I have done two OWS this summer. A 2 mile swim in a lake just south of Louisville in June and the swim leg of IMKY. The evening after each, my nasal passages were swollen shut and I was miserable. Anybody else experience this? Anybody have any theories on the cause – or more importantly, a way to prevent this?
It’s the pollen that collects on the surface. Grass, tree, mold etc will gather on the surface of the water…same thing happens to me. Unfortunately the only thing I’ve found is taking an anti-histamine after the swim.
I have allergies and used to suffer from the same thing. Typically I’d finish the race, no problem, until evening when I’d slowly start to get stuffy and then at night my nose was clogged and I was miserable. I use Nasocort AQ, a couple of sprays in each nostril in the morning when I get up to race. I haven’t had a recurrence since I started using this. It’s prescription only so you’ll have to talk to your doctor.
Claritin? Buy the generic. Take twice a day. See if that helps?
-Jot “not a doctor or a pharmacist”
This has been happening to me as well and I do not usually suffer from allergies. I get hit a lot worse on my left side. I breath to the right, so maybe I get more water up the left. It seems to get worse later in the season.
nose clip?
cheers!
-mistress k