I got hit with heat stroke today...not fun

[MotorSeven]

I am posting this to possibly keep someone else from getting nailed. I'm 51 & have worked outside my entire life & never had this happen:

Today I had just finished welding up a 16' track for my Woodmizer sawmill & used the tractor/forks to move it to the milling pad & hook it all up. It was in the low 90's when I got done around 11am, I took a quick break & drank 2 quarts of water. I had a friend coming over with honey extraction equipment, so I needed to pull off 2 supers(boxes) off one of my hives. I donned a long sleeve t-shirt, blue jeans, work boots, a bee jacket with built in hat & veil, and elbow length gloves. I got one super off and carried it about 75 yards and removed the comb.

I drank some more ice water & watering down my head at the hose, then went back after the other super. It was hot & I was feeling a little over heated. After getting it off and smoking the bees away I was just about to pick it up(these weighed around 70lbs), it hit me....I didn't feel so good. I sat down next to the hive with the not so happy bees. The feeling got worse & it is hard to describe....not nauseus or dizzy, but I could feel my heart beat in my ears and it was LOUD.

My energy level seemed to plummet, and I decided to get away from the bees & go to the house. I made it about 100' before the ground started to tilt one way, then the other. I hit the ground like a sack of 'taters. I rolled over on my back and concentrated on the clouds flying by, while refusing to black out. It was like having all your energy taken away instantly. After 20 min or so, I managed to get up and stagger the rest of the way. I went down in a more controlled manner at the back door, crawled to the fridge, grabbed a cold drink, & had to rest for 5 min before making it into the shower. I ran cold water over me for 20 min or so.

The rest of the day didn't go well, with bouts of nausea if I tried to do anything. I downed more fluids and feel drained but ok now. I had no idea heat stroke hit that fast, but it sure got my attention. I guess that the moral of the(long winded) story is don't push it like I did(and have done in the past). I ain't ashamed to say it scared the beejesus out of me. I don't know what would have happened if I had not made it into the shower.
It was a first and I am ging to make sure it was the last time for a visit from Mr. H. Stroke.

RD

PS- we weighed the final product & came up with just shy of 100lbs of honey including the Mason jars.

 

[RonMar]

It can happen even faster. I was shooting at a highpower rifle match in va. One competitor near me on the 600 yard line passed out while strapped into his rifle prone and a round chambered. During competition we typically wore a sweat shirt, heavy shooting jacket and a heavy glove on the sling arm. This made for a very hot experience during a virginia summer.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have had heat stroke a few times now and it is never fun. It is one of the reasons I need another new tractor as I have been close a lot more times. I am glad you are ok.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

I got hit with heat stroke about 3 years ago while bikeriding. I was like you well hydrated, had stopped at a store to cool off also. But wham it hit me, I was not near a house, a few cars went by but noone stopped. I was sitting on a log by a ditch. I was afraid I was going to die, could hardly stay conscious. I pulled myself together and managed maybe a 100 ft, wham again. I could see a house but didn't know if anyone was home, was going to try and get to a water hydrant. It took me over 20 minutes to get maybe 200 more yards. I got on their porch and rang the bell, luckily someone was home and came to the door. One look and she said come in the house. I just wanted juice and a wet rag and was going to sit on the porch. She got me in, I'm also hypoglycemic, gave me cold orange juice, and a cold wet rag. I sat there almost half an hour cooling down. The lady then drove me home, it was about 3 miles. I was scared to death. I honestly think if she had not been home I might have died. That scared me. I was used to being outside too, in good physical shape, and everything. I don't handle heat as well as I used to and I'm sure more careful about it now.

At that time I could ride over 12 to 16 miles at a time, I've never worked my way back up again and am not in as good a shape. But in this Texas heat I have been leery of doing it. Going to have to ride in the fall and spring I guess.

Yes, be careful its horrible.

I need to go into an attic at a rent house and check a spot that may be a water leak, I opened the attic access the other day, and it must have been 150. I felt so overwhelmed by the heat and nobody was there so I didn't. Hubby says oh you can get in and out, honestly I don't think I can. Think I will get a plumber to go up early one morning and check it. I don't see how people work in those conditions.

Be careful.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Think of our poor soldiers in Iraq, they must be dying in that horrible heat.

 

[EastTexFrank]

You have to be careful, it can sneak up on you.

Only three weeks ago, I was working on the sprinklers one afternoon in 105 degree heat. I didn't think it was too bad as I was soaked with the cold water from the sprinklers. At the end of the day, with the work done and everything working as it should, I sat down for a breather and started to get a hammering headache and felt sick to my stomach. I realized what was happening (it's not the first time) and got inside and cooled down.

The strange thing is that ever since I seem to be a lot more sensitive to the heat. Now I live in Texas so avoiding the heat during the summer isn't the easiest of things to do. When I work outside these days, it isn't too long before I start to feel sick and light headed. It doesn't stop me but it means that I take more frequent "cool off" breaks. After about 3 weeks, it's starting to ease off some and I can spend longer and longer working outside without any ill effects but it's taking a while for things to get back to normal.

So, take it easy. The effects of heat stroke and heat exhaustion can stay with you for a while.

 

[Tom_Veatch]

I'm no doctor and totally unqualified to make any kind of diagnosis, especially from descriptions posted in a forum. Neither am I trying to "second guess" anyone who has posted here, but I served in some pretty hot and dry locations and what I've read in this thread sounds more like what I remember as symptomatic of heat exhaustion rather than heat stroke.

Often the two terms are used somewhat interchangeably, and neither one is anything to take lightly, but heat stroke is as much a medical emergency as a heart attack. Without medical intervention, heat stroke, like a heart attack, will very likely prove fatal or result in permanent brain, heart, or other organ damage.

If you suspect that anyone in your presence is suffering from heat stroke, get qualified medical assistance for that person as quickly as possible. If you are the person suffering from heat stroke hope that someone else will get help because there's a very strong chance that you will be unconscious or otherwise mentally or physically impaired to the point of being unable to do so yourself.

See the following link for differential symptoms and treatments of the two. For a quick and dirty "triage" decision, if the person is actively sweating, it's probably heat exhaustion but still warrants close observation. But if the skin is hot and dry, think heat stroke. Heat exhaustion will usually respond to self help in an otherwise healthy individual, but, with heat stroke, consider any self help measures to be no more than first aid until the ambulance arrives.

Heat Exhaustion vs Heat Stroke

 

[Drexel]

I'd like to add one thing to Tom's reply. Once you've been hit by heat exhaustion your body is more susceptible to it in the future.

 

[cowboy357]

I have to agree with Tom. Its sounds Like You were all lucky to Me no matter which it was . But From what I understand from several cases in Kansas & other places in the last several years , where young high schoolers Practicing football & other sports in School in the heat , Just drop over dead .

Very sad , but scary at the same time . If it can take a Youngster in good shape at that earlly of an age . It could happen to pretty much one of Us that pushes their limits . I,ve been guilty of it on several occasions .

I,ve learned to allways Have a large jug of water & a Damp wash rag close at all times . If I feel I,m pushing it , I find the closest shade & rest . I,m not saying thats the best to do , Just what works for Me so far . Bob

 

[Thomas]

Glad your okay...whew.
Pacing ones self can be hard to do..one day it's cool next day 3 H's