Kilimanjaro

Has anyone climbed Kilimanjaro with a pacemaker/ICD? I sure it has been done, but I am looking for first hand advice. We are climbing this year up the Rongai route. I will be talking to my electrophysiologist soon about possibly increasing my betablocker dosage to account for the low oxygen increasing my heart rate. 

Thanks everyone!

2 Comments

beta blocker

by Tracey_E - 2018-01-28 21:38:40

A higher dose makes it harder to work out, and it makes the heart not beat as hard. I would expect the higher rate to be a good thing in this case?

Why do you have PM/ICD

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2018-02-02 21:40:41

The question to address is what is the underlying reason you have a PM, ICD, CRT...?

For instance you may have a congenital condition that the device helps you deal with.  Or you may suffer from a heart condition that causes a low ejection fraction.  There may be electrical pathway problems, synchronization, ischemic issues, ... the list goes on.  Your cardiologist or EP is your best source of guidance and ask specifically about elevation limits.  Additionally, unless you already live at a high elevation and are acclimated, build into your schedule lots of time to get used to higher elevation. Finally, buy good trip insurance and ensure you can be evacuated from that elevation. If you are arranging through a reputable organization, they will require a health report and they decide if they will accept you to join the trek.

 

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