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Sinus issues after OWS's
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Over the last several years I've seemed to developed pretty severe sinus issues after ows that last about 24 hours,primarily stuffy nose. I love open water swimming but the clogged sinuses is killing me. Ive tried flonase, Claritin , nettie pot, saline wash after swims- all with zero to modest results. I have an appointment with an allergist next week.

HELP!!
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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It used to happen to me, but I just got used to it. How often are you open water swimming?
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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Same here as well as many that OWS with me. The only solution for all of us was to use nose plugs. Typical was down and out with sinus probs for 2 days after OWS. With nose plugs, no problems at all. With my group of swimmers our experience of n=4 is 100% success

Jamie
Last edited by: JamieJ: Jul 6, 15 8:09
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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squid wrote:
Over the last several years I've seemed to developed pretty severe sinus issues after ows that last about 24 hours,primarily stuffy nose. I love open water swimming but the clogged sinuses is killing me. Ive tried flonase, Claritin , nettie pot, saline wash after swims- all with zero to modest results. I have an appointment with an allergist next week.

HELP!!

those were my issues too up to four years ago when i stopped competing. Figure i had allergy to the algae in the lake. if you learn anything-or solve this problem - post back with the solution if you dont mind. i am looking to get back to racing next season and not looking forward to the issues with the lake swims.




.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [nickwhite] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for the replies. I'm not OWSing that much just when competing (x2 in the last 6 weeks) but I'd do it more often if not for the issues. I should also mention that it happens in the pool also when doing long training swims (4-6k). I have been trying nose clips in the pool with success but it took some getting used to. And they tended to feel like they were going to slip off. I just got a different clip (Speedo) that seems to stay on better. I guess I'll try them in the open water this week. I think the biggest thing with them is getting used to them.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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Same problem here. Mine is bad enough that I get so congested that if I do an OWS practice swim before an event I can't really do the event.

Only solution for me was a nose clip. Zero problems now.

In order to get used to it, I wear it in the pool as well so now, it is just the way I swim and isn't an issue at all.

BC Don
Pain is temporary, not giving it your all lasts all Winter.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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Yeah. It takes a bit of practice and fooling around with different clip styles/brands to find one that works for you. I'm so confident this will solve your problem that I would rec you cancel the allergist appointment and save the $.

Jamie
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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Happens to me, generally earlier in the season when the pollen is at a higher count. I've always figured it was because there's a fine layer on top of the water that I'm inadvertently ingesting more while swimming than just breathing the air.

--------------------------
The secret of a long life is you try not to shorten it.
-Nobody
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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I do Flonase and Claratin D for general allergy issues regularly (GA is terrible 3 of 4 seasons). I told my doctor that I get stuffing right after the swim that will not clear until I am usually on the run. He told me to try Afrin as soon as I got out of the water/transition and that suggestion has worked very well for me. My nose just runs a little but it is better than being stuffed up.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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I got a pretty bad sinus infection after the Detroit Tri last year. I have not had this problem before with OWS. However I used to have problems with sinus infections when I did a lot of homebrewing. I resolved that issue by always wearing a dust filter or respirator whenever handling dry crushed grains. So my infection last year was the first in over 2 years, and I have not had one since. Detroit River is not the cleanest around so not a huge surprise that I picked up something.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [JamieJ] [ In reply to ]
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Yeah, I'm thinking of cancelling the allergist app. I think just getting used to the clips is the way to go. The Afrin is a good idea but aren't nasal sprays subject to the rebound effect?
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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I used to get the worst sinus reaction that you could imagine, it kept me up half the night many times. I use both generic Flonase (Fluticasone Propionate) and a nose clip. For races and when I go hard in the pool I take the nose clip off a clip it to my suit. This has worked well, some pools are worse than others.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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Same for me in pool or open water. My sinus get irritated and I sneeze and blow my nose the rest of the day. Started using a nose clip and all was good. Once you get used to the clip it will not be an issue.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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Rebound is a problem but it's not 100% that it will happen to you.
Get the clips. It should take care of the problem and save you a bunch of time, money and discomfort in the long run. I use them 100% in lakes but don't use them in the ocean or pool b/c I don't need them there.

