I'm a rather new swimmer (1 1/2 months) and the other day I had a bad experience when I got out of the pool. The second I jumped out, I got the worst cramp ever! And it wasn't exactly in my stomache, more in my pelvic area. But I couldn't stand straight upright for 3 hours, I could only sit in a chair bending over grabbing my legs for leverage. I finally just took a hot bath and it went away, but I've never felt anything like it before. Just trying to stand in an upright position hurt so bad and I'd almost involuntarily bend back over. Just curious what this is and how to avoid it. I've heard of the bends, but maybe that has to do with divers ???
Former Member
Pink,
It is true that I don't know what your cramp experience was--but like you, I also had a horrible cramp. Mine was in the calf muscle, during a warm down (ok, I was kinda playing) after completing a Super Tuesday endurance workout. It was absolutely horrible! Actually, there was a dent in my calf...as if one could literally see the cramp.
It's Thursday evening, and the calf is very sore...so I'm going to keep following up to see if someone knows how to work this thing out!
:rolleyes:
Jerrycat
hi ya- no, eating before training is NOT a good idea ;) However, I just kinda noted that you're from FL.- was it particularly hot that day? I, too, live in Fl., and find that even when swimming at 6 AM, I sometimes struggle to stay hydrated... An hour and a half is a fairly long time, so maybe it was some sort of hydration issue, or maybe it was just your body saying, 'Oi, I've had enough of this!" Again, I'm not a dr., so I don't know... outta curiosity, how long have you been swimming?
peace...
I'm not a doctor, but what it sounds like to me is that you really worked your abdominal muscles. But I could be wrong.
I have noticed that when I do sit ups, sometimes my stomach will hurt so bad, almost like it feels like I want to throw up, but then I stop right away and the pain goes away.
Maybe you pushed yourself really hard, and the pain set in later on. Sometimes adrenaline can override pain at first, then it sets in later. :-)
Take care,
Beckie
Rest assured that you are not experiencing the bends.
Decompression sickness, also known as the bends, is associated with SCUBA diving, where you are breathing compressed air underwater at higher atmosphere of pressure.
For example, on land at sea level, the air around us has a pressure of 14.7 PSI (pounds per square inch), or 1 atmosphere. That is a "normal pressure" for our bodies. Because water is so heavy compared to air, it does not take much water to exert a lot of pressure. For every 33 feet below the surface, the water adds another atmosphere of pressure.
At these higher pressures, greater quantities of gasses from breathing are dissolved and absorbed into the blood stream and other body tissues. If a SCUBA diver stays under water, say at a depth of 100 feet (about 30 meters), for a certain period of time, some amount of nitrogen from the air will dissolve in the water in his or her body. If the diver were to swim quickly to the surface, it is just like uncorking a bottle of soda -- the gas is released in the blood stream. This can cause a very painful condition, and it is sometimes fatal
Hi ya,
I'm not a doctor, but how long had you been training for during the workout? Had you eaten a short time before training? I don't think that it was the bends (or decompressions sickness) as that comes from elevated nitrogen levels in the blood, due to rising from certain depths too quickly. the only things that I can think of is that you overdid it or overate, or something... in either case, if you're feeling better now, I shouldn't worry...
feel better...
Thanks all for your replies. That's what I thought the Bends was, but wasn't sure. Jerrycat, no I didn't eat right before I swam that day, and had been swimming for 1 1/2 hour. I try not to eat anything in the morning before I swim (at 830) b/c it usually makes me feel like I'm gonna throw up in the pool. Is this a good idea, or should I try to eat a little something before I hop in?
i think that's great- i always like to encourage new swimmers because i'm kinda 'new' myself... although i've been swimming on and off for around five years, i've just recently got stuck into it with real goals in mind...
Happy swimming...
