Am I blocking my carotid arteries?

[HopeIsLost]

Instead of ctb last night I decided to sleep and then practice more once I woke up.

I woke up a couple of hours ago and started practicing but about 30 minutes ago I decided to just use the ratchet to see if I'm actually blocking my carotid arteries correctly because it didn't seem like I was the past hours.

Lets just get right to it. I tighten the ratchet strap around my neck and above my Adam's apple.

Straight away I'm hearing loud ringing sounds. My head is filled with blood, my face starts getting paralyzed, it's hard to blink or do anything with my face, I feel like I'm going to vomit(I ate beforehand if that says anything), I can see my pulse, and I get really tired. I'm able to breathe but my heart feels like it's about to give out.

And everytime I release the ratchet I hear something like intense wind if that makes any sense? It's like people are breathing into my ears. And it doesn't go away until after like 5 seconds.

I'm not sure if I'm getting the right place. I don't want to screw this up so I'm really hoping someone would help.

 

[DyingAlf]

Have you felt around for the pulses in your neck? They are slightly differently placed in each person but can definitely be felt. Use your index finger & middle finger. I think above your Adam's apple might be too high.

 

[AJ95]

Instead of ctb last night I decided to sleep and then practice more once I woke up.

I woke up a couple of hours ago and started practicing but about 30 minutes ago I decided to just use the ratchet to see if I'm actually blocking my carotid arteries correctly because it didn't seem like I was the past hours.

Lets just get right to it. I tighten the ratchet strap around my neck and above my Adam's apple.

Straight away I'm hearing loud ringing sounds. My head is filled with blood, my face starts getting paralyzed, it's hard to blink or do anything with my face, I feel like I'm going to vomit(I ate beforehand if that says anything), I can see my pulse, and I get really tired. I'm able to breathe but my heart feels like it's about to give out.

And everytime I release the ratchet I hear something like intense wind if that makes any sense? It's like people are breathing into my ears. And it doesn't go away until after like 5 seconds.

I'm not sure if I'm getting the right place. I don't want to screw this up so I'm really hoping someone would help.

That sounds like what most people experience when they talk about blocking their carotid artery.

I had similar experiences when I did mine, I'd say you've probably got it :)

 

[Ghost2211]

If you're blacking out you're getting it right. You don't want for choke, and if you're only getting pressure in the head you're only compressing the veins and need more pressure.

 

[GoodPersonEffed]

Sounds to me from all the symptoms like you're hitting the jugulars and not the cartoids. If you hit the caroids, it should feel pleasant, and loss of consciousness will happen within 20 seconds.

 

[GoneByTomorrow]

You didn't hit the carotids but tue jugular. The carotids bring blood from your heart to your head and the jugular brings it down (I'm sorry I don't know the technical terms, english is not my first language). If you feel your head being filled with blood, it means the carotids are working as intended but the jugulars ate blocked, next thing will happen is probably your capillaries bursting around your eyes then you'll have bloody eyes for a couple of weeks, been there done that.

 

[HopeIsLost]

Have you felt around for the pulses in your neck? They are slightly differently placed in each person but can definitely be felt. Use your index finger & middle finger. I think above your Adam's apple might be too high.
View attachment 46587

Yeah I have. I even got bruises from pressing down too hard. But I was never sure if I found my carotid arteries because I never lost consciousness and my vision didn't go black.

I'm a little confused because I always thought that the carotid arteries were above the Adam's apple. And when I searched below my Adam's Apple I could barely feel a pulse.

You didn't hit the carotids but tue jugular. The carotids bring blood from your heart to your head and the jugular brings it down (I'm sorry I don't know the technical terms, english is not my first language). If you feel your head being filled with blood, it means the carotids are working as intended but the jugulars ate blocked, next thing will happen is probably your capillaries bursting around your eyes then you'll have bloody eyes for a couple of weeks, been there done that.

Woahhh wtf. Are you serious? Jesus. Have you found your carotid arteries?

Sounds to me from all the symptoms like you're hitting the jugulars and not the cartoids. If you hit the caroids, it should feel pleasant, and loss of consciousness will happen within 20 seconds.

So if I hit the carotids it should feel like absolutely nothing? Genuine question. I get worried when I don't feel anything. And does the ratchet have to be very tight in order to block the carotids?

 

[Xocoyotziin]

It's probably a question of how much pressure you're applying and not location. You'll know it when you hit them because it's much more peaceful.

