Altitude sickness, breathing issues at the Grand Canyon and Bryce with

Those are beautiful places to visit! The thinner air at those altitudes can make breathing more challenging with lung issues. I can’t address the oxygen concentrator question, but I can share thoughts about airway clearance.

Consider increasing your airway clearance to twice a day, especially if you’re already bringing up mucus with one session. Twice daily airway clearance is commonly recommended in bronchiectasis even without the added challenge of altitude. Since accumulated mucus can also contribute to feeling short of breath, keeping your lungs as clear as possible may help.

I hope you find a routine that works well for you and lets you enjoy your trip.

@scoop thank you! Great advice, we are traveling in early October so I’ll have a month to improve my breathing. I’ve also been increasing my daily exercise routine and feel better already.

We were in Park City, Utah last fall, and my 02 stayed low the entire time . Sometimes in the high 80’s, and just didn’t feel great with my breathing . Nebbed daily .
Last week we were in Lake Tahoe and my symptoms were worse . My 02 stayed low ( 88-93) like it did in Park City, but this time after an easy hike I threw up. I’m going to talk to my doctor about the altitude sickness meds you take can take prior to a trip with higher altitudes. Interestingly , I wasn’t able to cough up much mucus when nebulizing while in Lake Tahoe. Seemed like the dryness there just kept it all packed in. Once back home ( in humid Texas), I coughed up a lot of mucus the first couple of days until it stabilized to my “ normal “ amount.
I don’t understand it all, but just offering my experience .

@nanhall consider taking O2. I was miserable just walking around, tried to push through and ended up missing 2 days of trip with a horrible headache and shortness of breath. Afterwards the doc told me it could have been dangerous and next time take supplemental oxygen

I’ve travelled to both places. My bronchiectasis dates back to 1997, with a history of MAC and other infections. I went to the North Rim in 2003 and had disabling fatigue and vomiting.. . It partially resolved after 24 hours and I was able to hike slowly over the next week. . In 2005 I went to Bhutan. I premedicated with Acetazolamide, prescribed by a travel doctor. You have to start it several days prior… it causes increased urination (a nuisance when traveling) . It enabled me to enjoy the Himalayas. I think I used it in Bryce about 10 years ago, I recall struggling uphill there, also in Santa Fe, Denver, etc.
My lung functions are about 50% of normal capacity, so I can’t run, dance, or hurry anywhere but I’ve been able to enjoy the world at my slow pace. Altitude sickness can come on very quickly, even in healthy people.

@sueinmn thanks Sue, I’m going to ask my pulmonologist for a script for a portable oxygen compressor. And an inhaler. I’ve really been looking forward to this trip and want it to be enjoyable not just for me but for my family too. I’m hoping the oxygen will allow me to take long walks along the rims without breathing issues. I’m not sure if I will need it all of the time, only when I’m walking or just initially as I acclimate. Was sleeping difficult for you or were you experiencing shortness of breath and headache just while you were out walking?

@nanhall Sleeping was difficult too - I now think it a combination of low oxygen and being badly deconditioned, having just finished a long course of antibiotics for MAC. I have been at altitude since then without issue, but allow several days of going up gradually to acclimate.

Hi! I have travelled to both places and most recently to the Grand Canyon South Rim where I have hiked for years and now walk the Rim whenever I visit.
Firsy, though, there has been terrible damage done by the recent flooding in the Grand Canyon along Bright Angel Creek. Affected by the damage was the water pumping station that provides the potable water pumped up from the creek to the South Rim. The pumping station was washed out. There’s an ongoing project to build a replacement but that is not up and running yet. As a result, all the hotels on the Rim are closed and water must be brought in. . I suggest you call for updates.
To answer your question, following yet another exacerbation of my lungs due to MAC, I ordered one of those rings (Oura) and monitored my oxygen level while I was sleeping. The dips at night were below 85 and I live at 2900 feet elevation. So I bought a portable oxygen generator just in case because we were planning on a trip later that year to the GC to celebrate my 80th birthday. My pulmonologist ordered a floor model for me for sleeping here in the valley. Meanwhile I earlier in the summer went hiking on nearby Mt. Lemmon at 7000 feet and was shocked to see my oxygen level at 84 so had to turn around and go back down. So longer story short, I absolutely needed the portable oxygen concentrator all the time I was staying at the South Rim. You can also rent a floor model to take with you unless you are flying in. Since Bryce Canyon is at least 1000 feet higher that the South Rim, you may need it there too. So get tested!!!!
If you plan to fly out, your aircraft cabin will be at 8000 feet so you’ll need it there, too, if your pulmonologist finds you would be in trouble without a concentrator.
Both places are absolutely beautiful and we are real aficionados of all the places including eg Zion and Canyonlands out there.
Since my health insurance did not cover the portable (yet) I bought Inogen Rove 6 along with two smaller battery packs and one of the larger. It’s pricey but it works great.
If you have any questions about your upcoming visit, I will be happy to answer them, too.