Bigskyfam Posted April 8, 2015 Report Share Posted April 8, 2015 Second trip to the coast to see my specialist and I felt better there than at home. 3000 feet here. Also interestingly... I lost 4# water weight once I got there and got it all back when I returned. Thoughts or similar experiences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 8, 2015 Report Share Posted April 8, 2015 After surgery in 2013 I started to get worse again. During our summer holdiays last year I had a really bad time while in the mountains. My body feels like a half filled plastic water bottle, it contracts and expands just like a water bottle does. I couldnt walk at all and couldn't stay seated most of the time. I had this before when at higher altitudes. I live in the Netherlands, beneath sea level. Now that I have upped the octreotide and am doing much better re that, I hope I'll be doing better at higher altitudes as we would like to make really nice trip to Croatia this summer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goschi Posted April 8, 2015 Report Share Posted April 8, 2015 Hm, interesting aspect! I never paid attention to that... When my POTS started to gradually exacerbate in 2011 and 2012, I was at very different altitudes, from Sea level to Vienna (150m) up to 2.000m in the Austrian Mountains. I don't remember I felt any difference, but maybe I just didn't get that fluctuations were due to changing altitudes. A pity I didn't care for that.@Corina: That's wonderful that are so well that you can make a Journey from the Netherlands to Croatia (flying, I guess!?) - congratulations!!! So nice to hear that you are gonna have a proper summer Holiday!!Are you going to the seaside? There you can try out the effect of altitude very easily - at the Croation Coast you can go from Sea level up to 1.000m in a couple of minutes in most places! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted April 8, 2015 Report Share Posted April 8, 2015 I am very affected by altitude. At least once I am over 5,000 ft. I live at sea level. But perhaps too it is drier air that is affecting you. Last time I went out west (AZ) where the altitude is only 1,000 ft (where we were) I had a bad POTS episode. I think I did not stay adequately hydrated and got too hot as well. My dr told me that POTS patients are often very sensitive to environmental changes (tell me about it!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 I live at 6000 feet and definitely feel a difference every time I go to Phoenix or San Francisco to see my specialists. Last time we drove to Phoenix I was rejoicing with my husband as we left that I was actually able to sit up on the way out of town as I'm usually crashed with lots of pillows and the seat reclined. About three-quarters of the way up the climb out the valley though, I could feel it descend on me like a blanket...that feeling of weakness and shortness of breath. It was so weird. My experience is just the opposite though when I go to lower levels, I tend to gain "water" weight and lose it within a couple days of my return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 Goschi- we will travel by car. We've never been to Croatia before so I'm very excited about it. I'm not doing all that well flying so am happy to take the car. On our way to Croatia we will spend the night somewhere in Italy most likely, I just hope the Brennerpass won't be too bard on my body! We've been to Vienna as well (lots of years ago) and had an awesome time, what a beautiful city it is! We lved Schloss Schonbrunn, the Prater and walking along the river Donau! I love exploring new surroundings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goschi Posted April 10, 2015 Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 Corina, I can very much understand that you will avoid to fly, that's a good idea! However, I long car journey is sometimes not easy too, so again congrats that you are well enough for planning this!!Btw, if you want to avoid the Alps, you could choose a route a bit more to the east, going to the Styrian-Slovenian border, than south through the eastern part of Slovenia and then into Croatia. You will never reach higher sea levels along this route (expect finally at the Croation coast, if you intend to go there(?).P.S.: Glad to hear that you liked Vienna! ;-) Let's dream! One day you'll come here again, we will meet in an atmospheric coffee house and both of us will be HEALTHY!!! :-))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymph Posted April 10, 2015 Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 I live at 3000 ft (1000 m) elevation and have not noticed a difference at this altitude or when I travel to the lowlands. But then it is hard for me to tell as my symptoms are very variable as it is. However, my first real POTS episode occured at 7000 ft and was a doozy. I did not used to be sensitive to altitude but have been in recent years. I am not sure at what altitude it starts to affect me but I know that at 7000 ft I am not feeling well. Flying does not seem to pose a problem. Apparently the cabin pressure makes it okay for me, although I have to hydrate and use eye drops and nasal saline continually. (I have Sjogren's.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted April 10, 2015 Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 Goschi that would be awesome!!!Sorry to get off topic Bigskyfam. And on antoher off topic note: happy birthday! Hope you're having a great day today!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigskyfam Posted April 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 Thanks guys. I love the forums because we share. I enjoy reading it all. I've never been overseas so reading this is like a minivacation. Thanks for bday wishes. I had the day off after working straight. Laid down for a bit in my compression gear and the tables turned. Had to drive to hubby to get help picking up the kids. Nap then pizza and a movie at home I hope.I previously lived in az with same altitude. Previous to that... Coastal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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