runny nose/sneezing

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Thu, 18 Dec 2003 10:14:40 GMT

A follow-up... My doctor was pretty emphatic that the Allegra 180 and even more, the Nasacort steriod spray are pretty benign treatments and safe for the very long term. Of the two...he indicated the spray is less invasive as it isn't systemic like an antihistamine pill. He finds people have more difficulty staying up with the spray than with taking a pill every day...so he often finds the pill presciption more effective. He gave me the prescription for the Allegra and samples of Nasacort and told me to experiment and find out if just the pill or spray will work or if I need to take them together. I also indicated that one side of my sinuses seems to always be more "stuffed" than the other and he said it may be a small polyp causing the problem and that the Nasacort will likely clear that up...the Allegra alone wouldn't have the same impact. He was very clear on the point that a good swimming regime far out weighs any questionable impacts associated with a long term program to treat the sinus issues. I swam today and took my medication prior to the swim. I feel great. The other beauty of these medicines is that they don't have any physical side effects...no drowsiness etc.

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Wed, 17 Dec 2003 13:02:18 GMT

Please post your doc's opinion and recommendations -- I suffer from this malady as well, and am loathe to think I must take some drug forevermore... Thanks, Nancy

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Tue, 16 Dec 2003 15:16:28 GMT

I have been suffering post swim congestion/sneezing for the last 8 months. I got back into swimming just under 2 years ago and was generally fine until late last winter. My condition was getting so bad I was beginning to think I would have to quite swimming. I decided to take one of my wife's Allegra 180s before swimming and what a huge and nearly complete turn around it has given me. Problem is, I'm not sure I want to take these continually for the rest of my life. I have a routine physical coming up and I am going to ask for the nasal steriod spray as an alternative to see if that is effective. Either way, I have to believe the benefits of swimming out weigh the negatives of routine medication.

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Mon, 15 Dec 2003 16:42:53 GMT

I'm surprised no one has mentioned a steroid based nasal spray such as Nasacort or Flonase and any of the others in that tribe. My eight year old son just started swim team this year and was having a serious problem with nasal congestion to the point where I thought he'd have to drop swimming. His doctor prescibed one of the steroidal nasal sprays (can't remember which) and it's worked wonders. Because they get such a small dose these sprays are pretty harmless-you aren't going to see the problems assoicated with longterm oral steroids. Jan

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Mon, 01 Dec 2003 17:58:49 GMT

I sometimes end up with a substantial amount of pool water in my sinuses---for instance, I'll discover it an hour after swimming when I bend over just right and...! Anyway, on those occasions, I'm feeling much clearer and less sneezy after the flood. Probably I'm the only one with this issue---but I thought I'd pipe up in case you might be a fellow water carrier.

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 16:54:54 GMT

Could it be allergies to something in the pool? Got allergies in general? You know, when our bodies get introduced to new substances they can react that way, till they de-sensitize. De-sensitising can take from 3 weeks to few months. (Just my 2c)

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 14:52:59 GMT

Nancy, I have had this problem myself in the past.I used a nose clip for quite a while but as I exhale a lot it would loosen and then slip off(always at the deep end!!!!!!).It has cost me a few purchases of new nose clips,until I bought one that damaged the skin on my nose.I decided there and then that I would "just tough it out" and fight the sneezes and cold when they came the next day.After a few weeks I am handling it ok now. Mark Varney:cool:

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 11:55:48 GMT

I have had some bouts with sneezing when the adult swim classes are in the pool at the same time as my workouts. The lifeguards were not enforcing the "shower" policy and the perfumes and other substances gave me sneezing fits. Michael

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2003 17:13:21 GMT

I don't think it happens to everyone. Some are less sensitive to chlorine than others I think. Also, some pools have less chlorine than others. As I mentioned, there are some pools that I swim in and have no problems afterward. Nancy

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2003 13:18:22 GMT

Yes I have to say try a nose plug.. You can get a Synchro Style type which has no band and is hard to see. Try it see if the symptoms go away ..may take a few weeks. A cheap and easy remedy. If it works..! ....If It does not then you will have to see the Doctors .. which one to start with ? .. Allergy..ENT ..? Try a nose plug !.. You also can try "watertighting: with a tight seal cap,goggles and the nose plug too ..some people have a hard time with chlorine and need special "treatment". keep trying and dont give up on your swimming which is great exercise that you can do till you are really old ..like in your 90's!

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2003 11:24:45 GMT

I must not be alergic to chlorine. In fact, since I started swimming, my sinuses are clearer than they have ever been!

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Sat, 22 Nov 2003 12:55:37 GMT

I haven't had this problem myself, but haven't been swimming very long (almost a year). Is this something that happened to everyone right from the begining or did it develop over time?

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2003 12:58:44 GMT

I have asked this very question in the past, and have yet to totally fix my runny nose/sneezing problem. The saline spray helped one or two times, but I did not use it BEFORE swimming -- which I may now try. I cannot comfortably swim with nose clips as part of my breathing is exhaling through the nose. At the worst times I have taken an allergy pill, but am rather anti-pills, and use this only in more dire circumstances. I think my "main" pool has more chlorine than others and suspect this is the culprit of my problem. I have swum in 2 other pools and have not suffered the same malady. I will continue my search for the solution. Nancy

RE: runny nose/sneezing

swimr4life — Fri, 21 Nov 2003 11:12:50 GMT

I have had the same problem in the past. The only thing that helps me is taking a long steamy shower and washing as much of the chlorine as possible off my body and hair before I leave the pool! If I don't, I'm miserable afterwards! If that does not help, you may need to go to a E.N.T. (ear,nose,throat) Dr. and get checked out. There are so many things that could be causing this! Change your air filter on your central air/heater frequently too! If you are worse in the morning, it could be something in your house that you are reacting to.

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2003 11:11:28 GMT

I second the recommendation of trying a noseclip, keeping chlorinated water out of the nasal passages to begin with rather than treating the damage later.

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Former Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2003 09:55:55 GMT

I can recommend using a saline nasal spray after the workout (and also before if your nasal passages are dry). You can purchase the spray in a drug store or you can make it yourself (about 1 tsp table salt in 8 oz water) and get a spray bottle. Irrigating your nose with saline helps to clear out the pool chemicals without further irritating the nasal membranes. If your nose was dry, the water itself may be irritating. Why not just use plain water? Because it is not the same salinity as blood. If you throw red blood cells into plain water they will burst. Using saline lets the fluid do its cleaning and leaves your membranes happy, i.e., not irritated, not ready to burst. Remember the recommendation to gargle with salt water when you have a sore throat? I think about it like this: When I'm swimming I'm taking in a lot more air (working hard) through my nose and it is often combined with unsalinated water and chemicals. If my nose is dry, then the mucus is not there to protect the cell membranes from the plain water, and/or chemicals, and they become irritated. This may be more pronouced if you are using an antihistamine to dry up your nose due to colds or allergies (less mucus to protect the mucous membranes). After swimming, the concentration of the chemicals in my mucus is higher because it is not diluted by the extra water present while in the pool and that then creates the reactive sneezing and runny nose. Try using the spray for a few workouts and if it doesn't help, talk again with your physician. Good luck. Trivia: The average person swallows a quart of snot every day. As swimmmers I think we must be better than average!

RE: runny nose/sneezing

Guppigirl — Fri, 21 Nov 2003 01:05:18 GMT

Why not try a nose plug for a few workouts and see if that helps? I know many people who swear by them. Good luck. -GG