Thought I'd post this here. So yesterday I almost fainted at the gym, not quite sure of the reason behind it (although does seem to be on leg day) but around 18-24 months ago, I would occasionally get pins and needles in my fingers/hands during training (nothing too hard and I've been training 3 times a week for around 14 years now). Sometimes, that would turn into me having to sit down for around 5 minutes as I felt dizzy, mid to end workout...which would then pass. I think squats were/are the culprit (on the leg press machine), but I'd do other things afterwards, including maybe some biceps etc...so it's not as soon as I finish the squats.
Last June, I felt this coming on me again only this time I didn't recover from it. I suddenly got pins and needles in one leg and arm and felt like I was going to black out. I lay down but I think panic set in and this then led to pins and needles everywhere, both arms (lower), both legs (lower), stomach, chest, neck, jaw head. It felt like exhaustion as vision was fine, no spinning, just an inability to move...I could barely open my eyes or speak and when I spoke it was breathless, quiet voice.
The ambulance was called, they monitored my pulse, said it was a bit off but nothing worrying and after about 30 minutes, I was seated, then up and off to hospital. I had a chest x-ray, ECG, urine and several blood samples..nothing found apart from a slight high white blood cell count which was suspected to be an infection. I followed up with a 24 hour heart monitor (nothing found, even with me wearing it at the gym) and ultrasound...again nothing found at all.
I'd been fine since that incident until yesterday, same feelings as before, lay on the floor for around an hour, eventually got up, shaky and started to recover. Anyone experience this sort of thing, know what might cause it or contribute to it and what my body is doing when I'm wiped out on the floor?
It's a horrible sensation, feeling it come and go in waves. I know many things could be a factor, lack of liquid, carbs, heat and so on...just looking for thoughts on how to spot it and try to reduce the impact. One day on, I'm sat here feeling pretty much 100% again!
Hi There,
I think as you say there can be lots f reasons and it could be hard to pin point the cause, but just a thought..
I go to the gym 3 times a week, and I can get light headed when doing weights, I have found it's my breathing that makes that happen, if I'm not concentrating on what I'm doing I can forget to breath properly, this mainly happens when I have pushed the weights up and having to really work hard, I can find myself holding my breath during reps rather than breathing through them.
I know I've almost passed out while at the gym, my wife was there at the time and said I went white and looked spaced out, so we slowly walked back to the car and by the time we got to it although I still had a racing heart beat I was fine.
I'm sure as you have been going for so long breathing through the reps, long breaths in while pulling/pushing the weight and out while releasing but just thought I's comment as I did and sometimes do still have similar, but I haven't ever got to the same state as you have.
GTTS
Thank you GTTS.
It sounds daft but breathing is crucial and thinking about it after the event, I'm thinking possibly not enough water that day (and due to high heat, loss of electrolytes), not enough slow burning fuel AND not concentrating on my breathing.
I went to the gym last night which is always nerve wrecking after an episode like that as the slightest thing can almost induce a panic attack...but I got through it and everything was fine.
Sounds like it might be syncope, brought on by low blood pressure. Most of the time it's caused by dehydration, sometimes by muscle strain in the neck. If you are really tensing the muscles in your neck during a squat, you can literally cut off some of the blood supply to your brain.
Hi there,
I'd not heard of that before. I think lack of liquid and neck strain could be right, I don't always watch my posture and can stoop my neck...it's all good to know and try to rule out, so thank you.
Mark
Definitely need to make sure you are properly hydrated, but I'd get back to the doctors again to get checked out again.
100%, I'll keep an eye on myself but will go back to the doctor to discuss it.
Thank you.
I still think that the point is exhaustion, although the problem may still be the same at your age if you are already over 40 years old, training with growth should be reduced and give the body more rest, because you need to understand that if you are already for example 45 years old, then you can not load your body as well as a young guy who is 25 years old.