Talk about getting the crap scared out of you. I thought for maybe 5 minutes I was a goner. My job Wed had me using a high pressure water blasting gun, which is usually more of a strain on your arms, hands, and back than anything else. Living here in the south the weather has been abysmal lately. It was 101 degrees at my work that day. We work in hangars that pretty much act as the foil on a baked potato for us. Then add to the fact that I have to wear "rain pants" over my regular pants and it gets even more miserable. I guess technically you're supposed to wear the entire rain suit, but I don't think they want to enforce it too much in times like this.

The previous two days we had all been soaking wet the whole shift from sweating. On Monday I thought I was going to pass out. But Wed takes the cake. Didn't take much water blasting Wed to get me fatigued, then had to wait on another guy to finish something in the area before I could continue. While I was waiting I got a water hose and ran the lukewarm water over my head for 5 minutes. Whenever I stood up I would start feeling faint again. So when my co-worker finished in the area and I could continue I stood up again to climb my stand and it hit me hard. Pressure in my head, tunnel vision, tightness in my chest, not being able to get deep breaths, couldn't swallow well, chest itching and hurting. I was barely able to tell my co-worker(thanks Mike!) to call the folks to come check on me. It took them a few minutes to get there, and though I was feeling much better when they got there, I still felt like crap for a long while. I elected to stay at work the rest of the shift, but they had me on light duty thereafter.

 I took yesterday(and probably today) off work. I still feel worn out in general, a bit out of breath, and the old ticker is also a bit fatigued, but so much better than yesterday. I've never felt like I was going to die for more than a few seconds in my life, so 5 minutes of thinking you're about to have to answer for your life here on earth(if you believe in that sort of thing) is a real shocker. I thought of my wife, my mom and dad, and how I'd always said the last place I wanted to die was at my job that I can't stand. 

Moral of the story: take it easy in this weather, rest when you get too hot, drink lots of water WELL BEFORE you start working, and don't think you've got anything to prove if your dumbass big bossman gets on to you for taking a break 10 minutes early all the while knowing it's like trying to breathe inside a freakin furnace at the hellhole you work at(whew).

sound like exhaustion issue. congratulation on being alive. it sure is sucky to die and miss all the gaming :)

wow thats pretty..hardcore

Well according to the professionals, I was extremely close to having a heat stroke. And yeah, I still have too much gaming to do before I can die.

 I agree

Glad you're OK, quigontcb.

I live in the South too and this heat ain't no joke.

I used to think July was the superhot month but not this year. Ever since August started it has been ridiculous around here. Even nighttime feels as hot as daytime. That's hot!

You ain't immortal, my man. Don't try to live up to The Creator's level. No brother, this ain't where the power lies ('Immortal' Hulk Hogan reference).

Heat index got it at like 115 F so just you going out there is actually foolhardy. If the boss don't like the way you're working, then tell his ass to get out there and kill himself. You got at least one earthly body in this time period (that covers all belief systems I think) so you better take care of it. Ain't but a thing to cause permanent damage and those scientists haven't gotten "to the future" yet with repairing human woes. So BE CAREFUL.

John Lucas 

I clicked here fearing for a fellow VG Chartz buddy, glad you're okay, take it easy brother.

Also, if you drink a lot of water you should use some type of electrolyte replacement, whether it be a sports drink or salt tablets. You can get sick if you drink to much water without replacing the lost electrolytes. A number of athletes have died because they only drank water. Not enough salt will also cause cramping and fatigue.

Heat stroke happens much more often then you could think. When you hear that a heat wave has killed people in a area that gets extremely hot its usually due to heat stroke.

So stay hydrated, dont' work too hard out in the heat, and take frequent breaks to rehydrate yourself and cool down. And if you don't have to be out in the heat, avoid it.

Hyperthermia (hyperpyrexia), in its advanced state referred to as heat stroke or sunstroke, is an acute condition which occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. It is usually due to excessive exposure to heat. The heat-regulating mechanisms of the body eventually become overwhelmed and unable to effectively deal with the heat, and body temperature climbs uncontrollably. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

From Wikipedia

Whoah... glad to hear your ok mate.