That acclimatization thing, what's that about?



https://www.facebook.com/grassrootsguy/videos/10159553824310434/

Well, at least you got a unique view of Mt Whitney on the flight back.

Glad you're back safe.

Glad you made it. But I would definitely get checked out for other than AMS: 4 days acclimation, sleeping for 12 hours, no headache, no nausea, I would say something else was probably going on. Lethargy and disorientation are typical of hypothermia, but nothing else points to that. Harvey?

Heart attack, stroke? No? Getting older is not fun.

Beats the alternative.

HACE is the at the far end of the continuum of AMS and can occur even without typical AMS symptoms. Often, the patient appears just a bit goofy-worn out-stumbling around, and he and others around him might overlook the big picture. Fortunately in this case, the ranger did not.

This is from the original 1991 Lake Louise Consensus that is still in use. Notice the last sentence.

[HACE] Can be considered "end stage" or severe AMS. In the setting of a recent gain in altitude, either:

- the presence of a change in mental status and/or ataxia in a person with AMS
- or, the presence of both mental status changes and ataxia in a person without AMS

Altitude Illness Lake Louise

Hm. Missed the ataxia in the narrative. Is the fast recovery and quick release by the docs consistent with HACE?

If he had HACE (or mixed HAPE/HACE which is common) it was clearly mild, and so recovery could be prompt. Not so with severe cases that are often irreversible.

The fact that the rangers put him on O2 and he got heloed out says he was indeed ill. Yet he was able to still do photos and videos? That is part of the problem with early HACE where the patient is only partly affected and might not recognize the issue.

See historical high altitude quote below

it is difficult for the stupid mind to observe how stupid it is.
George Mallory, Chapters IV-VI, X-XI in
Bruce, CG, The Assault on Mount Everest 1922,
page 129