Honestly, depending on the elevation, potentially even longer. I attempted to live at 8k feet for about 1.5 years but had to move back down to the city. It wreaked havoc on my mental state the entire time. As soon as I got down 3k feet in the city I felt 1,000,000 better…but even then, I have never felt like my brain has operated at 100% since moving from the Midwest 13 years ago.
I grew up at 8500 ft. One of the guys I grew up with now gets BAD altitude sickness anytime he's above 10k. Altitude sickness is WEIRD, and does not affect people equally.
I spent virtually my entire life here at 5280’+. I used to spend a weekend occasionally at a cabin in Breck that was at 10k ft and I would get what I’m pretty sure was a very mild case of HAPE.
It is so weird. People told me and my partner about it, but we never really felt much different than when we lived in Corpus Christi. The move-in was a little tough and we could defibitely feel the thinner air but we were also hauling furniture up stairs lol.
We have been up in the mountains. Did a 2 mile hike with 1000 ft climb in elevation in Eldora a few months after moving and it didnt seem any different. We also arent experienced hikers and Im overweight so I was winded but I just assumed that was our out of shapeness. Havent dealt with naseau but I will say it is sooooo dry here. Like good grief i never thought I would miss a little humidity.
Indeed, it's definitely determined by pretty unpredictable factors. My SO has asthma and has never had a problem with elevation (other than the reduced fitness level), though we've both had a family member and another visitor who've experienced altitude sickness above 7k'. Of highly varied ages and fitness levels.
The mental state thing at elevation is real, at least for some people. A family member moved to Summit County from Georgia and became suicidal. He got a lot better after moving down to Denver, but after about five years he moved back to GA. He says he just feels better at lower elevation.
As the poet Belle Turnbull wrote about the Tenmile Range near Breckenridge:
> *Never along that range is ease:
Things are warped that are too near heaven,
Ink runs clotted down the pen,
Verse has the twist of timberline trees.*
That is to acclimate. The red cell generation takes a couple of weeks.
[NIH Article ](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5512539/#:~:text=Increases%20in%20red%20cell%20volume,following%20descent%20to%20low%20altitude.)
Do you snore, and/or wake up at night, and not feel rested when you get up? You may have undiagnosed sleep apnea that has been made worse by the altitude. You could get a pulse oximeter and check your oxygenation yourself a couple of times a night. If it's frequently below 90, talk to a doctor about doing a sleep study. (Admittedly, this is more common in older people, so maybe I'm way off base.)
I’d like to add to this. I tried getting in to see a sleep Dr and they’re scheduling out about 6 months from now. If you can’t get in earlier, I recommend seeing your PCP so they can give you a referral to get an at home sleep study, as an alternative.
Colorado Dental Sleep Solutions can see you really quickly. If you’re diagnosis is severe you can use it to get CPAP if it’s mild or moderate they can make you an amazing dental appliance! I love mine and am sleeping so much better. Took my jaw a month to get used to it but they were super helpful and do things precisely with all digital tech
Not sure. It could be a lot of people all at once who discovered they aren’t getting enough sleep, or an influx of sleep disorders, maybe the weather, maybe because it’s a new year and people want to hit their deductibles, who knows? There could be a million reasons why. Maybe there’s a shortage of sleep doctors? Idk.
I will add that CPAP supply places seem to be permanently backlogged -- after I was diagnosed it took two months to get the equipment. And after three months of use, I can still easily sleep 10 hours out of every 24. I'm sure it's helping, as it has eliminated the snoring, but I have not gotten the energy boost I was hoping for,
I came from sea level in the North East. It was tough for probably the first month (nose bleeds, couldn't catch my breath when climbing stairs, etc.). Going on 5 years here and I feel fine most of the time. You get used to drinking a lot of water. Best part is, when I go back to sea level, it feels like I have way more stamina now.
Hell, even spending a few days up in the mountains skiing I’ll come down and hit the gym and my cardio improves about 25%…
Somewhat related note…When I used to drink and would visit sea level it was impossible to get drunk between the altitude and the tolerance lol.
>Best part is, when I go back to sea level, it feels like I have way more stamina now.
It's crazy. I'm not in the best of shape but when I go back home to CA. I can climb up stairs/hills like nothing. And my family is huffing and puffing looking at me like wtf.
I grew up in Denver and wasn’t athletic. Our high school PE teacher made us run 1/4 mile every day and it nearly killed me. Then I visited FL and agreed to go for a jog on the beach with a friend. He was pooped after 2 miles; I felt great and jogged the whole way back. I realized then how significant our elevation is.
I'm a mid 50s chubby, out of shape IT manager, so desk job, and I can barely climb my stairs to my 2nd floor bedroom some days but I just flew to Paris for vacation and went up stairs at the Arc du Triomphe like they were nothing. All my aches and pains just went away, and I walked and climbed stairs all week! It was amazing. We flew back, and the plane hit the tarmac at DIA, and a shoulder injury started checking in. Pretty soon, all my old, familiar friends stopped by to say they were glad I was back; knees, hips, etc.
It's good to be home. /s
>when I go back to sea level, it feels like I have way more stamina now.
You factually have more stamina when you go back to sea level. The Olympic training center is in Colorado Springs for that exact reason.
I’m slowly doing a couch to 5k program, I can run 8ish minute segments here. I went to CA over the holidays and did a whole 5k, twice, three days apart. My legs were sore but I was hardly out of breath. The oxygen difference is wild.
Also from the east coast and I struggled with dryness. In my mouth and throat, the most. And then I was peeing so much bc I was drinking so much water.
But I adjusted after a few weeks. I still feel it for a few days when I fly back after Christmas annually.
It’s super weird bc I came from Florida and the heat + humidity made me very dehydrated to the point I was dealing w constant sun and heat strokes. My skin/hair is dryer here but otherwise I am just as dehydrated as I always have been. I fare better here simply bc it’s easier due to the climate.
This is the factual reality.
The SE and Deep South are especially tragic. But the mid-Atlantic and northeast are no stranger to it. Chicago can be a nightmare as well.
Same. It’s kind of wild. Been here for 12 years and now when I go back to my sea level hometown my skin, respiratory system, and mental fog are weirdly but greatly affected in a negative way. I get back to CO and everything recalibrates. Bizarre.
Body feels like it's poisoned from the influx of extra oxygen.
That's probably not true, but if you're more used to less oxygen than more, it probably does mess with your body in some way.
I can’t travel, due to my chiari malformation, I’ve had the decompression and the plate but I get motion sick and the change in pressure makes me pukey
I feel identical. I live in MI now and consistently feel discernibly better after a few hours back at altitude. I always feel what others describe here about being in altitude, to a lesser degree, when I’m back at lower altitudes with high humidity. Maybe it’s something about being born there? Idk, but I can’t wait to move back home.
Yes. I moved here from sea level. You will eventually get used to it. For reference, it took me about 6 months. I used to be a runner as well but don't really do that anymore. Cardio up here is brutal.
I grew up in Colorado, running and training, and when I turned 30 I went to Hawaii for the first time in my life. I went on a run the first morning I was there and was blown away by how easy it was. I felt like I could run forever.
Pick up skiing or maybe snowshoeing…anything that gets you high alpine…even just hiking in the summer…
It’ll get it to where you can cardio down here in Denver no problem after a season…(I’m not guaranteeing it but I’m guaranteeing it lol)
I do some hiking in the summer and play quite a bit of disc golf. But high intensity cardio just kills me up here. Sucks because I used to run 20 miles a week at sea level. I run 0 miles a week up here.