 

[HopeIsLost]

If you're blacking out you're getting it right. You don't want for choke, and if you're only getting pressure in the head you're only compressing the veins and need more pressure.

I was definitely feeling faint but my vision wasn't getting blurry or going black and I remained conscious even though I was at this for a while. I think I'm blocking my veins or my jugulars.

 

[GoneByTomorrow]

Yeah I have. I even got bruises from pressing down too hard. But I was never sure if I found my carotid arteries because I never lost consciousness and my vision didn't go black.

I'm a little confused because I always thought that the carotid arteries were above the Adam's apple. And when I searched below my Adam's Apple I could barely feel a pulse.

Woahhh wtf. Are you serious? Jesus. Have you found your carotid arteries?

So if I hit the carotids it should feel like absolutely nothing? Genuine question. I get worried when I don't feel anything. And does the ratchet have to be very tight in order to block the carotids?

Yes, unfortunately. I never tried again after that. Granted, I never followed a turorial, I just applied a tourniquet on my neck to see if I'd lose consciousness, but chickened out once I saw the capillares bursting.

 

[esse_est_percipi]

Sounds to me from all the symptoms like you're hitting the jugulars and not the cartoids. If you hit the caroids, it should feel pleasant, and loss of consciousness will happen within 20 seconds.

How long does it take to pass out from hitting the jugulars?

 

[GoodPersonEffed]

How long does it take to pass out from hitting the jugulars?

No idea.

 

[JustLosingMyself]

You need to find the carotids and add something that presses in (e.g. a small bag of flour or salt) but leaves the jugular open

 

[HopeIsLost]

Yes, unfortunately. I never tried again after that. Granted, I never followed a turorial, I just applied a tourniquet on my neck to see if I'd lose consciousness, but chickened out once I saw the capillares bursting.

Man I'm so sorry but thank you so much for warning me. You really don't know how much I appreciate it. I hope you find your peace soon.

You need to find the carotids and add something that presses in (e.g. a small bag of flour or salt) but leaves the jugular open

Thanks but is it really that easy to block your carotid artery?

It's probably a question of how much pressure you're applying and not location. You'll know it when you hit them because it's much more peaceful.

But how do you know that you hit them? Like does it feel like nothing? I tend to worry when I feel nothing because I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

And how much pressure should I apply? Should I make the ratchet really tight?

 

[DyingAlf]

I'm a little confused because I always thought that the carotid arteries were above the Adam's apple. And when I searched below my Adam's Apple I could barely feel a pulse.

I posted a picture for you with my first comment. It shows where the carotid arteries are in relation to the Adam's apple, it also shows the jugular vein too.
You don't need to press hard to find the pulses. But I'm guessing that maybe you're feeling too far around the sides (that's a guess based on knowing that a lot of people do that when I've done 1stAid courses etc) but they're a little towards the front rather than right on the sides of your neck.

 

[Xocoyotziin]

You feel dizzy like you're about to pass out and your body gets tingly but there isn't any pain. It's unmistakable. Exploding head is absent.

Generally speaking it takes more pressure to compress carotids than jugulars. I don't know any specific figures, sorry, just my own experiences.

 

[Blurred_Reality]

You feel dizzy like you're about to pass out and your body gets tingly but there isn't any pain. It's unmistakable. Exploding head is absent.

Generally speaking it takes more pressure to compress carotids than jugulars. I don't know any specific figures, sorry, just my own experiences.

This is when compressing both carotid and jugulars right? So if carotids are compressed you shouldn't have the exploding head feeling, just dizziness.

 

[HopeIsLost]

I posted a picture for you with my first comment. It shows where the carotid arteries are in relation to the Adam's apple, it also shows the jugular vein too.
You don't need to press hard to find the pulses. But I'm guessing that maybe you're feeling too far around the sides (that's a guess based on knowing that a lot of people do that when I've done 1stAid courses etc) but they're a little towards the front rather than right on the sides of your neck.

Yeah I was feeling far around the sides of my neck. I'll try looking for it again using the picture you provided me with. Thanks

You feel dizzy like you're about to pass out and your body gets tingly but there isn't any pain. It's unmistakable. Exploding head is absent.

Generally speaking it takes more pressure to compress carotids than jugulars. I don't know any specific figures, sorry, just my own experiences.

Thanks man