I am now 3.5yrs post surgery.  I have unilateral moya moya syndrome.  I go for my last angiogram in September or October to make sure there are no signs of blockage on the other side.  I have been doing amazing, playing soccer again and I've also gone back to school.  I have the opportunity to challenge myself further by climbing the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario.  It is 1776 steps.  I've been training by running hills and climbing my stairs at home, I think I'm wearing a path in the carpet on the stairs haha.  My question is, has anyone ever been told not to go to high altitudes.  I know the CN Tower is no mountain but it's still pretty high.  It will be a gradual climb because I'm not planning on running up the steps but just wanted to check with other people.  For those that may be asking WHY would you do that?  I'm doing it for a couple of reasons because its there to climb and it's for United Way.  Also to prove that I can do it.  The climb takes place in October as well so I'm hoping I will have an opportunity to speak to my neurologist before I'm suppose to do the climb.  I'm no spring chicken anymore so I have to start my training now if I want any chance of making it to the top :)....Thanks Debbie

Debbie,
Congratulation on the 3.5 years! I am not a doctor. but in my case i was never given altitude restrictions. it is a concern from the lack of Oxygen that the higher altitudes. Most of us don't have flying restrictions and most planes get higher then most mountains. Most skyscrapers should have the oxygen levels optimized for any altitude. My suggestion is to climb it and if you start to feel light headed or icky then climb back down.
Becky

I agree with Becky :)  I am hopeing to climb a mnt on my one year anniversary! I use to do a lot of backpacking so I hope it works out! So I wouldlove it if you kept us posted on how your tower climb goes!

thank you both for your replies.  I will do this and I will keep you posted.  I'm doing this to challenge myself so my only goal is to make it to the top no specific goal  time.

Deb

In all honesty, I don't think that qualifies as "altitude". 

We live at 6100 feet above sea level.  (That's more than a mile).  Matthew regularly snowboards on mountains that top 10,000 feet.  However, Matthew has ZERO restrictions. 

If you were climbing a mountain, where the air will get truly thin, I would worry.  I think altitude is one worry you can cross off your list for this event. 

Good luck!  And I hope you do well.  It sounds like an amazing goal to set for yourself!

Kim

Hey,

My daughter and I went on a field trip to Colorado in March and the altitude was not an issue with the Dr. we went most of the way up the Continental Divide and it is over 12,000 feet. However Shelbi started to feel short of breath so we stopped, but at that point we had to have been over 11,000 feet. The next day we were in a shop and they had little bottles of oxygen for $9, I wish we had known about those and I would have bought one, cause I think that's all it would have taken. I just didn't want to push her when she started getting short of breath, cause it was upsetting her also that we couldn't make it all the way up and she was crying because she did want to go. But anyways it was all good in the end. So have a good trip and just listen to your body.

Tina
Shelbi-14 yr old daughter, MoyaMoya,Chiari Malformation, Syrinx, Basilar Invagination-other then those few things she is very healthy  :)

Thanks for your replies

Kim, I realize that the cn tower is not a mountain but I just wanted to put the question out there. It makes me feel better hearing your son still snowboards at that altitude.

Tina, I believe I've spoken to you before.  I also have a chiari malformation and a syrinx.  Hard to believe all of that can be going on in one brain.  I'm glad your daughter is doing well.  I definitely won't be any where near the 10,000 0r 11,000 feet mark so I should be fine.  I am training quite a bit doing hills and lots of stairs so I can build my cardio.  I will definitely listen to my body.  I also hope your daughter makes it to the top of that mountain someday. :)

Deb