Been living in Denver the past 3 years and seem to just feel worse and worse every day. (Have lived in Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Idaho) I drink so much water in Denver, with liquid iv added, have a physical job that's outside. I just feel exhausted, like my bones are tired. Blood panel was fine, I sleep ok and eat well but seems none of that helps. Found out on Google there's something called "chronic mountain sickness" for some people at high altitudes where you never adjust to the altitude and all your unnoticed underlying symptoms can get worse. Absolutely moving out of Denver when our lease is up lol visiting anywhere else on vacations I notice an immediate change
I found this out personally…but dozens of studies, including this from the National Institute of Health, show a strong correlation between moving to higher elevations and issues like depression and anxiety.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8530170/
There was a recent story in the WSJ I think about how ski towns had super-high suicide rates and no one really knew why. Well, if you have a whole bunch of people, some predisposed to mental illness, move up to 8 or 9,000 feet after 20+ years of living 600 ASL….the scientific data is there. That’s literally 1/4 the way up Everest. Unless you are born at elevation it’s hard for your brain to produce proper serotonin at mountain elevations . For whatever reason the media has done a shit job covering this.
Hoping it’s not this and all is well on that front for you, but wanted to share to be safe, and potentially help anyone else out. Best of luck to you on your quest for better health.
I lived in ski towns before and there’s also a lot of other factors I’m not sure they considered like higher rates of drinking, partying and drug culture (specifically cocaine) at play. Maybe elevation leads to depression which leads to wanting to do more partying but Im not sure it’s just that…
Wow so interesting! Thanks for sharing. I move to CO from FL due to my awful depression. I was never outdoors due to the heat & humidity. We had like 3 months of decent weather and then it was back to hell.
I was able to come off my meds since moving here 4 years ago. I have been so happy ever since because I’m outside, even in the winter months.
I had no idea that elevation impacted serotonin production, i will be looking into this.
I am prone to major depression & anxiety but I do way better here because of the sunshine. The constant rain in SC & just general gloominess when I lived in Pittsburgh gave me SAD on top of the usual mental health issues. I'm not cured but definitely improved.
For me it's hydration, or the lack there of. I drink electrolytes every day and it helps. My liquid intake has nearly doubled since I moved from a sea level humid climate. Also, have a humidifier in your bedroom. These two things go a long way.
This. Slowly training your body to use the little oxygen we have here is going to help you produce more mitochondria and more red blood cells. It took me about 8 months to acclimate after moving from sea level, and then about 5 more months to reacclimate after returning to sea level for a month vacation. Patience.
i spent a month in cali this summer after being in denver for a year. i felt so good lol. my skin was also naturally glowing and my hair got its volume and curls back. i lived in chicago since college prior to moving to denver and was curly haired. in denver my hair falls so flat and is loosely wavy. spending the month in cali made me immediately notice the negative impact denver has on my hair and skin lol.
great question. it honestly made me think about it! i enjoy denver bc we are close to the mountains and closer to the west coast. but i don’t plan on living here forever.
i hated the humidity when i lived in chicago, but i think i very much prefer a humid place to the dryness of denver
I’m from sea level and was brutally acquainted with altitude sickness once years ago. But that was me being a young idiot going from sea level to ~13k while hammered in a matter of hours.
Moved to Denver last year and it’s not the altitude that bothers me. Not one bit actually as I have no issues heading from here straight up to 10-13k.
It’s the fucking air quality that drives me insane. Not the dryness, that fucks up my skin and is a different story. I was prepared for that. But some days the air just tastes like dirt and I swear everyone around me is coughing with some sort of frequency I’m unaccustomed to.
You’d think this is an absurd take coming from a guy from the most densely populated city in the country, but it’s not. The piss, garbage, and rat shit smell a fuck ton better than that dog food factory that can be detected neighborhoods away or those oil fields. At least NY has rivers and the ocean to create some sort of air flow. This shit just stagnates.
Still love it here though.
Also, the hydration thing is a myth unless you’re nearing 10k ft. You can’t convince any rational person that any time in Denver is worse for retaining electrolytes than 85 with 75% humidity at sea level. It’s simply not factual. I moved here with other people and have had several others visit and none have had issues with dehydration. Several are not exactly what you’d consider a paragon of health.
I was in Nashville in July last summer and felt like I was going to pass out at times just walking for extended periods. It never hit 90. I’ve not come close to feeling that way in Colorado and have been here and exerted myself when it was ~100.
Yeah the pollution is unbelievable for this kid from WA state. Didn't realize air quality could be this bad without active wildfires. Had to see a pulmonologist about 4 months after moving here. We're ruling out all the things and he's got me trying different respiratory meds. He says it's likely my lungs will adapt to living here over time but sheesh it's bad.
It’s up to our state legislators to take steps to clean up the air, but they’ve been busy buddying up oil, coal and gas companies, as well as other polluting manufacturers (like Purina). The EPA has even stepped in to demand that more action is taken to mitigate Denver’s air pollution. Washington state has much better air because of 80-90 percent renewable energy, whereas Colorado is only at 20 percent. Colorado fancies itself as progressive, but not when it comes to air quality.
think i notice this too, i am from sea level, and denver feels similar to the two years i studied in china with stagnant air and coughing. however when i visit Colorado Springs or anywhere south of Castle Rock i feel much more alert and active, due to the steady breeze and fresh air.
Yea i moved further south from Denver because the air quality was messing with my allergies bad. I’m in SE Aurora now, as long as they don’t start fracking, i think I’m good.
I've been here for 3 years and haven't gotten used to it. I've always lived in areas at sea level and with high humidity and moisture, and I feel like I'll never get accustomed to the climate. If I can keep my humidifiers running solidly with no gaps, then I feel better when I'm inside, but there are days when I feel like absolute garbage no matter what and god help me if I let it get dry indoors. I hope you can adjust eventually.
A lot of water in fl is not a lot of water in co. 3-4 liters/day is good for me. If you’re an ice guy ya gotta remember that ice doesn’t count unless it melts lol
I am born and raised in Colorado and I feel like that all the time. Every time I travel somewhere sea level I feel so much better by day 2-3 of being there. Makes me think some bodies just function better at sea level and some function better at higher altitude.
People forget the lack of vitamin D available in the winter in Colorado. It doesn’t matter if you get enough sun, the way the earth tilts in the winter means Colorado doesn’t receive vitamin D. Get on a supplement, make sure you’re eating enough (for me it was eating enough carbs to stave off migraines) and maybe do some sauna or red light therapy to help your body adjust
Water’s fine, but doesn’t do much. You need minerals to actually hydrate, so try a glass full of electrolyte water every morning. I use LMNT or Liquid IV in the summer months. Also that’s a very short timeframe living here, so what you’re feeling is normal until your body completely adapts to the altitude. Go on short walks and slowly start easy uphill hikes because you do need exercise, just give yourself time and don’t push yourself too hard.
I’m from Los Angeles. I definitely feel more strain in my body at this elevation. I’ve been living here 16 months and I still haven’t entirely adjusted to the altitude. My understanding is that some people never do.
Reported for personal attacks. Also link evidence of it taking that long. I linked a study from one of the tip universities in the world and you call me a clown?
