Allergies and swimming

RE: Allergies and swimming

Former Member — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 14:54:12 GMT

I've definitely noticed a difference in my sinuses since I returned to a chlorinated pool. I had a sinus infection for 2 weeks, and now, almost another week later, still feeling groggy, can't taste, and sneezing. Allergies are high here which doesn't help.

RE: Allergies and swimming

DeniseMW — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 08:09:46 GMT

I went to the indoor pool yesterday and came out sneezing. I wonder if there's something they put in the water in summer to counteract all the germies from the classes and camps.

RE: Allergies and swimming

FindingMyInnerFish — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 09:37:57 GMT

Allergies--my sympathies to all who experience them! I was having huge trouble a few months ago when I swam at my Y in particular, but I notice lately with ramped up training, I have far less of an issue, often none. At my Y, though, I can see why I've had problems: VERY strong chlorine smell, which I'm told is b/c of poor maintenance. As it turns out, though, I joined a masters group that swims elsewhere, and now we're outdoors. I usually can't join the outdoor swim except on weekends--schedule just doesn't work out. But one night a week we swim open water, and I can do that. Both the outdoor pool and the open water swim seem not to cause any (or very few) symptoms. Further, when I swim on my own, I use pools that have extended hours--like one Y that has lap swim lanes all day, and a local h.s. that will have stretches of 5-6 hours at times that work w/ my schedule. In no place else have I noticed the nasal allergies the way I noticed them in my y. However, now I seem even to be able to swim there w/out a problem. Maybe my body adjusted or something. Maybe after a while, for pool-related allergies at least, one does adjust. Pollen, maybe not. But might be worth looking into different pools/groups.

RE: Allergies and swimming

DeniseMW — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:43:23 GMT

I swam for an hour yesterday, and today I'm sniffling and sneezing. Could be because they're out there cutting the grass. Renie, do you think those guys were part of your community, or just visiting? That's pretty rude of them. They obviously saw you were swimming and just didn't care about getting in your way. It's hard not to get angry. The lifeguard is supposed to keep that stuff under control. I had a very similar experience with rude idiots on Sunday. I was swimming in a double wide lane (apparently, they do this when there's a class). One guy and his girlfriend swam under the ropes and ran into me. Though they apologized, they were laughing. They moved into the shallow end, and the guy started hanging onto the ropes sticking his legs out into my lane, looking at me and laughing. The pool was like a madhouse on Sunday. One of my former swim teachers said he thinks a lot of families from other countries come and don't know the basic courtesies because they're not used to swimming in a pool with lap lanes. That makes sense. I've recommended posting something at the front desk (in several languages) because you can't be angry with people if they don't know what they're not supposed to do.

RE: Allergies and swimming

Former Member — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:16:21 GMT

Denise, I went outdoors on Sunday as well. Had a mild confrontation with an idiot. Two lanes are open for adults. One man is in lane 2, I'm in Lane 1. Two guys come in looking very tri-athlete like. One gets in my lane (never saying anything, just got in), the other guy stands on deck and he and guy in Lane 2 are blabbing away for 15 minutes. Next thing, 2d tri-athlete guy gets in my lane so now there's 3 in my lane and 1 in lane 2, but they're still blabbing away. So I ask the new guy what his plan is, and he says "to swim." I said "Circle"? he says, "whatever." He didn't seem to know what I meant. Long story short, I told him with 3 in a lane we'd need to circle. He moves over to Lane 2 where they proceed to "hang" in the deep end babbling for a good half hour. I HATE THAT!!!! Oh, and btw, he apparently cannot swim. :argue:

RE: Allergies and swimming

DeniseMW — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 02:31:01 GMT

Finally got to the pool. Why didn't I remind myself never to go on Sunday afternoon? But aside from idiots cutting under the ropes in front of me while in the midst of my laps and general bs rudeness, I had a pretty good time and am not suffering from allergies at the moment.

RE: Allergies and swimming

DeniseMW — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 07:35:47 GMT

Nope, have not gotten to the pool since a week ago Friday. I'm going tomorrow and hope it's not crowded in the morning. I'd planned to go yesterday. My dog had a stroke sometime during the night, so we spent the day at the vet. It was crazy. He'll be fine, but I've been sick with worry over this little guy since mid-June, which I think is the last time I had a decent swim. Sometime after I get out of the pool I feel a little clogged, and then it goes away. If it doesn't, get some saline spray at the drugstore. The allergies have been really severe this season, and even folks who don't have them have suffered, so I suspect it isn't the pool so much as just whatever is out there.

RE: Allergies and swimming

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 08:19:19 GMT

I'll try to get to the pool this week and see if it helps. Usually, it's warm and humid in the pool area, and they keep it pretty clean. renie, I think the pool at my rec center isn't over chlorinated, but they may have increased it during the summer because of all the kids and the camps. Hey Denise, did you swim this week? Today was my first day back in the water in 14 days! It felt sooooooo good. I felt a little off on the freestyle, but overall, I had a great swim. Now, however, I'm feeling pretty clogged up. I hope I don't end up regretting today. :)

RE: Allergies and swimming

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 15:30:21 GMT

renie, I'm sorry to hear you're having such a tough time. I swim indoors, so I wonder if that makes a difference. My eyes hurt and my nose is itchy, I'm sneezing like crazy. But I hate being out of practice. I'm supposed to be at a class building to a 5k tonight, but she makes us run mostly outdoors so I'm thinking I may have to skip this week. Perhaps it's more of a yoga week. I hope you get back into the pool soon. The longer I'm out, the harder it is to get back into it aerobically for more than a lap or two, and I get anxious about going back if I don't swim regularly. Denise, thanks. My eyes were burning and I was sneezing a lot in the beginning. I thought it was allergies. I woudl think that swimming in an enclosed area might be worse, but then again, you don't have pollen/winds/mold to deal with outside. This is the first time I've ever gotten sick when swimming outside. Like I said in another post, maybe the new pool I joined isn't being kept up to healthy standards. It's also overloaded with chlorine and I've been swimming in salt water pools for the least year. Is your indoor pool salt or chlorine? If you think it's just allergies, I'd definitely swim, but since I have other issues (deviated septum, inner ear problems), I tend to go right into a sinus infection which can last for weeks.

RE: Allergies and swimming

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:42:58 GMT

I've been having some bad allergy days that have kept me indoors and out of the pool and wanting nothing more than a nap. Do you find that swimming helps alleviate allergies? Please say yes.:bed: Denise, I wish I can say yes. I haven't been swimming in 9 days! I'm losing it. Never had a summer cold before. Be careful. I just watched The Doctors and summer colds are worse than winter colds, lasting longer, and are often mistaken for allergies. You're smart staying out of the pool, I swam 10 miles the week I felt my allergies misbehaving. It's been really bad this last week. My skin is pinching and itching and I just can't get rid of this cold/sinus infection. I even wear noseclips, use the neti pot, drink tons of water and use Nasonex. Go figure. I'm going to try swimming indoors in our salt water pool and hope tomorrow I don't have a relapse. I wouldn't dare swim outside yet. It's very hot, humid and allergies are high.

RE: Allergies and swimming

DeniseMW — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:54:41 GMT

RE: Allergies and swimming

srcoyote — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:13:11 GMT

In my worst allergy seasons, swimming (even outside) is a relief. However, as soon as I get out of the pool, I'd better get inside.

RE: Allergies and swimming

sunruh — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 11:07:33 GMT

500,000 gallon neti pot

RE: Allergies and swimming

DeniseMW — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:52:51 GMT