First time to the mts.

[zeebs]

Ive always wanted to go to the mountains but i dont own a sled and dont find owning one worth it since we dont get much good snow here. However my uncle and his crew claim they booked enough room for me to go with to the big horns in montana in january.

One of my biggest concerns is that i have asthma (what i call pretty good) but not on an inhaler regularly, only when needed i take an over the counter inhaler. My question is how much will the thin mountain air effect me? If i was just standing up there i wouldnt even be concerned, but throwing a sled around all day will get the best of me im afraid. Also, is there anyway to "prepare" myself for this kind of strain on my respiratory system. I also wouldnt worry so much if we werent gonna be so far from a hospital (45 mins to a hour) should something happen. Plus any other advise would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[underdog]

I would just take it easy at first, and find out what your limit is. Yes, the air is quite thin there, to the point where, if I have to dig myself out, I have to slow down and control my breathing.

I had asthma when I was younger. And can still feel the affects of it some days.

If your riding partner's know you have asthma, they will help you out in any way possible. Sledders generally stick together.

 

[snopro]

If your uncle rides Skidoos's I don't see you having to much trouble getting stuck which should make the ride alot easier on you. If they are Yamaha's or Cats I probably would just stay home as you will be on oxygen all the time.






























































JK

 

[zeebs]

If your uncle rides Skidoos's I don't see you having to much trouble getting stuck which should make the ride alot easier on you. If they are Yamaha's or Cats I probably would just stay home as you will be on oxygen all the time.


JK

The crew runs doos and popo, so i should be good??? lol

Not sure yet if he will have an extra one or if im gonna rent one out there. If im renting then either doo or polaris

Sent while not working too hard

 

[ferniesnow]

I've taken quite a few people out over the years and never ran into anyone with an asthma problem. Either I didn't notice it or if they had asthma it didn't bother them. I will say one thing, "I noticed the high elevation (thin air) affecting a lot of people. particularly when they would get stuck." Whether or not any had asthma, I don't know.

Can't be much worse than how you suffer on the flatland can it? And if it is too bad, spend your day drinking, chasing the wild women, touring, etc.

 

[Rotax_Kid]

Try to get yourself in decent shape before you go. THe more lung capacity you have up at altitude the better off you will be. I found when I used to run more regularily than I do, I could ride alot longer alot harder than I could this past year. As others said, you really have to keep yourself in check when your digging. It's not like back home where you can jump off and Sometimes reef on the machine as hard as you can for as long as it takes. Remind yourself that it's a big change.

Take your time, relax and enjoy it.

 

[plio7]

I have asthma and i wouldnt worry about it if i were you man, when your stuck and digging out yea you can get winded but just stop catch your breath and get back to it, as far as the riding aspect i dont find it hinders me. only time i ever had it really bother me is when i went up once with a cold and got stuck a few times, then i wished i had've hung out at the cabin but other than that i would just go, keep your emergency inhaler with you and if you need it use it.

 

[trench]

Some good advice on being in good shape to ride in the thin mountain air, you will get stuck no matter what brand your riding. It's much easier to ride and unstick a lighter sled, in the mountains light is right.

 

[SledMamma]

It depends on what your triggers are. For most people it is dust and pollen, mold, food etc., There are a few people for whom cold air is a trigger, exercise is a trigger or sudden changes in temperature (hot to cold and vice versa) are a trigger. Any of these last three could cause you trouble in the mountains with asthma. I think it is very rare, but it is a possibility. Make sure you have your fast acting rescue inhaler with you (salbutamol/ventolin- usually a blue inhaler) to use as needed. If your asthma is exercise induced, take it 15 minutes before you head up the trail. If you have a cold in the weeks immediately before you go on the trip that is triggering asthma trouble, seriously consider visiting the doctor and starting on an inhaled corticosteroids (like Flovent) to reduce airway irritation and help your Ventolin work better.