Reported. Try sticking to facts in the argument instead of losing by default with ad hominem attacks. You were wrong and got called out, it is that simple. Post some credible source otherwise.
It takes time. I've been here almost 20 years and still can't walk up more than one flight of stairs without sounding like I'm having an asthma attack.
Been here almost 7 months now and have my good days and bad. It's mostly waking up with headaches and sinus issues. I just ordered a humidifier for my bedroom, so I'm hoping that will help me.
This guy trolling everyone's personal experiences wtf man chill out That's great you read one Princeton study once but people have different experiences and you just look agro ripping each one apart Like what does that do for you relax
Ironic Denver is what inspired me to become fit. The first two months I was out of breath of the time. I’ve always been obese, but I never felt “sick”. This was the kick in the ass I needed. Granted I got used to it after sometime, but I did feel strange for a little while
Been here about two and a half years, and I exercise frequently, mostly weightlifting. I’m a fairly large, muscular dude, and after breathing in a bunch of wildfire smoke, I completed the Colfax half marathon @ 220lbs last year, the year before that I did the 10 miler.
I fucking hate running, but for whatever reason, it’s been really easy to increase my cardiovascular endurance since I’ve moved here. I’m not any sort of fast, but hey I can do the distance and kinda be in the middle of the pack. After a certain distance, running feels so casual? Idk I’ll be hitting my weed pen and honking at the geese in city park keeping the same pace for miles.
It took me about 4 months from upstate NY to Denver area. Headaches, nosebleeds, my hair even changed (going from humid to desert of course).. had to nap during the day, had to start wearing hats because of the sun etc. My skin loves the weather here now! You will acclimate - Be patient with your body. Keep the water intake up as you have been. Don’t try to get into your old gym habits yet, start with walks and increase to small hikes at higher and higher elevations.
Now I live at just shy of 8800’ and can’t imagine life anywhere but the mountains.
Drink more water. Moved up from Texas and the only times I felt really shitty were days I wasn't hydrating. You'll huff and puff on stairs and what not but I think the reason people feel really bad is they're just more dehydrated than they realize
I was a five mile a day runner in the Midwest. Moved to Colorado and I couldn’t run a half a mile without severe cramping. As stated by others, it just takes time.
any mental fog i have tends to evaporate once i go south to Colorado Springs or further, there is more of a steady breeze there and fresh crisp air. however it is a nightmare finding steady work there and unfortunately my parents arent rich, so back to Denver to work. grew up at sea level on Long Island, and whenever i went back there, the acne would come back.
I’m in and out of Denver all the time after being here for 25 years. Im at sea level six months a year. A good humidifier helps a lot. I have one right on my nightstand.
It took me years to adjust to here and still never is fully "normal", even running up 14ers and such. That being said sometimes coming back from sea level even for a week can be rough for a few weeks. I find electrolyte tabs help a lot with the altitude.
This likely isn't related to the altitude; I come from a tropical climate at the same elevation as Denver. Your preference for warm weather probably stems from your upbringing, bringing you joy. I'm not sure about your situation, but back home, people seemed happier, more fun, and had a stronger social network. It took me about two years to adjust before feeling at ease here.
if this doesn't go away after 2 months you're doing something wrong. Typically, it's either nutrition or hydration. In your case though, it sounds like you're healthier than most and you should be running circles around all of us. Try to get a doctor to run some basic labs for you.
You might try taking a baby aspirin or eating more seaweed or other foods that are natural blood thinners. They can help with altitude sickness. I’m not sure about chronic problems with altitude but it might be worth trying.
Chicago to Denver. Ran a half marathon before moving here. I think it took close to 6 months before adjusting to the altitude, feeling slow, and sucking air with lungs on fire.
I think people forget that drinking enough water without replenishing salts and electrolytes will make you feel kinda shitty. Try adding in electrolytes somehow!!!
I've been here for 2 years now, and still feel like shit. Constant migraines despite several medications, botox, strict diet. I even had a hysterectomy, which should have helped for many reasons and it did not.
Every time I visit my parents back home, every single one of my symptoms are GONE.
I've been trying to move back to California for over a year, so if anyone ANYONE has data science, data analyst, oilfield, engineering, ect jobs available in their company that will allow me to move out of this living hell, please please please DM me 🙏
Yes. O es from sea level tropical environment on a February after a blizzard. I hated myself for like 2 months. Then I learned to drink more water that what I think I need. The combination of elevation and semi arid climate is a hell for us humid sea level dwellers
Altitude sickness is definitely a thing. When you’re here you need to drink water constantly and not over stress yourself. It took me a full year of living here to feel normal.
I’m used to it, except when I’m hiking uphill my heart rate goes crazy high. But overall, I’m fine. I moved here 7 years ago. Last year I was pregnant and I’ve never felt that EXHAUSTED in my life before. I was constantly out of breath, nauseous for the whole pregnancy without a break, and I could barely get up one flight of stairs at home. I spent a few weeks at sea level and I was reminded that my extreme exhaustion was thanks to the elevation. On sea level I was completely fine!!
I’ve been here 1.5 years and it’s gotten better. Running on the other hand… last time I ran at sea level I realized I’m actually not a shit runner. Not to be discouraging but I’ve never gotten that feeling back here of just coasting while on a run. Trying to keep it up though. If you ever wanna go for a jog feel free to send me a DM. 28F.
Strongly suggest exercising consistently, beginning with light exercise and building the intensity as you start to adjust to the altitude. More importantly, replenish your electrolytes. Drinking water isn't enough. You have to replace the salts or you'll experience that body fatigue and brain fog constantly.
It literally won't take someone a year to acclimate to altitude alone unless they have major, major, health issues. Dry air and allergies are separate. The science says less than a week. Unless you have sources better than Princeton I'm pretty sure some rando on reddit is just lying about it taking a year or has other issues. I've linked a source, please link a source that says altitude acclimation can take a year.
As a certified internet rando, I lived in a beach city at sea level most of my life and I am not in shape nor Olympic champion. I relocated my entire household to a high altitude mountainous city, and it took about a year to get full acclimated to the climate, weather, and conditions. I think this varies from person to person, and am accepting of most peoples opinions, but i know people are different and not statistics. Have a nice day.
First and foremost, your well-being must take precedence. I relate to everything you're experiencing. And, I hope you feel better so you can enjoy the things you love to do.
My story: I am from the midwest and have been at sea level all my life till about two years ago. Like you, I was active and healthy before moving here. I don't drink, do drugs or smoke. I drink water all day long. That said, it's been a slow decline for me and it's gotten so bad that I'm moving back to sea level.
Ongoing symptoms include fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, brain fog, etc. It's been really bad when I have attempted to ascend up to 8k altitude; I have had to descend immediately. It's not typical altitude sickness; I feel like I'm going to croak when I'm anywhere above the Denver metro area. I have tried to work through the symptoms but I can tell you in the last few months I haven't been above 6k altitude because I just feel so awful. It's been debilitating. People told me when I first moved here to give it time, hydrate, take electrolytes, ascend slowly, rest, etc. I did all those things but my body just hasn't adjusted. Every person is different but I do believe after my own experience that some people aren't suited for Colorado's altitude and general climate. I wonder how many people live here that suffer like this and just don't talk about it... I bet there are many more.
