Zip lining stairs

I've been doing well for the last few months. Changed to a low carb diet and the "spells" where I felt like I was going to pass out went away...Have had occasional times where I was light-headed when I stand up too fast or bend over, but feel that is probably normal at 68.

This weekend I went zip lining with the family...kids and grandkids had not been, I had. No problem at all on the lines, but started noticing I was having problems on the stairs going up to each new level...each was harder and slower and took me a little longer to catch my breath. By the time we made it up to #9, the last of the zip lines...I passed out...they had to send the rescue cart up to get me...My husband was checking my pulse on my fitbit and manually all the while and it was around 50-55. No chest pain and after a bit I was fine. I hadn't eaten much that am and after I had food , seemed to be back to normal. Anyone have any experience or suggestions as to the cause? Is this normal? I'm usually in pretty good shape and have never had trouble with stairs before...I walk alot. :(

9 Comments

Base rate set too low?

by heckboy - 2015-11-30 02:11:20

50-55 BPM seems pretty low for any activity except resting. Before I got my PM, my HR was usually stuck at about 50. That was fine for everyday walking round, but if I had to climb more than a few stairs, I'd start to get light headed. The lack of food and water can lower BP...Maybe your base rate is set too low too. Did you see your DR?

think ahead

by Tracey_E - 2015-11-30 02:11:50

I think you already know this, but next time make sure you're hydrated and have eaten something!

Base rate is how low it lets you get at rest. Equally important, and unrelated to the minimum setting, is how high your rate gets on exertion. If it stayed at your base rate, that's not nearly enough to be climbing around in the trees. Have they interrogated the pm since this happened? If you tell them what time you passed out, they can tell if you were pacing at the time and how high you were. Ditto what David said, if rate response isn't on, maybe it should be.

Base rate too low

by jjiggers - 2015-11-30 02:11:58

Yeh, they raised my base rate last check up to 65, and said it would never go below that, but it does, even in the Dr. office for check ups...he says I have PVC's and that causes the low readings...Could have been the lack of food and water... I wasn't drinking very much either...live and Learn, I guess.

Thanks for your comments...

Heavens to Betsy

by oldearthworm - 2015-11-30 03:11:19

This "zip lining" seems to be some kind of heavy duty strenuous activity - much more than I can do ..Huffing and puffing after only 8 flights of stairs . and at the second run, I had to use the elevator after just 4 flights .. BUT, never any lightness .. . and only 75, but, not, in the best of shape ..

Light headed or faint

by oldearthworm - 2015-11-30 03:11:29

Even at age 68, which is not that old - anymore, one should never feel faint, IMO. One problem that I have escaped , thus far .. The activity/exercise is good, but the PM must be tuned correctly and this may take several visits and time with a good EP or cardiologist . Drink - drink- drink plenty of water , this has helped me
BTW , what is "zip lining stairs" ? .

zip lining

by jjiggers - 2015-11-30 04:11:08

I think it may have been dehydration....just got back from a long walk and hr went up to 158 while walking then came down to 65 when I sat down and rested...

Zip lining stairs are what you have to walk up to get to higher and higher, lines to zip. We were going over gorges and quarries and there were stands way up high over them where we would start...I think I got 13 flights of stairs before I conked out...lol. I walk and dance a lot, but don't do much stair climbing.

zips

by Tracey_E - 2015-11-30 05:11:51

Zip courses are super fun! Some are just the zips, some are part of a treetop obstacle course (ropes course). The latter are a bit of a work out. Here's a picture looking up at the next platform on a course I did that sounds similar

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200556987542372&l=0faef35c4a

zips,

by jjiggers - 2015-11-30 06:11:22

Yep! Our's only had two rope ladders on 9 zips, the rest were stairs to the platforms...

Activity Rate Response

by Good Dog - 2015-11-30 12:11:01

I don't know if you have the rate response turned-on, but it sounds like you may need it. Although if your minimum setting is 65 and you go below that, I am unsure. You really should discuss this situation with the doc again to see if there is a fix. As the previous post indicated, could have been dehydration?

Sincerely,

David

You know you're wired when...

You take technology to heart.

Member Quotes

It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.