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Headache and fever after hard ride?

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6.7K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  merckxman  
#1 ·
Once in a while I'll get a headache followed by a fever that comes on 2 hours after the ride and last about 12 hours.

It happens on 3 hour rides where my weighted average power is at my upper tempo range and I'm struggling to hold on to the group. I doesn't happen every time I push it though. Other times I just get the headache for a few hours.

What's going on here? Am I pushing myself so hard that it messes with my immune system?
 
#2 ·
What was your temp? How did you measure? Headache may be related to effort, but fever would be a concern. How hot are the rides that cause the fever? How much are you drinking on these rides? If you really are getting fevers (ie confirmed w a thermometer) you should go see a doctor.
 
#7 ·
Hydration could explain some core body temp rise and a headache, but nearly 24 hrs of fever and headache well after exertion are kind of odd... I'm no doc, so fwiw, you might want to talk to your doc abut this. 99 might just be your measuring devise or technique, 101 not so much. Sunburn? Couldn't a good low level widespread burn wound do this?
 
#8 ·
Sunburn could make you hot, but I don't burn. I've gotten a bit dehydrated a few times. I got to the end of the ride with a very dry mouth, hard to swallow, and could only get out a scanty amount of yellow in the bathroom. I just drank a lot afterwards and I was fine.

Could it be an electrolyte thing due to exertion level? I think I'll try skratch labs or something on my next long hard ride.