I have been swimming my whole life (I am 40), but during the past year, I began working out by swimming laps 3 - 4 times a week. After 7 months, I started having what felt like an asthma attack about 3 -4 hours after I swam. This happened three times in a row so I stopped my routine and made an appointment with an allergist. He says that I am having a reaction to the chemicals that are generated by the mixture of chlorine and organic material. None of the inhalers we have tried have helped with the problem and my doctor has reccommended no more swimming. Does anyone know anything about this? I haven't swam now for 6 months and miss it terribly.
I am affected by the pool chemicals and the ventilation system. At Auburn last summer, I stayed at the pool all morning on distance day. By the time I swam the 1500, I couldn't breathe and had to stop. The bad thing for me is that once my airways are irritated, nothing helps right away. it takes several days for me to get back to normal. I have to remember not to hang around the pool all day at a meet. I use Symbicort daily as a preventive. The rescue inhaler will give me some immediate relief but will not "fix" it once the irritation has occurred.
I confirmed it was the pool one day at practice when I started having problems during warm-up. I left and went to another pool immediately (didn't even change out of my suit). I was able to finish the workout with no problems.
I have never known anyone to have the problems several hours later. I do know swimmers who have gone to using a nose clip to keep the chemicals out of their nasal passages. this has been successful for many, but their symptoms were sneezing attacks, not breathing problems.
I have a good physician for the asthma who really wants to help me swim and compete.
I am affected by the pool chemicals and the ventilation system. At Auburn last summer, I stayed at the pool all morning on distance day. By the time I swam the 1500, I couldn't breathe and had to stop. The bad thing for me is that once my airways are irritated, nothing helps right away. it takes several days for me to get back to normal. I have to remember not to hang around the pool all day at a meet. I use Symbicort daily as a preventive. The rescue inhaler will give me some immediate relief but will not "fix" it once the irritation has occurred.
I confirmed it was the pool one day at practice when I started having problems during warm-up. I left and went to another pool immediately (didn't even change out of my suit). I was able to finish the workout with no problems.
I have never known anyone to have the problems several hours later. I do know swimmers who have gone to using a nose clip to keep the chemicals out of their nasal passages. this has been successful for many, but their symptoms were sneezing attacks, not breathing problems.
I have a good physician for the asthma who really wants to help me swim and compete.
