General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Has anyone else experienced this? Rss Feed  
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2009-08-11 2:35 PM

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Subject: Has anyone else experienced this?
So, I finished an olympic duathlon on Sunday, and had an unusual physical symptom thereafter.  This has happened to me before, one time, but so far, I've found no one else who has had this.  Oddly enough, this happened the first time after the same race, one year ago.

I cross the finish line, I'm in the mode of taking water, gatorade, light food, and suddenly, my vision fades.  For the most part, I can see only bright white (that is, everything is bright white to me, regardless of it's actual color).  I can see enough contrast and just enough color to tell that I am looking at a person, or a tree or a table or what have you, but it is almost like what I imagine it is to be legally blind.  (for the record, my corrected vision is fine, and I was wearing contact lenses.  I had no problems whatsoever in the race, with respect to vision.)  this happened, went away and came back, with a big pressure-type pain behind the eyes.

I went to the medical tent, and the physicians hadn't seen anything quite like it before.  Eventually, the symptoms went away on their own, and the docs decided it was probably a combination of hypoxia and dehydration.  Dehydration seems odd to me, as I took a lot of fluids and electrolytes over the course of the event, but hypoxia is possible (as in undiagnosed asthma, or something.)  They let me go with the admonition to go to my local ER if the symptoms returned.

Anyways, I am following up with my physician, though I doubt he can tell me much as the symptoms haven't returned - it's been two whole days now.

So, I am seeking opinions, to determine whether there is a possible cause that can be investigated further.

Thanks in advance,
Scott


2009-08-11 2:45 PM
in reply to: #2342058

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Florida
Subject: RE: Has anyone else experienced this?
I am no doctor and I have not had anything like this happen to me, but I had a few other questions for you.  Did you take your contacts out when having this problem?  What was the weather like at the event?  Did it hurt or you did you feel anything in your eyes when it first happened?  Was it instant or did it gradually get white each time?
2009-08-11 2:56 PM
in reply to: #2342058


9

Subject: RE: Has anyone else experienced this?
Scott - My husband has lost his peripheral vision for short periods (an hour or two) while exercising and/or while extremely hot.  The opthamologist said that it was Ocular Migraines.  I think there are other visual symptoms of an Ocular Migraine (auras, for example), so it's possible that's what could be going on with you.  I don't know, of course, but that's what came to mind when I read your post.
2009-08-11 3:04 PM
in reply to: #2342058

Veteran
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10025
Subject: RE: Has anyone else experienced this?
Hi, thanks for responding.

The onset of this symptom was rather sudden - a few seconds transition from seeing properly to not seeing properly, I guess.  I was still wearing my contacts, and did not remove them until I got home several hours later.

The day was hot and humid, and that is unusual for this year, so weather might have been a factor.

The physician asked about migraines.  I've never had them.  And this doesn't occur regularly, though I must confess this race is the hardest of those I do.  I typically stick with shorter events, and it is flat where I race, so the hilly bike course may have been an issue (note, however, that I race on flats, but train on some significant hills.)

Anyways, thanks for the inputs.  I'll speak to my physician about the occular migraines possibility.

Other suggestions are quite welcome, too.

Scott
2009-08-11 6:48 PM
in reply to: #2342058


9

Subject: RE: Has anyone else experienced this?
Just wanted to add about the Ocular Migraines that my husband doesn't have headaches of any kind, ever.  With his Ocular Migraines, there's no pain at all.  He's only had three of them and he's never had any headache associated with it.
2009-08-12 4:20 AM
in reply to: #2342058

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Subject: RE: Has anyone else experienced this?
I have exactly the same problem... it will only happen when I push way beyond what I'm capable of combined with dehydration... so sprint duathlons when it's hot I know that either I make sure I drink, or I will end up having to hitch a ride back home... It's "just" a migrane, and nothing dangerous... I do have migranes once in a while as well from stress and have the same problem...


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