Most of all, between stucks and shoveling be sure to take deep breaths and enjoy the scenery

Have fun,
Your friendly local Respiratory Therapist

 

[zeebs]

I used to be on ventloin but now he just has me on a product called primatene mist for when i need it. You can get it right off the shelf. Any difference between the two you think? Beside the obvious name difference?????

Sent while not working too hard

 

[SledMamma]

I used to be on ventloin but now he just has me on a product called primatene mist for when i need it. You can get it right off the shelf. Any difference between the two you think? Beside the obvious name difference?????

Sent while not working too hard

Can you still get Primatene? In Canada it has never been available OTC and is never used as a frontline asthma drug. However, I understood that as of this year it was taken off the market because of the adverse effects on the environment and that although the company is working on a CFC-free version it is not yet available.

Ventolin and Primatene are two different drugs with different modes of action. Primatene takes swelling from the airways by constricting blood vessels, while Ventolin relaxes constriction in the airway by working on the smooth muscle itself. Ventolin, for most people, is more effective, but it is not available over the counter.

If Primatene works for you, then use that, but I'd make sure that it is still available and that the canister you have is not expired when you go

 

[plio7]

If you can get a prescription for ventolin. If you have any asthma it's a nut in my eyes no matter how good or bad yours is. I went years with out having any problems and then one day found my self fighting for breath a whole night. Not bad enough for a hospital but bad enough to make for a very chitty night.

Having an emergency inhaler is very important. Wether in the mountains or not. You never know when you might find yourself struggling for breath. Nothing more uncomfortable than that and you sure as hell don't want to be at 8,000 feet when you find yourself in that situation

 

[zeebs]

Can you still get Primatene? In Canada it has never been available OTC and is never used as a frontline asthma drug. However, I understood that as of this year it was taken off the market because of the adverse effects on the environment and that although the company is working on a CFC-free version it is not yet available.

Ventolin and Primatene are two different drugs with different modes of action. Primatene takes swelling from the airways by constricting blood vessels, while Ventolin relaxes constriction in the airway by working on the smooth muscle itself. Ventolin, for most people, is more effective, but it is not available over the counter.

If Primatene works for you, then use that, but I'd make sure that it is still available and that the canister you have is not expired when you go

Damn mamma, your pretty good. I went to look at the primatine label and it says right on top "CFC will not be available after December 31 2011" so i wondered when it expires...........6 of 2012! Guess ill be getting ahold of my Dr and seeing if i can get some ventloin.

Sent while not working too hard

 

[dezmitchell]

Im a severe asthmatic i ride lots.... sled in the winter and dirt bike in the summer dont chance it buddy stress is a huge trigger for many people and if you get into a sticky situation you could be your own worst enemy. Your going to be to far away from help and if an attack does come on your going ruin your and everyone else's weekend. If i were you i would go to my Dr. before i went on the trip and get some form of medication (a inhaler or something thats fast acting for attacks). Personally Im on what's called advair 250-mg twice a day and with that i can manage my illness quite well but i will not go out on the hill or on the trail with out an inhaler its just not worth it ive been caught with out an emergency inhaler and have scared myself in the past so i wont even take the chance now even tho with my advair it is completely manageable. You cant plan for stress or something bad happening how ever you can plan for your medical needs and that way if something does happen within your group you will be a liability and help instead of the victim.

As far as training and getting some cardio in thats a good idea regardless of a health condition so do that to but dont rely on it. I am over cautious with my illness im a firefighter and that can get super physical, stressful and i have the possibility of breathing in smoke and have never had an attack while on my meds (the advair) but i still keep an emergency inhaler with me ...... Never know someone else might need it and you could of just saved there life by taking care of your own.

