Page 11 - Seniorstoday September 2022 Issue
P. 11
I supported (as much as I could) our lead The Copter Wait - We waited a whole day
doctor Smita Kale assigned to our group, on Aug 29 for a helicopter. Heavy cloud
in taking a checklist of symptoms of acute cover ensured there was no chance of
mountain sickness (AMS), checking oxygen getting one. It’s quite an experience to get
saturations and blood pressures of all up at 4.45 am, get ready for the day, be at
group members twice daily. Everyone was a guru pooja by 6 am, then have breakfast
strictly advised to continue their Diamox at 7 a.m. and then just wait - and wait the
since we had reached a higher altitude whole day for a helicopter! I never looked
now. Smita was strict and that’s important for so long at the skies before in my life,
on such a pilgrimage. Having advised hoping for a machine made of steel to
many patients before they ascend to high appear out of the clouds and take me to the
altitude on leisure and pilgrimages, I was next destination in my pilgrimage.
now experiencing first-hand, and learning
on the go. In a few patients who were Day 6
borderline hypertensive at their original Finally, on Aug 30, the clouds started
locations near sea level, we noticed that clearing in Hepka and the helicopters
their blood pressures did cross threshold started arriving to a large cheer from our
levels to need antihypertensive medication group, and the group ahead of us, many
during the trip. Just one on the team of whom had not yet moved to their next
had AMS, and severe enough to require destination either - Dakchi. The helicopters
steroids - she did well and continued the were coming from Simikot to pick us up in
pilgrimage on steroids. Isha is very strict groups of five from Hepka and take us to
on the medical, and any member of the Dakchi. Interestingly, when we finished
group who shows signs of bad AMS is our pilgrimage, we were informed that
usually observed very carefully, and not Hepka was taken off the itinerary for future
allowed to proceed higher up until they batches because of its persistent cloud
are significantly better and on appropriate covers and inability of helicopters to land
medication. safely.
Dakchi is now at 14,000 feet, so it’s a
Day 5 significant elevation beyond the 12,000 feet
we were at at Hepka. Dakchi is also nestled
Dr Sujeet Rajan Roshan Jeswani
Waiting for the helicpoter Dakchi campsite
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #39 | SEPTEMBER 2022 11
