Felt like I was going to pass out on a walk … do I need to panic?

[flashbacking]

Long walk today, covered 3.5 miles/9000 steps total. I haven’t walked that distance in a very long time (years). It was up and down steep hills. I’m morbidly obese at 21 stone 7 and very unfit. My aunty was with me to support me. Neurodivergent with agoraphobia and severe anxiety.

After an hour I started feeling very giddy, hearing went funny, shaky, cold sweat, disorientated and felt I was going to collapse. Similar to previous vasovagal attacks.

I managed to carry on and didn’t collapse. We stopped for a drink and lunch after and I gradually felt better and managed to walk round the shops and back to the car.

but I’m panicking at home tonight. I live alone. I have a fear of heart disease. I have had a lot of heart tests done, although the last was autumn 2023 (echo and 3 day tape). Slight family history of arrhythmia and I’ve had a lot of PVCs since puberty. Although I felt no PVCs at all today, but I think my heart was racing. I kept worrying what would happen if I blacked out, how would they get an ambulance to me, we were a good mile into the woods.

Do I need to go to the GP on Tuesday when they open? Or can I put it down to the exertion? I definitely walked a LOT more than normal, and it was right at the end climbing the final hill, my aunty said I wasn’t breathing great - hyperventilating and then breath holding, and she said that was maybe the cause.

My aunty was lovely and I feel silly reassurance seeking but every part of me is worried!!

It will have been the exertion mixed in with anxiety.

Likely over exertion , hotter weather , anxiety and low blood sugar if you felt better after lunch .

You felt faint then it passed? Nah. Only thing you need to focus on is your poor mental health, which you probably realise already.

What's your HbAC1 like? You could have T2 and your blood sugar dropped - combine that with too much exercise in one go, dehydration (it's still humid in a lot of places), being very unfit and getting anxious/hyperventilating and fainting was a perfectly natural thing to happen.

And you were only a mile into the woods. It would take a paramedic about fifteen minutes to walk purposefully towards you if you had fainted - as long as you were rolled over into recovery position and your airway opened, you'd have been fine if a little muddy.

Would you consider if this is a good time to start thinking about what you could do to improve your health and fitness in a more controlled manner? Maybe reducing the length of walks for a little while whilst you build up some fitness?

I think it’s a reaction to the exertion and heat, but if you’re worried try and get it checked out at the doctors. I would take and get more regular shorter walks to build up your fitness.

You’re fine. Eat before you walk and keep snacks and water with you. I’ve been the same myself. Take care x

Take a shorter/easier walk next time.

And when that feels fine, make it a bit longer.
Stop and rest sometimes. Enjoy the nature!

Good that you had company with you! What a nice aunt you have.

Good luck!

I understand you feel worried - but actually what a terrific thing you did for yourself today!

You are now stronger and fitter than before you took that walk. Next time you do it, it will be a little easier.

Go you!

Sounds like your blood sugars were low. I get this on long walks. Water and a sugary snack will sort it. No need to panic. Well done on getting out there and getting some steps in.

How much did you drink? I agree with others - exertion, low blood sugars and possibly dehydration. Don't under-estimate what lack of fluids can do to a body.

Congratulations on what you achieved though!

What heat?

It has cooled down considerably today.

@flashbacking I think you need to increase your exercise gradually. It sounds like you overdid it today.

No, you just overdid it today and you're morbidly obese.
Surely you must know that?

All points to low blood sugar mixed in with new levels of exertion.
Perhaps get advice on doing this safely considering your weight.
I'm type 2 and get wobbly if I overdo it ,some boiled sweets and a drink of water sets me right.

You’ve just overdone it. If you haven’t done any walking for ages it was a bit daft to do so much - you’d have been better to start small and build up. Download the active 10 app and use that to try and start doing 10 min bursts of brisk walking (it measures how fast you walk if you have an iPhone). Don’t be too hard on yourself, you did really well to do it, just pushed yourself a bit too much.

Struggling to get past the fact you’re 21 stone but have a fear of heart disease…
however, if you have have any further symptoms of lightheadedness/dizziness/shortness of breath, you should seek medical attention. Good luck with your walking OP

I'm presuming you're feeling fine now although probably knackered.

"I managed to carry on and didn’t collapse. We stopped for a drink and lunch after and I gradually felt better and managed to walk round the shops and back to the car." Sounds like you needed something to eat and a rest!

"Although I felt no PVCs at all today, but I think my heart was racing." I'd be worried if your heart wasn't racing at the top of the last hill on a 3.5mi hill walk whilst 21 stone and very unfit. I'm 7 stone lighter and I'd definitely be feeling pretty awful. Add into that your agoraphobia and anxiety, it's no wonder you were likely heading into a bit of a panic when you felt unwell.

You're catastrophising about being seriously unwell now based on how you felt at the top of the last hill on a 3.5mi hill walk while morbidly obese and unfit, several hours ago. If your symptoms resolved with rest and food, then that was what you needed. Heads up that you're likely to feel pretty sore for a few days!

I would really suggest some shorter walks. These will build up your fitness but also your confidence that your body isn't going to keel over. Bless you, you took your body from 0 to 100 today and I think it was saying WTF at the top of that last hill

Edited to add that if you are still feeling unwell now, then you should seek some in person medical help to get checked out.

I’d be walking round the local parks or whatever so I’d feel reassured if I collapsed that it would be easy to get an ambulance to me. There are seats there too for a rest. Don’t overdo it and you’ll feel fine.

I’d get a Fitbit or something to monitor your steps and make sure your heart is within the recommended parameters. It’s something like 220 minus your age but google it.

Eat half an hour before you leave. Porridge and banana is good. Slow release of energy.

Take a small water bottle with you so it’s not too heavy, and work up the number of steps you take gradually. So you do more each day. You can also do many short walk round the block to get your steps up during the week or when the weathers not the best.

You can do this! Well done in taking control of your fitness.

I get like this with dehydration

9000 steps is a lot in one go in one day if you’re not a regular walker .
I walk 5-6000 steps in one go twice a day and I take a small cereal bar with me .
it’s probably low sugar, unexpected exertion on the body and you becoming anxious contributing to you feeling like you might pass out .

Don't be put off , just plan for the exertion and keep on with the walking , you’ll feel the benefit really quickly.