Head Rush and Greyouts - Getting Old?

[brianwolters]

I've been riding coasters since I was 10. I am 38 now and in good shape. However, I find that I really can't handle G-Forces. The worst coaster for me is Titan in Texas. I pretty much completely backout on the two helix elements. And I was surprised to find out that on my second ride of the day on Wildfire at Silver Dollar City, I had a strong greyout before the second loop. About that time, I just wanted off. For the next 15-20 minutes, I had a killer headache from my forehead to the front top of my head. What is the main reason for these moments increasing? Old age...ha!

 

I can ride Powder Keg all day long but anything with loops or strong g-forces, maybe one ride a visit and that's it.

[haux]

I doubt it's old age. I get tunnel vision from Millennium Force's first drop every single time, and I'm 25. High G-forces will get you no matter what your age.

[OldJJman]

What is the main reason for these moments increasing? Old age...ha!

 

I'm no expert, but I am considered the "old" man here so....

 

You mentioned that it was your second ride that got to you, not the first.

 

I'm assuming that they were some time apart. Perhaps you didn't eat in between??

 

The one thing I can surely suggest is, contrary to popular belief, make sure you're not riding while on an empty stomach.

 

Obviously, don't gorge yourself, but stay well balanced throughout the day, be it snacks, meals, water, soda, etc....

 

 

An empty stomach always has bothered me while riding. Especially during extended ERT sessions.

 

 

JJ

[Rct3man777]

A way to not black out is to let G-Forces push you the in the way they are trying to push you. People ducking their head on loops or turns is an example. It can cause headbanging but hey, it can acctually add to the experience.

It's not because of old age.

[natatomic]

I think it just varies from person to person. For me, I get tunnel vision/blackouts on vertical loops on Arrow coasters and boomerangs about 95% of the time. I'm fine on pretty much everything else, though.

[yankees15]

It's completely normal to get tunnel vision during high g-force parts of rides. Almost all vertical loops do it to me and some helixs as well. As everyone else has been saying make sure you have food in your system.

[haiderodes]

My two cents would be to make sure you are properly hydrated. That by itself helps keep headaches away.

[sam06pr]

well I blacked out at the first helix of Stunt coaster at kd for about a sec and sort of got scared..I wonder why..

 

I think age can play a part on this...but it happen to me as well. so I dunno maybe is our bodies. I dunno.

I felt I was going to die on KK when going up..I was in the back so I thought maybe thats what made it so brutal.

And Every time I hang from sometime I feel like I am going to faint. Thats why I don't like riding those starship rides. I hate hang time

[dammie16@vt.edu]

I luckily do not suffer from this.

 

After my first ride on Apollo's Chariot everyone was like man how bout the black out on the helix

 

To which I responded, "What??"

 

I thought I had one on Mindbender but realized I had subconsciously shut my eyes for a second for some reason lol

[Angry_Gumball]

My bro actually get's the 'grey spots' thing going on when riding Flight Deck (CGA). Not sure why, he's only 15...maybe it's a lower tolerance level. I don't run into that, and can ride Flight Deck all day if I really wanted to. My bro also can't handle the spinning rides too well without feeling sick and not able to ride any other rides.

[coasterstud522]

Can someone help me? I've gotten on a particular Arrow looper a couple times (Different visits though), and each time I keep my eyes open the whole time. Big hill, I'm fine, first loop, I'm fine, second loop, halfway though my eyes are straining or something and I start seeing spots until I blink a lot. This happens about every time and it doesn't hurt, but I'd just like to know what's going on or what it's called, if it does have a name (besides seeing spots).

[MASH80554077]

Last year when I was 13 I could ride anything. Now this year, Wicked Twister(never rode before) made me sick, when I go up-side down I get funny shiny spots ninety % of the time and I feel like im gonna black out more. I recently became a vegetarian, could this have anything to do with it. Please help, fahrenheit made me feel totally confused and overloaded with G's but it didnt the first time! I am worried about my roller coaster future!

[dragonskeep]

Someone already mentioned staying hydrated, and that is good advice. No single thing can improve your general feeling of well being at a park more than that.

Both times I have either greyed out or saw purple spots was on Millennium Force, it's pretty well known for it. Which brings me to this point: Do we really want coasters to get that much bigger or faster?

[knowit]

Sitting in the back seat of Sidewinder at Hershey Park, I would always almost black out going through the loop while going backwards. I sat there on purpose just so that would happen! I guess I'm totally backwards.

[PKI Jizzman]

After three rides on Invertigo, seeing grey all three times....I had a headache! Marathoning a smooth Vekoma invert...not so smart!

 

And Batman:TR at SFoG....after riding three times in a row, that was WAY too much. I skipped the headache and went for feeling sick!

