Travel to high altitude with lung condition: Need to take precautions?

My wife and I have a long-planned trip to Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado coming up. Our home is at around 2,000 feet; our destinations are all at 6,500-7,000 feet or maybe a little more, and there will be short periods at 10,000-11,000. I was recently diagnosed with IPF, mild for now. Of course I will consult with my pulmonologist, but has anybody here had experience with a dilemma like ours?

Not IPF, I have asthma, bronchiectasis, and have been on medications for Mycobacteria lung infections.

Two years ago, when travelling from home (900 feet) to higher altitudes like yours, we made the transitions very rapidly due to a short travel window. I experienced severe shortness of breath and altitude sickness that took a couple of weeks to normalize. I was shocked, as we had made the trip 2 years earlier, and to even higher altitudes, and I just had mild shortness of breath and no other symptoms.

We talked at length about it, and realized in the past our ascents had always been much slower - taking a full week to get to our first (7000) foot destination, and another week to get to our highest stopping point of 11,000 feet. Afterward I discussed it with my docs, and found the slow approach, stopping for at least 24-48 hours at the first signs of SOB, was their recommended approach. The pulmonologist also suggested that supplemental oxygen, before exertion and at night, could also help. Of course, then Covid hit, so I haven't been able to try that.

Just one person's view.
Sue

My wife and I have a long-planned trip to Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado coming up. Our home is at around 2,000 feet; our destinations are all at 6,500-7,000 feet or maybe a little more, and there will be short periods at 10,000-11,000. I was recently diagnosed with IPF, mild for now. Of course I will consult with my pulmonologist, but has anybody here had experience with a dilemma like ours?

Hi Rob, Great question. You'll notice that I moved your post to this existing discussion called "Travel to high altitude with lung condition: Need to take precautions?". I did this so you can see advice from community members in addition to the tips and experience that @sueinmn shared. Please see previous posts from @merpreb @davej @sistertwo @becsbuddy @mrbill

Rob, Will you be flying or driving?

Thanks for the links to the related posts. I'll check them out in the morning. The plan: I will drive from to Albuquerque (20 hours), my wife will fly and meet me there, we'll then drive to Santa Fe, Taos (for the annual Taos Wool Festival of course), then to Flagstaff for almost a week, finally to Denver for our granddaughter's 13th birthday, then home together (another 20 hours). Waiting for a call from the pulmonologist tomorrow for his take on the trip. But, on account of Covid, general uncertainty in the world, me and the medication that I should start soon (OLEV), I think the trip is in doubt regardless of what he says. Thanks again.

Not IPF, I have asthma, bronchiectasis, and have been on medications for Mycobacteria lung infections.

Two years ago, when travelling from home (900 feet) to higher altitudes like yours, we made the transitions very rapidly due to a short travel window. I experienced severe shortness of breath and altitude sickness that took a couple of weeks to normalize. I was shocked, as we had made the trip 2 years earlier, and to even higher altitudes, and I just had mild shortness of breath and no other symptoms.

We talked at length about it, and realized in the past our ascents had always been much slower - taking a full week to get to our first (7000) foot destination, and another week to get to our highest stopping point of 11,000 feet. Afterward I discussed it with my docs, and found the slow approach, stopping for at least 24-48 hours at the first signs of SOB, was their recommended approach. The pulmonologist also suggested that supplemental oxygen, before exertion and at night, could also help. Of course, then Covid hit, so I haven't been able to try that.

Just one person's view.
Sue

Sue- Did you use oxygen to help your SOB?

Thanks for the links to the related posts. I'll check them out in the morning. The plan: I will drive from to Albuquerque (20 hours), my wife will fly and meet me there, we'll then drive to Santa Fe, Taos (for the annual Taos Wool Festival of course), then to Flagstaff for almost a week, finally to Denver for our granddaughter's 13th birthday, then home together (another 20 hours). Waiting for a call from the pulmonologist tomorrow for his take on the trip. But, on account of Covid, general uncertainty in the world, me and the medication that I should start soon (OLEV), I think the trip is in doubt regardless of what he says. Thanks again.

I would like to say that we have safely traveled throughout the Covid pandemic by taking sensible precautions. Neither of us has gotten sick - not even a cold.
We mask everywhere, even outdoors if there are crowds. We wash, wash, wash our hands. We patio dine, or have takeout. When we arrive in a hotel, we open the windows, turn on the heating/cooling fan and leave to get our bags from the car while the air clears, then keep a window open/fan running. We also wipe down surfaces, not out of concern for Covid, but as a general practice of long-standing.
We both have medical conditions that make us especially cautious, but in May 2020 my primary provider wisely told me "Covid is going to be here for a long time. We need to learn how to live with it, not hide from it." Wise woman - until I typed this I never realized how right she is!
Let us know what you decide to do - it sounds like a wonderful trip to one of my favorite area on earth!
Sue

Thanks. My PCP this morning said he'd try to get me a device to concentrate the oxygen in the air if it turned out I needed it out there. Not the same as a tank of the stuff. Still waiting to hear the take from either of my pulmonologists. My wife and I have been very careful throughout Covid too. But I'm told that even though we're fully vaccinated, I still have to wash my hands. Thanks again. Bob