just so that I can have a fun time afloat.

The way I've resolved this is I'm restricting my sailing to just within the Solent, daylight, and decent weather only.

[Gladwyn in reply to Chappychap]

Very sensible Chappychap. 😀My brother was lifeboat crew for many years and I'm so glad he is now safely retired. The crews are so brave. I just wish people who go to sea would all be as responsible as you are being.

[IanGordon]

Prior to my Aortic valve replacement but after dual stenting of my LAD, I did experience some dizziness and mild nausea when snowboarding in the French Alps at 2000 + metres.

The local medic explained that at resort level (1850 metres) only 80% oxygen levels would be available compared with sea level which may cause problems in people with compromised cardiovascular outputs. I was symptomatic of mild altitude sickness!

Fortunately ,the symptoms were transient with the nausea medicated. However, all individuals are different as is the impact of heart disease, so as others have already advised, talk to your GP and/or cardiologist.

Post - surgery, there no longer seems to be an issue for me, which I guess is predictable in my case, given the benefits of a brand new bioprosthetic aortic valve.

[COYW]

Thanks all. I have been climbing at altitude pre stenting many times and have been fine. But as you all know as soon as someone says ‘you’ve got a dodgy ticker’ (or words to that effect ) we all start to reflect and probably sometimes over react. I think my risks are the same as many 62 year olds. I could be risking others but then any 62 year old would be so I don’t see that age should prevent me going one more time 😀However, I appreciate all your thoughts. I’ll arrange to see my cardiologist 3-4 months before I go for another isotope test. 😀

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

My husband had a stent inserted 8 years ago for an almost completely blocked artery. He also has Atrial fibrillation.

He has since been on high altitude walking holidays all over Europe and skiing several times.

He is on all the usual cocktail of drugs including blood thinners.

He discussed this with his Cardiologist beforehand.

My OH's attitude is that he's fixed😂

[COYW]

Great. I think I’m fixed too 😀😂🙏🏻

[Ianc2]

Try a quick break to Kanderstag in Switzerland. You can get on some of the local lifts and try walking over to the Gemmi pass, which is about 2.500 metres and see how you feel. You could also go to Wengen and get the rack and pinion train up to the observatory, up by the Monsch , through the Eiger, with mandatory rest stops to have a breather, and onto the Jungfraujoch which is about 10,000 feet.

Last time I was there it was -10 and snowing in the summer. I am told the views are outstanding. You can walk from there to the hut on the side of the Monsch if you wish

[COYW in reply to Ianc2]

Thanks. I’m going to go to chamonix in the summer!

[Ianc2]

Great place, lovely walking, loads of lifts. Been a while since I have been there so I hope there are glaciers still in existence, they were receding rapidly last time I was there. Mont Blanc is a truly impressive sight. I was going to have a go at parascending until one crashed in front of me..

[COYW in reply to Ianc2]

It is an amazing place.