Elevation change?

Hello again, 

I have a quick question for any hikers with pacemakers out there. In a few weeks, I'm going to Colorado  and will be hiking in some of the mountains up there. Apart from not being in great shape since my last surgery and due to the elevation change, I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips or tell me how the elevation may affect me. I'm from Georgia, if that gives you any kind of hint of the type of elevation I'm used to! 

Thanks for the help! 


3 Comments

hiking

by Tracey_E - 2018-11-26 09:49:37

The pacer will work the same at any elevation. The underlying reason you have it may make you more sensitive to altitude, but being out of shape and living at sea level alone are enough reason to be careful. Stay hydrated. Take it easy the first day or two. Expect to get winded more easily. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. 

Thank you!

by pacerkid22 - 2018-11-26 09:57:46

Thanks! 

This Friday will be my fourth week into recovery, so this week I'm starting back into some light running, cycling, and maybe some light leg lifts. I'm not going until about the 3rd week into December, so I'm hoping to get my training back up a little before I actually get there. 

But thanks for your help! 

Hydrate, take it easy

by Theknotguy - 2018-11-26 10:55:46

I'm from Ohio.  Average elevation about 800 feet.  Went out to Colorado Springs via Denver.  Went on top of the mountain to see the gold mine.  Was OK, but after a day of going from 5000 feet to 7000 feet back to 5000 feet with little water the heart went into a bad fit of afib.  Spent the night in the hospital.  Had an argument with the admin people about using the Nationwide Claims center.  But that's another story.  

Biggest problem is it's a dry environment.  You don't feel thirsty but you're being dried out like a raisin.  So after getting off the airplane, stop at a local store and purchase some bottled water.  I'd suggest a minimum of three 1/2 liter bottles during the daytime with at least another one in the evening.  And that would be in addition to liquids at meals.  Alcoholic drinks out there are two-fers.  One drink out there is equivalent to two back here so avoid alcohol if possible.  The rest stop half way driving up to Pikes Peak is equivalent to three Martinis.  So I'd let someone else do the driving.  Cheyenne Mountain is ground zero in case of a nuclear war so you don't have to worry about that because you'll be radioactive vapor.  

Unfortunately it takes the body about a full month to adjust to the elevation but you don't have that option.  Altitude sickness is mostly caused by dehydration so you need to keep chugging the water even when you don't feel like it.  Limit your hiking to the flat levels of the Garden of the Gods and let the rental car do the rest of the work.  Plenty of stuff to see, just take it easy.  Oh, and the Air Force Pilots at the Academy have two speeds on the freeway - fast - and faster.  So get over on the right side of the freeway and let them be the first person to the accident.  

Hope you have a good time and pick out a good sample of gold ore.  
 

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