Hypoglycemia episode

[JustOneGuy]

Yesterday with a couple of friends, my partner and I went for a long walk in the mountains of the island where we live: 22 km in total and 960 m of elevation gain uphill. Nice temperature (16-18 C). Everything went well, we had a great time despite some rain, until, arriving after about 6 hours in a small village where we thought we would get a “bocadillo” (sandwich) before catching a bus back, my wife sat down and started to feel sick. Shortly thereafter she fainted.

We immediately called an ambulance that arrived after about 20 minutes (we were in a small, isolated town) and transferred her to a medical center where they examined her: hypoglycemia. On the way she vomited, which looks typical.

All other values-pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen were perfectly normal. They gave her a glucose and anti-nausea drip and we took her home soon after. She has had periodic blood tests at the same center recently, but she is still waiting for the results.

I am mainly to blame : first, it was the first time my wife, who is a good walker in good physical shape for her age (62) anyway, covered such a distance in the mountains (and I insisted to convince her...). Second - I had prepared a good quality bag of various high-quality supplements and food, but.. it was left at home when I made changes in my backpack at the last moment. We just had some bread and Parmigiano Reggiano with us, plus 3 liters water, but she didn't eat and drink very much of them.

My question is whether you think it is appropriate to continue with these hikes, including - of course - trying to make more stops for drinking and eating? This is her first time but other times, looking back, she had felt almost faint, only we had underestimated it.

By the way, she totally recovered although we are staying at home just relaxing today.

I will end by saying that the staff at the bar was of absolute kindness, helping us, talking to the 112 instead of me (who speaks Spanish only as a second language), smiling and trying to comfort me with a courtesy that, thinking back, literally brings tears to my eyes. They also vacated one of the rooms in the bar for us. The ambulance and medical center staff were also of absolutely outstanding competence, professionalism, and kindness.

And all completely free of course: we are in Spain.

Thank you Europe, for existing and being the place where I live!

 

[SabsP]

Sorry to hear. Luckily help was quickly available.
Seeing I am not a doctor my advice is that your wife discusses it with her GP. As you say : medical care in Spain is of a very high quallity and almost free ( medical care in Europe is not free but we pay via our taxsystem ).

In general, while walking, it is never a bad idea to stop regularly and have enough water with you.

 

[MinaKamina]

My question is whether you think it is appropriate to continue with these hikes, including - of course - trying to make more stops for drinking and eating? This is her first time but other times, looking back, she had felt almost faint, only we had underestimated it.

the answer to your question should be given by your wife's doctors once they have diagnosed the cause of this hypoglycemia.

 

[dick bird]

I can only endorse what the previous two posts have said, only a medical professional can give you the right advice.

 

[J Willhaus]

I would check with my doctor before resuming this hiking routine.

 

[Pelegrin]

22 kms with 960 m elevation gain in 6 hours being more than sixty can make some problems. I think yoo should slow down and make more stops ( for your wife) on walks of this level of difficulty.

 

[JustOneGuy]

Thanks for the advice guys.

My wife is going to discuss this with her doctor on Monday. She already booked a full blood exam in a week as a regular check.

The potential problem is that, as the doctor is a GP and not an expert, he may give her advice that is not tailored to this type of activity. What I mean is that in the past I have spoken to a lot of doctors who said "stop doing that", where "that" may have been long distance running, or walking, etc, which in the end can be worse for the whole body because you lose enthusiasm, gain some weight (my wife is well within her normal BMI range, currently) and stop doing good physical activity.

That's why I asked here. Because I was hoping to get some advice from someone who has been through such an episode.

 

[SabsP]

Thanks for the advice guys.

My wife is going to discuss this with her doctor on Monday. She already booked a full blood exam in a week as a regular check.

The potential problem is that, as the doctor is a GP and not an expert, he may give her advice that is not tailored to this type of activity. What I mean is that in the past I have spoken to a lot of doctors who said "stop doing that", where "that" may have been long distance running, or walking, etc, which in the end can be worse for the whole body because you lose enthusiasm, gain some weight (my wife is well within her normal BMI range, currently) and stop doing good physical activity.

That's why I asked here. Because I was hoping to get some advice from someone who has been through such an episode.

