Wonder if anyone has experienced something similar. I am a fairly comfortable OW swimmer, i've done Alcatraz twice, So Cal pier to pier 2 miler sub :55, weekly swims 1 to 2 mile in So Cal, 10-12K per week between pool/ocean.
Few weeks ago I was doing IM Arizona, my expected time was sub 1:00. About a mile in suffered severe debilitating vertigo for the first time ever while swimming. Started out feeling seasick, which is odd because I don't get seasick (been on tons of boats). Suddenly turned into severe vertigo, and it was very serious, had a hard time finding air (if you've had vertigo, imagine benig in water with it) Called for the guard, went to the boat and then kayak for assistance, tried to continue twice, realized I couldn't stand up even if I could make it to dry land. Spent the next hour puking and dry heaving, the next 8 trying not to.
Circumstances - swim is in Tempe Town Lake, very bad visibility, can't see your hand at the end of your arm. Speedo tinted Sengar goggles, tightened for OW race as usual. Dry conditions, and I had been taking salt pills the day before, as well as earlier in the week, to combat the heat, as well as hydrating lots. I was relaxed. My HR during the swim was a tad high, about 5-10 beats, at 148, but a lot lower than I've seen in other triathlons. I was swimming very comfortably. A little crowded, but not bad, no blows to the head.
No loss of hearing or vision or tinnitus. Symptoms slowly resolved, here 3 weeks later I get the occasional light spin, but mostly gone
Been to the GP, to the Neuro, had an MRI, neck xray, heading in for an echocardiogram. They are thinking one or a mixture of migrainous vertigo, labyrinthitis, or a potassium/sodium imbalance. Not meniere's, not BPPV, not MS, not a whole list of other things.
I swam on Friday OW for the first time, felt a little woozy, but frankly not sure how much of this is now real or in my head. I actually did a sprint tri wih a 1/4 mile swim on Sat. Used ear plugs for the first time to give them a shot, seemed to help, and I didn't notice any problems. But the swim was less than 6 minutes, not a great test.
Anyone else ever go through this? I am going to be getting back in the water soon, but I think I will have a harder time mentally with this than physically, since it was a pretty scary experience.
Former Member
What was the water temperature? It's pretty common to experience this when swimming in very cold water. Something about the cold affecting the balance chambers deep in the inner ear, which is why earplugs are the usual recommendation.
What was the water temperature? It's pretty common to experience this when swimming in very cold water. Something about the cold affecting the balance chambers deep in the inner ear, which is why earplugs are the usual recommendation.
Good point I forgot to add. Water was about 65, about the same as I swim in at home in So Cal in the summer. Just weird that I've been OWS for 3 years in those water temps and never had an issue with it. Maybe it was just my time to get it.
I have had something similar but just after the st croix swim an hour after finishing. sudden onset of vomiting for 8 hrs and vertigo that lasted some into the next day and left me a bit queasy for a few days.
i had never been seasick and did not feel seasick the entire time. it was really weird. but then i was swimming long time, and probably ingested a lot of salt over the time i was out. I researched it afterwards and though there is no definitive answer turns out there are several theories re: this phenomemon.
i'm not sure where to draw the line on seasickness vs vertigo but similar mechanisms are involved
it seemed when i reviewed the literature there were several possibilites
a) the general spatial issues of seasickness perceived by the eye and relayed to the vestibular system
b) the constant moving of the vestibular bones back and forth in choppy water (thus the use of earplugs to minimize this)
c) imbalance of electrolytes (in my case probably more salt than needed)
d) increased susceptbility during mentrual cycles in women
i know there has been a bit more research in the area since then but don't have full access to the journals at the moment. but it is not just one system entity at work.
i will try to post a bit more when i've had time to re-review the literature.
it sounds like an odd case perhaps related to the conditions or your susceptibility at that time.
personally, when i do that swim again, i plan on wearing earplugs. the vomiting was harder than the swim.
don't know that this helped but i will try posting some references when i can do another literature review.
in the meantime, i would just carry on,
it seemed when i reviewed the literature there were several possibilites
a) the general spatial issues of seasickness perceived by the eye and relayed to the vestibular system
b) the constant moving of the vestibular bones back and forth in choppy water (thus the use of earplugs to minimize this)
c) imbalance of electrolytes (in my case probably more salt than needed)
d) increased susceptbility during mentrual cycles in women
idon't know that this helped but i will try posting some references when i can do another literature review.
in the meantime, i would just carry on,
Thanks Mary, it does help, if nothing else that other people have experienced similar things.
I know there was a flu/cold going aruond, and that could have contributed (and people that experience vertigo as a result don't always report symptoms of flu or cold). I bought Mack's earplugs, hopefully they will help. I also had more salt in my system due to salt pills. As for (d), probably not in my case :)
I think one of the harder things is worrying about it happening again.
Does not sound fun. I do not get motion sickness or sea sickness but I do (sometimes) experience vertigo looking down from a height; CN Tower, train tressel, roof, etc.
I did get the worst headache of my life when I watched CLOVERFIELD last week. It started 30 mins. into the movie and by the end my heard was pounding and I was really nauseous. It lasted through the night and into the next day and blew away any hangover headache I ever had, and that's saying a lot...
Food intolerances can trigger vertigo. Gluten is a common cause. Do you have any other auto immune related issues ie; skin rashes, intestinal issues, brain fog or mental clarity problems?
Food intolerances can trigger vertigo. Gluten is a common cause. Do you have any other auto immune related issues ie; skin rashes, intestinal issues, brain fog or mental clarity problems?
Not that I am aware of.
