I did the Kingdom Swim 10-miler yesterday--a great race, by the way--and have, yet again, experienced something I seem to face after every swim. Does anyone deal with intense allergies post race?
I was up all night, literally dripping, and have been blowing like crazy since then. Did the Neti pot with apple cider vinegar-much to my son's disgust-and it did nothing. Almost feel feverish from the, um, output.
This seems to be happening after every race and I'm wondering if it's something other people experience. My family likes to believe that I just get a cold after every single race but that's definitely not it.
I'd love to know if other people experience this and if so, what you do about it.
Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
A few years ago, after years of lake Michigan swimming, I developed an allergy to the lake. I will get a few days of continual sneezing and a voracious running nose. I do not know exactly what is in the water that I am allergic to, but scratch tests have shown that I am allergic to feathers and some molds, both of which are in the lake. Luckily, I can reduce the symptoms 99% by religiously wearing nose clips, but I am 100% guaranteed to get the reaction if I forget to wear them.
Once after a two hour swim, I realized I had not worn the nose clips, so I immediately took Benadryl and did not have a reaction. It is necessary to take the Benedryl right away before the reaction occurs. Once histamine is released, an anti-histamine will not be effective. Another time after swimming 10 minutes, I realized that I had forgotton the clips and got out of the water. I didn't take Benedryl thinking that I would be okay, but I did indeed have three days of misery.
Pools do not bother me, but I know someone who is allergic to pool water too, and I think that that may be happening to me.
So my recommendation to anyone with this problem is to wear nose clips and make sure that your nose is well sealed. No bubbles should come out when you exhale through the nose. Also keep a supply of Benedryl handy just in case. But beware that Benedryl makes you sleepy and could affect your ability to drive and be productive.
A few years ago, after years of lake Michigan swimming, I developed an allergy to the lake. I will get a few days of continual sneezing and a voracious running nose. I do not know exactly what is in the water that I am allergic to, but scratch tests have shown that I am allergic to feathers and some molds, both of which are in the lake. Luckily, I can reduce the symptoms 99% by religiously wearing nose clips, but I am 100% guaranteed to get the reaction if I forget to wear them.
Once after a two hour swim, I realized I had not worn the nose clips, so I immediately took Benadryl and did not have a reaction. It is necessary to take the Benedryl right away before the reaction occurs. Once histamine is released, an anti-histamine will not be effective. Another time after swimming 10 minutes, I realized that I had forgotton the clips and got out of the water. I didn't take Benedryl thinking that I would be okay, but I did indeed have three days of misery.
Pools do not bother me, but I know someone who is allergic to pool water too, and I think that that may be happening to me.
So my recommendation to anyone with this problem is to wear nose clips and make sure that your nose is well sealed. No bubbles should come out when you exhale through the nose. Also keep a supply of Benedryl handy just in case. But beware that Benedryl makes you sleepy and could affect your ability to drive and be productive.
