Post training fainting

A right pain in the butt this, I quite often find that after a decent long run (20 miles plus) that I get home and after 10-15 mins have to lay down with feet up to stop myself from fainting, happened today, ended up with legs propped up on the toilet seat for 15 mins, then felt OK but had to make a sharp exit from Tesco around 2 hrs later and sit in the car with a milkshake (which tends to help) until I recovered, obviously goes down like a house on fire with the other half who thinks I'm obsessive when it comes to training, never mind pushing myself top the brink of collapse :), I have had episodes of fainting after large meals etc, my kindly, understanding GP put it down to PFO when I spoke to him, this was after it happened after a meal with only a couple of pints, I've had all of the usual checks and am not worried that it's anything sinister, it's just a pain, any advice or other sufferers out there, scared my old fella after the Coniston 14+ a couple of years ago with the same thing, problem is if I'm with someone who doesn't know me if I do faint I end up waking up to be told an ambulance is on the way which is understandable but embarrassing, my eldest daughter does it sometimes after training (green face, ringing ears etc) and my Dad also did it a couple of times when he was younger which he put down to a reaction to Red Wine, could it be hereditary???

Low blood sugar post race? Do you eat when you are running, or just go off your reserves?

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Originally Posted by jameseyb

Low blood sugar post race? Do you eat when you are running, or just go off your reserves?

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Had a couple of gels today and think I was probably at least a gel short, normally just run off a cup of coffee with honey and a decent tea the night before, experimenting at the minute with eating on the run as it's not something I normally do, I have a 40 miler coming up in around ten weeks so need to come up with an answer although if I keep moving I'm normally OK, it's only when I stop.

If I do anything over 10 I'd get a decent feed an hour or so before hand! Usually a bowl of porridge. Its not a problem I've ever really had, though after Bullock Smithy, both times, I did feel really c**p to the point of feeling faint and sick, but I think there's an 'official' reason for that i.e. blood supply re-distributing itself or something.

It's as has been said. Your blood sugar suddenly drops when you stop. I get it too after a run of over 10 miles. I eat a cheese sandwich (works for me) immediately I finish even if I don't feel like it. It's worse if it's a race. Other half knows not to even bother with a meal for me till about 4 hours after a race and I'll usually have an hour asleep too. It's a real pain but as I said if I get that sandwich at least I'm not sick and I stay upright!! Good luck.

One of my clubmates occasionally suffers from this, I think he eventually found it related to low iron levels or similar for him.

Many Thanks all for the replies, hopefully I can work it out, eating immediately looks like it could be the key, cold drinks tend to really set the problem off, on the strength of it perhaps being an iron level issue I had a bottle of Guinness last night, very nice :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by RaceTheSweeper

It's as has been said. Your blood sugar suddenly drops when you stop. I get it too after a run of over 10 miles. I eat a cheese sandwich (works for me) immediately I finish even if I don't feel like it. It's worse if it's a race. Other half knows not to even bother with a meal for me till about 4 hours after a race and I'll usually have an hour asleep too. It's a real pain but as I said if I get that sandwich at least I'm not sick and I stay upright!! Good luck.

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Very familiar! Even after a 15 min training session if I really go for it. And I keep getting first-aided after races, which is often annoying as I'd be better off with my ready-prepared race recovery drink (50% redbush tea with salt & 50% milk) and my warm clothes!

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Originally Posted by Daletownrunner

Many Thanks all for the replies, hopefully I can work it out, eating immediately looks like it could be the key, cold drinks tend to really set the problem off, on the strength of it perhaps being an iron level issue I had a bottle of Guinness last night, very nice :thumbup:

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Yes, eating immediately. If you can manage solids then I won't suggest you change. I often can't, and use all-in-one mixes rather than the ones they call recovery drinks.

Funny you mentioning cold drinks. I can never fathom why people want cold drinks! Tap or room temperature, and often in cold weather I'll add some hot water to make it luke-warm. Obviously my tea/milk is luke-warm as well.

I'm sure people on here know that salt is crucial for rehydration ~ I often put a little in drinks. And if you do go for an all-in-one, it will possibly have some minerals in it: iron, zinc..

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Originally Posted by LissaJous

...my ready-prepared race recovery drink (50% redbush tea with salt & 50% milk)

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I'm sorry, but we can't just leave that one there...which tea?

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Originally Posted by mr brightside

I'm sorry, but we can't just leave that one there...which tea?

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Redbush Tea