I did my first triathlon yesterday with my tri club but I’m having issues with nausea after my open water workouts (in general). I get out of the water and I feel like I’ve been on a boat for the last 2 hours and my legs feel disconnected from my body.
A few points:
1.) I feel fine in the pool and go for runs or rides immediately after pool sessions all the time
2.) I’m not wearing ear plugs - would that help with an equilibrium issue?
3.) I do feel like my head is moving left/right/up/down A LOT in the open water - could I be making myself dizzy?
4.) I didn’t know how to swim as of January - pretty stoked how quickly I’m picking up this sport (this 4th point is really a pat on the back, thanks for reading)
Any ideas? I don’t want to take dramamine or any heavy drug as those things knock me out. Other triathletes dealing with this have any suggestions?
Anthony
I had the same issue and $2 earplugs solved it immediately.
I had same problem as well. Ear plugs worked for me!
Same as the others for me, just needed ear plugs. It is hard to simulate some of the choppiness of some open water swims in the pool. I was always fine in the pool, but in open water races, everything would go downhill after the swim.
Sprints/Olympic races were short enough to get through it, but in the longer races, your body starts shutting down when you can’t hold fluids or nutrition down.
Congrats on your first, good luck on the rest!!
One more for earplugs! Made a huge difference for me!
Earplugs and eating ginger cured me. I used to vomit while swimming.
When sighting, focus on a fixed spot. Better if the object is large and on the shore. This will help prevent your eyes from bouncing around.
I wore earplugs Monday night for an open water swim where I did my first mile in the ocean. I came out of the water 4 times (we do this pier to buoy to beach triangle) and not a single time did I feel dizzy.
Crisis averted - I am ELATED. Thanks everyone!
awesome. Its crazy how easy it is to fix
I knew I had this problem and in my IM swim this weekend, wore earplugs. STILL vomited 4x in the swim. Partly due to the extreme chop of the water, partly due to getting a cold in the flight to the race (though i didn’t think it was effecting my stomach, just my head/congestion). Not sure what went wrong. WHAT TYPE OF EAR PLUGS DO PEOPLE USE? I used the wax ones, but could consider other ones if they’re more effective. Any other suggestions on what may cause this? It really wacked out the rest of my race. Still, nearly a week later, I have a bit of dizziness going on.
awesome. Its crazy how easy it is to fix
Have you ever had problems with vertigo or debilitating dizziness when just doing daily activities? Are you prone to sea sickness on a boat? Did you wear a wet suit?
My 2 cents are the ear plug help with the cold water affecting the ears and causing nausea, but if your really prone to motion sickness the chop plus the wet suit can bring on nausea. In high seas a boat fills all tanks and ballast down to better weather the storm, the wet suit makes you float and out of the water tossing you just a little more. If you are over heating in your suit it makes it much worse, stop and let a little cold water in.
Go see a Dr. they can send you to do some test, blowing cold then warm air in your ears among other things. I feel for you and know exactly how you feel. I hate signing up for a race because it all could be for nothing because I can’t get past the swim. I get nausea if I smell certain smells swimming in a pool. Cigarette smoke does me in. I get good results with ginger, I mix it in a smoothie usually. Good for you for finishing.
Have you ever had problems with vertigo or debilitating dizziness when just doing daily activities? Are you prone to sea sickness on a boat? Did you wear a wet suit?
My 2 cents are the ear plug help with the cold water affecting the ears and causing nausea, but if your really prone to motion sickness the chop plus the wet suit can bring on nausea. In high seas a boat fills all tanks and ballast down to better weather the storm, the wet suit makes you float and out of the water tossing you just a little more. If you are over heating in your suit it makes it much worse, stop and let a little cold water in.
Go see a Dr. they can send you to do some test, blowing cold then warm air in your ears among other things. I feel for you and know exactly how you feel. I hate signing up for a race because it all could be for nothing because I can’t get past the swim. I get nausea if I smell certain smells swimming in a pool. Cigarette smoke does me in. I get good results with ginger, I mix it in a smoothie usually. Good for you for finishing.
Thanks for the input. Yes, wore a wetsuit that I’m comfortable in. Not normally prone to it, but have gotten sea sick before on boats. Never had the problem in other settings, but have had it after doing long sets in the pool (too many lap turns?).
To expand on the “simply finishing”: I had a fever the whole bike and run, unsettled stomach, causing me to struggle getting nutrition in. Bottom line, 14:18:xx finish time which was not my worst, but not my best. Considering how many demons I had to battle during the day telling me it’s ok to quit, i’m happy to have simply finished. Frustrated still the same.