I don't know why, but when swimming in the lake, I get this somewhat claustic feeling about not getting enough breath. I am a pretty strong swimmer, and have no doubt I can finish the .5 miles in the triathlons I am doing (my second one to happen this Sunday), but I stop stroking and do a slow *** stroke just to calm myself. This would be OK, but I seem to need to do it quite often. I wonder if this is a problem for others? Granted I have not swum in open water very ofen, and with winter on its way I will probably put that off until late Spring.
Another question: At the end of the swim, as I am standing up to exit the water, I most often have a dizzy feeling and that I am going to fall over. Is this just something to live with? Or is something else going on?
I appreciate this forum and all the advice and help I have gotten in the past. Especially the tips for doing my first triathlon in June. I used ALL the tips, and they helped a lot.
Thanks,
Nancy
Parents
Former Member
Whenever I get out of the ocean (whether I've been swimming, bodysurfing, just relaxing, or skindiving), I am off balance for about a minute. It is the same thing that happens when I get off a boat. I have to plant my feet on the ground and not move for about 20 seconds to get my equalibrium back totally. If I try to walk or lift a foot or bend over to take off a fin before then, my balance is very off. Since it happens when I get off a boat, too, I don't think my balance problem is caused by breathing or going from horizontal to vertical too fast, but has more to do with the inner ear reacting to the movement of the water. I never have this problem when I get out of a pool. (I swim 3-4 days a week in a pool and several hours each week in the ocean... can often lie in bed at night and feel the rhythm of the water...) I am not sure you would have the same effect from swimming in a lake, but the water may have more natural movement than a pool, and that might be a factor in your dizziness.
Whenever I get out of the ocean (whether I've been swimming, bodysurfing, just relaxing, or skindiving), I am off balance for about a minute. It is the same thing that happens when I get off a boat. I have to plant my feet on the ground and not move for about 20 seconds to get my equalibrium back totally. If I try to walk or lift a foot or bend over to take off a fin before then, my balance is very off. Since it happens when I get off a boat, too, I don't think my balance problem is caused by breathing or going from horizontal to vertical too fast, but has more to do with the inner ear reacting to the movement of the water. I never have this problem when I get out of a pool. (I swim 3-4 days a week in a pool and several hours each week in the ocean... can often lie in bed at night and feel the rhythm of the water...) I am not sure you would have the same effect from swimming in a lake, but the water may have more natural movement than a pool, and that might be a factor in your dizziness.
