Huge scare

[Raenstoirm]

Yesterday, I got up at 4:30 am (yes it is very yucky) like always to get to my Pilates class. When i arrived at the gym, class was canceled, so i was a little miffed, but i decided to do my C25K since I was already dressed. (I usually do the C25K after work). I get on the TM and as I am completing the second to last running part, I get this incredible urge to stop, no slow down actually stop. So I did and then I had to hold on to the TM since I thought I might faint. After that waved had passed, I decided I would stop running and go stretch (thought I had just over done it of something). I get to the stretching area, lay down on the floor and I cant get up. It wasn't "I am so tired I cant get up" it was my body literally refused to do what I asked. I nearly had a panic attack. I couldn't move! After what seemed like 10 minutes (probably only a few seconds in reality), i was able to pry myself off the floor. Despite these two attacks, I figured I would get in the shower and get to work. When I went to grab my gym bag out of the locker to get my bathroom stuff, my arm refused to reach up, and I had the need to sit down. I finally managed to grab my stuff and decided to head home. I took off my clothes and curled up in bed and woke up at noon. I am still quite a bit woozy (for lack of a better term) today.

I have never experienced anything like that. I don't know if it was a blood sugar problem, or a blood pressure problem or I am just getting sick, but it was one of the most terrifying things that I have ever experienced. My body would not do what I said. I decided that I would cut out all exercise this week until I can recover from this. i even left my pedometer on my dresser this morning, so i would not be tempted to sneak in a few miles of walking at lunch.

 

[lisaviolet]

Yesterday, I got up at 4:30 am (yes it is very yucky) like always to get to my Pilates class. When i arrived at the gym, class was canceled, so i was a little miffed, but i decided to do my C25K since I was already dressed. (I usually do the C25K after work). I get on the TM and as I am completing the second to last running part, I get this incredible urge to stop, no slow down actually stop. So I did and then I had to hold on to the TM since I thought I might faint. After that waved had passed, I decided I would stop running and go stretch (thought I had just over done it of something). I get to the stretching area, lay down on the floor and I cant get up. It wasn't "I am so tired I cant get up" it was my body literally refused to do what I asked. I nearly had a panic attack. I couldn't move! After what seemed like 10 minutes (probably only a few seconds in reality), i was able to pry myself off the floor. Despite these two attacks, I figured I would get in the shower and get to work. When I went to grab my gym bag out of the locker to get my bathroom stuff, my arm refused to reach up, and I had the need to sit down. I finally managed to grab my stuff and decided to head home. I took off my clothes and curled up in bed and woke up at noon. I am still quite a bit woozy (for lack of a better term) today.

I have never experienced anything like that. I don't know if it was a blood sugar problem, or a blood pressure problem or I am just getting sick, but it was one of the most terrifying things that I have ever experienced. My body would not do what I said. I decided that I would cut out all exercise this week until I can recover from this. i even left my pedometer on my dresser this morning, so i would not be tempted to sneak in a few miles of walking at lunch.

YIKES Raenstoirm! That is scary. I'm assuming you are scheduling a doctor's appt ASAP.

Hope you get some answers. Take good care of yourself.

Lisa

 

[postesf]

WOW! I hope you get this figured out... Did you call your doctor? I'd at least like to know there take on this.

I had the almost faint thing happen before, mine is usually due to high heart rate or not fueling properly.

Take care of yourself!

 

[donac]

What time is the doctor's appointment?

We are our own worst enemies when it comes to going to the doctor. A couple of years ago I had some bad spells where I just flet yucky but I never did anything about because it usually passed. ONe day I wasn't feeling well and I went to the nurse to check out my bp. The nurse had her hand on my wrist and said "What hospital do you want to go to and how are you going to get there?" It seems that I had an irregular heartbeat. It turned out to be nothing but I need to be on medication to control it.

Get yourself to a doctor. PLEASE

 

[AmyBeth68]

I don't want to make you nervous, but you need to schedule an appointment with your doctor right away. Please don't put this off...your body is giving you a signal and you need to figure out what's causing the episode. It might be an isolated event...and it's probably one of those things you'll never have happen again...but don't take any chances sweetie. And post to let us know how it went.

 

[3DisneyKids]

As others have said, please see a doctor right away...this is not the flu.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I want to know what the doctor says too. Please let us know.

This sounds like something for which you definitely need to consult your doc.

 

[MelanieC]

Please see the Dr. on this one. This sounds scary and something that you shouldn't let go. Please let us know how it goes.

 

[violetshelby]

Just hoping you went to the Doctor's today.
Take care. Violet

 

[Raenstoirm]

No I have to admit I have not gone. I know I should, but I am sort of anti doc. Besides the annoying factor that my general doc does not take my current insurance, so I will have to find a new one at some point and that is just yuck. It hasn't happened since Monday, so I think i may be ok. I plan on getting back to my exercise routine Monday, so if it happens then I will have to go. If not I will just label it a fluke.

 

[JudyS]

Raenstoirm, those symptoms could be caused by a transient ischemic attack. This is essentially a stroke (a blockage of blood supply to the brain) that clears up after a short while. The thing is, transient ischemic attacks are a sign that you are on the verge of having an actual stroke, which is when the blood supply to the brain is interupted long enough to cause brain damage.

Now, this isn't the only thing it could be, but if it was a transient ischemic attack, it is essential that you see a doctor. If that's what it was, there are medicines they can give you to prevent an actual stroke.

