06/27/2025
This is a long but very informative and important by a member of Mispillion Cycling Group Sue Lindale:
Three of us ventured out on Sunday to Betterton, Md. We rode the Jim Gent Memorial ride. Itās one of the harder century rides as itās 103 miles and hilly, and the temps were in the low 90ās. Even on a perfect day, itās challenging.
We know, as athletes, that we need to keep hydrated. So, at every rest stop we drank plenty of water and ate bananas, watermelon and other goodies.
Heading back towards Betterton, we had a stiff headwind. That made us work harder. By this time the sun was overhead and shade was at a premium. We took a couple of extra rest stops in the shade and rehydrated.
About 80 miles in the ride. Ron mentioned to me that I was sitting on my saddle slightly leaning to the right side. He also mentioned that I hadnāt used the restroom over the whole ride. I just said that itās hot and Iām sweating like crazy. So, I was sure I didnāt have heat stroke or anything bad. At around the 95 mile mark, I told Timmy that I didnāt feel right and I was having trouble using my hand to stop with my right brake. Me, being a hardhead, told Tim that Iām finishing this ride, even if it kills me. We stopped three additional times and I took in more water.
By the time we got back to Betterton, I was in pretty bad shape. I could hardly walk and my arms were weak. I wasnāt thinking clearly. Tim drove home which takes about and hour and fifteen minutes. Within minutes of getting home, I started vomiting. Although I do not remember much of the following couple of days, Tim said I was āout of my headā. He rushed me to Bayhealth where I was immediately taken in. The ER doctor got a brief history from Tim and order blood tests. He found that my sodium was dangerously low. It was that low that I was to the point of seizures. I was hooked up to sodium chloride IV drip. It has to be administered very slowly because replacing salt too quickly can be just as dangerous.
If thereās any humor in this ordeal, in my hallucinations, I was riding that Jim Gent ride all over again! The doctors couldnāt understand why my feet and legs were moving ālike I was peddlingā, and why my breathing was so rapid. I wonder if I can add that hallucinatory ride to my Strava....lol. Honestly, it was the worst I have ever felt in my life.
After 24 hours of great care at Bayhealth, I was pretty much back to my normal self. During my discharge talk with the doctor, she gave me an eye-opening explanation of what happened. Without using all the medical jargon; she said that excess water flushes minerals and such out of your system. Your kidneys flush out the necessary bad stuff and recirculate the good stuff. However, overhydrating spills the excess water back into your organs, the first organ to get ātoo muchā water is the brain. The brain swells and things go very bad from there.
I have to take it easy for a couple of weeks. I must limit my cycling and certainly be more aware of my water intake. I have to have my sodium levels checks this week. Here is the conclusion to my ordeal. Drink plenty of water but make sure that you replace your minerals and sodium! Also, listen to your cycling partners if something doesnāt seem right! Listen to your own body! I knew 90 miles into that ride that I needed help, donāt be driven by necessity or pride.
Please allow me time to fully recover. So If Iām a little slow during group rides, gently remind me that I MUST take it easy.
Thank you for your prayers.ā¤
