Allergic to Swimming?

Doug Johnson

Since starting the HIM plan I've been swimming 3 times a week for around an hour each time.  I'm not a great swimmer so water always ends up in my nose and I tend to drink a lot of pool water during a swim.  The result is that by the next day my sinuses are all plugged up and my nose is runny like I have a cold.  The "cold" feeling usually subsides after 24-36 hours.  Does anyone else have this problem and if so, how do you deal with it or avoid it?  Thanks for the help.

jhbinsc

constantly exhale slowly through your nose anytime your face is in water. really. that simple. it cured me!

carls10

I would second Jeff's response. Water can't go up if you are blowing air out.

txvet

Doug, I recently developed the same problem. If I swim in the indoor pool at my gym, which is heavily chlorinated, for 2-3 days afterward I experience sneezing which quickly leads to congestion. I tried using Claritin before the swim but it didn't seem to help. I was ok at the beginning of the season (January), but the problem got a little bit worse each time I went to swim. However, now that the weather is warmer I'm swimming in an outdoor pool that uses some combination of salt water and something else instead of chlorine, and I have no problems at all. Could you try swimming in a different pool?

Doug Johnson

@ Jeff & Carly, when I started taking swim lessons in December the instructor noticed that I was holding my breath under water and advised me to exhale. I struggled with it so I gave up. I guess I'll really have to start working on that again.

@Kristen, I swim at the YMCA of which there are several in the area that I could use but I imagine that they are all heavily chlorinated. I've heard of salt water pools, I'll have to do a little research to see if there are any in the area. If that's not feasible maybe I'll have to try to do all of my swimming in open water once the weather gets better or improve my technique.

Jump4Joy19

Possibly a chlorine allergy? I'm allergic to chlorine and spent my college years of daily-doubles swim practice with a constant sneeze and runny nose. A lot of pools now have better chlorination systems with some including salt water and ozonation as other options or to help reduce the chlorine load. Outdoor pools are generally better. From May - October, I'm always in an outdoor pool or open water for this very reason.

stevekw

I actually use a nose clip, and it really reduced the chlorine sensitivity...throat will still be scratchy a day or 2 later if the chlorine is cranked up

kimmydct

I have this as well. That's the reason I only did swim team for 1 yr. in HS.... Couldn't take it anymore. I've dealt with it for the past couple of years for tri training since I only swim 2x/week but I just tried a nose clip for the first time the other day and it was a huge improvement.

Jeff Braaten

More often than not it is a non allergic hypersensitivity to the chlorine and not a true allergy. Blowing out your nose will minimize it and most indoor pools the chlorine level is lower in the early morning than later in the day so swim early if possible. There are two prescription meds that work well for this problem. Astepro and Patenase nasal sprays. Both are antihistamines but do will with the non allergic issues also especially if combined with a nasal steroid spray such as Nasocort or Flonase. Ask your doctor for a sample or a prescription and see how it works. Usually stops the symptoms in a couple of hours or less. It will also help to prevent them if used beforehand.

Coach Rich

+ another for the nose clip. I know it's helped many others, even though it's not the coolest look you can sport in the pool. Just leave the flowered bathing cap at home :-)

Doug Johnson

Thanks everyone for all of the responses. I like having more than one option to tackle this issue!

BeckyH

Another vote for the nose clip, I used to wear one, but I actaully prefer to breathe out through my nose so I have learned to live with it. I use a spray of Avamys once or twice a week when I start to run like a faucet, that seems to help. Good luck!

Jess Withrow

 Have you tried a Neti pot to clear your sinuses after swimming?  It's a little bizarre the first time, but effective!

Jenn Edwards

x 5 on nose clip!  For $0.99 certainly worth a try!  Low cool factor though. 

Kevin Walter

The outdoor pool at Midtown is open right now. It is chlorinated, but seems much less irritating to me than the Y pools in Rochester. You can get a week membership for free to try it out and see if you like it before plunking down the $$$ for a paid membership. I am finding ituch more enjoyable to swim outside than indoors. Pool is about 80F outdoors and opened on April 1st.

Doug Johnson

I've been focusing on exhaling through my nose while swimming and I think it's helped. The irritation has been reduced although it's still there. Another thing I noticed about myself is that my mouth is open the entire time and the back of my throat gets irritated. Ugh, I have to work on that. Still swimming (very slowly) though!

@Jessica, I have not tried a Neti pot but I have a buddy who swears by it. That may be in my future if my problems persist.

@Kevin, I was wondering if Midtown's pool was chlorinated or salted. I looked into Midtown a couple years ago. That place is awesome but like you said $$$. I think my Y membership costs way too much and I know Midtown is considerably more than that. Maybe I'll give the week trial a shot though in the next few weeks. Swimming in an outdoor pool would be nice (at least a few times).

Thanks everyone.

Jump4Joy19

Posted By Jessica Withrow on 30 Apr 2012 03:52 PM

 Have you tried a Neti pot to clear your sinuses after swimming?  It's a little bizarre the first time, but effective!

On swim team, we used to use the showers a bit like a Neti pot Most swim teamers can swallow through their nose. Makes for a good party trick.