Anytime a person has sudden, unexplained paralysis, there is a strong possibility that they are having a stroke. This is a situation where you should get to an emergency room immediately -- if it is a stroke, they have to treat it within the first hour, or it will be too late.

There are some less serious possibilities for sudden paralysis, including narcolepsy (basically, it's possible to be conscious while experiencing the paralysis that normally accompanies dreaming.) So, it's not guaranteed to be something potentially life-threatening. But, it's nothing to fool around with.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Raenstoirm, those symptoms could be caused by a transient ischemic attack. This is essentially a stroke (a blockage of blood supply to the brain) that clears up after a short while. The thing is, transient ischemic attacks are a sign that you are on the verge of having an actual stroke, which is when the blood supply to the brain is interupted long enough to cause brain damage.

Now, this isn't the only thing it could be, but if it was a transient ischemic attack, it is essential that you see a doctor. If that's what it was, there are medicines they can give you to prevent an actual stroke.

Anytime a person has sudden, unexplained paralysis, there is a strong possibility that they are having a stroke. This is a situation where you should get to an emergency room immediately -- if it is a stroke, they have to treat it within the first hour, or it will be too late.

There are some less serious possibilities for sudden paralysis, including narcolepsy (basically, it's possible to be conscious while experiencing the paralysis that normally accompanies dreaming.) So, it's not guaranteed to be something potentially life-threatening. But, it's nothing to fool around with.

I was going to post the same thing! Please see a Dr to rule out any signs of a stroke!

 

[~Brandy~]

I had a virtually identical episode in college. I had been working out regularly without any problems and one day it just hit me, I had to stop NOW. I did the same thing and laid on the floor - I truly felt like I couldn't sit up. I must have laid there for an hour. I couldn't even focus my eyes.

I did go to the doctor and was completely blown off. He basically told me that it wasn't anything he could diagnose and to stop exercising if it happened again. Of course I'll stop exercising if it happens! I couldn't even stand up! I was so scared I completely abandoned working out, and have only recently gotten back into it.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Somehow I doubt it is a stroke, aneurysm perhaps, but at this point I would be dead if it was. There is no history of any type of heart or vein issues in my family. My fate who weighed in at over 400lbs (had gastric bypass last September and is doing well) was told by his doctors that after he loses weight he would be perfectly healthy (no lasting effects from being so obese). Even at that weight, his only health issue was high blood pressure! I am 120 over 80 with good cholesterol (checked last year). Granted I am not a nurse or doctor, but somehow it doesn't seem that serious. Although I really really appreciate your concern!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

OK, add me to the list of concerned friends. Please check into this further, I understand the frustration of dealing with docs, but something isn't right. Please, see someone!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

No I have to admit I have not gone. I know I should, but I am sort of anti doc. Besides the annoying factor that my general doc does not take my current insurance, so I will have to find a new one at some point and that is just yuck. It hasn't happened since Monday, so I think i may be ok. I plan on getting back to my exercise routine Monday, so if it happens then I will have to go. If not I will just label it a fluke.

I know you will do what you choose. We can only offer our advice and voice our concern. I'd also want to join in that you might want to not wait to find that GP doc until you absolutely feel that you have a problem. What the GP hopefully will be doing is getting a base line from which to work and if there are any problems later the comparisons can be made. If you are taking on a weight loss journey and learning to have a healthier lifestyle, pulling in a doc along the way, while perhaps expensive depending on insurance coverage, may be the wiser choice. You definitely need to have a doc with whom you can enjoy a conversation about your health. If you are not happy or feel as if you are being blown off, you also need to be able to say that and hear the doc's reasoning behind the lack of concern. So when you do go, keep in mind the open communication you will want to have.

WISHing you the best on your journey.

 

[JudyS]

Somehow I doubt it is a stroke, aneurysm perhaps, but at this point I would be dead if it was....

Well, not necessarily, since you could have had a temporary blockage that cleared up on its own. The problem is, temporary blockages are indicative of a very high risk of a stroke in the near future.

A seizure is another possibility. Basically, if you weren't just very tired but actually told your body to do something and it really didn't respond at all, you were having some sort of neurological problem. I think the most likely thing is a mild case of narcolepsy brought on by the stress of exercising, but there are more serious possibilities.

If I had been you, I would have called an ambulance. In fact, I did have something similar happen to me a number of years ago, although there the problem was a sudden loss of half my field of vision, rather than paralysis. I called security at the place where I was working and they took me to the hospital. Fortunately, a CAT scan showed nothing wrong (it was probably just a migraine-type symptom), but I know other people who weren't as lucky.

If you are absolutely dead-set against seeing a doctor, taking an aspirin every day for a while would give you a little protection against stroke.

I had a virtually identical episode in college. I had been working out regularly without any problems and one day it just hit me, I had to stop NOW. I did the same thing and laid on the floor - I truly felt like I couldn't sit up. I must have laid there for an hour. I couldn't even focus my eyes.

I did go to the doctor and was completely blown off. He basically told me that it wasn't anything he could diagnose and to stop exercising if it happened again. Of course I'll stop exercising if it happens! I couldn't even stand up! I was so scared I completely abandoned working out, and have only recently gotten back into it.

Wow, what a lousy doctor! Some doctors just can't deal with it if they can't figure out what's wrong with you -- too threatening to their egos, I guess. Also, this sort of problem can be hard to diagnose after it happens -- it's best to get to an emergency room right away. But, if your doctor didn't know what was wrong, he should have referred you to soneone else.