Alright, so I wanted to talk about this whole ‘high altitude’ business. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt… well, almost. More like I got a pounding headache and a story to tell.
The Big Idea and The ‘Easy’ Advice
So, I had this grand plan, right? Go up high, see the views, conquer the mountain, or at least a very tall hill. You hear all the usual stuff about high altitude. People throw it around like it’s nothing.
- Drink tons of water.
- Don’t rush.
- Listen to your body.
Sounded simple enough. I thought, “Yeah, I can do that. No problem.” Famous last words, eh?
Then Reality Decided to Show Up
Got up there. First day, felt a bit off, but chalked it up to travel. By the second day, though? Bam! My head was throbbing like a drum. And my stomach felt like it was doing gymnastics. Not the fun kind.
I was chugging water like it was my job. Seriously. Rested. Took it slow. I even had some painkillers with me, tried those for the headache. But it was like this stubborn mule, just wouldn’t budge. That ‘mild altitude sickness’ they talk about? Didn’t feel very mild when it was happening to me, let me tell you. My stomach was all messed up too, feeling pretty sick.
You know, they say, ‘Oh, if it gets bad, just go down.’ Sounds easy. But when you’ve spent all this time and money, and you’re there, going down feels like failing. It’s a tough pill to swallow, tougher than any altitude sickness pill they sell.
What I Really Think Now
This whole experience, it really made me think. It’s not about being weak or unfit. This altitude thing, it’s a sneaky beast. It can creep up on anyone. And all that advice, while good, sometimes it just isn’t enough. Or maybe we don’t take it seriously enough until it’s too late.
I saw other people pushing through, looking miserable. Why? For a photo? For bragging rights? I don’t get it anymore. My body was screaming ‘NOPE!’ and for once, I actually listened. Had to cut the trip short, change plans. Sucked at the time, not gonna lie. But looking back, it was the right call. Descending a bit, even though it wasn’t the original plan, made a huge difference, pretty quickly too.
So, my takeaway? This high altitude stuff is no joke. It’s not just some minor inconvenience you can ‘power through.’ Sometimes, the bravest thing is to say, ‘Okay, mountain, you win this round,’ and head back down. Your body will thank you. And honestly, there are plenty of amazing views at slightly lower altitudes too, without the brain-splitting headache. Just saying.