 

-JZ

[rcdude]

I am 17 and can handle inversions well on most roller coasters, but longer spirals (more than 360 degrees) tend to give me tunnel vision. This has occurred on at least three of my rides on Goliath (very similar to Titan) and at least twice on Silver Bullet. I believe it is not the strengh of the g-force, but the duration of it that causes these effects (I'm fine with boomerangs and they pull 5.2 g's).

 

Also, I cannot tolerate anything which stops in an inverted position. It doesn't cause blackouts or anything like that, but makes me feel very sick afterward.

 

I would recommend being healty and well hydrated when riding rides, and not going on intense rides continuously to avoid any kind of problems.

[STR8FXXXINEDGE]

I recently became a vegetarian, could this have anything to do with it.

 

That could have a lot to do with it.

Being Vegetarian or Vegan is no joke.

I'm not saying this is why you are seeing spots, or blacking out, but I know it was the case for me.

If you haven't already, I suggest that you do some research and take the right supplements. (Especially B-12 and Iron!)

I was Vegetarian for about 12 years.

I almost died from not eating right. Seriously almost died. Not just saying it to make this sound more dramatic.

It pretty much shut my whole nervous system down. My whole body went numb, and I couldn't even go to the bathroom.

I had to have a B-12 shot everyday for almost 2 years, and had to take an iron pill every day.

To this day, I still have to take a B-12 pill everyday, and i have to have blood work done twice a year, and this is the case even though I eat chicken and turkey now.

 

Long story short. I would black out mowing the lawn, or even walking, let alone riding roller coasters when I had the B-12/Iron deficiency.

Do some research before it really affects you.

Please.

[Evan1127]

I get tunnel vision a lot and have certainly blacked out. I've figured out that my low blood pressure is to blame.

 

Straining yourself to force blood into your head during high intensity elements helps. I always hate phrasing it this way (but I think everyone can picture it easily): act like you're trying to force a bowel movement, but obviously adjust the muscles you tense so the focus is on your upper body.

 

I've done a lot of experimenting with it, and it has definitely helped me.

[MASH80554077]

^^ Thanks. I already take a multi-vitamin that gives me more than 100% of the B-12 needed and most of the other main vitamins, but no Iron. I also am pretty good with my protein intake, Drinking 2 or three servings of milk, and protein water instead of juice or soda. The rest is usually covered by the rest of the things I normally eat, but I had been on vacation for a few days(no vitamins, and I get a little lazy about the milk and protein intake) so that might have been it. Does that sound about right?

[Yeti762]

I have always greyed out on any ride with a double loop (going into the 2nd loop) ever since I was a kid. Corkscrews and B&M's are fine, I just can't take Arrow or Schwartzkoff double loops.

 

I just chalk it up to me, and that my body has a problem with that style of ride. But I'll still always ride once for the credit!

[Erik Johnson]

I too think its important to have a good breakfast before heading out on and hitting the parks. This past year, I have noticed that I have been much more sensitive to motion sickness on rides. I think with age that the body does change and that is why my motion sensitivity has kicked in. It pretty much started while riding Kumba last October and I have been battling it ever since. People may remember I had to sit out for a while at SFMM's West Coast Bash for the same reason. While on the the Behemoth trip, I ended up having to sit out on quite a few flat rides and was not able to marathon certain coasters. I could not marathon Behemoth during our ERT sessions, and I have never had a problem with a hyper before. I could not go beyond two back-to-back rides on it. The worst day was at SFGadv where I could not ride El Toro more than twice during ERT. People said I was really looking green after my 2nd ride. Before my next trip to a park I am going to try some over the counter motion sickness medication to see if that will help.

[OldJJman]

^Complex vitamins such as Centrum's "Performance" or "Sport" can also help bring the body up to speed for those early morning ERT's.

 

 

JJ

[dammie16@vt.edu]

As from Idiocracy

 

"ELECTROLYTES"

 

 

But seriously drinking a good amount of electrolytes will help out a lot, mostly because they will keep your body running through intense, hot, and often physically draining conditions (G's, large amounts of walking, marathoning without sitting, etc.)

 

I always down a Gatorade or two on my way to a park and it helps me get through the day!

[ebl]

"I'm no expert, but I am considered the "old" man here so..." (OldJJman)

 

I have three years on ya, JJ, so...who's the old man?

 

Anyway, there are so many factors in all of this. And all of you have given good suggestions to ward off the problems of high g forces. But sometimes, the force is just too strong even for the most healthy, in-shape person.

 

To me, the best thing is to avoid rides that are too intense for your own individual body. That's not "wimping out." That's being smart and taking care of yourself.

 

Eric

[brianwolters]

I greyed out so much on most of my morning coasters on the East Coast Trip. It took me a while to find out that it was due to me skipping breakfast. Once I started eating it was better. However, Titan's helix will probably always make me black out, but I enjoy it!

 

I honestly won't ride Titan again because of the back outs...