Salty Dog, here's my non-medical opinion... Being able to cruise along at altitude like you do at sea level, I think, is all about hemoglobin levels. How much oxygen your lungs can absorb from one breath, and how well it can be transported to the muscles. I think that is why it took you (what... week and a half, maybe two?) so long to reach the level of ability that you desired. I don't think Diamox would help even a tiny bit in that area. On the other hand, I think your training did help, even at sea level.
The other part of AMS, the headache, lack of appetite, and nausea are not well understood. Researchers can't identify what is happening inside our bodies that cause that.
I am guessing it is right down to the cellular level, but the changes are so miniscule on that level that nobody can tell what the problems are. Somehow Diamox helps that situation a bit.
