:badday:
So, I've been swimming on/off for 15 years now. I started in college, swam for the school and have been with Masters ever since. I spent a few years away from the pool, but was in the ocean every day surfing. Moved away from the ocean and have been in the pool religiously for the past 4 years, never missing a day unless the pool was closed for maintenance, it was a holiday, or I had a Doctor's appt.
I follow a coach's workout everyday. I am in the water for about 90 minutes daily and am always changing up strokes, drills, etc. You would think that there's no way I could get bored in the water, but, it's happening.
2012 has been a tough year for me. I was admitted into the hospital in ICU with severe pneumonia, severe sepsis, multiple organ failure and I even had a stroke. This was in April. I was in a coma for 21 days. I died on the ER table and had to be resuscitated. I pulled through and was eventually admitted to an inpatient care facility to learn to walk, talk, feed myself, etc. I harassesed the therapists daily to let me get in the water!!! I could NOT wait to get back in the pool!!!
Well, June comes and I'm in the water. Start back slow with easy workouts. 1200-1600 meters max. I eventually work up to my usual 2500-3000/day. Then, I notice in Sept., I am literally dreading going in for my workout. I put my fins on and coast through the whole thing just to get done and get out. WAY not normal for me.
Now, I have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. I swim cause it is supposedly the easiest on the joints, but lately, I'm having problems with swimming and my RA. I flare and can't move in the water, which then frustrates me, and then makes not want to swim. I used to do two workouts a day...I would swim and then do Power 90 (the baby version of P90X). But, doing that is what put me in the hospital. The doctors said I wore my body down so much that it could not fight off any infection. I have to take chemo meds to control my RA, which pretty much kills my immune system.
Basically, I'm not sure what to do. I LOVE swimming. I love the water. I love the glide. I love the feeling of freeness that swimming provides. But, I just don't love it anymore....I hope that makes sense.
Have any of you felt this way? How did you get past it? Is it just a funk? Should I take some time away from the pool? Thank you in advance!!!
Parents
Former Member
-Hi Jen,
Most every swimmer approaches their pool time with a competitive mindset. It's something which is wired into our breed as water people especially if we've been in the sport as youngsters. Imagine a German shepherd doing it's best not to bark and run after a stray cat. It's a natural reflex to want to take action and it's my guess that the swimmer in you wants to push. But it's hard right now, and that's making it both frustrating and demoralizing.
Your body needs some TLC and any kind of movement is going to help it rather than avoiding the water altogether. Just spending time in the pool enjoying the element without looking at the pace clock or counting laps should help turn the experience into recreation rather than work. From personal experience this has worked for me through both physical injuries and times of emotional upset.
Go easy and without any specific goal in mind other than to enjoy the water. Let it build you up rather than break you down. In time you're going to feel better and hopefully any kind of trip to the pool will be like good medicine instead of a chore. I bet 30 minutes will fly by and you'll wonder where it went.
Wishing you all the best.
-Hi Jen,
Most every swimmer approaches their pool time with a competitive mindset. It's something which is wired into our breed as water people especially if we've been in the sport as youngsters. Imagine a German shepherd doing it's best not to bark and run after a stray cat. It's a natural reflex to want to take action and it's my guess that the swimmer in you wants to push. But it's hard right now, and that's making it both frustrating and demoralizing.
Your body needs some TLC and any kind of movement is going to help it rather than avoiding the water altogether. Just spending time in the pool enjoying the element without looking at the pace clock or counting laps should help turn the experience into recreation rather than work. From personal experience this has worked for me through both physical injuries and times of emotional upset.
Go easy and without any specific goal in mind other than to enjoy the water. Let it build you up rather than break you down. In time you're going to feel better and hopefully any kind of trip to the pool will be like good medicine instead of a chore. I bet 30 minutes will fly by and you'll wonder where it went.
Wishing you all the best.
