Hey Pat

I am getting ready to leave for my training hike but had to get one more of your posts in. I am sending positive thoughts your way regarding this persistent cough. I hope all the meds will help.

That's great that you met Dan Mazur. Btw, I will be taking Dan's Glacier School this Sept; he will be leading the course. We will climb Mt. Baker. I wrote a song immediately after his rescue of Lincoln Hall. I then recorded it and send him the mp3 file. He said he loved it! Here are the lyrics:

DON'T WALK ON BY
Lyrics and Melody by Mary Clare Reinhardt
Dedicated to Dan Mazur

Verse 1
When my brother takes a fall, am I there to lend a hand?
Or do I walk on by. Um umm, um um um umm.
Will I shut my open eyes? Will I cover up my ears?
So I won't hear him cry. Um umm, um um um umm.

Chorus
Don't walk on by, your fellow man.
He's reaching out, to grasp your hand.
You want your dream, it's just in sight.
But in the end, just do what's right.
Don't walk on by.

Verse 2
Now I see it everywhere, it's the drive to get ahead.
To make it to the top. Um umm, um um um umm.
And the people walking by, with their heads up in the clouds.
Do you think they'll stop? Um umm, um um um umm.
Verse 3
When I finally reach the top, will I hold my head up high?
And stand against the sky. Um umm, um um um umm.
Like the heroes of the past, the great men from days gone by.
That spirit will not die. Um umm, um um um umm.

Chorus
Repeat

Copyright: MC Music – The Music Box Company

p.s. Happy International Nurse's Day!!! May 12th.

Hope that the medicine and rx are proving helpful and that you are able to obtain a proper level of sleep patterns soon.
I have a copy of Accupressure's Potent Points, A Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments by Michael Gach (1990) which I am referencing.
In the section "Potent Points for Relieving Sinus and Hay Fever Problems", he writes: "Drilling Bamboo - Location: In the indentation of the inner eye socket where the bridge of the nose meets the ridge of the eyebrows." and "Heavenly Pillar - Location: One-half inch below the base of the skull on the ropy muscles one-half inch outward from the spine.", "Third Eye Point - Location: Directly between the eyebrows, in the indentation where the bridge of the nose meets the forehead." "One Hundred Meeting Point" Location: On the crown of the head between the cranial bones. To find the point, follow the line up from the back of the ears to the top of the head." and finally, "Joining the Valley - Location: In the webbing between the thumb and index finger, at the highest spot of the muscle when you bring the thumb and index finger close together."
The author writes: "You do not have to use all of these points. Using just one or two of them whenever you have a free hand can be effective."
Benefits from the self message using the thumb or index finger and/or fingers in a circular motion above these pressure points with mild to medium pressure, or what seems appropriate pressure to you, is massage therapy to help relieve "sinus pain, headaches, blurry vision, red & watery eyes, hay fever & eye strain, sore throats, stiff necks, stress burnount..."
If there is someone in camp who is familiar with Acupuncture or acupressure they could help with locating these pressure points, but as a RN, i'm sure that you will be able to locate them fine. Acupressure massages the energy meridians or chi using the fingers, thumb and hand palm for treatment, rather than the fine needles used in acupuncture to encourage assist the body energy from becoming unblocked or congested at certain meridians on the body (as you probably are aware). Hope that you are feeling better soon Pat and that you soon have some restorative sleep patterns..
I can look up and forward other acupressure potent points prescriptions if needed for other ailments if needed for yourself or the others in the group. Good health to you all...Hope that the sunshine brightly on your campsite.
wp

Pat hope your cold gets better, HI Mike, thinking of you a lot, all the best over the next week. Can't wait for you to be safe at home again, love Bobby, Jess, Benny and Elsie

Hi there!! Pat, I am so sorry to hear that your cold has gotten worse, but it sounds as though you are on your way to a speedy recovery...Gosh, you have sooo much support!!
Well, keep chuggin along.. you guys are almost there...!
Hoping for that weather window...

Wishing everyone good health, a peaceful mind, strong rest, and an incredible push for the summit...

