horus11B

Was doing hill climb repeats.... thats bad huh?

I woke up with a skinned leg and still connected to the bike...best as I can figure is I was mashing and just slowed down and fell over...

So should I just chock this up to a training mishap or does anyone think this is a serious problem? Last time this happened to me I was pushing hard carrying 65lbs up a ski hill during a company race with my old military unit.

jdon

Is your healthcare so bad you would ask here? Go see a Doctor.

rangerdavid

^^this....

horus11B

Yes... I'm in the military. My healthcare is that bad.

Thanks for the constructive comment though. Helped alot.

horus11B

Ok maybe I should rephrase my question. Has anyone else ever pushed themselves to the point of passing out and if so, how did you handle it?

jdon

Not trying to be a smartass horus but really, your md has your history, can throw a bp cuff on you, assess your fitness, has access to any meds you are on etc. We don't have that here. While there are md's on the site, you will notice that none give medical advice on the forum. Yes, you can black out from physical or emotional exhaustion or stress. Best to see a doctor though to determine the cause.

Answer to your second question, yes. But more of a grey out. Got off the bike, sat down and after the race, consulted a doctor. Be safe when it comes to your health.

ravenmore

Dude, seriously, don't come seeking medical attention on the internet. Passing out is no joke. You should see a doc. I did pass out once, but I know why. I got separated and lost on a group ride in 105 degree heat. I ended up riding in circles for 8 hrs before my legs seized up and I couldn't go any further and I had to call a friend (my iPhone wouldn't get reception until right at the end of the ordeal). I took a swig of lukewarm, syrupy gatorade and immediately felt the blood leaving my head. I was only out for a few seconds and oddly felt really relaxed and comfortable when I came to. I should've gone to a doc but decided on seeing how I felt after chugging a bunch of cold liquids and a cold shower.

revchuck 

Apparently, you don't have much experience with civilian healthcare...

The right answer here is to go see a doc. Seeing a doctor who's familiar with treating members of the military will increase the likelihood of the doc actually being familiar with what might be going on, since military folks are more likely to push themselves to that point than civilians. If the doctor is military him/herself, it increases the likelihood of the doc being personally aware of the situation. In any case, blacking out isn't something to pass off as unimportant or a normal part of training.

A couple of examples: Friday, I went to my (civilian) doctor for a checkup. When the nurse did my vital signs, she became upset because my resting heart rate was "only" 52, way too low for what she thought was correct for a guy two months short of his 60th birthday. Another guy I'm aware of who's 65 and a lifelong runner and cyclist had a resting heart rate of 40, and his doc wanted to put in a pacemaker. Civilian docs aren't familiar with people who stay in shape, at least not to the extent that military docs are.

UberGeek

You think military health care is bad? Wait until you get out. You'll do a 180 on your opinion there.

Go to sick call.

Mantis Style

Yes - go see a doc. You could have something like aortic stenosis where your valve is narrowed, constricting blood flow which caused you to pass out. It's not because you are so hardcore you made yourself pass out. Or maybe you are. Who knows. Why not just go to a doc and find out before you pass out heading right into oncoming traffic?

Machka 

+100

horus11B ...

GO SEE A DOCTOR

horus11B

Honestly I can picture the scenario right now based on past experience with our PA...(we dont get access to an actual doctor) . Which i might not even get to see because the medic's screen us before we go in.

PA : So whats the problem?
ME: Blacked out on a training ride. I've got relevant heartrate data right here.
PA: .... but .... your good now right?
ME: Yes, but I'm concerned and don't know whether I should be worried or not.
PA: ... but .... your good now right?
ME: um.... yes..
PA: ok well, here some motrin for your skinned leg. Quit smoking... and uh.... Come back in if anything else ... you know... important happens.

I just don't think I'll get anything relevant out of him, and beings as I'm out of the country I don't have access to civilian sports medicine.

Thats what I base my opinion of military healthcare on.

datlas 

Even if military healthcare is like military intelligence, you should still go get checked.

eippo1

Yup, blacked out once in high school while running due to having no real upper limit on my heart rate. I went with the current theme and saw a doctor. Now I wear a heart rate monitor on every training ride so if I see a number like 215, I need to immediately back off.

tadawdy

You should have a stress test to monitor ekg, hr, and bp changes during exercise. One reason you would black out during intense exercise is because your systolic bp didn't rise like it should. There are a few reasons this could happen, and none of them are good.

gsteinb

If your doctor speaks in typos I agree, keep on keeping on.

Pug

Get your heart checked. ASAP. And that's an order.

UberGeek

I've never had a PA dismiss a blackout while exercising...

urbanknight

Yes, although while doing a different activity. I saw a doctor. They should take you seriously, as mine did, because they run a liability risk if they don't and you pass out again causing an accident. According to my doctor, he had to notify the DMV and have them temporarily suspend my driver's license pending the outcome of the head MRI. I turned out to be fine, but they were looking for stuff like seizures and epilepsy.

DropDeadFred

ive been to the point I've almost passed out...slowed down and regrouped...lack of oxygen can do that, but so can a lot of things. Get it checked out.

DropDeadFred

so you're a smoker as well...this can be a factor..

If you're just scared to find out something serious might be wrong and you're looking for an easy out by trying to diagnose yourself by associating your symptoms with others, that isn't going to help you. Next time you could be in traffic and die, and it could all be over something simple and treatable.

dstrong 

This could be a contributor...if you smoke...not sure whether that was just an anticipated response by the doc or something you do that the doc will tell you not to.

JoelS

I came really close one ride. I now know what my actual max HR is.

fishymamba

I was close to blacking out once while I was sprinting up a hill, I started feeling dizzy and disoriented so I backed off. Got my heart rate up to 242.

DropDeadFred

yeah, I rode when I had just gotten over a cold, couldn't breathe right, sucking wind hard and I almost passed out.