Inner ear issue

RE: Inner ear issue

620F6 — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:50:42 GMT

This is one of issues I am attempting to mitigate at the moment. I have experienced dizziness/nausea/vertigo-like symptoms for years now. Swimming on my back & flip turns have always exasperated the symptoms. At a recent check up with my GP, he found I have a perforated eardrum. Finally meeting my ENT next week. To mitigate the issue, I use a ribbed ear-plug, a swim cap (which I pull over my affected ear) and use a snorkel (placing the bands over the affected ear); these minimize water getting into my inner ear channels. Hoping my ENT will have other solutions. My GP also prescribed a beta-histamine to reduce my dizziness.

RE: Inner ear issue

G891E — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 19:03:36 GMT

I never had an issue as a kid. So, when I returned to the pool 25 years later, I was shocked to find myself getting dizzy/ill while swimming. A few tips:

Pressure on the abdomen seems to exasperate the issue. Two things create pressure for me. Eating or drinking too much before / during swimming. And, unintentionally holding my breath. For example, when swimming freestyle I now consciously breath out between breaths. It's a breath in, turn back in and exhale 1-2-3, breath. When i forget I start to feel a little niggle of sickness.

Swimming slower seems to make things worse. I suspect my stroke is off just a little and I might be swimming less straight than I imagine. Speeding up and flexing my core and buttucks (like standing up straight) helps.

When I start to feel that niggle I stop doing flip turns. Just not worth it. I'll give myself 10 - 15 min break and then try going back to it.

Coffee makes things worse.

Before an ocean race I got a good tip: take the non-drowsy dramamine the day before as it needs to be in the system already. I took only half of one because I'm small. Then I took the other half the morning of. No seasickness!

RE: Inner ear issue

Karl_S — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 00:54:56 GMT

Yes.

My understanding is that there are numerous things that can cause dizziness, from the merely irritating to lethal.

I know it sounds trite, but maybe see if a physician can get to the bottom of it. None has ever arrived at a satisfactory explanation for me, (and I've seen a small army of specialists) but vestibular rehabilitation therapy has been of some value. (It ain't a quick fix though. it takes near Jobian patience.)

It may just be "motion sickness". If so, progressively desensitizing yourself to flip turns could help. As a youth, it took me several years to work up to doing flip turns throughout practice. As an adult, I've had episodes of vertigo. It often takes me months to work back into doing flip turns again afterwards. I had such an event shortly before the pandemic hit and chased us all out of the pool. If I ever return to swimming, I suspect it may take months to a year to get back to doing flip turns again.