Greying out lately?

[MASH80554077]

So i'm sorry if this is too similar to another post. I searched it and similar things came up, but this one is a little more specific. I have been riding roller coasters for three years now. I rode everything at SFGADV my first year with no problem. My second year there were a couple of spots on some things and now I grey out on Nitro and feel lightheaded through whole rides and I feel right on the edge of passing out. I can barely handle any positive G's.

Some possible things that could be causing this

-I'm pretty skinny and tall, 130lbs and 5 foot 10.5 inches

-I'm a vegetarian(maybe I don't eat enough of the right things?)

-I take medicine that also suppresses appetite(don't eat enough?)

 

I just want a straight answer and I have never gotten one from doctors or anyone. I always drink plenty and eat plenty at parks but the sustained G's are still causing head aches and grey outs and spots in inversion. Please help. Have any other vegetarians had this problem. Also I'm a teenager so maybe something physical has changed? Any help would be really really appreciated.

[Wes]

Your diet could have a lot to do with it. When you've had these problems, have you had an empty stomach and/or not being drinking enough water or fluids during the day at the park?

[MASH80554077]

Oh yeah, I always eat a big breakfast and drink after almost every ride. I also eat big lunches and dinners and eat little side meals in between coasters.

[Sir Clinksalot]

^ Maybe you have put on a little weight with all that eating. (I know I have)

 

I know that when Goliath opened I don't remember greying out, and that was before they trimmed it all to hell. Now I do. Yet I used to Grey out on Batman and I don't anymore.

 

Go figure.

[CreditCrazy]

I'm vegetarian and I've greyed out before on a few rides, but I think that's due to my motion sickness. Do you have motion sickness?

[DiSab]

Piggybacking off of CreditCrazy, you might want to try some Dramamine or some other motion-sickness medicine before you head out to a park.

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

Piggybacking off of CreditCrazy, you might want to try some Dramamine or some other motion-sickness medicine before you head out to a park.

 

Actually medications can affect your ability to tolerate accelertion. Because they affect the brain or something like that. Pulling G's takes stamina. I remembered that time felt like I was about to pass out on the SLC, I had a was abit sick before that too and I took some cold medicine that day.

 

Any illness even a minor 'cold' or 'Gastro' will reduce your G-tolerance significantly. Adequate rest is essential to maintain a maximal G-tolerance. Similarly any medication has the potential to reduce this tolerance,

 

A long break from pulling G reduces your tolerance significantly. If you haven't pulled G for a while ease yourself back into it.

 

Quoted from http://aeromedical.org/Articles/g-loc.html (It's an information site for pilots but I think some of it can be applied to coaster enthusiasts)

 

I am a vegetarian too myself and I've only actually had major problems on 2 rides, an SLC and Titan (Giovanola hyper). I do remember that both those times I was tired, hungry, and sick in some way. Also, I'm 5'2-ish and over 140lbs and not too healthy overall either.

 

Do you have any family history of low blood pressure? It has to do with blood pressure too. Did you ever have your blood pressure tested?

 

If you don't mind the loss of airtime, possible bruising, pain or discomfort, get stapled (as hard as possible, yeah it might hurt). It basically produces the same effect as a G-suit used by pilots and astronauts. By putting pressure on certain parts of the body, you're making it harder for the blood to drain away from the brain and pool in the lower body.

 

Everyone’s tolerance to G force is different. Blacking out/greying out is normal. However, if you feel faint, extremely disoriented or confused, complete memory loss of the event, and prolonged visual disturbances/loss of colour vision after riding, tell a doctor as soon as possible as it could be an adverse reaction to acceleration. Screaming and laughing can also help increase your threshold by getting adrenaline rushing and getting oxygen to the brain. Holding your breath (due to fear or whatever reason), like riding at not full health or energy decreases your threshold.

 

The g thresholds at which these effects occur depend on the training, age and fitness of the individual. An un-trained individual not used to the g-straining maneuver, can black out between 4 and 6 g, particularly if this is pulled suddenly.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-LOC

 

~ Jess "I'm not really a NASA doctor" Chan

[CreditCrazy]

Medicine doesn't make it worse, I take bonine everytime before I go to a park and it actually helps.

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

I guess that site is saying generally then.

 

Have you tried chewing on a piece of ginger before you ride? Like even candied ginger will help. In Chinese medicine ginger is used to treat motion sickness. I do that before I go on an airplane and it works. Best of all, no side effects.

