If you are ill enough to need
hospitalization, something unusual should rise
your attention. If altitude sickness is the
problem, no medical treatment can do more than
relieve some of the symptoms, and you will still
need to evacuate to a low altitude. If you can
safely be moved, it is best to do this by the
next morning's flight. The later stages of edema
can make evacuation impossible. It you are traveling
alone and staying at one of Lhasa's smaller
hotels, you risk becoming very isolated if you
have to stay in hospital for some time. Seriously
ill patients are sometimes left unattended for
long periods by the nursing staff. Before you
go into hospital, tell as many friendly fellow
travelers as possible and use hotel notice boards
to ask for help and visitors. You may need people
to bring special foods, to take messages, to
arrange your evacuation, and perhaps to lend
foreign exchange certificates for an air ticket
at short notice. Doctors, nurses and other health
professionals can often be found amongst visitors
at any of the hotels, and they may be willing
to give you a diagnosis in Western terms and
in your own language.
Before going into hospital, consider
checking into the Holiday Inn for access to
their services, including taxis, international
telephone and fax services, air-ticketing and
-most valuable of all- help from the foreign
management staff. When you are well enough to
move, the hotel can make all the arrangements
for your evacuation.
