Hi, I have been doing a fair bit of high altitude trekking (>3000m) over the last three years - Himalayas, Andes, US Rockies. A couple of months ago I did a hike to 5600m in nthn Bolivia. I felt fine during the trek (well ... very breathless) and felt very very fine after the trek. A couple of days later I got a cold (no big deal). Then it moved to my chest (still no big deal). This may or may not be related to what followed. (As the cold might have just been a fatigue reaction to the extreme effort of the ascent.) Along the way I got something equivalent of asthma - tight chest, shortness of breath and lethargy - but it is not asthma. As a result I have had to return to Oz. I have had xrays plus many many lung, heart, urine and blood tests as well as throat and nasal swabs. All fine. I have had antibiotics, bronchodilators, corticosteriods, puffers, decongestants etc etc etc. No effect. I visited two respiratory specialists in Bolivia who had no definitive diagnoses.
My excellent doctor in Melbourne is at a bit of a loss as to what to do next. And of course it might well be coincidence that I got this just a few days after the ascent.
As 5600m is well beyond anything in Oz there is not much expertise here on such things it seems. My question: does anyone know any GPs or clinics in Melbourne that might be able to tell me what it is that is affecting me?
It might have got marginally better over the intervening 2.5mths but really I need a definitive diagnosis for two reasons. First just to be cured and second so I am reassured that further high altitude ascents are not going to cause more problems.
I thought there might be some expertise and/or contacts via this site.
Cheers, and thanks, Grahame
PS: I'm 65 (not that that should matter).