Jamie
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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I take a Sudafed tablet after I swim open water. I can breathe much easier that evening when I do.

I know taking pills is not the best answer but in this case it's the best solution I have.

jaretj
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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I have this problem in fresh water lakes. It gets worse as the water warms up. I use a nose-clip, ear-plugs, post-race sinus rinse. I also take a benedryl after the race. There is an OWS event that I am dropping from the calendar because I am miserable for a week after a long swim in a filthy lake. Water clarity seems to be a pretty good proxy for allergens. I had one race after a really heavy rain the night before and really suffered.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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Tagging along as I have similar issues sometimes. I get water in my sinuses sometimes and will leak water out throughout the day. After an Olympic one time I had water dribble out every time I'd leaned my head forward while standing... that was a brackish swim. Sounds like a nose plug might be worth a try. Most of the time it is a non issue but there are time where it leads to discomfort and/or sneezing. Thank you for asking the question and the subsequent discussion.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [xeon] [ In reply to ]
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A couple things I do

I use Flonase and take some allergy meds post swim

I get terrible sinuses.

Taking them soon after an ows helps me out
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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Zyrtec and Neti Pot after races and that's just so I can sleep. I don't do any OWS anymore for practice. Just racing

http://www.TriScottsdale.org
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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I have lived on a lake for 26 years. I have always had this issue when I swam. Nose plugs never fixed the issue. (Smiley's are the best though)

If I used a scuba mask and snorkel it stopped the issue but ..

So I tried again this year. I had one attack and took claritin but that is nasty stuff so only once.

What I have found is after doing enough swimming, it seems to stop mostly with no meds.

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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [jaretj] [ In reply to ]
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jaretj wrote:
I take a Sudafed tablet after I swim open water. I can breathe much easier that evening when I do.

I know taking pills is not the best answer but in this case it's the best solution I have.

jaretj

Just on a whim I checked the WADA banned list and found this:
http://list.wada-ama.org/...nts/#pseudoephedrine
***** Pseudoephedrine: Prohibited when its concentration in urine is greater than 150 micrograms per milliliter.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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I'm not an allergist, but an infectious disease specialist who has sinus issuse. So here's my opinion:


If it only last 24 hours then I suspect the open water is a chemical irritant (i.e. not an infection). Your body/sinuses are reacting to the water as a foreign object (i.e infection/allergen). The best thing would be to avoid the irritant (i.e. don't do OWS or use a nose clip), but that probably isn't the best solution for a triathlete. I would use afrin or a generic equivalent before you do an OWS. I use this on occasion because I have some exercised induced rhinitis (runny nose and sinus congestion). Just be careful, don't use for 3 or more days straight as you'll get a rebound affect. I doubt this would be an issue as I'm guessing you won't be doing OWS for more than 3 days in a row. Pseudoephedrine will do the essentially the same thing without risk of rebound effect, but has a systemic effect (i.e effect other parts of your body. On a plus side it may be a performance enhancer as someone previously mentioned. On the negative side, since it is a stimulant it can cause cardiac issues, irritability, etc.)
Flonase or other intranasal steroid only works if you use it regularly (i.e daily for weeks). It not something you use for immediate symptom relief. I use nasacort, essentially the same thing as flonase, everyday during the allergy season (4-5 months). Claritin or other antihistamines are kind of the same.
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [hubcaps] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for that info. I was concerned about the rebound effect from Afrin, which would be worse than just toughing out the congestion for 24 hrs. I did Flonase for a few weeks leading up to a 5k ows last month and it did nothing. I have found a nose clip that works well in the pool so I'll be trying it in a long ows training this sunday
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Re: Sinus issues after OWS's [squid] [ In reply to ]
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+50 (or whatever we are up to) on the nose clip. To reduce slippage, I soap and water scrub my nose before I swim.
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