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?
Parents
Former Member
I swim in several pools and find I have different reactions to each one. I have a mild nasal irritation in the pool with the highest chlorine level, that ussually clears gradually during the day. (5ppm) One of the other pools, which has the lowest chlorine levels (2.2ppm) gives me the worst problems. As some of the others have mentioned various enviromental agents can cause problems. Seasonal allergies must be considered. Molds and fungus are certainly considerations. A British study from the 80's showed that various dermatophytes live in clorinated water for about 100+ days. A major consideration is the chemical agents used to clean the decks. If detergents or other cleaning agents get in the water , you may be allergic to them or just have a chemical irritation. I swim in a pool that hosted the NCAA last year. Metal cleaner & solutions to cleant the deck and bulkhead where hosed into the pool. I had to take decongestants before and after swimming for 6 weeks.
Another considereation is the percentage of swimmers showering before entering the pool and the rate of fresh water added to the pool. It is anybodies guess as to the long term effect of choline on the chemicals we put on ourselves.
The bottom line there are a variety of chemicals and organic matter in swimming pools which may cause a chemical irritation or allergic reaction. We are dependent on the pool management to do more than just keep the tests (pH, Chloine, trichloramines.. ) in balance.
You options are noseclips, decongestants/antihistamines or a new pool.
I swim in several pools and find I have different reactions to each one. I have a mild nasal irritation in the pool with the highest chlorine level, that ussually clears gradually during the day. (5ppm) One of the other pools, which has the lowest chlorine levels (2.2ppm) gives me the worst problems. As some of the others have mentioned various enviromental agents can cause problems. Seasonal allergies must be considered. Molds and fungus are certainly considerations. A British study from the 80's showed that various dermatophytes live in clorinated water for about 100+ days. A major consideration is the chemical agents used to clean the decks. If detergents or other cleaning agents get in the water , you may be allergic to them or just have a chemical irritation. I swim in a pool that hosted the NCAA last year. Metal cleaner & solutions to cleant the deck and bulkhead where hosed into the pool. I had to take decongestants before and after swimming for 6 weeks.
Another considereation is the percentage of swimmers showering before entering the pool and the rate of fresh water added to the pool. It is anybodies guess as to the long term effect of choline on the chemicals we put on ourselves.
The bottom line there are a variety of chemicals and organic matter in swimming pools which may cause a chemical irritation or allergic reaction. We are dependent on the pool management to do more than just keep the tests (pH, Chloine, trichloramines.. ) in balance.
You options are noseclips, decongestants/antihistamines or a new pool.
