Alergic reaction to chlorine?

Can't answer your question about wheather or not you are allergic to the chlorine, but another thought... it is Spring. It might be a Spring allergy, or mold growing in at one or both of the pool locations.

It's unlikely but not impossible to have allergy problems to chlorine/pool chemicals. Usually (not always), allergies are to proteins. Other, more likely, problems are 1. Seasonal allergies -- don't discount this, they can show up any time and RIGHT NOW is a peak time of year for them; 2. Mold/fungus -- think about it -- pools are havens for dampness, and molds etc grow really well in this environment, and are very allergenic 3. Non-allergic (irritant) rhinitis to the chemicals Benadryl usually lasts a few hours, like 3-4. It's also sedating to many people, so may not be your best choice for allergy symptoms. There is (expen$ive) over the counter claritin which works for 24 hrs and is mostly nonsedating, and there are precription ones also (no major advantage over OTC claritin except your health insurance may pick up the tab). I would bet on seasonal allergies, just because of the time of year, but if you haven't noticed these symptoms until the past month or so it may not be. Certainly if you notice one pool is less likely to cause your symptoms than another -- stick with that one!!

I am experiencing the same symptoms after a long swim; but surprisingly the problem seems to be the worst after one of those "I don't think you guys are doing enough back stroke" workouts! I have tried taking claritin the night before a morning swim and it does seem to lessen the reaction. But then again, there are times when there is no reaction to the pool at all. If anyone has other ideas let us know!

Originally posted by aschueler There is (expen$ive) over the counter claritin which works for 24 hrs and is mostly nonsedating, and there are precription ones also (no major advantage over OTC claritin except your health insurance may pick up the tab). ! I use to use Claritan w/ an RX--$72/month. It recently went OTC/generic ; I last paid $9.69/60! It works pretty well most of the year, but in the spring I need to take a decongestent too before I swim.

This issue comes up very often. Almost surely it is rhinitis as mentioned by aschueler. The fact that it is more likely to occur during backstoke workouts, when water often washes in the sinusus, is a good clue. While very annoying and debilitating in some cases, it is not technically an allergy and allergy medications will probably not help. I have some experience with this -- at one time a pool I swam in made me sneeze and have an extreme runny nose for a couple of days after each workout. There have been many suggestions; in my order of preference - swim in a pool that does not cause the problem (well maintained and/or outside), nose plug (you will be surprised how quickly you can get used to it), and nasal washes (yech!). I would avoid the drugs as they are expensive, and well, drugs, with unnecessary side effects.

I have asthma & allergies. I've had many allergists at great teaching hospitals tell me that chlorine is not an allergant. It is an irratant(sp). It can bother you but IgE is not produced? Please doctors help me. You can not be skin tested for it. The bendryl probably relaxed you & that could also be a reason why it helped. There have been times when I've been given benedryll IV in the ER. It is truly an unique experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My allergy problem has been solved and it was without the assistance of drugs. A simple nose clip sent this probem into oblivion. If only it wasn't hot pink, I think the rest of the team would be more acceptive!

As a sufferer of horrifying allergy attacks, I have been able to clear up my problems within 6 months. It takes time. I have not had any issues with swimming in the past 7 months. You must lay off the WHITE FLOUR and DAIRY products and take ACIDOPHOLIS vitamin (probiotic). Amazing what that change can do. I sneeze every once in a while when the smell of flowers are really close by, but nothing like what i used to go through

Originally posted by NEALK56 Lately I am swimming at 2 different pools. I am a late blooming, 45yo, fitness swimmer. I am up to doing about 3800 yds per workout. I find that I often have a very runny nose and sneezing fits that can last the entire day. I will take benedryl but it only seems to help a bit. I have tried to pay attention and think that one of the pools may be causing much more of a problem than the other. As an experiment I tried takign a single benedryl (sp?) about a half hour before swimming. THis seems to be helping. So am I alergic to the water? Is this common and what other suggestions if any? funny you should ask this, I had a similar issue all of the sudden this early spring!.. I had not swum in about 4 months, then went back to it.. I sometimes sit in a sauna after the workouts and noticed my nose started running all of the sudden. then I started sneezing when I got back to work and the top of my mouth was itchy.. I noticed the next time I went swimming that my goggles (that had been sitting in my swim bag for 4 months), had a little bit of mold on the gaskets!.. I've cleaned them the best I can, (i should probably get new ones though), and noticed a little bit of a difference, I don't do the sneezing thing any more, my mouth isn't itchy, and my nose isn't running as much. Although, I have also been "cleansing" my body as much as I can.. I changed my diet and no longer am eating refined sugars (except for some occasions :rolleyes: ), or fried or foods that are very processed. I also started drinking water with lemon in it which helps to cleanse excess mucus from the body. Good luck, I hope you find some relief! Jeanette.

nose plug does the trick