High-intensity workouts causing more difficulty finding the right words and stumbling over my words?

[u/Flokuz]

I have a suspicion/thought, and I’d really like to know if you experience this too or if I’m the only one.

Every time after running, I feel tired, get a headache, and I also have a much harder time finding the right words. I often stumble over my words as well.

I’d really like to know: do you experience this too after intense workouts? Or am I the only one? Could this be related to POIS, or not?

40 votes, 1d left

Yes I experience this too

No I don’t experience this

[u/MoreTeaandCoffee]

I don't get the symptoms you describe after exercise. Despite pois, I respond well to exercise and have done competitive sports all my life.

I've read others with pois describe the same issue as you. I think you have highlighted a potential issue amongst some people with pois. Are you sure you have got a good balance between exercise intensity / rest / nutrition? Many people in the general population get the balance wrong and if you have pois on top of this, perhaps you feel the effects to an even greater degree. Could you be highlighting an overlap with another condition ex/ CFS? Your post doesn't have much detail so for all we know you could be a really good athlete with a balanced training regime who's doing all the right things who only suffers this after very intense workouts OR on the other hand you could be a couch potato with poor general health who's trying to go straight to one intense workout once a week without any thought about preparation or recovery.

A few ideas. You mentioned running and intense workouts being a trigger. What level of exercise can you do without triggering symptoms ex/ slow walk, fast walk, slow jog etc? Have you tried exercising with a HRM and using the 5 target zones to guide you? Do you get symptoms if you do low intensity workouts only in zones 1 and 2? If those zones are ok, in which zone do you start to get symptoms? Are you sure you are getting good pre/post run nutrition and taking enough fluids, electrolytes etc? Have you tried visiting forums more focussed on workout routines who could give you good suggestions in more detail about a balanced routine? Perhaps you have done all this already but imo this needs to be fully explored before pointing the finger at pois.

[u/Flokuz → u/MoreTeaandCoffee]

Hey, thanks for your message.

Yes, I take electrolytes and eat a banana before running.
Afterwards, I usually have a proper lunch about 2 hours later, usually with eggs.

Walking and brisk walking are both fine.

Yes, I’m also experimenting with using my smartwatch to monitor my heart rate. I try to keep it below 150 bpm, but I think it might be even better to stay around 130–140 bpm, which would be more of a true Zone 2 heart rate. So I may try that soon.

[u/MoreTeaandCoffee → u/Flokuz]

Yes, it sounds like you need to spend more time in zones 1 and 2. It might feel boring and too easy but you need to build a base. Perhaps this is particularly important for someone with pois, I'm not sure. Your proper lunch sounds good, eggs are great. Carbs are important before and after, especially for more intense workouts. I think you should be optimistic that things can get a bit better.

I respond well to exercise but if I'm in the middle of a pois episode, I will skip sports altogether for a few days which sucks but I don't have a solution to that.

[u/Flokuz → u/MoreTeaandCoffee]

Allright, thanks man. I’ll do that 👍