Altitude problems at NJH?

I moved to Denver 4 years ago in 2020, and it took a couple of months to adjust to the altitude.
However before that, I visited by daughter two different times for about a week each in 2019, and didn't have any issues with the altitude.

I have been to Denver three times so far at NJH. January was fine although my 02 went down by 3%. April was bad- short of breath all the three days. Last one in April was fine but I asked for a wheelchair assistance when I was buying the plane tickets. It helped a lot and I was fine. O2 always went down by 2-3%. I think you need time to adjust and my visits are short.

I am 70 live below sea level in New Orleans & have mild BE w/MAC Dx’d in 2022, follow-ups at NJH every Spring. I haven’t noticed increased SOB after a day of acclimating in Denver. Also, live in Durango CO during the summer which is at 6,500’ w/o increased SOB. I feel I can breathe easier in CO than in New Orleans probably bc I am allergic to mold.

The 1st few times I went to NJH I was fine and kept my SATs in mid-90s. After that, I needed to use supplemental O2. At the time, they were able to help me connect with Lincare, who delivered the equipment to my hotel and taught me to use it and picked it up after I left.
I believe NJH evaluates mist patients for supplemental O2 shortly after arrive. If you’re worried, you should ask your lung doc about a HAST—high altitude simulation test to help determine how you will do at altitude.
By the way, most planes are pressurized to 8000 feet, which is higher than Denver.

Since Liquid O2 is very difficult to get most places you will get tanks or a concentrator for getting around if you need O2 in Denver.

I went to NJH in OCT. 2023 and did not have any problems at all with breathing. For me my Pulmonary Function Test, PFT, then and now are all off the scale in the right direction so I would imagine for those with good PFT's and just BE it is not as much of a problem. I had not had a PFT before going to NJH but have since had four PFT with each BE specialist visit either at NJH or Tyler.
Barbara

Really great information. Thanks so much!