Heat Stroke

I've had heat exhaustion quite bad on a day out in Wales. I felt weak, dizzy, couldn't think what I was doing and was sweating heavily. Quite bad tempered too. OH took me into a cafe where I had a drink and ate some salt from the salt pot on the table. That's all I remember about Abergavenny as I lost memory of the day. We went straight home and I fell asleep for hours on the sofa. Didn't feel OK til the next day.

But unless you are out all day, you should not need to worry about drinking and then needing to find a toilet. Drink plenty s a couple of hours before you go out and as soon as you get home again, although not too near bed-time!

And remember in hot weather to wear a hat or headscarf or at least take one with you to put on.

If possible go in an order something to drink where there is a toilet, or drink outside say the public libary then go in, browse through a book or a leaflet, use the ladies' and leave again.

When we are thirsty, we are already dehydrated.

I once got badly dehydrated. We were on holiday on a yacht in the Channel Islands and put the strange dizzy feeling down to being a bit seasick. When we landed on Sark we had to climb up an incredibly steep route from the harbour and I could barely stay on my feet. We eventually reached a pub for a drink and I drank 2 pints of fruit juice straight down. Fortunately I felt OK pretty quickly but I was only in my early 30's then It taught me a valuable lesson. I guess I might not be so fortunate now at more than double the age I was then. I too sometimes avoid drinking enough when out and about in case there is no loo but when it is hot we need more than we think sometimes.

A few years ago we were on a tour of Kakadu in Northern Australia. The rainy season was imminent and it was incredibly humid - I was virtually wringing my hair out after 10 minutes. We were exhorted endlessly to drink plenty of water, but nobody mentioned salt.

After a while I started to feel very tired, but eventually remembered the salt tablets we used to take in the Omani summer. At lunch (buffalo pie or quiche and chips!) I put plenty of salt on my chips and soon felt much better.

When I worked abroad dehydration was always something to think about, you may think you are drinking enough but always drink more than you think. At the first sign of a headache I always drink ayran. It's basically yogurt and water and salt, if you can't find any for sale it's easy to make. Plain Natural yogurt, water and a little salt whisked up till it's all mixed up and frothy, it shoud be the consistency of single cream. Works every time.

Heat exhaustion comes first: tired, dizzy, headache, nausea, faster heartbeat etc. Those symptoms need to be dealt with urgently. Drinks and a cooler situation, the body needs to cool down. 111 advise call

Heat stroke can follow quite quickly if this is not remedied and would need a 999 call

Up to us to be sensible, avoid situations of excess heat and up the water intake. No exercise in hot situations. We are getting old and our bodies can no longer adapt. I like my cycle rides for exercise and got back home today at 9am, feeling well and comfortable.

The thirst mechanism fades away with age and many old people don`t have enough to drink.Personally I bought myself a lovely 2 litre susteas borosilicate glass jug from amazon. It has markings and a lid. It really is a very nice jug, which I keep on my worktop and I fill every morning, that gives me a good estimate of how much I drink.

I had an unfortunate experience about 55 years ago when, with a group of friends, when the tide was out, I waded out to the reef, just north of Mombasa and spent the afternoon exploring. In the evening, I was conscious that I had started babbling and just managed to drink about a litre of water and lie down before I made a complete fool of myself. I was lucky because it could so easily have been sunstroke.

Glad you’re better Esmay - I don’t drink enough water either -

Sounds like a really bad case, so do hope you’re feeling miles better now!
I had it once, after sitting by a pool in France, in the shade on a very hot day, but where the pool are was largely surrounded by stone walls that absorbed and radiated so much heat.

Just felt very weird and very rubbish, drank a lot of water and went straight to bed with no dinner.

Funnily enough I never once had it during the many years we lived in Middle Eastern deserts where summer temps could often reach the high 40s or even 50 deg., and for a certain period with very high humidity thrown in. But we all took salt tablets as a matter of routine - provided by the company.

Oh, Esmay, what an awful experience, you are right when you say finding a loo is not always easy now! Try not to do to much, chores can wait and maybe think about having a chat with someone - nurse /pharmacist to reassure yourself .

That must have been very frightening. Glad you are well again. A warning to me as I know I don't drink enough when I'm out.

Thanks Kelly !

Heat stroke - I mean !