Getting sick

RE: Getting sick

ande — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:29:42 GMT

So I am a week and a half out from a meet I have been preparing for since September. This Friday I am going to start a small one week taper leading into the meet next Sat Dec 8. However I am starting to get sick, I feel it in my throat, my nose is starting to run, etc. Do any of those things like Emergen-C work or am I better off with a multi vitamin and some nyquil? not really, just swim a little, rest, sleep & stay hydrated

RE: Getting sick

knelson — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 02:22:09 GMT

I don't really agree with that... I suppose its anecdotal, but in the 20 years I've been in the swimming world I've never once felt worse after a workout than before, in fact I have a hard time remembering any time I didn't feel way better while working out sick. I've worked out sick, I've raced sick, I've tapered and raced my taper meet sick and each time I've gotten out of the water feeling much better than before I got in. Even if this is true, what about the chances of you infecting others? Personally I think if you are sick you should stay out of the pool.

RE: Getting sick

Former Member — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:39:43 GMT

I remember being told that if it's above the neck, you can still exercise but if it's below the neck, you shouldn't. I found that my recollection was confirmed by the Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com/.../AN01097 I don't really agree with that... I suppose its anecdotal, but in the 20 years I've been in the swimming world I've never once felt worse after a workout than before, in fact I have a hard time remembering any time I didn't feel way better while working out sick. I've worked out sick, I've raced sick, I've tapered and raced my taper meet sick and each time I've gotten out of the water feeling much better than before I got in. The ONLY thing that has ever gotten in the way is if you got a real bad chest congestion thing going, sometimes you get the cross between cotton mouth and coughing up the junk in your chest. Can make breathing a little hard during a race, but I don't breathe in my main race so it doesn't matter as much to me, lol. My advice to OP: Get your sleep. Its hard to sleep during a taper anyway... but do what you can. Nyquil always worked for me... Keep your fluids up. Taper as you would, your performance will be there. ^^get this thought in your head and you will do fine.

RE: Getting sick

Former Member — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:30:50 GMT

The best thing to prevent colds or the flu is probably vitamin D. Especially if you live in an area that doesn't get a lot of sun in the winter: en.wikipedia.org/.../Vitamin_D_and_influenza It is better at prevention but there is a pharmacological dose proposed in the link above...

RE: Getting sick

Former Member — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:28:19 GMT

RE: Getting sick

Former Member — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:39:25 GMT

Thanks for the input. I am still on the fence about practicing tonight but I am going to pick up some stuff at lunch and see if I can recover or rather stop the cold's progression. I remember being told that if it's above the neck, you can still exercise but if it's below the neck, you shouldn't. I found that my recollection was confirmed by the Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com/.../AN01097

RE: Getting sick

Former Member — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:08:42 GMT

I just swam a meet with a cold that showed up very quickly and it was pretty miserable. I am not a doctor but here is what I do for colds (and this one does seem to be on its way out): -cold medicine containing guaifenesin (Mucinex) -lots of vitamin C (I like the chewable tablets but Emergen-C is more fun) -hot tea -rest

RE: Getting sick

Debugger — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:58:59 GMT

I hope I don't catch your cold from posting here, I also have a well planned meet around the corner. Same story here. Having meet in one week (National Championship) which I prepared for since July and now I started to have some slight discomfort in my ear. I went to the doc - she checked me and told everything is ok, just a bit red throat and prescribed some spray for it. I'm really anxious because in Ricione I swam my last 200m *** event with otitis and that was very painful :badday:

RE: Getting sick

jimmygoogle — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:59:06 GMT

If the meet is important to you, play it safe. You're not going to lose fitness if you take a few days off. I think I may take off until Fri and see how I feel and start my taper then.

RE: Getting sick

jimmygoogle — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:14:07 GMT

Thanks for the input. I am still on the fence about practicing tonight but I am going to pick up some stuff at lunch and see if I can recover or rather stop the cold's progression.

RE: Getting sick

__steve__ — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:03:31 GMT

I'm not a md but I do have an Rx: Chicken soup Easy workouts if any Try to get 8+ hours of sleep each night. I hope I don't catch your cold from posting here, I also have a well planned meet around the corner.

RE: Getting sick

orca1946 — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 07:30:55 GMT

Cold ease & juice & rest as much as you can b4 meet.