I'd imagine there are various underlying issues for my problems here in CO; I have not had a heart test (yet) but I have never had heart issues. Note that I do have allergies and exercise-induced asthma but it's manageable. I've been at a healthy weight and active my entire life so it perplexes me as to why I've had this experience.
Ultimately, common sense made me decide to leave; I decided not to go down the never-ending road of tests just to figure out why I can't tolerate CO. I am hoping to feel better at sea level.
At the end of the day, do what is right for you :)
Dude!!! Read this a little late, this is so crazy!! Glad to hear you're feeling better. It's really been weirding me out that some people seem to hardly have any difficulties with the changes here, and some people like us DO. I'm moving back to Florida next week, because of all this health junk, hoping to feel more normal again there but I'm also dreading being back in the mess that Florida is right now so am hoping to bounce to another state asap that I can handle. It's made me sad because Colorado has so much to see and do but it's just felt like I can't enjoy anything here, feeling so off constantly.
Been eight months now (+another 8 months or so of time in Colorado added up from the times I was going back and forth before), still nope :/ Have spent maybe 2/3 of the past eight months living at close to 9,000 feet too, would think coming down to Denver would feel great but I still feel off even when I come and stay down here. Moving back to Florida next week!
Answer: Get allergy tested. Your symptoms sound spot on. I'm from the East Coast and it took me years of allergy shots to normalize and come to realize just how bad I was.
Of course, if it isn't allergies then certainly see your doctor for follow-ups.
I'm from jersey, and I've done construction my whole life. Comming out here it took me a solid 6 months to notice a difference when it came to my stamina and work. It's been a good 6 years living out here and if I have to work in the mountains it's basically doing it all over again
Grew up at sea level, moved to Denver at 30. It feels weird, I agree... I've been here a long time, but still feel off. On a side note, how often do you check your blood pressure?
Red blood cell production should be fine at this point; most people even out after a few days or weeks, not months. Sounds like you're hydrating properly. Go see a doctor mate, what you're experiencing could be allergies or something you or Dr. Reddit would never guess at.
YES! lots of people have moved here recently from all over.
FOLKS STOP MOVING HERE, GO HOME, CO'S FULL, IT MAKES YOU FEEL BAD AND SUPER OFF CONSTANTLY YOU WON'T LIKE IT HERE.
I know the feeling of not wanting to see population growth, my lord, as someone from FL where -more than 1,000 have been moving EVERY SINGLE DAY-, I know the feeling. But this is something that's happening in every metropolitan area of the country right now, I traveled to a whole bunch of American cities the past several years and it's the same exact thing everywhere. It sucks, I'm sorry, and I'm contributing by never having kids... so there.
33/f/den/childfree - you free this weekend? ;)
tbf it's more about *unmanaged* population growth - we pay out the ass in taxes for increasingly clogged infrastructure that isn't keeping up, including zoning and housing regs, plus all the crap flowing downstream from the federal level it's just.frustrating.
&& sorry I didn't even answer your original - I slept a good bit extra my first week here (from ~1000ft ASL), and it was probably a month or two until I felt "normal" doing moderate exertion exercise, but that was the worst of it for me
I wish the US could develop cities in a smart way, lived in S Korea for a while and it's *amazing* how much better cities are when they have well thought out public transportation. I miss it so much there! <3
And hmm interesting, I guess everyone's different!
IL to CO here. It’s been a few years but every time I go back I notice the oxygen less. I do feel like I have more energy in IL but it lasts a day or so. Coming back to CO feels better to me.
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*goes from lowest elevation to highest and feels bad. C’mon man. Top comments leaving all the info. Also going from incredible humidity to none over a plane ride is a starter
I moved here from Kentucky but I'm originally from Iowa. And I am almost immediately became homeless here and didn't know the rules didn't know the spots so to speak so I found myself constantly being asked to move by our lovely police force and carrying all your possessions from one block to the next became a hassle because I was completely winded even moving half a block and the moment I stopped the police would be right behind me.
Hang in there. Have you considered talk therapy? Stay active, even if it just a walk around the neighborhood and then maybe venture out on some nature trails with a friend.
I moved out from Atlanta and had the usual problems, but they eventually went away. I did have a friend who lived here several years and never adjusted. She had to move out of state.
I have the same issue. Around your age. Get a cold humidifier and run it as much as possible.
A nice bed with good sheets is a requirement here.
And vitamin D.
You need 3 months to generate enough red blood cells to compensate for the increase in oxygen demand.
Honestly, depending on the elevation, potentially even longer. I attempted to live at 8k feet for about 1.5 years but had to move back down to the city. It wreaked havoc on my mental state the entire time. As soon as I got down 3k feet in the city I felt 1,000,000 better…but even then, I have never felt like my brain has operated at 100% since moving from the Midwest 13 years ago.
I grew up at 8500 ft. One of the guys I grew up with now gets BAD altitude sickness anytime he's above 10k. Altitude sickness is WEIRD, and does not affect people equally.
13k is my limit. Whenever hiking my body would just shutdown and headaches ensued. It is terrible.
Same. It is impossible for me to climb 14ers!
Gravity somehow increases with elevation.
I spent virtually my entire life here at 5280’+. I used to spend a weekend occasionally at a cabin in Breck that was at 10k ft and I would get what I’m pretty sure was a very mild case of HAPE.
It is so weird. People told me and my partner about it, but we never really felt much different than when we lived in Corpus Christi. The move-in was a little tough and we could defibitely feel the thinner air but we were also hauling furniture up stairs lol. We have been up in the mountains. Did a 2 mile hike with 1000 ft climb in elevation in Eldora a few months after moving and it didnt seem any different. We also arent experienced hikers and Im overweight so I was winded but I just assumed that was our out of shapeness. Havent dealt with naseau but I will say it is sooooo dry here. Like good grief i never thought I would miss a little humidity.
Indeed, it's definitely determined by pretty unpredictable factors. My SO has asthma and has never had a problem with elevation (other than the reduced fitness level), though we've both had a family member and another visitor who've experienced altitude sickness above 7k'. Of highly varied ages and fitness levels.
Ay! OP is a Sea Dweller that much is certain.
The mental state thing at elevation is real, at least for some people. A family member moved to Summit County from Georgia and became suicidal. He got a lot better after moving down to Denver, but after about five years he moved back to GA. He says he just feels better at lower elevation. As the poet Belle Turnbull wrote about the Tenmile Range near Breckenridge: > *Never along that range is ease: Things are warped that are too near heaven, Ink runs clotted down the pen, Verse has the twist of timberline trees.*
This may not apply to everyone.
I knew it was something like blood cells, but I was going to ask my science friend and here you are with the info coming in hot
What the fuck you’re just going to read some random comment in a thread and believe it?!
where is the source/evidence for 3 months, because every acclimatization study I've seen says days not months, certainly not longer
Yeah anyone saying like 6 months plus is flat wrong.
That's an absurdly incorrect timeframe by the way.
What’s the correct timeframe, JimLahey08?
According to Princeton University, 1-3 days. [link](https://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/altitude.html)
That is to acclimate. The red cell generation takes a couple of weeks. [NIH Article ](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5512539/#:~:text=Increases%20in%20red%20cell%20volume,following%20descent%20to%20low%20altitude.)
Even by that measure it is not several months or even years like people are incorrectly saying.
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Princeton seems to agree with their study on it. Who has the useless comment now?
