Ok, so I have this dust mite allergy. When it flares up, it looks pretty darn bad.
I feel kinda like a creep getting in the pool with my skin looking that way (it's usually just on the lower part of my calves, which get the most exposure to dust from carpets), but on the other hand I know it's nothing that's going to harm anyone, even if they were to play footsie with me.
Right now it's looking kinda bad, and I'm conflicted. I still practice because, well, I don't want to lose out on pool time, obviously. But I'm very self-conscious whenever I walk out onto the deck.
So what do y'all think?
Is it ok to dive on in, as long as I know I'm not putting anyone's health at risk, even though it might make other swimmers go "Ewww!"? Or am I being inconsiderate?
PS: I swim at a gym, not on a team, so I can't simply explain the situation to my poolmates.
Parents
Former Member
Sharpsburger, just wondering... Does swimming (I mean soaking your skin in poolwater all the time) make things worse for you?
About staph: I once got a staph infection from a swimming pool. One of the other swimmers on our team was out with a staph infection in his leg, and a day or so later, I had a large swollen sore between my nose and eye! I had some very slightly broken skin from the nose bridge of my goggles rubbing, so that's how the staph entered. Anyway, yes, it could have been serious if left unchecked, but it was very obvious long before that point. Oral antibiotics easily did the trick. Just keep an eye on the skin where you're vulnerable, and if you start getting a large boil-like sore, go straight to the doc. You won't have to go to the hospital. (I HATE hospitals, too!)
I haven't noticed that swimming has any effect one way or the other.
The only time I got a staph infection was from swimming in rivers in Florida. It was a real pain. Every day I had to lather up with special soap, then turn off the water and just stand there for five minutes in the lather before rinsing off.
That was years ago, tho, before the superbugs.
Sharpsburger, just wondering... Does swimming (I mean soaking your skin in poolwater all the time) make things worse for you?
About staph: I once got a staph infection from a swimming pool. One of the other swimmers on our team was out with a staph infection in his leg, and a day or so later, I had a large swollen sore between my nose and eye! I had some very slightly broken skin from the nose bridge of my goggles rubbing, so that's how the staph entered. Anyway, yes, it could have been serious if left unchecked, but it was very obvious long before that point. Oral antibiotics easily did the trick. Just keep an eye on the skin where you're vulnerable, and if you start getting a large boil-like sore, go straight to the doc. You won't have to go to the hospital. (I HATE hospitals, too!)
I haven't noticed that swimming has any effect one way or the other.
The only time I got a staph infection was from swimming in rivers in Florida. It was a real pain. Every day I had to lather up with special soap, then turn off the water and just stand there for five minutes in the lather before rinsing off.
That was years ago, tho, before the superbugs.
