Altitude with a replacement valve

[Jim Gifford]

April 2001 I had rplacement valce surgery. All seems OK, I exercise regularly, have long been returned to ful activity. I amd taking Lotrel, Hydroclorothiazide, Terazosin, Warfarin, Lipitor (my faulty valve masked mild hpertension which is now treated with meds)

We plan to go to Macchu Picchu--altitude 13,000 feet where altitude sickness is possible. My internest says it's OK but (not surprising in Wisconsin) he has no direct experience with altitude issues.

Does anyone have any insight on this. Is altitude acceptable for me?

 

[Rain]

Altitude

Altitude

There was just a thread about this very subject. If you do a search of the forum and type in 'altitude' I think you'll find it.

Look under 'coumadin' then find the 'altitude' thread posted on 3-3-02

Rain

 

[Nancy]

Hi Jim, Welcome

Hi Jim, Welcome

Don't know much about altitude, but you have found a terrific website for valve replacement people. We're all very friendly and everyone here understands the situation.

We hope to see your posts here often and glad to have one more friend on the site.

 

[Mb]

Whew!

Warning! I have two friends, both men, who went there this past year. Both are in incredibly good condition.

The one that is the MOST fit, runs 5 miles almost everyday, never smoked, age 45, trim etc.

He ended up getting SO sick from altitude sickness, that the Dr. had to be called. The medical skills there leave a lot to be desired, from what I understand. He could not get out of bed, at all, for two days. His friend finally called the
Dr. who gave him a shot of something, right at the hotel. He was VERY afraid of the shot.

If you do decide to go, I undeerstand that the re is a "slow" way of getting there, takes a lot longer, but you adjust better. Also, take every medication known to man.

And bring food. Both then got dysnetary. Truly, this is a "no joke" of a place to go.

Best wishes.

Marybeth

 

[Nancy]

Marybeth makes some excellent points. You should also check your medical insurance to see if you're covered, and also check to see if they would accept your insurance if you were to be hospitalized. They might not, and then you would be a position to pay in advance for your medical care. Not a pleasant thought.

I would check with the State Department and see if they have any info. on medical shots or preps which might necessary and any last minute traveller's warnings.

When I went to Morocco, I had to get a hepatitis A shot, plus malaria meds. There might be some necessary preps for you as well in Machu Pichu.

 

[Jim Gifford]

Actually we travel quite a bit--both pre and post valve surgery. I've had Hepatitis A and B shots, Yellow fever, polio booster, we take Malaria meds pre/post trip when needed. My major concern is the possibility of altitude problems--and if there's any indication that altitiude sickness meds would adversely interact with my present regimen.