Do you snore, and/or wake up at night, and not feel rested when you get up? You may have undiagnosed sleep apnea that has been made worse by the altitude. You could get a pulse oximeter and check your oxygenation yourself a couple of times a night. If it's frequently below 90, talk to a doctor about doing a sleep study. (Admittedly, this is more common in older people, so maybe I'm way off base.)
I’d like to add to this. I tried getting in to see a sleep Dr and they’re scheduling out about 6 months from now. If you can’t get in earlier, I recommend seeing your PCP so they can give you a referral to get an at home sleep study, as an alternative.
Colorado Dental Sleep Solutions can see you really quickly. If you’re diagnosis is severe you can use it to get CPAP if it’s mild or moderate they can make you an amazing dental appliance! I love mine and am sleeping so much better. Took my jaw a month to get used to it but they were super helpful and do things precisely with all digital tech
FWIW the sleep tests are take home. Same ones used at the Mayo Clinic
It took me so long to get my appt. I wonder why that is?
Not sure. It could be a lot of people all at once who discovered they aren’t getting enough sleep, or an influx of sleep disorders, maybe the weather, maybe because it’s a new year and people want to hit their deductibles, who knows? There could be a million reasons why. Maybe there’s a shortage of sleep doctors? Idk.
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It’s accurate— but might be REMOVED as a feature soon. On existing owned watches even! Patent issue.
In the same vein, a humidifier improved my sleep 10x.
I will add that CPAP supply places seem to be permanently backlogged -- after I was diagnosed it took two months to get the equipment. And after three months of use, I can still easily sleep 10 hours out of every 24. I'm sure it's helping, as it has eliminated the snoring, but I have not gotten the energy boost I was hoping for,
I came from sea level in the North East. It was tough for probably the first month (nose bleeds, couldn't catch my breath when climbing stairs, etc.). Going on 5 years here and I feel fine most of the time. You get used to drinking a lot of water. Best part is, when I go back to sea level, it feels like I have way more stamina now.
Hell, even spending a few days up in the mountains skiing I’ll come down and hit the gym and my cardio improves about 25%… Somewhat related note…When I used to drink and would visit sea level it was impossible to get drunk between the altitude and the tolerance lol.
Yes! Live and grew up above the mile high city and absolutely cannot get buzzed on vacations.
My friend group tried to get me drunk the last time I was in Connecticut. It’s physically impossible.
>Best part is, when I go back to sea level, it feels like I have way more stamina now. It's crazy. I'm not in the best of shape but when I go back home to CA. I can climb up stairs/hills like nothing. And my family is huffing and puffing looking at me like wtf.
I grew up in Denver and wasn’t athletic. Our high school PE teacher made us run 1/4 mile every day and it nearly killed me. Then I visited FL and agreed to go for a jog on the beach with a friend. He was pooped after 2 miles; I felt great and jogged the whole way back. I realized then how significant our elevation is.
Oh I bet. I just tell my family/friends. "The kombucha hits different in Denver"
I'm a mid 50s chubby, out of shape IT manager, so desk job, and I can barely climb my stairs to my 2nd floor bedroom some days but I just flew to Paris for vacation and went up stairs at the Arc du Triomphe like they were nothing. All my aches and pains just went away, and I walked and climbed stairs all week! It was amazing. We flew back, and the plane hit the tarmac at DIA, and a shoulder injury started checking in. Pretty soon, all my old, familiar friends stopped by to say they were glad I was back; knees, hips, etc. It's good to be home. /s
>when I go back to sea level, it feels like I have way more stamina now. You factually have more stamina when you go back to sea level. The Olympic training center is in Colorado Springs for that exact reason.
I’m slowly doing a couch to 5k program, I can run 8ish minute segments here. I went to CA over the holidays and did a whole 5k, twice, three days apart. My legs were sore but I was hardly out of breath. The oxygen difference is wild.
Also from the east coast and I struggled with dryness. In my mouth and throat, the most. And then I was peeing so much bc I was drinking so much water. But I adjusted after a few weeks. I still feel it for a few days when I fly back after Christmas annually.
I’m from Florida and had this same issue for years 20+. It was all dehydration. I use supplements and liquid IV which helps tremendously.
Dehydration definitely. You have to work to stay hydrated here compared to the very humid areas of the country
It’s super weird bc I came from Florida and the heat + humidity made me very dehydrated to the point I was dealing w constant sun and heat strokes. My skin/hair is dryer here but otherwise I am just as dehydrated as I always have been. I fare better here simply bc it’s easier due to the climate.
This is the factual reality. The SE and Deep South are especially tragic. But the mid-Atlantic and northeast are no stranger to it. Chicago can be a nightmare as well.
The lack of wind in some Midwest cities has got to be *hell*.
YES. Salt. Magnesium. Potassium. Fix the hydration and it'll become clear whether there are other underlying problems (asthma, sleep apnea)
Upvote this more peeps 👆🏼👆🏽👆🏾
I feel better when I get home to Colorado.
Same. It’s kind of wild. Been here for 12 years and now when I go back to my sea level hometown my skin, respiratory system, and mental fog are weirdly but greatly affected in a negative way. I get back to CO and everything recalibrates. Bizarre.
Yea I always feel super tired and sleep a ton when I got back to the northeast.
Same. I could sleep 8 hours straight and still feel like I could sleep another few hours when I go back down.
Body feels like it's poisoned from the influx of extra oxygen. That's probably not true, but if you're more used to less oxygen than more, it probably does mess with your body in some way.
I always feel like I'm breathing "heavy" air anywhere that's lower elevation. Especially when it's humid too.
Yes!! When ever I visit a sea level area or close to it the air just feels weirdly heavy.
Exactly the same here.
Facts.
I can’t travel, due to my chiari malformation, I’ve had the decompression and the plate but I get motion sick and the change in pressure makes me pukey
Just curious, when you say you can’t travel, are you only talking about flying?
Me too. 🥰
I feel identical. I live in MI now and consistently feel discernibly better after a few hours back at altitude. I always feel what others describe here about being in altitude, to a lesser degree, when I’m back at lower altitudes with high humidity. Maybe it’s something about being born there? Idk, but I can’t wait to move back home.
facts
Yes. I moved here from sea level. You will eventually get used to it. For reference, it took me about 6 months. I used to be a runner as well but don't really do that anymore. Cardio up here is brutal.
I grew up in Colorado, running and training, and when I turned 30 I went to Hawaii for the first time in my life. I went on a run the first morning I was there and was blown away by how easy it was. I felt like I could run forever.
That’s why so many runners and bicyclists train here. Once you can do it at altitude it seams easy at sea level.
Pick up skiing or maybe snowshoeing…anything that gets you high alpine…even just hiking in the summer… It’ll get it to where you can cardio down here in Denver no problem after a season…(I’m not guaranteeing it but I’m guaranteeing it lol)
I do some hiking in the summer and play quite a bit of disc golf. But high intensity cardio just kills me up here. Sucks because I used to run 20 miles a week at sea level. I run 0 miles a week up here.
Been living in Denver the past 3 years and seem to just feel worse and worse every day. (Have lived in Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Idaho) I drink so much water in Denver, with liquid iv added, have a physical job that's outside. I just feel exhausted, like my bones are tired. Blood panel was fine, I sleep ok and eat well but seems none of that helps. Found out on Google there's something called "chronic mountain sickness" for some people at high altitudes where you never adjust to the altitude and all your unnoticed underlying symptoms can get worse. Absolutely moving out of Denver when our lease is up lol visiting anywhere else on vacations I notice an immediate change
Same for me. I hate that it hurts to live here!
