HITTING a WALL (and I lived to tell about it)

[Shaula]

I live in South Georgia and we are having ANOTHER heat wave (before the summer even). I left the house this morning to do a ride, intending for 20 miles. I packed a nutrition bar and water. My husband caught up with me and suggested riding an additional 12 miles (no shade, 90 degrees). After depleting the bar and the water, I started to feel really weird. My husband was already miles ahead of me. I kept going but started to feel light headed. Stopped on the side of the road, fell and could hardly pull myself to my feet. So lightheaded and weak. Called my husband (who was already home) and he came with his truck to get me. Brought me a Coke which I drank immediately. Got home and drank a quart of water. Feel much better now - STUPID on my part for not being more prepared. Has this ever happened to any of you?

[Penny4]

Been there, done that It's no fun at all and I learned my lesson from it. When it happened to me, i THOUGHT i had been drinking enough. But, I learned in the extreme heat, I have to drink every 8-10 minutes, and dump some cool water on my neck.

Glad you are ok...this heat is tough stuff!

[Melalvai]

Yeah, that happened to me today too!

[Maye]

Me too but in Orlando FL, around 88 degrees. I finished my 20 mile bike ride, got back to the car, splashed some water in my face and ate a gel block or shot block. Then five minutes later I started having a rapid heartbeat and I got really scared about it to the point that I hyperventilated a little bit and thought about stopping the car. I said to myself, calm down, drink more water and wait until the block gets through your system. And yes, a few minutes later I was fine. But have been wondering if rapid heartbeat is a sign of heat injury. Hmm...

[laura*]

Has this ever happened to any of you?

Years ago, I was camped out in the desert at a natural spring. There is another spring about 2.5 miles up the valley that I wanted to check out. I set out with eight (8!) water bottles. I got about two miles - the oasis around the next spring was visible in the distance. I had already emptied four water bottles, was starting to show the first signs of heat stroke, and didn't know if there was potable water at the next spring. I was forced to turn around and coast down the gentle grade back to camp. I used up another three bottles on the return!

Back at camp with other people around, I sat in the shade and chugged several more bottles of water.

The temperature that day: It had "cooled down" to 105 from 113 the day before.

[Shaula]

I know I was really dumb for not preparing more. Boy what a lesson! Yeah, my heart was racing too. My normal heart rate per minute is between 58-60. Yesterday, it was going at about 90-95. Scary