A couple of days ago I had finished eating my lunch at a restaurant, after walking 5.5 miles as part of my exercise program. Just sitting there, I began feeling faint – then very faint. I knew that I’d pass out if I didn’t lay down, so I did that, right on the restaurant floor. That saved me from passing out, but I still felt very faint. I got lots of attention! Soon an ambulance arrived, and I was taken to nearby Thornton hospital, part of the UCSD health network (my health care provider).

Initial diagnosis was dehydration, and they began putting a quart of saline into me via IV. I soon felt fine, but they also gave my head a CT scan to see if I’d suffered a stroke (negative). I was released from the hospital after 3 or 4 hours, and walked home (1.5 miles).

Dehydration is insidious! I didn’t feel particularly thirsty, and thought that I’d been drinking plenty of water – but apparently thirst isn’t a reliable guide. Be cautious!

This is why I carry a flask everywhere.

But seriously, glad it wasn't anything more dire.

I do about 120-144 ounces a day of water. Before, during, and after workouts, riding motorcycles, or mowing the yard in the heat more so. I've seen the same thing happen to people many times.

1 liter of water every six hours

1.5 liters per six hours with exertion

not pop,tea or coffee , only water

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,

More likely electrolyte and glucose than water.

Make sure you balance out your intake of both. A bag of chips goes a long way.

Brawndo - it has electrolytes.

Thanks for the heads up. Glad to hear you're OK.

I know I'm always forgetful about keeping hydrated and this is a good reminder.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I soon felt fine, but they also gave my head a CT scan to see if I’d suffered a stroke (negative).

And make a few more $$ off of you and your insurance.

Glad you're okay!

Glad your doing better.
Stay hydrated my friend..

quote:

This is why I carry a flask everywhere.

I'll have to remember that one.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
,.............., and walked home (1.5 miles).

Holy smokes! Big brass balls!

I'm glad you're feeling better and had the presence of mind to lay down before you keeled over.

Water alone isn’t enough. Especially if you’re sweating a lot. In the summer I match equal amounts of water and Gatorade since it has real sugar and not high fructose corn syrup like Powerade has.

I have developed a dehydration problem in early summer for a couple of years now.
It causes my legs, knees, and shoulders to ache, it evens make walking a pain. When I realise what is going on it takes awhile to get back to normal.

Getting old is tough.

Glad it worked out with just a top off of fluids!

It's also a good reminder - stay hydrated!

As others have pointed out water alone will not do it if you are exerting yourself at all.

Please use something with electrolytes to keep yourself hydrated.

Good on you for getting off your ass and walking.

Cheers~

I work in construction, and one thing that I see quite often are guys not drinking enough water outside. At work, I drink about 1 1/2 gallons of water a day as I am outside the entire time.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
Dehydration is insidious! I didn’t feel particularly thirsty, and thought that I’d been drinking plenty of water – but apparently thirst isn’t a reliable guide. Be cautious!

Years ago when getting my glider ratings at Estrella Sailport in Maricopa Arizona (South of Phoenix), I was taught the simple test: “Clear and copious”. They were very concerned about dehydration. As I recall, their one big accident was a guy who got dehydrated and confused and then muffed the “landing out”. Fortunately, he was okay, but the glider was not. When I looked at the instructor funny in response to “Clear and copious”, he explained that if you are not peeing relatively frequently and your urine isn’t clear, you are not drinking enough water.

As stated above, if you are going through a lot of water, you need to get some electrolytes too.

Edit: s/there/their/. Doh.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Brawndo - it has electrolytes.

...and it's what plants crave....

it's very hard on the kidney's

I've never had a dehydration problem, but did got knocked down once by heat stroke. I was working up in the attic in the summer. Must have been 130 up there.

Glad you recovered.