Swimming when getting sick...

I started with a tickle in my throat 3 weeks ago this Thursday.  I swam again that Friday then ran 5 miles on Saturday but by Sunday I knew I was done for awhile.  I've just started back at swim/bike/run this last few days (Sun/Mon/Tues).  This was the first time I've ever had to deal with laryngitis as well - and it laid me out pretty good too.

Because I'm older I'm slower at recovery and running today I had to take more walking breaks to control my heart rate which wants to take off way more quickly than before I got sick.  If you're younger and your heart rate isn't out of control you should be okay to swim for awhile but you should stop if you can feel your HR is running too high - or if you get chilled in your pool even at 82 deg.

Be honest with yourself - don't push it - you'll pay a higher cost in the long run if you do.

If it's just a cold (sore throat, cough, runny/stuffy nose, congestion) I will work through it, both when I feel it coming and after it arrives. But if it's a fever or stomach bug, I don't...I can't. I just recovered from 3 days of pukes and diarrhea (sorry, TMI) with fever, aches and chills. I swam during the very early onset of it and felt immediately 20% worse upon exiting the pool. The next two days I could barely stand. So I hit the brakes until yesterday, when I felt good again.

I'm not by any means a professional at this but my guess is that you will be better off taking it easy and resting until you are feeling better than pushing through.  I usually feel like my workouts are amazing after coming off a sickness induced rest where I really just want to die if I try and workout while sick.  And whats the worst case scenario here, rest for 3-4 days?  Doesn't sound like too big of a lay off to me.

Hope  you feel better soon!