What's making me nauseous in the mountains?

I've been peak bagging in Colorado for 10 years, and for the past couple of seasons I have been waking up nauseous at the trailheads. No other symptoms of any kind of bug or altitude sickness. Sometimes it goes away after a couple stops to throw up, but other days it persists all day to the point where taking a sip of water out of my bladder makes me gag. I've tried breakfast/no breakfast, coffee/no coffee, tea, pepto, more sleep, slower starts, with no luck on a real remedy. 

As soon as I'm off the trail though and back at the truck the nausea goes away I can down some Gatorade and and a snack no problem. Anyone else ever experience anything like this? Is it just my unconscious creating this psychosomatically because I don't actually like slogging up steep hills all day?

Thanks!

You're getting old brotha'. Sleep in your own bed and get up early and refreshed. 

Tradibanwrote:

You're getting old brotha'. Sleep in your own bed and get up early and refreshed. 

Aw man, really? I'm only 29. It's been a while since I've done the peak bag day trip, but that's not a bad idea. I'll give it a shot next time

I think that is likely a combination of factors but mild anxiety/concern is my first differential.

Does this happen to be after driving to the TH and sleeping in your vehicle?

it’s a long shot but maybe an exhaust issue allowing CO to enter the cabin on the trip, then remaining in that environment for the night resulting in the nausea.

Honestly this seems really unlikely as I expect opening up and moving around upon arrival would clear it, and probably you would also have issues at other times but the thought occurred to me so I figured worth a mention. 

You're scared? 

Stress. Anxiety. Worry. What-iffing yourself to death. 

Just asking. A buddy of mine reliably puked on the way up to do something big, actually two of my partners did this. The first one would also puke fairly frequently after a hard, scary lead too. 

My other buddy, a prolific new router in the Sierra, would typically puke a couple of times on the morning-of approach. It would almost always start with a cough turned into a gag and then, that sound. One morning his absolutions caught up to me and we both puked, cracking jokes as we wiped up the mess. 

Anyway, in these cases, it was stress-related. Our cure was to not be stressed. HAH! Good luck with that!

Yup, mild anxiety, or the awful pollution every summer. That stuff makes me pretty sick no matter how high up I am. And I'm, uh... kind of an expert in anxiety for better or worse.

My swag is simple AMS.  Climb high, sleep low.  Try more water and electrolytes - which can be challenging at altitude because it makes you wake up to pee more often.  Down that Gatorade in the AM, not when you’re done, and maybe find something that isn’t just corn syrup.  Consider Salt Stick tablets.

diepjwrote:

Does this happen to be after driving to the TH and sleeping in your vehicle?

it’s a long shot but maybe an exhaust issue allowing CO to enter the cabin on the trip, then remaining in that environment for the night resulting in the nausea.

Honestly this seems really unlikely as I expect opening up and moving around upon arrival would clear it, and probably you would also have issues at other times but the thought occurred to me so I figured worth a mention. 

Also if you have a van or built out truck with propane it might be good to rule a small propane leak out as well

Sounds like you are getting after some real sick peaks.

altitude. trailheads in CO are pretty high usually.   I never had a problem with altitude when I was younger but now it hits me hard and I am wondering if I have some other unknown health issue  that is a contributing factor???? 

diepjwrote:

Does this happen to be after driving to the TH and sleeping in your vehicle?

it’s a long shot but maybe an exhaust issue allowing CO to enter the cabin on the trip, then remaining in that environment for the night resulting in the nausea.

Honestly this seems really unlikely as I expect opening up and moving around upon arrival would clear it, and probably you would also have issues at other times but the thought occurred to me so I figured worth a mention. 

The half life for CO to leave your system is something like 24 hours, it probably would not feel 100% better after the hike like he explains it, but it does linger.

I know this is kind of out of left field, but have you considered getting a physical? Bloodwork?

Probably the Ancient Age Whiskey 

Clearly the ghost of Kor does not want you to resign yourself to mere hiking. Get back to putting up desert tower FA's! And eat more kettle chips and pickles; it's what a growing boy needs to be strong and tuff like Sending Gote.

My underwear is usually the cause, for me. Hopefully, you didn't take my underwear...

Per WebMD, you might have a psilocybin deficiency. 

diepjwrote:

Does this happen to be after driving to the TH and sleeping in your vehicle?

it’s a long shot but maybe an exhaust issue allowing CO to enter the cabin on the trip, then remaining in that environment for the night resulting in the nausea.

Honestly this seems really unlikely as I expect opening up and moving around upon arrival would clear it, and probably you would also have issues at other times but the thought occurred to me so I figured worth a mention. 

He would probably have it associated with all driving…

If this is really associated only with your peak bagging, then I think it is the altitude. Your personal response to altitude is quite temporally variable based on your recent exposure. Maybe ease into it and see what happens.

You could also be exerting yourself into a very high heart rate. Possible you’re jumping into the deep end too soon in the season based on past performance?

Consider if you are on new meds, some could change your physiology changing your acclimatization rate.

If gradually returning to your pursuits with proper acclimatization doesn’t improve things, I’d definitely see your doctor.

Obviously you shouldn’t take medical advice from an internet stranger named after a fast food restaurant.. 

Ryan Kwrote:

He would probably have it associated with all driving…

If this is really associated only with your peak bagging, then I think it is the altitude. Your personal response to altitude is quite temporally variable based on your recent exposure. Maybe ease into it and see what happens.

You could also be exerting yourself into a very high heart rate. Possible you’re jumping into the deep end too soon in the season based on past performance?

Consider if you are on new meds, some could change your physiology changing your acclimatization rate.

If gradually returning to your pursuits with proper acclimatization doesn’t improve things, I’d definitely see your doctor.

Obviously you shouldn’t take medical advice from an internet stranger named after a fast food restaurant.. 

haha I thought you were going to take credit!

Grand Junction is pretty low at 4600' . Around a 1000' below the Front Range and several thousand below others that live in the mountains. 

Going from GJ at 4600' to a TH at 11,000' is quite a jump. If you do it all the time, it wouldn't be so bad, but if only occasionally, it would explain the malaise.

When living at 6500', and only hiking occasionally, I had gagging issues in the morning when camping at 11,000', That night it was fine, but the next day was rough. Bread was out of the question. I got in the habit of eating dehydrated soup for breakfast and some cookies during the day. Like you, when I came back down I could wolf down tons of almost anything. When I was going a lot, like in the summer, it wasn't so bad.

If you or anyone else are not sleeping well worrying about the route and the next day too much, take a 1/2 of a Benedryl if you think that may happen due to being a particularily risky route, etc. The 1/2 Benedryl will let you sleep well and will not affect you physically or mentally the next day. Take it about 2 hours before you plan to sleep. Everyone takes a 1/2 Benedryl if sharing a tent on the mountain otherwise nobody will get any sleep, unless you are really beat.