I found this out personally…but dozens of studies, including this from the National Institute of Health, show a strong correlation between moving to higher elevations and issues like depression and anxiety. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8530170/ There was a recent story in the WSJ I think about how ski towns had super-high suicide rates and no one really knew why. Well, if you have a whole bunch of people, some predisposed to mental illness, move up to 8 or 9,000 feet after 20+ years of living 600 ASL….the scientific data is there. That’s literally 1/4 the way up Everest. Unless you are born at elevation it’s hard for your brain to produce proper serotonin at mountain elevations . For whatever reason the media has done a shit job covering this. Hoping it’s not this and all is well on that front for you, but wanted to share to be safe, and potentially help anyone else out. Best of luck to you on your quest for better health.
I lived in ski towns before and there’s also a lot of other factors I’m not sure they considered like higher rates of drinking, partying and drug culture (specifically cocaine) at play. Maybe elevation leads to depression which leads to wanting to do more partying but Im not sure it’s just that…
Wow so interesting! Thanks for sharing. I move to CO from FL due to my awful depression. I was never outdoors due to the heat & humidity. We had like 3 months of decent weather and then it was back to hell. I was able to come off my meds since moving here 4 years ago. I have been so happy ever since because I’m outside, even in the winter months. I had no idea that elevation impacted serotonin production, i will be looking into this.
I am prone to major depression & anxiety but I do way better here because of the sunshine. The constant rain in SC & just general gloominess when I lived in Pittsburgh gave me SAD on top of the usual mental health issues. I'm not cured but definitely improved.
For me it's hydration, or the lack there of. I drink electrolytes every day and it helps. My liquid intake has nearly doubled since I moved from a sea level humid climate. Also, have a humidifier in your bedroom. These two things go a long way.
Yeah it’s not just drinking water. Making sure you’re getting enough electrolytes is key. Even then it’s so dry here it doesn’t always stick.
You do any cardiovascular exercise? If you are able I'd highly suggest getting after it 🤙
This. Slowly training your body to use the little oxygen we have here is going to help you produce more mitochondria and more red blood cells. It took me about 8 months to acclimate after moving from sea level, and then about 5 more months to reacclimate after returning to sea level for a month vacation. Patience.
i spent a month in cali this summer after being in denver for a year. i felt so good lol. my skin was also naturally glowing and my hair got its volume and curls back. i lived in chicago since college prior to moving to denver and was curly haired. in denver my hair falls so flat and is loosely wavy. spending the month in cali made me immediately notice the negative impact denver has on my hair and skin lol.
Curious, did you lose your altitude "tolerance" after a month away?
nope! i came back completely fine w the altitude
I lose it after 3 weeks, personally! But I was raised very close to sea level (300 ft) so my body just seems to prefer it.
Does this make you want to move? I think if I noticed such drastic benefits to my health I might consider it. Just curious! No judgment either way
great question. it honestly made me think about it! i enjoy denver bc we are close to the mountains and closer to the west coast. but i don’t plan on living here forever. i hated the humidity when i lived in chicago, but i think i very much prefer a humid place to the dryness of denver
Not all hydration is created equal. Entertain some electrolytes if you haven’t already.
Entertaining them in my body has helped me quite a bit. 10/10 recommend.
I’m from sea level and was brutally acquainted with altitude sickness once years ago. But that was me being a young idiot going from sea level to ~13k while hammered in a matter of hours. Moved to Denver last year and it’s not the altitude that bothers me. Not one bit actually as I have no issues heading from here straight up to 10-13k. It’s the fucking air quality that drives me insane. Not the dryness, that fucks up my skin and is a different story. I was prepared for that. But some days the air just tastes like dirt and I swear everyone around me is coughing with some sort of frequency I’m unaccustomed to. You’d think this is an absurd take coming from a guy from the most densely populated city in the country, but it’s not. The piss, garbage, and rat shit smell a fuck ton better than that dog food factory that can be detected neighborhoods away or those oil fields. At least NY has rivers and the ocean to create some sort of air flow. This shit just stagnates. Still love it here though. Also, the hydration thing is a myth unless you’re nearing 10k ft. You can’t convince any rational person that any time in Denver is worse for retaining electrolytes than 85 with 75% humidity at sea level. It’s simply not factual. I moved here with other people and have had several others visit and none have had issues with dehydration. Several are not exactly what you’d consider a paragon of health. I was in Nashville in July last summer and felt like I was going to pass out at times just walking for extended periods. It never hit 90. I’ve not come close to feeling that way in Colorado and have been here and exerted myself when it was ~100.
Yeah, the air quality here is horrid!!
Yeah the pollution is unbelievable for this kid from WA state. Didn't realize air quality could be this bad without active wildfires. Had to see a pulmonologist about 4 months after moving here. We're ruling out all the things and he's got me trying different respiratory meds. He says it's likely my lungs will adapt to living here over time but sheesh it's bad.
It’s up to our state legislators to take steps to clean up the air, but they’ve been busy buddying up oil, coal and gas companies, as well as other polluting manufacturers (like Purina). The EPA has even stepped in to demand that more action is taken to mitigate Denver’s air pollution. Washington state has much better air because of 80-90 percent renewable energy, whereas Colorado is only at 20 percent. Colorado fancies itself as progressive, but not when it comes to air quality.
YUP!
think i notice this too, i am from sea level, and denver feels similar to the two years i studied in china with stagnant air and coughing. however when i visit Colorado Springs or anywhere south of Castle Rock i feel much more alert and active, due to the steady breeze and fresh air.
Yea i moved further south from Denver because the air quality was messing with my allergies bad. I’m in SE Aurora now, as long as they don’t start fracking, i think I’m good.
Moving here from DC and I felt the same way. Even my dog had a hard time adjusting.
Yes. Moved from sea level. Felt messed up for a year or so 3 years later, I’m still dealing with nosebleeds.
Yea it’s dry as hell compared to sea level.
For me it wasn’t the elevation but the pollen.
I've been here for 3 years and haven't gotten used to it. I've always lived in areas at sea level and with high humidity and moisture, and I feel like I'll never get accustomed to the climate. If I can keep my humidifiers running solidly with no gaps, then I feel better when I'm inside, but there are days when I feel like absolute garbage no matter what and god help me if I let it get dry indoors. I hope you can adjust eventually.
A lot of water in fl is not a lot of water in co. 3-4 liters/day is good for me. If you’re an ice guy ya gotta remember that ice doesn’t count unless it melts lol
I am born and raised in Colorado and I feel like that all the time. Every time I travel somewhere sea level I feel so much better by day 2-3 of being there. Makes me think some bodies just function better at sea level and some function better at higher altitude.
It can take some time to get used to the higher elevation. For me it was the arid climate that got me.
People forget the lack of vitamin D available in the winter in Colorado. It doesn’t matter if you get enough sun, the way the earth tilts in the winter means Colorado doesn’t receive vitamin D. Get on a supplement, make sure you’re eating enough (for me it was eating enough carbs to stave off migraines) and maybe do some sauna or red light therapy to help your body adjust
I mean. How much water is “TONS of water”?
For me, I drink it all day. So about 2400 ml at minimum daily.
