Ak! I came close to fainting on the ski lift

[Luci]

OMG!!!! You guys this is definitely one of the most scary things that have ever happened to me. I managed to hold on until we got off the chair. I fell to the ground as soon we were down the ramp. Longest ski lift I've ever been on!!!! I was so afraid I'd faint and fall off. I kept looking at what I'd fall on to. I didn't think Michael could hold me if I completely blacked out and was so freaked out! He made me put my head on his shoulder so he could hold me.

So this is what happened. Last weekend I skied in my glove liners and it was just fine. Tried the same today because it was still pretty warm, but it was also windy. My huge mittens I have to wear because of that ridiculous Rheinholdt's disease (or how ever you spell it)were hooked to my coat.

Caught and edge and fell. No big deal, but my liners and hands got wet and instantly cold because it was windy. So, still not a big deal. I skied to bottom and put my leather -30 degree (for anyone else haha) mittens on.

Eeeekkk Too late! :bangy: My thumbs were numb, but not too bad. Still, I thought I'd caught in time and was o.k.

Wrong! I got on the lift and about half way up my thumbs began to come back to life. Pain! Instant nausea, starting to faint and that awful clammy feeling.

I thought I had gotten more out of the way of the lift when I layed down in the nice cool snow. Michael yelled at them to stop the lift. Hehe oops! Made people ski around me.

Michael called over the ski patrol and after I thought I could walk they helped me to the patrol hut just up the hill about 20 yards because I really needed water. They gave me some O2, a little chocolate , and asked Michael if my color looked normal (I wanted out of there before they would let me.)

Fortunately, the rest of the day was really nice and we had a great time. Just that little bought though put me into mostly cruise mode instead of attack the hill mode.

So . . . that's my little event for the day. I think I'll carry some food with me next time and wonder if they still make smelling salts?

[Amy]

Wow, that IS scary Luci! Glad you're okay. BTW, I love the individual packs of Fig Newtons they make. They are a great little snack with some good "punch" to them when hungry or blood sugars drop.

[Luci]

I love figgies. Good suggestion!

[Smay]

Ooooo, Luci - I've had that kind of thing happen to me a few times... I have a habit of fainting whenever a certain kind of pain happens or when I see blood or something like that. THe blood just rushes away from your head and you feel it coming, but there's little you can do! What a scary thing to happen on a SKI LIFT! I doubt cookies would help you - the only thing that works is getting your head DOWN to recover the blood to your brain! Can't exactly do that on a lift, can ya! Glad you're OK and didn't fall off.....

[Tiffany]

Oh geeze, I was nervous just reading your story. I couldn't imagine what I'd be thinking if I were in your shoes.

Thank goodness your alright!!! Take Care, and I ditto the Fig Nutons.. I love em!

[relativecolor]

That is mighty scary. Glad you recovered enough to have a good time.

[ZenRider]

You do know, the skiing part is supposed to be scarey, not the ride on the lift. Glad you were able to hang on. Now go have more hot chocolate.

[adcooper]

No no no! Don't fall off the ski lift! You have Reynauds, and you are skiing? Kook. But I have never heard of fainting during a Reynauds episode? I usually just get numb, and the stinging pain doesn't hit until I'm in a tub of warm water, and I never faint. I bet it was low blood pressure, or low blood sugar, or just your run-of-the-mill psychosis ( :smirky: Tee hee!)

[Luci]

adcooper said:

You have Reynauds, and you are skiing? Kook. I bet it was low blood pressure, or low blood sugar, or just your run-of-the-mill psychosis ( Tee hee!)

Ah "Reynauds", that's right. Hehe wonder what ski patrol put down, look how far off I was ;D.

I'd never completely rule out psychosis ;D, but I've had this happen twice to me now (I was fortunate not to be on the lift last time!). I had oatmeal for breakfast and don't drink coffee so I should have been o.k. blood sugar wise. Don't know about BP, but it usually checks well at the docs. I do faint at the drop of a hat like Smay and I think it's just a big fight/flight gene.

After the last time it happened, I gave up skiing in December and January, but I seem to be fine riding in the cold. Figures!

Actually, I think it's a problem is getting your blood going from the downhill and then sitting and getting cold on the lift. I wear liners and stuff hand warmers in my mittens and unless it 20 and below I do o.k. My skiwear is good stuff, but a lift is a lift. I hold my fingers against the hand warmers in my mittens on the lift up and usually that works.

After realizing I do fine riding and running the dogs in cold weather, we're going to try xc for the colder months next year. I think the constant exercise will be the ticket and we keep seeing great places we'd like to xc.

[brooks]

Don't forget that the high up you are the less o2 there is. I think I'd pass on the sking stuff.

Glad your safe!

[adcooper]

You don't drink coffee??? Double Kookie!

[Luci]

Only because it doesn't love me. I have to settle for breathing in every one's cup. I love the stuff!

[Vida]

Scarey!

I don't drink coffee either because it makes me so moody, but I love it. Sometimes I might have a cup on the weekend every couple of weeks or so but that's about it. Otherwise I turn into Godzilla in the mornings and start getting headaches again.

[niaru]

How scary!! That must be one of the worst places to faint! I agree, it was probably also due to low-sugar and altitude. I feel faint around 11am if I eat too little for breakfast, but if I don't eat anything I am fine. Weird.
This is why I really enjoy xcountry skiing more than downhill. The downhill part is fun, but then the sitting still on the lift just KILLS me, like you, my fingers get numb and it hurts like he11 when they "thaw". At least you get really warm when xcountry skiing.

[neil]

Yikes! A similar thing happened to me recently, and it was the scariest thing ever! I am still struggling to ride the lifts ever since... Some people are prone to vasovagal syncope, which is when your blood pressure drops and your body thinks it is doing you a favor by fainting. Not so on the lift! What saved me was a simple maneuver, which is to cross your legs and tense your muscles (you can read up on that online). Glad you made it down safely! Stay safe!!