Stitches

iclestu

The kind in your side, not the kind on your skin......

I have just started suffering from this irritating affliction. About half an hour into my commute (both ways!) I get the unmistakeable pain in my side. I can usually make it go away by just stopping and breathing slowly for a couple of mins, but it is really getting to be a bit irritating!

Does anyone else suffer from these? Is it likely to go away as I get fitter? Anything I can do now to avoid them?

doog442

when and what do you eat before you jump on the beast

If you have to eat right before you mount your steed make sure its not alot and you chew it for along time

I dont get stitches on the bike but do when running but only after eating

iclestu

doog442 wrote:

when and what do you eat before you jump on the beast

If you have to eat right before you mount your steed make sure its not alot and you chew it for along time

I dont get stitches on the bike but do when running but only after eating

Morning is pretty standard - a bannana at least 9 times out of ten. Not really thought about chewing it properly, but I probably am guilty of just gulping it down.

Afternoon is a lot more variable, but not usually much, if anything, in the couple of hours before I leave - perhaps a snack (that means hula hoops - no healthy bird food for me!)

gb155

iclestu wrote:

The kind in your side, not the kind on your skin......

I have just started suffering from this irritating affliction. About half an hour into my commute (both ways!) I get the unmistakeable pain in my side. I can usually make it go away by just stopping and breathing slowly for a couple of mins, but it is really getting to be a bit irritating!

Does anyone else suffer from these? Is it likely to go away as I get fitter? Anything I can do now to avoid them?

I never suffer them, until that was my 100k ride on Sunday, I had one for 90% of the ride and god damm it hurt.

That doesnt help does it ?

Sorry

iclestu

gb155 wrote:

That doesnt help does it ?

Sure it does!

The prospect of someone else suffering always makes me feel better. :twisted:

fungus_the_muffin_man

When i used to get them whist dong my running I would belly breathe for a while which would get rid of it. It's pain due to your diaphragm being affected I'm led to believe so belly breathing helps by reducing the stress to it

doog442

i just think he wanted to tell you he did 100km on sunday

iclestu

doog442 wrote:

i just think he wanted to tell you he did 100km on sunday

100Km Really???

you'd have thought he'd have joined that manchester to blackpool thing if he was gonna ride that far?!

gb155

iclestu wrote:

gb155 wrote:

That doesnt help does it ?

Sure it does!

The prospect of someone else suffering always makes me feel better. :twisted:

Excellent

gb155

doog442 wrote:

i just think he wanted to tell you he did 100km on sunday

Someone Did a 100k ? Wow, Awesomeness

andrewjoseph

Try changing your rhythm, both breathing and pedalling. hold your breath for a short while so you are not breathing out (or in) at the same time as you are pumping down on the pedal.

I believe a stitch is just an irritated section of diaphragm that is being bounced continually. A change in rhythm helps.

doog442

you indeed have been projected into awesomeness

ps what did you have for breakfast and did you eat it slowly and chew it :?:

gb155

doog442 wrote:

you indeed have been projected into awesomeness

ps what did you have for breakfast and did you eat it slowly and chew it :?:

Ermmmm I cant remember now LOL, The day is a haze LOL

fungus_the_muffin_man

I ride a 100k just to get to the local shop for a loaf of bread

lastwords

I suffer from stitches a lot, dont know what causes them but it usually when i put a lot of effort in straight away.

I ride both mtb and road get them on both bikes, i know if i stop and drink water it will go but to much effort will kick it off again. I usually ride through it at a lower pace though.

prawny

My old man always used to tell me if I got stitch to breath deeply in through the nose and out through the mouth. I think it just makes you focus on your breathing but it seems to work, althought the last time I had stitch was in norwich 1997.

lardboy

It's mainly down to dehydration and a fullish stomach. Lots of little sips of water before you ride, and only a small snack should sort you out. I used to get them every time we did cross country running at school, and I think that's because games was straight after lunch, and back in the 80's, drinking enough water wasn't top of the list of kids' priorities.

Greg T

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

I ride a 100k just to get to the local shop for a loaf of bread

You have a very long driveway.

MartinGT

Ive been told its a build up of latic acid in the stomache due to too much food too close to exercise.

Deep breathing as suggested above breaks it down and helps.

andrewjoseph

MartinGT wrote:

Ive been told its a build up of latic acid in the stomache due to too much food too close to exercise.

Deep breathing as suggested above breaks it down and helps.

Umm... you don't get lactic acid in your stomach.

too full a stomach may trigger the problem but the main reason for the pain, aas Iunderstand it, is irritation of the diaphragm.

See here.

http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/stitch.htm