Giving up lap swimming in favor of ows only - chlorine allergy?

Has anyone given up lap swimming in public pools in favor of ows only?

I had been dealing with IBS type symptoms for the better part of this year. After a battery of tests and an eliminative diet to rule things out, I was sure that it was just something I just inherited from my Dad's side of the family.

I had been lap swimming at my local gym during last November 2012 through the middle of July 2013. I used the indoor pool until the outdoor one opened in May. I swam twice a week, averaging 35 minutes a session. I occasionally ingested the pool water when I didn't fully rotate my head or had to split the lane with someone else. I noticed slight bloating and an overall feeling like I had been "run over by a truck" every time I finished my laps, showered and biked home.

Once the weather was warm enough for ows, about June in W. WA, I headed to a local lake twice a week. I occasionally went back to my gym for lap swimming, but it was rare. By August, I was no longer at my gym pool, but exclusively at the lake. I noticed when I finished my swim route (averaged about 45 min), I didn't have as severe bloating in my gut, and I didn't feel so hammered like from the lap pool. My symptoms gradually lessened over time.

I kept ows up until last week thanks to my DeSoto wetsuit. But now that's it nearly October, I'm considering hanging up ows until next spring and stick to my gym pool.

Last night was the first time I'd been in a lap pool for nearly two months. I did a 15 minute weight workout (low weight, high reps) before my swim to warm up. Once I got in the pool and began doing laps, I felt a lot smoother and more powerful (most likely due to the non-stop ows at the lake). Although, within a few minutes of starting, I was having difficulty breathing compared to swimming in the lake. I occasionally ingested the pool water because of the breathing difficulty (so gross!) The water felt too warm and very heavy. The atmosphere of chlorine was like a thick blanket covering me head to toe.

I finished my 25 minute session, got out, showered, stretched and biked home. I really hated that session, and wished I had gone to the lake even in the cold and rain. As soon as I got home, I felt uncomfortable in my gut that steadily grew worse as the evening wore on. I heard a lot of noise and gurgling coming from my intestines. It was like all the IBS like symptoms had returned. I felt so wiped out, parts of my arms and legs felt itchy. I also noticed a burning sensation when I pissed, like I had a urinary tract infection. The next day at work, I felt horrible. I felt like I was coming down with the flu - achy, itchy eyes, rumbling and bloating in my gut, having bowel movements, but feeling like my colon didn't completely evacuate. It's still painful to pee. Even though I drink enough filtered water so that my urine is almost clear and has a heavy volume, it hurts to urinate.

Could this be an allergic reaction to chlorine? If so, has anyone experienced something similar? I'm going to test this and not lap swim until further notice. Weather permitting, I'll head out to the lake with my wetsuit and neoprene skullcap for ows. If my symptoms improve over time, then it might be the evidence I need to know that chlorine is a problem for me.

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it!

Edited by Recovery 2013-09-27 10:39 PM