I'm swimming with a new workout group this year, and am thus in a new pool. Something in the water (not necessarily chlorine) is giving my sinuses fits. It takes more than a day to unstuff, during which time sleeping is problematic. I've rather casually tried decongestant (currently only Sudafed PE) and antihistamines (Claritin) and my trusty neti pot. The neti pot doesn't help a lot if your sinuses are completely clogged though.
I'm skeptical that it's chlorine causing problems mostly because I swam in an older pool last season which had higher chlorine levels with no problem (at least by how long the chlorine smell lingered on my skin).
I realize that chlorine is an irritant, not an allergen, so maybe antihistamines or decongestants won't be all that effective. Is there a nose clip in my future? Anybody using a nose clip strictly to keep chemicals out of your nose and sinuses?
Thx,
Skip
I, too, have this problem. I start sneezing within minutes of leaving the pool in the morning and continue all day with runny nose and congestion.
My doctor first tried Flonase for me which worked ok, but not great, and it usually wore off after a couple hours. I also do a saline rinse daily after swimming, but that works for only about an hour.
I finally went to the allergist last week to see if he could do something else and he put me on astelin now. We'll see this week how it works.
Would love to hear if others find something else that works!
I, too, have this problem. I start sneezing within minutes of leaving the pool in the morning and continue all day with runny nose and congestion.
My doctor first tried Flonase for me which worked ok, but not great, and it usually wore off after a couple hours. I also do a saline rinse daily after swimming, but that works for only about an hour.
I finally went to the allergist last week to see if he could do something else and he put me on astelin now. We'll see this week how it works.
Would love to hear if others find something else that works!
