Swimming with bronchitis

No--but if you are ill, the consensus is that you should avoid strenuous exercise. Why place additional demands on a system that is already stressed? As suggested, a commonsense approach will see you through most things. I'll just note that pulmonary toilet (lung cleaning) is achieved through lung use, and if you can stagger through activities in mild cases of lung involvement, you might actually feel better (junk is removed) and get better faster. Probably apocryphal story: One of the Beat poets, on being told he had TB, elected to ride on top of a train from East Coast to West Coast, gulping in great draughts of cold air along the way. Mirabile dictu, no more TB. Regards, VB

Speaking of the Beats, I bet Gregory Corso is the imp that first put "Pulmonary" and "Toilet" together. I believe it was in the poem "Radiator Cloaca," was it not? I don't know; not up on G. Corso. But "pulmonary toilet" is a standard medical term. Some judicious physical effort, to clean out lungs, gets rid of debris and also ups infection fighting factors elsewhere in the body. Regards, VB

Willow Thanks for writing! I am just afraid that being in cold water may make my lungs feel worse... So I guess you are right staying that I should stay away from swimming for a couple more days! But it's soooooo hard....:sad: If you feel like you are just getting sick better to relax at home for a day or two than get really sick like me.....

Willow Thanks for writing! I am just afraid that being in cold water may make my lungs feel worse... So I guess you are right staying that I should stay away from swimming for a couple more days! But it's soooooo hard....:sad: If you feel like you are just getting sick better to relax at home for a day or two than get really sick like me..... Gerdrick, my experience has been that I skip the first day of being really sick (nose won't stop running, for example, achy, stuffy). I work out through injuries and illnesses. However, I do find in my case, that it prolongs my healing time. If I would just take 2 or 3 days off (unheard of!) I'd probably be cured by day 4. Instead, I work out after the first day, and feel crappy for a week or 2. So that being said, as long as your nose is running, I'd stay out of the water. Like Willow, I'd be pretty grossed out if someone was swimming with a running nose. Just think of how awesome you'll feel when you get back in the water!:lolup:

Also, bronchitis is an upper respiratory infection. I've always heard that you avoid doing strenuous exercise with an URI because you don't want the deeper breathing to suck the infection lower into your lungs. I wonder if there is any truth to that worry?

Also, bronchitis is an upper respiratory infection. I've always heard that you avoid doing strenuous exercise with an URI because you don't want the deeper breathing to suck the infection lower into your lungs. I wonder if there is any truth to that worry? No--but if you are ill, the consensus is that you should avoid strenuous exercise. Why place additional demands on a system that is already stressed?

Thank you all for comments! So, I guess I'll rest a bit more.....the only thing is the more I rest the more I feel like the fat is growing in my butt, making it more comfortable to sit! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Wow, I zipped over to this board to find the answer to this question. I have had bronchitis (doc even did a chest x-ray) for a couple of weeks now. Am feeling much better but still have a cough with a rattle/crackle kinda sound. Will swim easy until, GASP, dare I say it???????, the noodlers get in the pool. I might even join them. I've seen several at different places and they say they are using new equipment--like resistance bands--hummm TTFN, Lainey

Speaking of the Beats, I bet Gregory Corso is the imp that first put "Pulmonary" and "Toilet" together. I believe it was in the poem "Radiator Cloaca," was it not?

I was just going to post a question about how sick is too sick to swim! I think I will just horn in on your thread, if you don't mind. I was supposed to swim today, but I feel cold and crappy, and have a stuffy/runny nose, and just feel sorry for myself, but I don't feel THAT bad. I *could* swim, but, not knowing where to draw the line, I stayed home. In your case, I'd stay home a few days. The idea of having to flip on my back in the middle of a length to cough up a lung sounds gross and disruptive. If I were lanemate to a person doing that, I'd probably get out in disgust and paranoia. Oh, and I should mention that I am seriously germ-phobic, so if I'm comng across as a little extreme, that is why.