Medical Notes:

Required immunization shots were: Polio booster, Typhoid fever, Hepatitis A (we also got B, twinrix: 3 shots at $60 each), Tetanus/Diphtheria and influenza.  Also got prescriptions for: Diamox (Altitude sickness), Diarrhea (Pepto-Bismol, and stronger Imodium), Gastroenteritis (Ciproflaxacin, Gastrolyte), infections (Amoxicillan).  Got rubbing alcohol for foot care. (an anti-fungal agent). Drink only bottled or boiled water. Eat only well-cooked vegetables, all fruit must be peeled. Keep hands and face clean, use a hand sanitizer.  

The trek was designed to minimize the effects of altitude sickness (AMS, Acute Mountain Sickness) on our bodies: lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, walk slowly and no exertions, no alcohol above 3000m, and a high carbohydrate diet. Also no more than average 300m (1000’) gain per day. I brought my heart-rate monitor along to make sure my heart rate would not exceed 110 bpm to keep the pace down. This also means NO running for 10 days until after our goal was achieved! AMS symptoms are: headache, nausea, ataxia, split vision, fatigue, dehydration, shortness of breath, persistent cough, swelling, sleep disorder. Who wants to admit that their body has failed them and their cherished dream of completing the trek has to be aborted!  This is serious business and many have died from AMS. The picture on left shows a monument to a 39 year old Italian who died of AMS near Luza around 4300m.