Our team is healthy and in great spirits, though the day before we learned that one of our advance kitchen staff dropping off supplies at Advance Base Camp (ABC) was being heli-evac'd with pneumonia as a chopper overflew us in the lower Barun Valley. He is now doing well back in Kathmandu.
We are resting today, allowing our bodies to engage in the physiologic process of acclimatization. Lots of changes are taking place in the days and weeks spent at altitude. The rate and depth of breathing increases, the kidneys increase their excretion of bicarbonate ion which slightly acidifies the blood, stimulating respiration. The bone marrow is prompted to start cranking out more oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Blood flow to the brain and lungs rises enormously.
Tomorrow we will make our way up to ABC at 5600m. It's important not to go too high too fast. The symtoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (headache, poor apetite, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath) are early warning signs that it's time to rest or even descend. If ignored, they can quickly lead to the serious complications of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema(HAPE) or High Altitude Cerebral Edema(HACE). So far, only mild headache has been experienced by a few of our members.
As physician for the team, there have been daily medical and minor surgical issues I've encountered within our team, the porter staff, and villagers without access to medical care. I'm grateful to Adventure Medical Kits for their generous equipment support.
This afternoon we've been playing on the slackline(fortunately no injuries!), and tonight we're invited to the Ukrainian camp for some social time and to check out their sauna which they are firing up. Namaste all!
Eric Meyer, Makalu Base Camp
5 comments:
A steamy sauna at 5000m sounds nice! Hope that doesn't affect the acclimatization process though.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for the update. It's great to hear from you and know all are well. Enjoy the day's and the climb.
Randall
Hi Eric,
Thanks for the update. Love reading about your teams progress. Glad everyone is doing well. We are here in clinic catching up on your blogsite. It's chilly Friday morning, reports of snow coming our way...yuck.
Michael wants to know if you want to do the Steamboat Triathalon in August the 29th. He will sign you up if you are interested.
I love all the physiology you add to your blogs...so interesting how the body adjusts for high altitude.
We are all thinking about you and your team. Wishing you good weather, strong healthy bodies and spirit. Keep it up!
Love and miss,
Krista and Michael
Rob & Eric,
Love hearing about whats going on! Glad you made it to ABC and that you are all adjusting to the altitude! Seeing Lhotse and Everest must be amazing! Sounds like the climb up there was pretty brutal, glad you don't have to do that one again. Wishing you clear days and starry nights, thinking of you back here!
xoxo Kimmie
I am so happy to hear that you all are safe and being smart. Reading all the updates has been very comforting and entertaining. Always keeping you in my prayers. By the way, I read some news on Elephant Journal today that I wanted to notify you about. I know you are not in a position to help at this point, but just getting the word out there: "Boulderite and Colorado native Aubrey Sacco, 23, is missing in Nepal after failing to contact her family after a solo, week-long trek in the region of Langtang."
Please keep her in your prayers and tell anyone there who may be able to help in some way.
Namaste~
Kassi Sell
Post a Comment