Rams: Henley Had Hypoglycemic Reaction : Football: Cornerback collapsed Monday because of a low level of sugar in his blood. He might be able to practice today.
Cornerback Darryl Henley, who collapsed in the trainer’s room after Monday night’s practice, suffered an episode of “hypoglycemic shock as a result of dehydration and exhaustion,” the Rams said Tuesday.
Henley returned to the team’s training complex at UC Irvine late Monday night but, as a precaution, underwent further testing Tuesday at St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton. He was unavailable for comment.
Hypoglycemia is defined in Stedman’s Medical Dictionary as “an abnormally small concentration of glucose in the circulating blood, i.e., less than the minimum of the normal range.”
Henley was also examined by a cardiologist, according to Clarence Shields, one of the Rams’ orthopedic surgeons.
“It’s for some other problems that could (have symptoms) similar to this,” Shields said of the heart testing. “You have to be sure there’s no underlying cardiac problem. We’re not going to let him play until we know there are no underlying problems.”
The team reported that the Tuesday morning tests on Henley were normal, and that they expect the second-year cornerback from UCLA back on the field for today’s practice.
Ram trainer Jim Anderson said Henley was aware of his hypoglycemic condition. He reportedly had one episode while at UCLA and several as a child, although none as severe as Monday’s.
“He normally feels them coming on,” Anderson said. “In the past, he’s been able to drink a Coke, eat an orange, eat a candy bar, anything high in sugar, and it immediately goes away. It appeared to be a combination of three hard practices. Darryl never got the fluids back in his body to the level he needed. He wasn’t able to replenish his sugar fast enough.”
Anderson said Henley came into the locker room after Monday evening’s practice and told him he was having an attack. Anderson said Henley initially felt better after eating some sweets.
“Then he began to break into a sweat,” Anderson said. “He said he felt it coming stronger. The hardest thing was, he was hyperventilating.
“It was hard for him to breathe, a fear-type of thing. The body reacts to shock situation kind of harshly.”
Luckily, a physician from the team’s orthopedic staff, Jack Daigneault, was nearby. He administered intravenous dextrose--sugar water--while Anderson called paramedics.
Anderson said he had Henley breathe into a paper bag to get more carbon dioxide into his system.
Anderson said it took seven minutes by ambulance to get Henley from the Irvine campus to the Tustin Health Care Medical Center. He said that although Henley never lost consciousness, and his blood pressure and heart rate remained normal, there was cause for concern.
“It’s not like we treat this every day,” Anderson said. “That was the biggest fear, that you’re not real well-versed with dealing with a situation like that. The doctor said, ‘Let’s get the paramedics.’ It’s something that can potentially be a problem.”
Ram Notes
The Rams have agreed to terms with second-round draft choice Pat Terrell. Details of the contract were to be finalized Tuesday night. Terrell, a safety from Notre Dame, is expected to sign a four-year contract. . . . With No. 3 receiver Aaron Cox sidelined for three to six weeks because of a pulled hamstring, the heat is on the group competing for the team’s open No. 4 spot. “The fourth has got to be prepared to be the third,” Coach John Robinson said. Sixth-round choice Tim Stallworth is thought to be the leader thus far, with ninth-round pick Tony Lomack and free agent Derrick Faison close behind. Faison, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder from Howard University, has taken advantage of injuries to front-liners Henry Ellard, Cox and Flipper Anderson. “Faison catches our eye every once in a while,” Robinson said. “He’s tall and can jump.” Lomack was hampered by an injury.