[paintballer]

I tell everyone having black/grey out issues.

Theres a thing called the hiccup manuever taught to Air Force and Navy pilots, when under stressed forces make fake hiccup movements, It will rush the blood torwads your head and remove your grey out! It works for everyone who trys it!

[Manny In England]

^ That's true actually, hiccuping and coughing can force blood to the head.

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

^ That's true actually, hiccuping and coughing can force blood to the head.

 

I think it's the same for screaming and laughing.

 

I'm really not sure about the being stapled thing though, I thought it sounded reasonable.

[astroworldfan1]

^ Laughing has actually been proven to be good for you.

 

-Tatum

[shepp]

Have you tried chewing on a piece of ginger before you ride? Like even candied ginger will help. In Chinese medicine ginger is used to treat motion sickness. I do that before I go on an airplane and it works. Best of all, no side effects.

 

Yep, I never go to a park without my little bag of candied ginger. Works like a charm, and tastes great, too.

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

Yep, I love the taste of it too. Doesn't affect your energy level or your ability to tolerate high acceleration (which mine isin't too good anyways).

 

Also from Chinese medicine, preserved sweet plum works great for motion sickness. Again, no side effects. Tastes kinda funny though but I actually like the taste of it. It's like salty and sweet and sour at the same time. You can buy it at most places that sell Asian food products, or Chinese herbal stores.

 

Have you not ridden such intense rides for awhile or something? Took a break from the action? That would affect it. The body isn't used to taking so much force after a break from the action.

[laracroft]

The only coaster I've ever greyed out on is Goliath at SFMM - that damn helix. Never had any motion-sickness problems, but I do have low blood pressure so maybe that has something to do with it....I felt pretty ill on Anaconda at Gold Reef City - it was my 2nd ride in a row...very forceful -brilliant though!

 

I've got to agree, I don't handle the Gs on Batman too well...

[paintballer]

Stapeling will also work, Constrics the blood going to your legs and keeps it in your mid to upper body

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

I like call that the "poor man's G suit" effect.

 

Didn't really work for me on Titan though, maybe I didn't do it hard enough (don't you have to really dig in untill it hurts)? Or it's just too intense? Or was it because I was too tired and hungry right before I rode?

[MASH80554077]

I stopped taking the medication I was taking and it worked! Thanks alot I dont even get the little spots in my eyes at all now, let alone black out:)

[DiSab]

^Glad to hear it worked.

 

I took my first trip to a park in nearly 2 years today. It was a good time, but I did find myself with a little bit of motion sickness after the rides. It may have been a combination of no sleep last night, too much sugar and caffeine this morning, not enough food in the system, the heat, and the fact that I haven't been on a ride in 2 years ( ), but hopefully it isn't something worse. My next trip I'll bring some Dramamine with me and see if it helps - and I'll try to get some sleep the night before.

[paintballer]

I like call that the "poor man's G suit" effect.

 

Didn't really work for me on Titan though, maybe I didn't do it hard enough (don't you have to really dig in untill it hurts)? Or it's just too intense? Or was it because I was too tired and hungry right before I rode?

 

Titans Restraints really don't go down that well, It goes all the way to the bottom for me and I'm a pretty big guy, I was thinking Shockwave

[Team Thriller]

The best one that works for me during heavy G's is tightening your stomach.

 

--James

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

Titans Restraints really don't go down that well, It goes all the way to the bottom for me and I'm a pretty big guy, I was thinking Shockwave

 

Will it work better with B&M Inverts, floorless and SLC's? I'm riding all those types next week and I'm really prone to having reactions to high acceleration and I definately DON'T want another trip to first aid!! Nor do I want that SLC incident of 2007 to repeat itself.

 

For the "poor man's G-suit" effect of stapling, you have to put pressure on the right places or it won't work?

 

I'm definately going to try the hiccup thing. I'm getting quite good at it!

[ChrisZer0]

Ive discovered Greying out can occure no matter what car your in. It mainly has to deal with how much G your pulling in said ride. For example, I start grey/blacking in tight corners, such as Goliath/Titan, but taking hills dont seem to phase me. I think its like others have said, its the way your body is built and how you treat it.

[kingsdominionlvr]

Piggybacking off of CreditCrazy, you might want to try some Dramamine or some other motion-sickness medicine before you head out to a park.

 

Thing about Dramamine, is it makes some people (including me) Very tired, so it would be a good idea to try it a few days in advance to see if it does make you tired.