Sending all good things (and hugs to Bo),
Jen
Chicago, IL
USA

Hi Patrick: I'm sorry to hear that you are sick and hope that you have a speedy recovery so that it does not impede your progress to the summit. The photo of Mt. Everest from Pangboche is beautiful. Just wanted to say hello, and again send best wishes for you and the rest of the team as you all climb to the summit. Take care! Lisa

Hi Pat, I hope you are feeling better....Please tell me how I can donate to the summit scholarship, I haven't much, but I'm sure it all helps. I have a daughter going to the University of Vermont in the fall and I know how expensive a college education can cost. I love this blog and look forward to hearing about your adventure everyday. Be safe and feel better, thanks, Cathy

Hi Pat,
Steam inhalations are definitely worth continuing with - they should be of benefit to not only your sinus infection, but also your laryngitis, irritating nocturnal cough and the drying effect of low humidity. Good luck for good health very soon.
Craig,
Melbourne.

Hey Pat
Glad WP mentioned the acupressure - that has also helped me and may be a good thing to remember when back at higher elevations and feel the congestion again (if you are thinking clearly enough at that point with all the other stuff you have going on!) Hope the augmentin kicks in fast so you will get relief.

What are you able to eat at this point? Any chicken soup? I suppose mostly vegetarian diet? I am sure nothing tastes too good at this point, but wondered if you are getting protein and extra calories to get some strength back. Vitamin C and zinc available (maybe you are already doing all vits?)
Weather in Denver is unbelievable - blue skies and snow capped peaks - but have to admit your Everest picture beats my view. I am surprised it is so clear (I always figured it would be permanently in the clouds.

Kendra (in Membership) turns 40 tomorrow - so we have had a few toasts to her! she is whitewater rafting to celebrate and keeps telling us "40 is the new 20"! you will have to give her a bad time when you visit Denver this summer
Rest up and know that I am visualizing a clear head for you - I am glad you also have Vicks Vaporub - ahhh

Hi Pat, greetings again from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA

Sorry to hear of your sinus infection -- I can sympathize with you as they are a frequent occurrence for me as well. Although you getting one at this time in your Everest quest is a bad turn of luck. I'm praying the Augmentin will knock it out of you quickly and completely, and you'll get some good rest as a result. The good news is, I hear from Paul the weather forecast is not good for summit bids anytime soon -- so.....physician, heal thyself! You have time. LOL!

That's cool you got to meet Dan Mazur. What he and his team did last year in rescuing Lincoln Hall was heroic and admirable -- although knowing what I've heard of Dan, if you told him that he'd probably shrug and say "What's the big deal, it was the right thing to do." Nevertheless, the man was an Everest legend before last year -- the legend simply grew greater. Remember, my co-worker Terry Schuck is climbing with Dan, taking his first crack at Everest as well. They seem to be on a very similar schedule to both you and Paul. If you run into them, ask where that "Amish chemist from Lancaster County" is -- that should get a laugh! And a prounciation lesson for you, so you say "Lancaster" like a local, not a tourist : we here pronounce it "LANK-iss-tur", not "LAN-cast-urr". Give that a go, you'll be thought of as a native in no time!

One more thing -- my wife and kids and I are all huge Nascar fans, so it is awesome to see that you may actually get to haul a Nascar flag to the top of the world! If it gets to you back in Base Camp in time, it will probably be in spite of the France family and their fumbling ways -- LOL! We are Jeff Gordon fans as well, I'd rather see a "24" flag in your summit photo instead of a generic Nascar flag. Jeff is dominating this year too, leading the points by over 200 right now. Night race at Darlington tonight, I'll let you know how our boy does!

Enough of my ramblin' on -- take good care and get yourself healed. Then get up that mountain and kick it's butt! Only ask permission first -- She's a fickle old girl. I'm sending prayers to our God on your behalf, for health and safety.

Cheers,
Mark R

Hi Pat,
Sorry its taken so long to get round to writing, but after my pedalling around Thailand, Lao and Cambodia I've been pretty busy here in the UK sorting things out. Glad to hear that you are on the "trail" to recovery and that you are well on your way to your amazing goal - only the steep bit to do now!
Good on ya,
Simon (Leigh on Sea, England)