Dizzy spell

[Shut Up Legs]

I got a dizzy spell about 30 minutes ago . I was riding home and all was well, legs were strong, etc., riding along a shared path, then suddenly it felt as if someone else was riding the bike, and my sense of balance just about vanished. The bike went off the path onto some grass, I suddenly braked, then just stood there with my head spinning . It only lasted about a minute, but felt pretty strong.

I'm at a loss to understand why. I had enough lunch, and drank a bit of water before leaving as I customarily do. My 30km commute has been a regular thing for about 4 years now, so I doubt that it had suddenly got the better of me. I certainly didn't feel that sudden loss of energy and nausea you get when bonking***.

Any ideas, fellow CC people? I'm not asking you to be my medics, of course, just to give me a rough idea of possible causes. If it recurs, I'll probably have a chat to my regular GP about it.

*** An Australian slang term for sudden loss of energy during a bike ride, I don't know if you Brits use it?

 

[MartinQ]

Us Brits bonk as well

 

[screenman]

Ears OK, cold coming, maybe worth mentioning it to a doctor.

 

[byegad]

How bad was the dizziness? I too have the odd dizzy spell, in my case caused by debris in the balance tubes in the right ear. When it hits it is like the world suddenly flips wildly. I've learnt to ignore this and rely on my eyes telling me that the world hasn't moved. Also there are 'exercises' which involve rolling around on the floor or a bed which shift the debris into the reservoir for the balance fluid and stop a further attack. But I never know, until it happens, when I'll have another. I can go months with no issues or have several in a week. Rolling around in the prescribed manner does do the job but it is not permanent!

However, when I was diagnosed the doctor asked me about hobbies and when I mentioned cycling he was very insistent that, while I was safe enough to drive, two wheels were a bad idea. I now ride recumbent trikes and can attest to the fact that an attack while riding has no ill effects given I know the balance sensation is not confirmed by my vision.

I strongly suggest you seek medical advice as my condition is the most benign of the many causes of loss of balance. In fact the name is BPPV, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo that says it all.

 

[vickster]

Is it very hot there at the moment? Bit of heatstroke?

Get your BP checked etc

 

[ColinJ]

I had the same thing happen to me, just the once, on a ride about a month ago. It was very disconcerting, but it hasn't happened again so I am not going to worry about it unless it does.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Coz your upside down ..

but you may have a bit ofa virus or just heat..I get dizzy on hot days.. im not the best for hydrating.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Thanks for the replies, people, much appreciated.

No, it wasn't a hot day. It was below 20°C as I rode home, with cool light winds. I guess I'll discuss it with my GP, because a quick online search showed me the causes are numerous. I think I can probably rule out low blood pressure, as my last blood pressure measurement 2 months ago showed it to be at the high end of normal. I also feel very fit and healthy at the moment, so am doubtful if a virus is the cause.

 

[Dirk]

I had several dizzy spells about 3 years ago.Took up cycling, lost 3 stone and now everything is OK.

 

[HeroesFitness]

If it happens again, go and see a doctor, it could be many things and none of us on here can give you the corect advice while sitting behind a screen

 

[pawl]

I got a dizzy spell about 30 minutes ago . I was riding home and all was well, legs were strong, etc., riding along a shared path, then suddenly it felt as if someone else was riding the bike, and my sense of balance just about vanished. The bike went off the path onto some grass, I suddenly braked, then just stood there with my head spinning . It only lasted about a minute, but felt pretty strong.

I'm at a loss to understand why. I had enough lunch, and drank a bit of water before leaving as I customarily do. My 30km commute has been a regular thing for about 4 years now, so I doubt that it had suddenly got the better of me. I certainly didn't feel that sudden loss of energy and nausea you get when bonking***.

Any ideas, fellow CC people? I'm not asking you to be my medics, of course, just to give me a rough idea of possible causes. If it recurs, I'll probably have a chat to my regular GP about it.

*** An Australian slang term for sudden loss of energy during a bike ride, I don't know if you Brits use it?

Would be wise to see your GP if this is occurring frequently on exertion.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Again, thanks for the replies, people . The dizzy spell didn't recur, although now that I'm aware of it, I've also noticed that I should be more energetic considering how fit and well I am and how much cycling I do weekly.

I checked what's in my current diet, and have concluded that it's badly lacking in iron and some other trace nutrients***. So, after a discussion with my local pharmacist, I got a bottle of multivitamins which, among other things, gives the majority of my daily recommended iron intake. One of the causes of these dizzy spells is a lack of iron, and so I saw no harm in taking steps to fill in the gaps in my diet, because if my suspicion about lack of iron causing the dizziness is true, then it should go away, and my general energy levels should increase.

If not, then it's probably time to see a GP.

*** This is because I have Barrett's Oesophagus, which among other things, results in food lumps remaining in my oesophagus. Because of this, I've simplified my diet, and I think I've oversimplifed it to the point where it doesn't quite supply all the trace nutrients I need.

 

[cyberknight]

I get the odd lightheaded spells, irregular ECG though.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Thanks for the replies, people, much appreciated.

No, it wasn't a hot day. It was below 20°C as I rode home, with cool light winds. I guess I'll discuss it with my GP, because a quick online search showed me the causes are numerous. I think I can probably rule out low blood pressure, as my last blood pressure measurement 2 months ago showed it to be at the high end of normal. I also feel very fit and healthy at the moment, so am doubtful if a virus is the cause.

Don't role low BP out. Yet another condition i suffer from is high BP, but 24 months ago i passed out whilst cycling and it started a series of similar episodes that i eventually tracked down to being low BP episodes. My meds combined with the exercise i was doing was lowering my bp too far. Halving my meds solved the problem.

 

[ColinJ]

Don't role low BP out. Yet another condition is sure from is high BP, but 24 months ago in passed out whilst cycling and it started a series of similar episodes that i eventually talked down to being low BP episodes. My meds combined with the exercise i was doing was letting my bp too far. Halving my meds talked the problem.

That was the same problem that I recently mentioned my mum having a few years before she died. A change of dose made her BP so low that she passed out and fell in a heap when she stood up.