I have experienced a disturbing condition on my recent initial tries at backpacking. I slept 1 night at 8700 ft and a month later at 9100 ft. Both times after bedding down for the night in my tent and sleeping bag on a pad I regularly was overcome by the feeling that I was short of oxygen. This happened every couple of minutes and I had to take several quick breaths or one long deep breath. It kept me from sleeping but eventually I was able to sleep after an hour or so. I also had the same experience while sleeping in a vacation home at Yosemite West.
I live at 5500 ft. During my one hike to the Whitney summit I experienced no symptoms of altitude sickness. Is this altitude related or anxiety? Would Diamox help?
Sufferers of this will sometimes stop breathing for a while, which can be really disturbing to one's tent partner. But it is not a serious thing. The "brief arousal" events might be upsetting in some circumstances...Hmmm.
This is a very common problem, and Diamox will absolutely help. In my experience, taking 125 mg of Diamox before bedtime eliminates this problem altogether, with no side effects.
