Really felt as if someone had pulled the plug on all my energy and strength. Sat there in a kind of daze until the sun was completely off that meadow and it was getting colder, then turned off the water and started home, remembering the day earlier this week when I'd had a similar problem. Walked slowly, to not put a strain on whatever it was. But still, while out on the south fenceline beyond the near meadow, had to stop and lie down on the ground awhile. Fast pulse...well, it slowed down at a reasonable rate.
Got back to the house, had some water and a half-slice of bread and thought I'd rest a bit before starting supper. Ha! Suddenly was having chills and feeling really bad. Two hours before I was up and functioning again. (Like I needed to lose two hours today.)
The thing is...I had no breakfast but that early cup of cocoa this morning, very unusual for me. I realized about eleven that I had missed breakfast, so I scrambled a couple of eggs and toasted some bread, which--in my younger days as recently as a few months ago--would've held me until six or seven easily. It was only four-something. And the other day this happened, I'd had an early breakfast, no lunch, and had gone out on the land about one or two. Hmmm. In summer, I always carry a few saltine crackers to deal with the amount of salt loss on really hot days when we're working, but it was cool. Maybe the crackers were doing more than just salt supply, it occurred to me. The house doctor (the retired one I'm married to) and I discussed this in detail.
Anyway, the new rule is, "Take some food with you, if you've skipped any previous meal." It would not be good to have one of these collapsed feelings if I were trying to get home in a cold rain or some sleet.