Is there anyone out there with a detailed understanding of acclimatisation?
Over the years, my sensitivity has increased, with the altitude at which breathlessness sets in getting lower. Early in my mountaineering experience, 4000m wasn’t too troublesome but gradually, year by year over 40+ years, it has become lower. Recently 2500 m was difficult for 2 or 3 days.
But this last 2 weeks, in Arolla, I never overcame the breathlessness until I took Diamox; then things were noticeably better.
In January, skiing in the Grand Massif, acclimatisation arrived after 2 days; almost normal.
The only change I can suspect of being responsible is the prescription of Contiflow X-L to control the almost uncontrollable need to urinate frequently with an enlarged prostate, common with elderly men. Interestingly, Contiflex has almost the opposite effect to Diamox; could this be the explanation?
I stopped taking it before I obtained some Diamox but, although the Diamox produced a reduced heart rate and more comfortable climbing, over a week of skiing before this change had reduced my muscle power significantly and I came home early. Pity, because the weather w
And the company were great.
It might be a range of factors. I’ve never been good at higher altitudes but it seems to have got easier/better as I get older. I had to start on Contiflo (tamsulosin) about 18 months ago, but it’s had no adverse effect on my ability to ski tour/climb at 2500m+. Possibly a combination of age, medication, etc. That said, I think you’re doing very well for your age (I hope I can do things like this in 20 yrs time)!
The two drugs act differently. Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor which acts on the nephron in the kidney to increase urine production - it is a diuretic. Tamsulosin is an alpha-blocker like doxazosin which relaxes the smooth muscle by blocking alpha-adrenergic receptors. This allows urine to pass more freely but can cause dizziness via postural hypotension - not as bad as doxasozin though.
Thank you for picking up on my thread.
Last season, i took Diamox during the 2 days before I left for the Alps, and continued for the next few days. There seemed to be no altitude problems but both outings were curtailed early, the first by impossible weather, rain during day and hard frost at night, and the second by a fall skiing fresh powder which resulted in a broken ankle. So I’m hoping for better luck this coming year.
My pleasure. Good luck this year, I am toying with the idea of trying diamox as well as my sleep at altitude is dismal and it affects everything else quite significantly.