In that case the GP will have the professional attitude to send her for more detailed advice to an endocrinologist ( = the expert ) if he/she feels the need.

 

[ShoshTrvls]

Agreed that this forum is not a place to get your question answered.

That being said, I think you’ve identified the main issue here - not having appropriate supplies with you. I always keep in my packs (different ones for different types/lenths of walks) several electrolyte gel packs, like GU or similar. So it doesn’t matter if I decided to change up which pack I’m taking or decided to walk a more difficult or longer path than planned; I know there’s always a few tucked away. And at the first hint of lightheadedness, I pull one out and am usually good to go after that.

 

[Pelegrin]

In my opinion if you did 22 kms and 960 m elevation gain in 6 hours, probably you went up with a speed of more than 300 mts of elevation gain per hour that is the " normal".

 

[JustOneGuy]

In my opinion if you did 22 kms and 960 m elevation gain in 6 hours, probably you went up with a speed of more than 300 mts of elevation gain per hour that is the " normal".

Just to clarify, it was more an up-and-down. There were only 2 really steep sections, lasting about 300 m each, one at the start and one at km 13. The profile follows:


Let me say again that I am fully aware that the diagnosis must be made by doctors (I am a scientist after all), but I would like to understand if this has happened to any other person in similar circumstances: no pre-existing medical problems, good health, low carbo/water consumed on the walk, etc.

I would like to understand whether this may be hiding something else. And, if not, whether it is still possible to plan a Camino together with my wife, taking proper precautions, of course.

 

[SabsP]

Just to clarify, it was more an up-and-down. There were only 2 really steep sections, lasting about 300 m each. The profile follows:
View attachment 180898

Let me say again that I am fully aware that the diagnosis must be made by doctors (I am a scientist after all), but I would like to understand if this has happened to any other person in similar circumstances: no pre-existing medical problems, good health, low carbo/walk on the walk, etc.

Of course it happens. Happened with me a while ago ( though not to the point of fainting) on a long hot walk. Two days later I had a minor viral stomach infection and most probably my body was already fighting it while on my walk.

Viral, bacterial, hormonal issues are always factors to take into consideration while we walk or do other sports.

 

[JustOneGuy]

Thank you, @SabsP.

What really worries me is that she looked fine until we sat down at the end of the walk, and then she collapsed in less than 30 seconds.

This has never happened to her before, although she did complain a couple of times in the past about feeling a bit dizzy while hiking long distances (which I didn't take seriously... ).

 

[dfox]

... first, it was the first time my wife, who is a good walker in good physical shape for her age (62) ...

I'm not a medical doctor! As already mentioned by some forum members, it is important to work with a medical doctor to find out the underlying cause(s) of your wife's hypoglycemia.

If your wife, in good physical shape, was not overly exerting herself on the trail, "sudden" drop of blood sugar level and could not recover by brief rest or/and injest sugary stuff, e.g., candy, while on the trail, it is desirable to find out the underlying cause(s).

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

I would like to understand if this has happened to any other person in similar circumstances

I think we all appreciate that, your anxiety about your wife's condition, and your desire to understand it better.

But even if we had experienced a similar situation, as you are well aware it does not automatically follow that whilst your wife's symptoms match mine for example that the cause and/or the treatment is the same.

I would like to understand whether this may be hiding something else

Of course it could be but how on earth are we to know? Let alone ascertain what that may be or the risks pertaining to that.

Imagine if I reassure you online here, you go out walking again this time (with or without your snacks) but your wife died?

As stated by everybody above your first point of call is of course the doctor, if you feel the information forthcoming insufficient or even simply unhelpful then as you well know you can seek an appropriate specialist.

Hopefully it will be identified as something very minor and easily rectified and you can continue on with your plans.
Best of luck for the next couple of weeks.

 

[raincitygal]

I'm a nurse, walked my first Camino in 2022 at age 65, and found that I needed some kind of fuel about every 2 hours to be able to keep chugging along, so carried snacks with protein, sugar and fat like nuts and dried or fresh fruit, cheese, bread, granola bars etc. I can tell when I'm getting low blood sugar- ish and also have low BP to begin with so must stay hydrated. Your wife's mileage may vary and her GP's assessment will be key. Buen Camino!