What to do after swimming through bat excrement (twice!) during Tri Rock Austin race?

I did Trirock today as well, and was surprised with the swim coarse change. However I didn't notice the water smell or taste. I have gotten very good about not drinking any water in an open water swim. I personally don't think it was a big deal, but if you are concerned I would suggest contacting the RD.

It does give me a chuckle about the things people worry about. If you drive a car or sit in traffic in a commute, you are exposed to far worse than anything a bat produces. Don't mean this as an insult, as I have my neurosis that would scare most people.

The only thing you can do is sit back and wait.  If you have any signs of intestinal distress make a Dr's appt right away. 

I really didn't notice any difference under the bridge, and I am not that concerned. BTW, I think the course was changed prior to race day...the buoys were already out in their positions on Sunday during check-in.

I am still curious, however, as to the reason they changed the course. My suspicion is vegetation near the rail-road bridge.  As I recall from fishing the lake, there is a shallow flat in front of the old power plant and maybe the grass was up to the surface there. After seeing grass mats floating everyday due to the low water flow this year, I was just happy that the grass was pretty much removed.

Yeah, grass overgrowth was the reason.

I was there too, and honestly I'm not super worried. The one disease associated with bat guano is histoplasmosis, which is fairly rare if your immune system is normal or you're not a baby. But, just in case, here's what we should all be looking out for:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/histoplasmosis/DS00517/DSECTION=symptoms

Hey mate, I know you were grossed out by the whole bat thing, but the Captex tri (the one downtown in May) uses a swim course much like the one this a.m. and it goes under both bridges as well.  Not pleasant, but I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about from a health perspective.  

Congrats on the finish, I had to bounce down to the sprint (had originally signed up for the Oly) due to a shoulder injury that I'm just finally recovering from.  I wish I could have done the Oly.

Cheers,

Eric

Not to be an alarmist, but there's more to worry about than histoplasmosis, but if the water is not stagnant then infection is not likely. I have yet to see anyone get sick from swimming through the most concentrated, smelly guano soup, but that's pure anecdote.

Search Google Scholar for "cave microbiology guano" or something similar. I believe the person doing the most work in this field is Diana Northup.