Gym, Interrupted

Wow. I have learned the hard way that working out with a concussion, let alone on a 106-degree day, is not such a grand idea.

I went to work out yesterday, as usual, after work. I was still headachy after my noggin-knock and it was unbearably hot outside. That made my little, non-air-conditioned VW a virtual blast furnace, and so by the time I got from my office to the gym, my car was sporting 127 degrees inside with all the windows open. So I was already about a quart low on fluids, and my already pounding head had doubled its efforts.

I managed a whole 60-minute cardio workout, but by then I was so wobbly that weight training was out of the question. I did my usual post-workout stretch (mostly Yoga poses). By then it was about 7:45pm. My car was still an oven. I don't really remember much about driving home, except that it seemed to take forever.

I had an uneventful dinner at home -- Sushi from our local restaurant and some light vegetable tempura. Lots of water. My energy level bottomed out so I took a shower and went to bed early.

I woke up at 2am, feeling strangely dizzy and slightly nauseous. I went to splash some cold water on my face, and when I looked in the bathroom mirror, I realized that my left pupil was a pinpoint, but the right pupil was wide open. I guess I hit my head harder than I originally thought.

I went to lay down on the sofa. I felt moderately better when I was more upright -- the nausea worsened if I lay flat -- so I propped myself up with the sofa pillows. The cat woke me up every 45 minutes like clockwork (which is why we lock her out of the bedroom), so she was my little concussion wake-up call. I went into the bedroom and crept back into bed at about 5am.

This morning I felt hung over. My legs are weak and crampy at the same time... it's sort of like a really bad hangover, but without the rolling stomach and fuzzy tongue. My eyes feel like they're trying to pop out of my head, and the bump on my forehead is making it hard to move my eyebrows. I stopped on the way to work to get some Gatorade, which helped, but not much. I've been pretty muddle-headed most of the day. I called my doctor, who said I was suffering from the effects of extreme heat exhaustion, and she chided me for working out on such a ridiculously hot day and after bumping my head, to boot. She said to lay off at least until next week.

It's another 100+ degree day, too. So after work, I'm going to just drive my little deep-fryer on wheels home and rest until Monday.