DrRobert

Did a 80 mile ride last week about an hour after the ride I got up out of chair and got very dizzy and woozy.
My BP was 82/60. I had been on a mild BP medication and figured that was it.

Figured maybe I was a little dehydrated after a few hours I was fine.

Same thing happened yesterday but not as bad after a 50 mile ride but haven't taken any BP med in 10 days.

Nurse friend of mine said what happens is blood pools in your legs I need to lay down with legs elevated above head.

Planning on asking my Doc about it, but is this a common thing?

BillyD

No. Consult your medical professionals.

datlas 

Drink more fluids and don't get medical advice on the internet. You describe orthostatic hypotension which is a drop in blood pressure. Go see your primary care physician.

2manybikes

In very cold weather one needs to hydrate just as much as one does in very hot weather. I went 50 miles In 22f weather on only half of a big bottle. Ended up in the hospital, I got woozy and fell over well after the ride. Odd circumstances kept me from drinking and eating when home immediately, and I forgot to eat and drink. Doc says bp was down to 60/30. I told him what I did and said I need two huge bottles of orange juice (need calories too). I got them and was then fine. I now drink one large bottle of 50%water 50%fruit punch every 1.5 hours even in extreme cold. It works. This mix ends up being the same carbs as Gatoraid BTW. It has enough calories for me to be able to do a century without solid food. I eat snacks to keep from getting indigestion, or too hungry, a little past half way

Of course this is just one possibility, ymmv. See a doctor.

I drink the same in all weather now.

VNA

Only a doctor can give you an answer and it will not be on the internet--good luck and don't wait!

DrRobert

Spoke to knowledgeable PA I know he said what is happening is blood is shunted to the legs during exercise then suddenly the ride is over and the blood hasn't had a chance to equilibrate in body.

He suggested doing a cool down the last 20-30 minutes of ride and after the ride lay down with legs elevated for 30 minutes or so. Makes perfect sense to me (I have a backround in physiology).

Thanks for the suggestions but I'll try that before I go to Dr. (I avoid medical care machine as much as possible). I'm not having any other issues with my BP or light headedness any time other than after a ride.

bakes1

The more I ride the more I get occasional and momentary dizziness when I first get up off a chair or couch later in the day.
My doc also said it is not uncommon

BillyD

Yeah, ask some strangers on a bike forum, that should work much better.

Sy Reene

Have you tried leeches?

Ride-Fly

what kind of dr are you? PhD?

datlas 

I am guessing a veiled reference to the famous Beatles song...

Looigi

I had that problem when I was running martinis in my water bottle; shaken, not stirred.

Check out orthostatic hypotension. I had it all my life.

10 Wheels

"Planning on asking my Doc about it, but is this a common thing?"

Not Common.

Check your Blood Sugar Level after a ride.

RPK79

This.

indyfabz

Leeches (and maggots) are useful in certain instances, but not for what the OP is describing. In this book Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside: 9780812973402: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com the author describes an incident where a "mountain man" suffering from a nasty infection was finally brought to down from the hills to her hospital in Pittsburgh. She concludes that the maggot that was rooting around and eating his rotting flesh was what saved him from death. The book is a great read. The author is very knowledgeable, and she's extremely funny.

RPK79

If not leeches I suggest urotherapy.

indyfabz

Urope can be very therapeutic.

StanSeven

Cardiologist

FLvector

Or you try mosquitoes. The itching will make you forget that you're dizzy.

C9H13N 

I passed out from orthostatic hypotension after a long run once. It was more weird than scary. After that I started doing longer cool down walks and it hasn't happened since.

DrRobert

Veterinarian. I know just enough about medicine to be very cynical of the medical system in the US. I hope yours is better in Germany!

Carbonfiberboy 

Yes, it is very common. Orthostatic hypotension, as has already been mentioned. Nurse is correct. Low blood sugar will make it worse. Be sure to drink a recovery drink after a ride, preferably while you are still breathing hard. A pint of chocolate milk works. A pint of regular milk with 5T sugar stirred in works. Special "recovery drink" powders work. I always have one waiting for me, either in my fridge or in a cooler in my car. You obviously have a BP monitor. Check it from time to time, but you probably already do. It's worth talking a doctor about, but you might not find out anything. Meanwhile, use a recovery drink. Putting your legs up a wall is good advice. Some folks use a cold plunge, cold tub, something like that. I don't think a cold shower would be very much fun.

Shuffleman

You have it all wrong. Jack Daniels IV drip. It makes your forget all your pain and problems. You do not even need a prescription. You just have to be of age.

StanSeven

Or have a fake ID. All the young people have then now.

ypsetihw

+1 blood sugar