Caudwell Xtreme Everest - Exploring Human Physiology At Extreme Altitude
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BLOG: Kay Mitchell  29th Sep 2007
 
BBC Pasang and Karma

We have received news from two of the Sherpas, who worked with us in Nepal earlier this year. Pasang Nuru, who describes himself as BBC Pasang, emailed us from Holland. Pasang Nuru helped the BBC film crew on the mountain, carrying camera equipment, and helping set up shots. He is currently visiting Holland and managed to watch the Horizon programme last Sunday. He sent everyone involved in the project his regards.

Karma is currently staying in London, having spent about a month in Haverford West visiting friends. Karma was the Sirdar who ran the trekkers set up at Everest Base Camp. Mike, Denny, and hopefully myself will catch up with him before he flies back to Nepal on Sunday evening.

This gives me another opportunity to say thank you to the hard work of all our Sherpa team. Without them, the expedition would not have been possible.

Thinking about the team, many of them will be presenting at the CASE Knowledge III conference at Birkbeck College on Monday, and again at the World Wilderness Medicine Conference in Aviemore later in the week. The Caudwell Xtreme Everest team are keen to ensure that, now the expedition is over, they share the experience and results with others. This process will be ongoing, as more and more information becomes available from ongoing analysis.


Comments on this article
By: JennyWhen: 10th Oct 2007 01:30
watched the program with immense interest - not because I have an interest in climbing but because I hoped to learn a lot more about the problem of hypoxia. I hope the whole team is justifiably proud of what they achieved and that the data will enable the doctors/scientists to gain a better understanding of the whole spectrum of hypoxia. Do you have any idea or plans for sharing the conclusions with the public? If the answer is yes, how can I be informed of how and when this will be? Much to my horror I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis some months ago and am now having to be plugged into an oxygen supply for fifteen to twenty hours per day. I have not spent any time as an inpatient therefore the "data" regarding my blood gasses and the oxygen levels as shown on the hospitals' oxymeters, is very sketchy. Blood gasses have been as low as 7 and the lowest figure on the oxymeter 78. Following the use of oxygen therapy, figures have shown blood gasses 13 but the figures on the oxymeter even when connected to my ambulatory oxygen, fluctuated from 76 up to 92 according to activity or being at rest. I am very anxious to be pro-active in my own treatment but do not want to do the wrong thing and make my condition worse than it already is! The problem with treatment seems to be that as so little is known and patients' responses to the treatments available vary widely, it is all a bit hit and miss (my consultants words). I am considering buying a handheld oxymeter in order to see if I can monitor my progress and use the oxygen more effectively. I have always been a very active person and I am concerned that I might be pushing myself too hard and putting too much strain on my heart and other vital organs and doing permanent damage simply because my oxygen levels have dropped. If I can keep records and data that may be of use to anyone's research I would be happy to do so.


By: Hilary N MorganWhen: 7th Oct 2007 18:12
Suffering as I do from a chronic pulmonary condition causing permanent hypoxia, I was so interested in this programme but the video let us down for the second episode. Have tried to catch up with it all on the net but don't seem to find any results. Is there likely to be a repeat of the programmes sometime or a follow up letting us all know what the conclusions are now that the blood samples have all be analysed? I do hope so.


By: Caroline Silver LewisWhen: 2nd Oct 2007 12:30
Watching the Horizon programmes brought back memories of trekking to Base camp, so vivid that I could literally feel the bumpy stones under my sleeping bag in my nice warm bed that night! My family and friends are now starting to see how it really was, I just wish I could do it all over again.
Maybe that's a symptom of altitude sickness, like childbirth, you fortget the pain?


By: Liz BradburyWhen: 1st Oct 2007 20:26
Hi Kay,

Thank you for your ongoing news regarding the expedition. Dave (a trekker) and myself were gripped by the two Horizon programmes. Congratulations to all involved, trekkers, climbers, sherpas, porters, film crews, research teams, and of course yourself. How amazing are the possible outcomes. We look forward to more information as it becomes available from ongoing analysis.




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XE Blogs:
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Getting ready for the Christmas Break!
26/11/09
Talking it up
23/05/09
Everest Summit Anniversary
20/05/09
Summit Success
14/05/09
Oh what a beautiful morning!
12/05/09
The more it snows!
07/05/09
Taking the piss!
17/04/09
Trek A9 are well on the way

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