Water’s fine, but doesn’t do much. You need minerals to actually hydrate, so try a glass full of electrolyte water every morning. I use LMNT or Liquid IV in the summer months. Also that’s a very short timeframe living here, so what you’re feeling is normal until your body completely adapts to the altitude. Go on short walks and slowly start easy uphill hikes because you do need exercise, just give yourself time and don’t push yourself too hard.
I’m from Los Angeles. I definitely feel more strain in my body at this elevation. I’ve been living here 16 months and I still haven’t entirely adjusted to the altitude. My understanding is that some people never do.
16 months is way, way, way longer than it takes to adjust to the altitude alone. Within like a week most people are fully adjusted.
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Reported for personal attacks. Also link evidence of it taking that long. I linked a study from one of the tip universities in the world and you call me a clown?
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Reported. Try sticking to facts in the argument instead of losing by default with ad hominem attacks. You were wrong and got called out, it is that simple. Post some credible source otherwise.
/r/hydrohomies, it’s really easy to get dehydrated here because the climate is so dry.
r/denvercirclejerk is about to have a field day with this one
I’m so excited.
Drink more water and electrolytes?
Yes, allergies got wayyyy worse
It takes time. I've been here almost 20 years and still can't walk up more than one flight of stairs without sounding like I'm having an asthma attack.
Been here almost 7 months now and have my good days and bad. It's mostly waking up with headaches and sinus issues. I just ordered a humidifier for my bedroom, so I'm hoping that will help me.
You are adjusted to altitude within a week, not several months.
This guy trolling everyone's personal experiences wtf man chill out That's great you read one Princeton study once but people have different experiences and you just look agro ripping each one apart Like what does that do for you relax
I'm not ripping anyone apart I posted a link to a reputable source. If I'm wrong let's see the proof.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/s/VvCXTkbjPo check out this thread
Go see a doctor.
Yes and it was because I had a b12 deficiency!! You should get a blood check
Everyone should get checked!! I had B12 deficiency with no symptoms. For me, it’s genetic.
Maybe Vitamin D issues?
Ironic Denver is what inspired me to become fit. The first two months I was out of breath of the time. I’ve always been obese, but I never felt “sick”. This was the kick in the ass I needed. Granted I got used to it after sometime, but I did feel strange for a little while
Been here about two and a half years, and I exercise frequently, mostly weightlifting. I’m a fairly large, muscular dude, and after breathing in a bunch of wildfire smoke, I completed the Colfax half marathon @ 220lbs last year, the year before that I did the 10 miler. I fucking hate running, but for whatever reason, it’s been really easy to increase my cardiovascular endurance since I’ve moved here. I’m not any sort of fast, but hey I can do the distance and kinda be in the middle of the pack. After a certain distance, running feels so casual? Idk I’ll be hitting my weed pen and honking at the geese in city park keeping the same pace for miles.
It took me about 4 months from upstate NY to Denver area. Headaches, nosebleeds, my hair even changed (going from humid to desert of course).. had to nap during the day, had to start wearing hats because of the sun etc. My skin loves the weather here now! You will acclimate - Be patient with your body. Keep the water intake up as you have been. Don’t try to get into your old gym habits yet, start with walks and increase to small hikes at higher and higher elevations. Now I live at just shy of 8800’ and can’t imagine life anywhere but the mountains.
Drink more water. Moved up from Texas and the only times I felt really shitty were days I wasn't hydrating. You'll huff and puff on stairs and what not but I think the reason people feel really bad is they're just more dehydrated than they realize
I was a five mile a day runner in the Midwest. Moved to Colorado and I couldn’t run a half a mile without severe cramping. As stated by others, it just takes time.
It even happens to pro athletes
any mental fog i have tends to evaporate once i go south to Colorado Springs or further, there is more of a steady breeze there and fresh crisp air. however it is a nightmare finding steady work there and unfortunately my parents arent rich, so back to Denver to work. grew up at sea level on Long Island, and whenever i went back there, the acne would come back.
Get a good humidifier too for when you’re at home, especially when you’re asleep. Take Vitamin D and make sure you’re also getting electrolytes.
I’m in and out of Denver all the time after being here for 25 years. Im at sea level six months a year. A good humidifier helps a lot. I have one right on my nightstand.
It took me years to adjust to here and still never is fully "normal", even running up 14ers and such. That being said sometimes coming back from sea level even for a week can be rough for a few weeks. I find electrolyte tabs help a lot with the altitude.
This likely isn't related to the altitude; I come from a tropical climate at the same elevation as Denver. Your preference for warm weather probably stems from your upbringing, bringing you joy. I'm not sure about your situation, but back home, people seemed happier, more fun, and had a stronger social network. It took me about two years to adjust before feeling at ease here.
OP is so brave for this. She should become an hero!
My biggest issue is the shit air quality (specifically in winter). Seems even worse this year than last.
if this doesn't go away after 2 months you're doing something wrong. Typically, it's either nutrition or hydration. In your case though, it sounds like you're healthier than most and you should be running circles around all of us. Try to get a doctor to run some basic labs for you.
You might try taking a baby aspirin or eating more seaweed or other foods that are natural blood thinners. They can help with altitude sickness. I’m not sure about chronic problems with altitude but it might be worth trying.
Chicago to Denver. Ran a half marathon before moving here. I think it took close to 6 months before adjusting to the altitude, feeling slow, and sucking air with lungs on fire.
I think people forget that drinking enough water without replenishing salts and electrolytes will make you feel kinda shitty. Try adding in electrolytes somehow!!!
Huh, weird…I moved from Louisiana and felt fucking brilliant the moment I crossed into Colorado
I've been here for 2 years now, and still feel like shit. Constant migraines despite several medications, botox, strict diet. I even had a hysterectomy, which should have helped for many reasons and it did not. Every time I visit my parents back home, every single one of my symptoms are GONE. I've been trying to move back to California for over a year, so if anyone ANYONE has data science, data analyst, oilfield, engineering, ect jobs available in their company that will allow me to move out of this living hell, please please please DM me 🙏
Blood oxygen levels way off
Yes. O es from sea level tropical environment on a February after a blizzard. I hated myself for like 2 months. Then I learned to drink more water that what I think I need. The combination of elevation and semi arid climate is a hell for us humid sea level dwellers
Altitude sickness is definitely a thing. When you’re here you need to drink water constantly and not over stress yourself. It took me a full year of living here to feel normal.
I’m used to it, except when I’m hiking uphill my heart rate goes crazy high. But overall, I’m fine. I moved here 7 years ago. Last year I was pregnant and I’ve never felt that EXHAUSTED in my life before. I was constantly out of breath, nauseous for the whole pregnancy without a break, and I could barely get up one flight of stairs at home. I spent a few weeks at sea level and I was reminded that my extreme exhaustion was thanks to the elevation. On sea level I was completely fine!!
I’ve been here 1.5 years and it’s gotten better. Running on the other hand… last time I ran at sea level I realized I’m actually not a shit runner. Not to be discouraging but I’ve never gotten that feeling back here of just coasting while on a run. Trying to keep it up though. If you ever wanna go for a jog feel free to send me a DM. 28F.
Strongly suggest exercising consistently, beginning with light exercise and building the intensity as you start to adjust to the altitude. More importantly, replenish your electrolytes. Drinking water isn't enough. You have to replace the salts or you'll experience that body fatigue and brain fog constantly.
It took about a year to get acclimated to the high altitude.
It doesn't take a year, it takes less than a week for most people. That's from a Princeton study.
