Hi! I'm new here and have recently become interested in doing some open water swims. Unfortunately, the local masters team doesn't work for my schedule, so I am going at it alone.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to handle asthma when out in the open water. Even though my asthma is much better than when i started swimming again 6 weeks ago (i would literally be getting out of the water wheezing wiht blue lips), I still am concerned. The thought of exercising and being so far away from my inhaler frightens me. Does anyone have suggestions on how i can carry and/or take my inhaler while in deep water?
Thanks alot!
Nicole
Former Member
i usually use my inhaler 15 minutes before swimming and I am fine.
Try wearing triathlon shorts that have a zippered pocket in the back. You can keep an inhaler and a couple of gels in some of them, and they result in very little extra drag. I've found that due to the cold temp of the water, a relatively new inhaler works best. Older ones with less meds left in them require a lot of shaking to get anything out of after a couple of hours in the water. And of course, pre-medicate before you swim!
You are right, my asthma has been difficult to control lately. I have seen my doctor, and my meds have been changed, and I have been having fewer problems lately. However, still occasionally having trouble because the pollen is very heavy right now. When I dealt with the blue lips, I took my inhaler and was feeling better by the time I got dressed (and looking better, i didnt have a peak flow meter with me at the time), or else I would have gone to the ER.
When I think back to exercising with my asthma under control, I almost never have to stop mid workout, with only occasional problems after. I think I will work on getting my asthma under control before going out in the lake.
On a side note, there are new inhalers out that do not have CFC's in them, and do not harm the environment. I have one and it works as well as the old version, and is much faster than a nebulizer (which i also have, for when things get bad).
Thanks again for the insight!
Hi! I'm new here and have recently become interested in doing some open water swims. Unfortunately, the local masters team doesn't work for my schedule, so I am going at it alone.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to handle asthma when out in the open water. Even though my asthma is much better than when i started swimming again 6 weeks ago (i would literally be getting out of the water wheezing wiht blue lips), I still am concerned. The thought of exercising and being so far away from my inhaler frightens me. Does anyone have suggestions on how i can carry and/or take my inhaler while in deep water?
Thanks alot!
Nicole
If you were swimming with blue lips, you should have gone to the ER. Do you know what your peak flow was at that time? Also, your statement that you are afraid of being far away from your inhaler truly suggests that you aren't in control, or at least, you don't feel as if you are in control. Therefore, I would suggest you not attempt any open water swims yet. You probably should never take your inhaler into deep water. The chances of loosing it, even if it is securly contained, are way too high. Loosing your inhaler in the middle of a swim will ony increase your anxiety.
I have frequently been told that asthmatics are the second or third major cause of ozone destruction. I only use Advair inhaler. The new powder inhalers are so expensive, though. I take all of my bronchios through a nebulizer. Supposedly, the polution & resource depreciation caused by the use of the electrical nebulizer is suppose to be far less than the polution & resource depreciation of one puff on an inhaler.
