SINUSES & SWIMMING

Never had that happen to me. My advice: go see another doc.

Google sinitus. Prescription nasal spary may fix it, if not then a nose plug will. The water is irritating the membranes in your sinus. The higher the yardage the more likely it is to happen.


Edited by Drinking Buddy 2005-02-23 9:24 AM

Bethany - boy are you right! I'm going to try the nose plug tomorrow. If not, the Doc will see me again and learn a thing or two about patient care. Being in the military I'm stuck with whoever I get. He actually thought it was an allergy from something else, even after I told him the only time it happens is when I swim.

An indoor century? And I thought my paltry 2 hour ride on the stationary trainer on Monday was mental toughness. You're my new hero (when you complete it that is).

Drinkin' Buddy - thanks - wondered what caused it. Hopefully the plug will work.

The nose plug should do the trick, if it doesn't bother you. Personally, I can't stand swimming with a nose plug.

Some other considerations:
Try changing pools if it's an option. The fact that it's a recent development could be that the pool you're using has changed chemicals or processes.
Flush your sinuses with a saline nose spray before and after swimming.
Talk to your doctor about a steroidal nasal spray. (nasacort, nasarel, etc.)

Good luck.

scott

I thought I was the only one! It's miserable! I start sneezing halfway back to my car after a swim. I keep saying I'm going to try wearing a noseplug, but I haven't found the time or motivation to get to the sports store.

I just tell myself that I'm allergic to chlorine.

Two words... NOSE CLIP...

That is the best non-drug way to solve your problem... I've been using one for about 15 plus years... works better than saline rinses or drugs (of which allegra seems to be the best OTC) drug.

Cause - allergic reaction to chlorine (or just water in general).

FWIW Joe Moya

Edited by Joe M 2005-02-24 8:22 AM

yeah happens to me as well... i don't know the casue i don't have any tricks to fix it i just deal with it, but please post if the nose plugs works for ya...

happens to me in certain pools, unfortunately always in my regular pool
Claritin taken about an hour before I start does the trick for me.

I experience the nasal drip too.... For me it ony lasts a day.

I have dealt with recurrent sinus probs for most of my life. I have tried about every otc med and scrips with average results. There are two things that have worked VERY WELL for me. A sinus rinse with purified water mixed with sea salt. I mix about 1/2 tsp with 6oz water, nuke for 35 seconds, stir, and I use a nasal aspirator to shoot the mixture up my nose. Secondly, I just discovered this product called SINUSBUSTER! This stuff is great, I highly reccomend it. Go to www.sinusbuster.com and check it out!

Good luck!

I had the same problem. I did a Google search and found out chlorine can iritate certain peoples sinuses. Now I use a nose clip, and for preventive measures, take a sudafed a couple of hours before I go swimming. It did the trick.

I had a similar problem with getting ear and sinus infections after swimming. Fever, headache, sinus drainage, etc...reall pleasant. Then I started wearing ear plugs and it solved the problems. Sounds like yours is just sinus problems though so the quick and easy solution, like others have said, is just use nose plugs...IF you can stand them. Good luck.


Please visit my website and help beat leukemia. with Team in Training.

Quite a pity that in order to swim we have to swim in yucchy chemicals.

My GF says that since she exhales by the nose while swimming the thing stopped. She had really runny nose for a couple hours after the swim before that...

Good luck !

Christian.