Back in 1998 I climbed the Mountain Sabalan (4811m) in Iran. I just read my journal from that trip again and it reminded me of my heavy trip last week.

With a group of seven and one professional mountaineer we ’shuffled’ uphill through the snow. On the top we should find a frozen volcanic lake, but during the climb we could not see the top, because it was flat. Each time when we thought we saw the top, we got disappointed again about the ‘next’ top.

At 4300 meter half the group was too sick to go any further. We decide to find a place to stay overnight. Aziz, our guide, found a little flat piece half under a rock, but not far from a deep cliff. We ate oranges to empty our stomachs and reduce the height-sickness a little bit. We threw our sleeping bags on a piece of plastic, which covered the snow, and went to ‘bed’.

Breathing is hard at this height and I remember seeing the moon moving throughout the night from right to left. I enjoyed the view over the mountains around us. The world was laying at our feet, the view was gorgeous, but trying to catch sleep while almost hyperventilating is hardly possible.

That is what I had to think of last week. Although the pressure on my left lung was reduced by a small drainage last week, I was still tired and easily out of breath. I started with external oxygen on Monday expecting to feel better on Tuesday morning. But after my usual swim in the hotel, I had to be helped back to my room. I could not move anymore. My lungs were too much under pressure again.

The nights were like the special night at Mountain Sabalan, no air, difficult to breath and impossible to fall asleep. I felt fine as long as I laid down quietly and did not move. So that’s what I did for two days, getting more and more tired from not sleeping.

Finally I went to the hospital on Thursday and immediately got a drainage. The very same day 2 liters came out of my left-lung pleurae and during the night another 2 liters. So within 24 hours I lost 4 kg of weight, but I did get my air back (so a bigger air-bag). I feel so much better now, we just have to see of sticking the pleurae is going to work to avoid the fluid to come back.

In the meantime my hospital room is completely decorated with photo’s, flowers, a sunny balloon and a count down calendar for the number of days that I have to wait to see Jenn and the kids again.

Katy called me today. I really miss her!

Joost

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