Heat stroke

[azsnowman]

Has anyone here suffered from heat stroke? Got off early from work yesterday, came home, mowed the lawn, weed eated, watered etc, etc. and about 1/2 hour later, I got SO sick to my stomach, couldn't sweat anymore and was just feeling YUCKY......came inside, took a cool shower, drank 8 glasses of water over a 2 hour period and came back to life......it has been SO hot up here, 96-97°, for us.......that's UNBELIEVABLE heat, I cannot even IMAGINE what it's like in Phoenix right now, 114°.....this morning when I got up at 0400, it was STILL 96°

[Miss Mary]

That sounds scary Dennis! I'm glad to know you came inside and drank a lot of water. That was smart. I remember my first summer vacation to Florida, when our girls were young. I should add that in our family, my husband prefers to do the driving to and from our destination. But once he's there, he likes to relax. That's when I do the shopping, run errands, pick up meals. Here I was getting in and out of our dark colored car (at the time, black interior too!), mid-day, temps near 98. July I believe. I came back many times, just so sick. We also went to Disney back then and walked on hot pavement all day long. Again, I had symptoms like you described.

Then a pharmacist told me this once - take salt water pills when vacationing in very hot wx. And sip water, no other beverage. He sold me the pills, had them behind the counter. They did work the next trip down there.

I am not a summer person - and I know we have many here from Florida. I just wilt down there! LOL

Glad to know you're on the mend.

[beachbum_al]

Last August I got overheated at school while working in the greenhouse. The symptoms you just describe are very similar to what I had. I got very tired, dizzy, and couldn't hold my head up. I had the worse headache and my blood pressure shot up very high. I made it home with the help of a friend who drove me home and one of the office workers drove my car. It took about 4 hours to recover with gatorade and water and cool packs on my body but I did recover. And yes I did go back to work the next day but made sure I had water or gatorade with me at all times.

[Stephanie]

I'm glad that you were able to recover from that on your own Dennis. Once you stop sweating, that's really dangerous.

Anyhow, one summer I had a newspaper route. It was a hot day and I remember that I started feeling woosy and needed some shade or cool air. I parked my bicycle in front of a customer's house and knocked on her door, all the while feeling like I was going to pass out/throw up or both while standing there. When she answered I asked her if I could step in for a few minutes because I wasn't feeling well from the heat. As she let me in, I started to black out and fell on her floor. I was conscious immediately after that happened, but I stayed there for an hour drinking fluids while laying on the couch.

[george_r_1961]

Dennis u had heat exhaustion not heat stroke..which is often fatal. Heat exhaustion can quickly deteriorate into heat cramps or heat stroke, both of which, especially the latter, are medical emergencies. You did the right thing though by going inside and getting hydrated. I suggest sports drinks instead of water, since the sports drinks contain electrolytes that your body loses when you sweat with pottasium being the one that one the seems to get "sweated out" the most.

Dennis since u had stopped sweating u probably came VERY close into going into full blown heat stroke. Be sure to drink lots of fluids even if u arent thirsty. Reduce your activity during the hottest part of the day as much as u can.

I had heat cramps last summer. Started off feeling "yucky" as u put it, then my legs started to hurt. Got to the ER and after a few hours of observation and an IV I was better. They said if I would have waited much longer to go in I would have become very ill. I had to stay home from work the next day..doctors orders.

The heat is dangerous..especially for the very young and the elderly. Stay safe this summer!

[nholley]

When you stop sweating then you are in real trouble.

[cajungal]

I passed out twice from the heat. Once was in New Orleans in the French Quarter. I was in over 90 degree heat and have not eaten anything all day. My dad caught me right before I hit the pavement. I was maybe 13-14 years old. My mom told me I was as white as a ghost. As soon as I got out of the heat, and something to eat and drink, I was okay.

[Cookiely]

When I was 12 I suffered from heat stroke ( I feinted standing upright between two utility poles). My father was smart enough to lower my temperature by throwing buckets of cool water on me ( remote area on vacation). I was so sick for several days not to mention the sunburn I received from trying to get a tan. Coated myself with baby oil and sat in the sun for 9 hours ( fair skinned redheaded child). Never again. I felt ill today coming home from doing errands, muscle spasms, queasy, the car has no a/c and must have been over 110 inside. Felt better after having four glasses of tea and takin a nap. Have got to start drinking more fluids. Sorry azsnowman about your not feeling well. Too much exercise and not enough fluids.

[Pburgh]

Dennis, glad you're ok. I opened my Mom's house up on Tuesday before bringing her home from the hospital. It was like a friggin oven!!!! She has one little window air conditioner. I opened the windows, turned on the fans and started cleaning. After about 5 hours of unbearable heat, I started to get really nauseated. I drank about 5 glasses of water and felt soooo much better.

Dennis, you are always COOL!!!!!

[Miss Mary]

Dennis, glad you're ok.

Dennis, you are always COOL!!!!!