 

[SledMamma]

Im a severe asthmatic i ride lots.... sled in the winter and dirt bike in the summer dont chance it buddy stress is a huge trigger for many people and if you get into a sticky situation you could be your own worst enemy. Your going to be to far away from help and if an attack does come on your going ruin your and everyone else's weekend. If i were you i would go to my Dr. before i went on the trip and get some form of medication (a inhaler or something thats fast acting for attacks). Personally Im on what's called advair 250-mg twice a day and with that i can manage my illness quite well but i will not go out on the hill or on the trail with out an inhaler its just not worth it ive been caught with out an emergency inhaler and have scared myself in the past so i wont even take the chance now even tho with my advair it is completely manageable. You cant plan for stress or something bad happening how ever you can plan for your medical needs and that way if something does happen within your group you will be a liability and help instead of the victim.

As far as training and getting some cardio in thats a good idea regardless of a health condition so do that to but dont rely on it. I am over cautious with my illness im a firefighter and that can get super physical, stressful and i have the possibility of breathing in smoke and have never had an attack while on my meds (the advair) but i still keep an emergency inhaler with me ...... Never know someone else might need it and you could of just saved there life by taking care of your own.

Definitely: stress is a HUGE trigger for some people!! Also, make sure you have something other than Advair- it is not a "true" fast acting rescue inhaler and the company has been forced to advertise on their packaging that the risk of dying in from asthma increases if you are using Advair as your only asthma treatment. This is because it doesn't work fast enough in severe asthma attacks. It is an awesome maintenance drug for asthmatics, but in sticky situations, only Ventolin will do the trick. Also, if you can get your hands on Atrovent (usually an ugly green inhaler), when used with Ventolin, it actually makes Ventolin work better than if you only took the Ventolin by itself. However, Atrovent by itself has little effect. It is a trick we use in ER with asthmatics who are in distress and have taken their Ventolin 25 times with little to no effect. It is also a prescribed drug (usually used for old COPD/chronic smoker type diseases) that physicians often overlook in the treatment of acute asthma attacks...

And ALWAYS check your expiry dates on your meds- I can't tell you how many times I have seen this

 

[snopro]

'mama is rocking it tonight!

 

[zeebs]

Come to think of it i was on advair once upon a time also. Does it come in a 2 tone purple round canister deal? I was given that as a trial deal then they never gave me any again. I thought it worked great but like mamma says i do remember hearing some not so pleasant things about it. More so it just scared me out of using it anymore.

Sent while not working too hard

 

[dezmitchell]

oh yea i should of mentioned that ...advair is NOT for attacks. It is a daily med that one can take it works by opening the airways in the lungs (decreases bronchiolar swelling and causes muscle relaxation). Advair WILL NOT STOP an asthma attack once one has started; use other quick-relief medicines/inhalers for sudden shortness of breath or asthma attacks. It is to try and prevent an attack before it is started......I was just speaking on my own situation.

 

[dezmitchell]

that would be it yea.

 

[E-Zmoke]

I am a severe asthmatic. I have been my whole life. I owned my own machine and mask when I was a kid because I did not know how to control it. Ive been on every puffer their is out thier! I have never let it get in the way of doing anything I have ever wanted to do in life. I carry an inhaler in my hip pocket of my Avy bag. I cary another inhaler inside my emergency kit inside my pack. I have another one in my truck. I play almost every sport out their to the extreme and I ride harder. To be honest the altitude and clean mountain air actually make me breathe better under the right conditions. Learn to control your breathing. Be very careful on cold days, cold thin air and over exaustion is a killer. I can ride all day without having to use my inhaler once, or other days I'm using it every 5 mins. Being scared, stress, nervs, all play factors. It's all in your mind, and learning how to control your attacks will make or break you in life. If you feel yourself being over worked slow down. STOP, take a breather. Make sure everyone in your group is aware you have asthma, where your inhaler is, and how to use it incase you cant. I would not let it keep me from going to the mountains though. Exercise before you go, condition yourself. Strengthen your lungs as much as you can, but the most important thing...Just get out their and enjoy the beauty of the mountains!!!