Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I had an incident back at a ride on the first of March. We had a trail 
workday on Thursday morning. It was cold and windy so I didn't drink 
much water. We climb in the truck and head out to SC. I probably didn't 
drink much in the truck. Friday was cold - so I most likely didn't feel 
the need to drink. Saturday was cold. I made sure my horse had 
electrolytes so he would drink since I knew he might not in the cold. 
But did I do that for myself.......noooooo.  In fact I didn't even carry 
water with me - I drink a bottle at the check. It hit me Saturday 
afternoon. I got dizzy and nauseous. My legs started to cramp up. My 
head was fuzzy. I felt like hell. Pat Oliva came over and pretty much 
determined I wasn't dying and then there was an MD at the ride that the 
RM rounded up who concluded the same thing. However, Pat did beat me 
silly for not taking care of myself ;-) . About three doses of human 
electrolytes over a half an hour period along with copious amounts of 
water and I was feeling a lot better.

The paramedics did show up since the RM called 911. By the time they got 
there I was up. My blood pressure was fine and my blood sugar was fine. 
In two hours I was enjoying a wonderful bar-b-que dinner and the awards. 
I made sure I kept taking electrolytes and drinking the next day. I was 
a little tired for the next three or four days.

While I was very aware of what might happen to my horse on a cool day, I 
was the village idiot as far as the fact it could as easily happen to 
me. Did I learn my lesson - you bet I did.

Truman

tom noll wrote:
> Jeri et al:
>  
> First, I am not an MD.  Nik's suggestion of low blood sugar is 
> perceptive and other possibilities are that your electrolytes may be 
> out of balance or that you may be dehydrated.  You can do a skin-tent 
> test on the back of your hand to check for dehydration.  Low 
> electrolytes or dehydration can lead to confusion.  It may be 
> worthwhile to consider some of the electrolyte supplements used by 
> ultrarunners.  In some situations, I have used a small dose of 
> electrolyte paste intended for my horse (Frank and I can share 
> although I have yet to master the flehmen!). 
>  
> The suggestions point to the need to adequately eat and drink so that 
> you can take care of your horse and the nutrition possibilities are 
> far easier to remedy than some of the other concerns.
>  
>  
> Best Regards,
>  
> Tom Noll
> SW Idaho
>  


--

"It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended 
from man." H.L. Mencken


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