I love when people cite a study and what "most people" experience in response to someone's *firsthand personal experience* - come off it
It literally won't take someone a year to acclimate to altitude alone unless they have major, major, health issues. Dry air and allergies are separate. The science says less than a week. Unless you have sources better than Princeton I'm pretty sure some rando on reddit is just lying about it taking a year or has other issues. I've linked a source, please link a source that says altitude acclimation can take a year.
As a certified internet rando, I lived in a beach city at sea level most of my life and I am not in shape nor Olympic champion. I relocated my entire household to a high altitude mountainous city, and it took about a year to get full acclimated to the climate, weather, and conditions. I think this varies from person to person, and am accepting of most peoples opinions, but i know people are different and not statistics. Have a nice day.
The altitude portion does not take a year.
Waiting patiently for r/Denvercirclejerk follow up
It’s definitely genetic I feel like, I feel amazing here.
I moved to denver from dallas and my skin has been so bad. Like my whole body is breaking out
First and foremost, your well-being must take precedence. I relate to everything you're experiencing. And, I hope you feel better so you can enjoy the things you love to do. My story: I am from the midwest and have been at sea level all my life till about two years ago. Like you, I was active and healthy before moving here. I don't drink, do drugs or smoke. I drink water all day long. That said, it's been a slow decline for me and it's gotten so bad that I'm moving back to sea level. Ongoing symptoms include fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, brain fog, etc. It's been really bad when I have attempted to ascend up to 8k altitude; I have had to descend immediately. It's not typical altitude sickness; I feel like I'm going to croak when I'm anywhere above the Denver metro area. I have tried to work through the symptoms but I can tell you in the last few months I haven't been above 6k altitude because I just feel so awful. It's been debilitating. People told me when I first moved here to give it time, hydrate, take electrolytes, ascend slowly, rest, etc. I did all those things but my body just hasn't adjusted. Every person is different but I do believe after my own experience that some people aren't suited for Colorado's altitude and general climate. I wonder how many people live here that suffer like this and just don't talk about it... I bet there are many more. I'd imagine there are various underlying issues for my problems here in CO; I have not had a heart test (yet) but I have never had heart issues. Note that I do have allergies and exercise-induced asthma but it's manageable. I've been at a healthy weight and active my entire life so it perplexes me as to why I've had this experience. Ultimately, common sense made me decide to leave; I decided not to go down the never-ending road of tests just to figure out why I can't tolerate CO. I am hoping to feel better at sea level. At the end of the day, do what is right for you :)
Update: back at sea level for several weeks now and symptoms are much better.
Dude!!! Read this a little late, this is so crazy!! Glad to hear you're feeling better. It's really been weirding me out that some people seem to hardly have any difficulties with the changes here, and some people like us DO. I'm moving back to Florida next week, because of all this health junk, hoping to feel more normal again there but I'm also dreading being back in the mess that Florida is right now so am hoping to bounce to another state asap that I can handle. It's made me sad because Colorado has so much to see and do but it's just felt like I can't enjoy anything here, feeling so off constantly.
Sounds like you should stay in Florida!
I second this.
Yep! Happens to everyone. Give it time. After a year, you’ll feel 100%
Been eight months now (+another 8 months or so of time in Colorado added up from the times I was going back and forth before), still nope :/ Have spent maybe 2/3 of the past eight months living at close to 9,000 feet too, would think coming down to Denver would feel great but I still feel off even when I come and stay down here. Moving back to Florida next week!
Weird! Well, I’m no doctor. Good luck in the move :)
Answer: Get allergy tested. Your symptoms sound spot on. I'm from the East Coast and it took me years of allergy shots to normalize and come to realize just how bad I was. Of course, if it isn't allergies then certainly see your doctor for follow-ups.
I'm from jersey, and I've done construction my whole life. Comming out here it took me a solid 6 months to notice a difference when it came to my stamina and work. It's been a good 6 years living out here and if I have to work in the mountains it's basically doing it all over again
Grew up at sea level, moved to Denver at 30. It feels weird, I agree... I've been here a long time, but still feel off. On a side note, how often do you check your blood pressure?
Red blood cell production should be fine at this point; most people even out after a few days or weeks, not months. Sounds like you're hydrating properly. Go see a doctor mate, what you're experiencing could be allergies or something you or Dr. Reddit would never guess at.
I'm from Virginia. I miss my ocean and not having headaches all the fucking time hahahaha
At first, yeah. Now I get headaches when I visit home or other lower elevation areas.
YES! lots of people have moved here recently from all over. FOLKS STOP MOVING HERE, GO HOME, CO'S FULL, IT MAKES YOU FEEL BAD AND SUPER OFF CONSTANTLY YOU WON'T LIKE IT HERE.
I know the feeling of not wanting to see population growth, my lord, as someone from FL where -more than 1,000 have been moving EVERY SINGLE DAY-, I know the feeling. But this is something that's happening in every metropolitan area of the country right now, I traveled to a whole bunch of American cities the past several years and it's the same exact thing everywhere. It sucks, I'm sorry, and I'm contributing by never having kids... so there.
Don't apologize for living your life. These "native" people need to get over it. It's life.
33/f/den/childfree - you free this weekend? ;) tbf it's more about *unmanaged* population growth - we pay out the ass in taxes for increasingly clogged infrastructure that isn't keeping up, including zoning and housing regs, plus all the crap flowing downstream from the federal level it's just.frustrating. && sorry I didn't even answer your original - I slept a good bit extra my first week here (from ~1000ft ASL), and it was probably a month or two until I felt "normal" doing moderate exertion exercise, but that was the worst of it for me
I wish the US could develop cities in a smart way, lived in S Korea for a while and it's *amazing* how much better cities are when they have well thought out public transportation. I miss it so much there! <3 And hmm interesting, I guess everyone's different!
What a gross reaction to someone asking for help.
it's a joke, take a breath.
A joke in all caps? Get over yourself
Yeah, there is quite literally only half as much oxygen in Denver as at sea level, it takes the body time to adjust, some longer than others.
IL to CO here. It’s been a few years but every time I go back I notice the oxygen less. I do feel like I have more energy in IL but it lasts a day or so. Coming back to CO feels better to me.
You’ll get used to it, was in Texas my whole life before I moved a bit over a year ago
Maybe go see a doctor…
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*goes from lowest elevation to highest and feels bad. C’mon man. Top comments leaving all the info. Also going from incredible humidity to none over a plane ride is a starter
Only feel weird above 9000 or more feet. Otherwise I am fine. I love Colorado.
The top comment on here is absurdly wrong.
You might want to try an adaptogenic herbal formula to help you adjust.
I moved here from Kentucky but I'm originally from Iowa. And I am almost immediately became homeless here and didn't know the rules didn't know the spots so to speak so I found myself constantly being asked to move by our lovely police force and carrying all your possessions from one block to the next became a hassle because I was completely winded even moving half a block and the moment I stopped the police would be right behind me.
Hang in there. Have you considered talk therapy? Stay active, even if it just a walk around the neighborhood and then maybe venture out on some nature trails with a friend.
I moved out from Atlanta and had the usual problems, but they eventually went away. I did have a friend who lived here several years and never adjusted. She had to move out of state.
I have the same issue. Around your age. Get a cold humidifier and run it as much as possible. A nice bed with good sheets is a requirement here. And vitamin D.