cavedoc wrote:LukeM wrote: it would be nice to know that you can just lean back and put your feet up for a rest (almost) free from the spectre of suspension trauma.
Remember that the studies showed improvement, not immunity. And remember too that pretending to hang passively is how they got people to pass out. Not something to do lightly. But the pain and nausea cases are times one just might want to have an alternative. Fainting is a killer.
Having had to deal with migraines in cave, I certainly would not one to deal with one on-rope. It would not be safe at all. not that having one in a cave is safe necessarily either. The worst time was when I kept trying to turn around and go backwards. I was that disorientated in the cave. And 1 ft stepdown on breakdown I would swear they wanted me to jump 20 feet into a crevice. Not fun times. On rope definitly even more danger if I start confusing up and down and loose sense of what the different bits of gear are doing for me. I carry meds with me now, but they do take time to kick in and make me tired. But still, if I was to the dizzyness and aurora stage on rope, definitly time to grab the med out of my pack, hang out for 15-20 min or so for it to start working, then keep going. I wouldn't *want* to attempt a changeover on rope at that stage. I would likely get myself into way more trouble than I would be waiting it out.