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?
i have had a similar problem ... constant sinus pressure and pain with or without sneezing ... had to use flonase and the neti-pot just to keep it manageable and would still wind up in the doctors office ... 6 weeks ago i started with nose clips for probably 2/3 of my work out (still have problems with it sprinting freestyle) but my sinusitis has cleared up with the nose clips ... Yea !!!
.I have noticed something about my sinus that I wonder if other swimmers have. I am finding many swimmers do NOT sneeze after they swim. I always sneeze once or more until I go to bed.
I am wondering if other swimmers with sinusitis have that symptom and do none sinusitis swimmer not sneeze after swimming. Comments welcomed. I just started using a nose clip.
I get sinusities about twice a year. Probably not related to swimming as I swim in a salt pool. However, your problem might be related to acid reflex. Try taking a Zantac acid reflex prior to swimming.
I'm 64, a slow open water distance swimmer in the NC ocean and now FL Gulf with many years of ear/sinus infections until, recently whent the end of a swim, I cup in my hands a fresh water/mild soap solution, best is Dr Bronners liquid soap...ram my nose in and snort it in till I gag...sounds ugly but sure does flush out the sinuses and eustacean tubes and sure beats that ear pain...no more infections.
I had a sinus infection two weeks before the senior Olympics, took an antibiotic that helped. Worked out only 2,300 yards that week and only 3,000 the next week because of bad weather, swim a senior Olympics 50 yard and 100 yard breaststroke and did ok.
3 things I think are helping me with this problem:
1. 2 to 3 snorts of saline shot up the nose after each swim
2. 2 X a day I'm taking a teaspoon of elderberry syrup for building immunity. (you can get it at Whole Foods)
3. I usually get my sinusitis in November, so starting in October through the end of December I'm using Flonase to prevent the problem. The physician told me to start a month before I usually get it because it takes that long for it to work.
This routine has worked for me this year. I'm hoping it continues to work for the rest of my life; I hate sinus infections.
had yearly sinus infections despite saline flush and flonase daily ... 2 years ago forced myself to use nose plugs and lo and behold no problems in that time and no more saline flush and flonase ... and i think i'm finally getting used to the nose plugs !
I am just making the connection to my recurring sinus infections after reading these posts. Another recommendation is a probiotic specifically for ear, nose, and throat. I am going to add that to my routine in addition to using xClear. Hopefully, we can get this under control soon because the only other alternative is to give up swimming.
