Some how this got posted in another category...not sure how that happened, so I'm reposting it here.
I am brand new to OW, but I'm sure I'm not the only one with this issue. I saw a thread started on the General Swimming board, but I don't know if there is a specific way to deal with this in OW situations. I have my first OW swim coming up in September (3 miles). Although the distance is not the issue, getting over the mental issues are. I have swam twice in the afternoons when the swells are bigger than my usual 6 a.m. jaunts, which would be closer to the race environment, and both times I've come out of the water shaky and tingly. I'm attributing it to sea sickness...? I'm not nauseous, per se, but a bit dizzy to be sure. I'm thinking during a race situation I will be distracted by the other competitors. I will have a paddler with me since this is my first time out, and I have a health issue.
I'm thinking I'm lifting my head up too often since I'm looking for specific buoys. In the race, the 1/2 way point and the ending point are so far apart that I might not feel the need to lift my head as much...?
Anyway, any tips from the experienced OW swimmers?
I like the candied ginger you can find in the Asian food section of the grocery store. I eat a few pieces before races. Others here eat ginger snaps. See what you like best.
Thanks Swimmy. I called my Trader Joe's and they didn't carry the capsules but do have the candied. There is a health food store (Henry's) close by and they do have the capsules. I need some melatonin, so I'll just go to the one that has both.
Good to know that either one works.
I am get motion sick very easily, along with the dizziness that you describe. The thing that works wonders for me is ginger. I take three capsules (I get it in capsule form at a health food store) about 45 minutes before the race. Absolutely no motion sickness since I started doing that. The other nice thing is that unlike many of the medicines, no side effects. You CAN use ginger that you cook with, but it burns going down, so the capules are better.
-LBJ
I wonder if you are swallowing air or over-stroking to get over the waves? The gas happens to me when a pool is very busy and the waves in the pool are high or rough. When I am swimming around Portland or further north, I get a really weird feeling in my chest, stomach and head. i was once told by an old man at Bar harbor that it was because I was turning too much as i trying to get my arm over the wave. It would screw up my sense of where my hand was relative to my body.
This is really interesting, Craig! I will pay attention next time I'm out in the swells.
But you made a good point...I (mistakingly) swam at our Y pool during a particularly active water aerobics class. At first I was happy about it since I really was swimming in choppy conditions! But then I started to feel sick again, and I was having small seizures (I have epilepsy). I related it to the epilepsy since I don't do well in the early evening, but I think you may be more on target...I noticed that I was rolling too far to breathe. Got dizzy, got out.
Hmmm...definitely something to pay attention to, thanks!
I bet it might not be seasickness but possibly really bad gas or muscle spasms. If i understand seasickness well enough there has to be both a visual and a physical component to seasickness. I wonder if you are swallowing air or over-stroking to get over the waves? The gas happens to me when a pool is very busy and the waves in the pool are high or rough. When I am swimming around Portland or further north, I get a really weird feeling in my chest, stomach and head. i was once told by an old man at Bar harbor that it was because I was turning too much as i trying to get my arm over the wave. It would screw up my sense of where my hand was relative to my body. I'd get confused and think it was seasickness. For the second i just slowed down and of course now that I'm back in th elovely state of Illinois I'm not swimming in the northern Atlantic coast.
This is nothing to do with the post. On David right now was a band from Seattle that sounded like every old band from th e70s that were so horrible but made people think they were so great. Kansas comes to mind instantly.
Leonard and Craig...
I took 2 capsules of ginger about 45 minutes before my ocean swim today. Good sized swells, and I was about 90% good after a 45 minute swim.
I was also concentrating on not rolling to breathe so much, but at one point I was swimming directly against the current into the swells so that was a good test.
Obviously I need more work, but I appreciate the help from you both!
This is really interesting, Craig! I will pay attention next time I'm out in the swells.
But you made a good point...I (mistakingly) swam at our Y pool during a particularly active water aerobics class. At first I was happy about it since I really was swimming in choppy conditions! But then I started to feel sick again, and I was having small seizures (I have epilepsy). I related it to the epilepsy since I don't do well in the early evening, but I think you may be more on target...I noticed that I was rolling too far to breathe. Got dizzy, got out.
Hmmm...definitely something to pay attention to, thanks!
You were having seizures and swimming!!!!! Swimming is one of the most dangerous activities an epileptic can do. Water movement has the same effect on your brain as a strobe light. Do you sit under a light fixture that has a fan on it also?
The pieces of ginger might have had nothing to do with you not being "seasick." It might have meant that your stomach had less room to gulp down air.
You were having seizures and swimming!!!!! Swimming is one of the most dangerous activities an epileptic can do. Water movement has the same effect on your brain as a strobe light. Do you sit under a light fixture that has a fan on it also?
The pieces of ginger might have had nothing to do with you not being "seasick." It might have meant that your stomach had less room to gulp down air.
There are many types of seizures. My tonic clonic seizures (grand mals) are controlled with medication. The other "smaller" seizures (simple partials) happen, but have no effect on my cognitive abilities. My husband is always there with me. Strobe lights have no effect, neither do lights with fans.
My neurologist is fine with me swimming.
During my upcoming open water swim, my paddler is an EMT and San Diego lifeguard of 35 years. He is a good friend, knows my condition and has been a paddler for this event many times. I have complete confidence that I will be fine.
And hey, if the ginger was all psychological, I'm taking it.
