Greetings, I just joined this group last night (08/14) due to my latest round of allergy attack prompted by swimming. Briefly, I am 61 yrs old, swam distance, some masters, and college intermurals from age 20 - 40. Around 40 I developed allergy to something in the pool, worked with allergy clinic at Ohio State Medical Center. Doc could not figure it out. Was on med for awhile that worked, but it was taken off the market.
I finally gave up, went to running long distance for the next 21 years. Lately I have been tiring of running, have tried on a few occasions to return to swimming, this past week for example. Mon. 1000 yds, Wed 500 yds, Fri. 1000 yds. Started some sneezing during the week, determined I could beat it this time until Friday night and a huge allergy attack, repeated sneezing, runy nose, burning eyes......and I am about to admit defeat again. It is very unpleasant, very disruptive.
I do not have other allergies. In a regular year I dont even typically get sick, maybe the rare sneezing. Also live with 4 dogs, two of them big GSDs, meaning lots of dog dander. No problem.
Go swimming a few days in a row and it is a disaster, same as 20 years ago when I finally switched to running. I would like to get back to swimming, but.............
There is a lot of insight and experience in this group. Does anyone have any ideas about this, antidotes, medications, techniques to address this problem? Any thoughts will be appreciated. I may return to OSU allergy clinic, see what they will say. Meanwhile, your comments are welcome.
Skip Cornett
Columbus, OH
You didn't mention whether you were swimming indoors or outdoors.
Indoors, this type of problem is usually caused by chloramines, which are produced when chlorine reacts with nitrogen-containing compounds, such as sweat and urine. Levels are usually higher in the summer, due to the hot weather and greater number of kids using the pool during swim lessons and camps. Chloramines can be irritating to the nose and lungs, but this is not a true allergy. As some of the other posters have mentioned, this is not a problem in pools that do not use chlorine-based chemicals, but those are uncommon in the U.S. You might want to talk to the pool manager to see if the ventilation system is working properly, to enforce rules requiring a shower before swimming (removes sweat and sunscreen), and to encourage kids to use the bathroom before swimming. You can also talk to your doctor about a steroid nasal spray, which may reduce the inflammation in the nose. I'm not sure what you used in the past, but allergy pills are usually not that helpful.
Chloramines are rarely a problem in outdoor pools. However, people can have allergies to trees, grass, pollen, etc. Again, you can talk to your doctor about testing and treatment for outdoor allergies.
Hope this helps, and keep on kickin'.
You didn't mention whether you were swimming indoors or outdoors.
Indoors, this type of problem is usually caused by chloramines, which are produced when chlorine reacts with nitrogen-containing compounds, such as sweat and urine. Levels are usually higher in the summer, due to the hot weather and greater number of kids using the pool during swim lessons and camps. Chloramines can be irritating to the nose and lungs, but this is not a true allergy. As some of the other posters have mentioned, this is not a problem in pools that do not use chlorine-based chemicals, but those are uncommon in the U.S. You might want to talk to the pool manager to see if the ventilation system is working properly, to enforce rules requiring a shower before swimming (removes sweat and sunscreen), and to encourage kids to use the bathroom before swimming. You can also talk to your doctor about a steroid nasal spray, which may reduce the inflammation in the nose. I'm not sure what you used in the past, but allergy pills are usually not that helpful.
Chloramines are rarely a problem in outdoor pools. However, people can have allergies to trees, grass, pollen, etc. Again, you can talk to your doctor about testing and treatment for outdoor allergies.
Hope this helps, and keep on kickin'.
