I haven't been on the board for awhile - too painful for me. I caught a nasty viral infection in February (probably from my gym--everyone had it and the virus lasted for a month in almost everyone who caught it). The virus settled in the inner ear. Prior to that, I swam 12 miles a week religiously, getting ready for my first summer off in about 30 years! My summer was going to start each day with a 3000 yard swim, some yoga, walking, maybe tennis. I had planned to take a few lessons to refine my strokes and hoped to swim with Masters. It is now almost August and I am still not able to swim. At first, the backstroke and freestyle resulted in severe motion sickness. Eventually, even breastroke and fly caused it. At first, the motion sickness only happened when I was swimming (almost the entire time), but I was fine when I got out of the pool. Then I became equally imbalanced even out of the water. Has anyone ever gone through this? My ENT says it can take months, or even years to recover from an inner ear inflammation. He also said it could be permanent damage. I am terrified, and needless to say, very depressed. I'm sorry to be a drag, but I know you all can understand. Thanks for listening.
Parents
Former Member
Renie,
exactly the same thing happened to my wife in December 2008. At that time we both caught a nasty virus and hers settled into her inner ear. I was luckier and mine only hung on for about 6 weeks.
Anyhow, Grace (my wife) began to notice vertigo in the pool on backstroke, fly and on flip turns. In addition, she couldn't clear her ears after swimming and had significant hearing loss. After a couple of months she went to the local doctor who referred her to an Otolaryngologist. From that visit she was sent to someone who tested her balance and recommended vestibular therapy. She was given a prescription for a very expensive nasal spray and an OTC decongestant (Mucinex D). A couple of months on these and she has partially recovered - enough to compete in Nationals in Fresno last May and local meets later. Her swimming is now fine, for all strokes, but she complains that the effects from the virus still linger and are worse from time to time.
She already was doing balance exercises as a regular part of her overall training, so she has just continued to do that with some additions (walking and balancing with eyes closed, for example) on the recommendation of the PT.
Her hearing is better but still not fully recovered at this point.
Hope you are able to find a way out of this.
Thanks for the response! Sounds like your wife went through what I've been going through. A friend of mine has been telling me for months to take Benedryl or some mild allergy med. I used to always take an OTC non-drowsy allergy pill before swimming, then I stopped taking them. They only work for 4 hours, which is more than enough time. I am going to give it a try. It's weird how backstroke really bothered me the most, with my head being out of the water. I think the vestibular exercises I've been doing have helped. I need to be more vigilant. THanks again, I really really appreciate your input.
Renie,
exactly the same thing happened to my wife in December 2008. At that time we both caught a nasty virus and hers settled into her inner ear. I was luckier and mine only hung on for about 6 weeks.
Anyhow, Grace (my wife) began to notice vertigo in the pool on backstroke, fly and on flip turns. In addition, she couldn't clear her ears after swimming and had significant hearing loss. After a couple of months she went to the local doctor who referred her to an Otolaryngologist. From that visit she was sent to someone who tested her balance and recommended vestibular therapy. She was given a prescription for a very expensive nasal spray and an OTC decongestant (Mucinex D). A couple of months on these and she has partially recovered - enough to compete in Nationals in Fresno last May and local meets later. Her swimming is now fine, for all strokes, but she complains that the effects from the virus still linger and are worse from time to time.
She already was doing balance exercises as a regular part of her overall training, so she has just continued to do that with some additions (walking and balancing with eyes closed, for example) on the recommendation of the PT.
Her hearing is better but still not fully recovered at this point.
Hope you are able to find a way out of this.
Thanks for the response! Sounds like your wife went through what I've been going through. A friend of mine has been telling me for months to take Benedryl or some mild allergy med. I used to always take an OTC non-drowsy allergy pill before swimming, then I stopped taking them. They only work for 4 hours, which is more than enough time. I am going to give it a try. It's weird how backstroke really bothered me the most, with my head being out of the water. I think the vestibular exercises I've been doing have helped. I need to be more vigilant. THanks again, I really really appreciate your input.
