Every time I start back swimming, I get sinusitis. I can lay off of swimming for about a month and it clears up. There appears to be some research to indicate that this happens to some people, but I cannot find any indication that there is anything that can be done to stop it. I will have to stop swimming altogether if I cannot find a way to control this. I have tried nose clips, but I still get infected sinuses.
Has anyone had this problem and found a solution that worked for them?
My doctor told me to constantly use saline solution to help with my chronic sinus problems. I now have a bottle at home, at work, and in my gym bag. Use it before and after swimming, and use a humidifier in your room at night (especially in the winter, when it tends to be very dry - of course, in Arizona, it'a ALWAYS dry). Do NOT (under any circumstances) use those decongestant nasal sprays (Afrin, etc); they'll destroy your mucus membranes. The saline and humidifier will help maintain happy mucus membrane, thus allowing them to handle the nasty chlorine and such that the pool tosses at them. Drinking lots of water (the non-chlorinated kind) helps, too, as proper hydration keeps that mucus happy as well.
Since I started regular use of the saline, I've had almost no sinus problems from the pool. I do take Claritin for other allergies, and the combination of that an saline therapy helps oodles.
Kae
My doctor told me to constantly use saline solution to help with my chronic sinus problems. I now have a bottle at home, at work, and in my gym bag. Use it before and after swimming, and use a humidifier in your room at night (especially in the winter, when it tends to be very dry - of course, in Arizona, it'a ALWAYS dry). Do NOT (under any circumstances) use those decongestant nasal sprays (Afrin, etc); they'll destroy your mucus membranes. The saline and humidifier will help maintain happy mucus membrane, thus allowing them to handle the nasty chlorine and such that the pool tosses at them. Drinking lots of water (the non-chlorinated kind) helps, too, as proper hydration keeps that mucus happy as well.
Since I started regular use of the saline, I've had almost no sinus problems from the pool. I do take Claritin for other allergies, and the combination of that an saline therapy helps oodles.
Kae