Post of THE day folks.....cute Karan!

Dennis is now saying - I am not cute! I'm cool!!!! Or as Chad would say....

KEWL!

Mary

[azsnowman]

Dennis, glad you're ok. I opened my Mom's house up on Tuesday before bringing her home from the hospital. It was like a friggin oven!!!! She has one little window air conditioner. I opened the windows, turned on the fans and started cleaning. After about 5 hours of unbearable heat, I started to get really nauseated. I drank about 5 glasses of water and felt soooo much better.

Dennis, you are always COOL!!!!!

Thanks Dink! I'm tellin' ya, that scared the livin' Ba Jesus outta me, the no sweatin' thing.....I've heard it happens but have never experienced it first hand though, thanks for the concern. The temp here at 0915 is already at 87° *normal high is 85° for today*.......forecast to hit 100° with the dewpoint climbing back up and the humidity ALREADY is at 56%.......it's like a wet sponge outside.....but it's a GOOD thing, means today COULD be the DAY that the monsoons kick back in and THAT my friends WOULD be a blessing. Before the soons took a break, we'd be in the upper 80's then a boomer would come in, drop the temps to the upper "50's" in a matter of minutes but after the showers, it would heat back up the upper 80's with a RH value of 80-90%

[coriolis]

I'm glad everything turned out OK Dennis. I'll take that as a reminder to be careful.

One bit of information from my own experience: If you're drinking large amounts of fluids, or if you're going to be out all day, Gatorade is too concentrated to be immediately absorbed in your stomach. It actually draws body fluid into your stomach so that it can digest. (The same goes for other juices) You need to water it down by 50% or else alternate Gatorade with water. That's from my own experience in biking in the summer. If I put straight gatorade in my waterbottles, it makes my stomach hurt. If I water it down 50%, no stomach ache.

I'm happy because our Dollar Store started selling a store brand of gatorade. I read the label and it's Nurtritional Facts are identical to Gatorade. $1 for a half gallon!

[TexasStooge]

Glad you're OK Dennis.

[azsnowman]

Ed....I'm tellin' ya, it sneaks up on you and you don't realize it's happening, yeah, I was hot, took a few breaks in the shade, drank some water here and there but obviously NOT enough I don't know HOW those illegal alliens, WHOOPS, politically INCORRECT Illegal IMMIGRANTS do it......crossing the desert near Gila Bend (HELL) and survive.......

Dennis

[Aquawind]

Not Good! Glad is worked out ok.. Thanks for the reminder.

[azsnowman]

And another reminder...."Don't forget the sunscreen!" I should be the poster child for Coppertone, skin cancer and all!

[Scorpion]

I haven't lived in Phoenix for over 8 years so I don't really remember the heat that well. But I never had any problems with heat stress. It seems like its sometimes worse here. Perhaps its the humidity.

[Aslkahuna]

AZSnow, I thought you knew better than to believe that TWC BS about AZ heat not being dangerous because it's a "dry" heat. George R is right Sports Drinks are better than plain water. Also need to avoid soft drinks and any alcoholic drinks (like Beer). Number one rule, if you are feeling thirsty you are already dehydrated. Here in AZ, when working outside in the heat the rule is a gallon of fluid intake per HOUR. A lot of those illegals DON'T make it. Hundreds die and thousands have to be rescued and those water stations put out by the Gooders and the livestock watering tanks of the ranchers save thousands of others and finally there's plain dumb luck. Fortunately for the plant, the illegals don't yet know about the Barrel Cactus otherwise it would become extinct in no time.

Steve

[george_r_1961]

AZSnow, I though you knew better than to believe that TWC BS about AZ heat not being dangerous because it's a "dry" heat. George R is right Sports Drinks are better than plain water. Also need to avoid soft drinks and any alcoholic drinks (like Beer). Number one rule, if you are feeling thirsty you are already dehydrated. Here in AZ, when working outside in the heat the rule is a gallon of fluid intake per HOUR. A lot of those illegals DON'T make it. Hundreds die and thousands have to be rescued and those water stations put out by the Gooders and the livestock watering tanks of the ranchers save thousands of others and finally there's plain dumb luck. Fortunately for the plant, the illegals don't yet know about the Barrel Cactus otherwise it would become extinct in no time.

Steve

I think what makes the "dry heat" seem less dangerous is the fact that dry air evaporates sweat quicker than humid air. People assume since they arent drenched in sweat they are fine. Meanwhile they are becoming badly dehydrated and may not know it till its too late.

Steve you made a good point about laying off the alcohol and caffeine. Both are diurertics (they make your kidneys produce more urine) and vital water and electrolytes literally go down the toliet.

[azsnowman]

LOL @Steve......I DO know better than that.......that's what TORQUES my shorts, I've lived in Az. for 42+ years now and I "normally" keep myself hyrdated BIG TIME, it's just well, the only explanation is a brain f*rt!