Re: chlorinated pools

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Hi Everyone,

 

I am presently on vacation at a resort hotel with my husband's family (where I have been unable to respond to personal emails sent to me as my I-phone will not let me send them out - so please forgive me - I will respond as soon as I return!).  

 

 

I am looking longingly at this gorgeous pool where I would love to jump in and do laps (my favorite exercise!!!). I have not tried a chlorinated pool since I started with IC last November. Has anyone on the forum been able to swim in a chlorinated pool at all???  I'm wondering if I should just give it a go to see if I'm one of the lucky ones who can swim in it with no reactions.   How long would I suffer with a flare if I tried it?  It just seems like too hard a temptation to pass up. 

 

 

Thanks for your help in encouraging or discouraging me in the right direction. :))))

 

Sue

Mimij67's picture
Mimij67

i would not wthout talking to Dr Brizman!!

If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.

Pixie's picture
Pixie

Oh geezus I would say no!!! 
Hah sorry but just had a flashback of my own to pain from chlorination ...Id wait until you are fully recovered ...I know pools are beautiful but would want you to be safe and comfy on your trip !

Mariposa's picture
Mariposa

This is always weird for me, since I was swimming regularly for months in a chlorinated pool without even thinking of it could do to me! I stopped just as a precaution, I thought maybe the chlorine could impact me in ways I wouldn't know and I didn't want to take the risk. For me though, whenever I was suffering swimming made me feel SO much better so it's a bummer not to be able to do it...
My only visible reaction was dry skin afterwards... but I am still skeptical. I was planning to ask Dr. B about this when I speak with her next.
Are natural swimming holes and lakes ok??
Han

AlishiaM's picture
AlishiaM

This isnt what you are going to want to hear but when I was on vacation a few months ago I let my legs dangle in a hot tub.  Just barely up to my knees.  I was only about 3 months into treatment and my bladder didn't seem to react BUT my shins completely rashed out for the rest of the night.  THey were just all red and rashy and itchy.  I suppose kind of like hives. The next day they were ok BUT I can't imagine dipping my whole body in and being covered head to toe in a rash!  SO Just my two cents!  Have a great vacation! :)

Tinkerbell7's picture
Tinkerbell7

A few weeks before my IC came on full force (I was still "normal"... had no idea I was even sick), I went to a friend's house to swim in her pool.  It was awful.  I thought I was getting a UTI, but as soon as I went home, I was fine again... turns out it was the very beginnings of my IC, which apparently were aggravated by the chlorinated water.  If I were in your position, I wouldn't swim in a chlorinated pool.  I haven't swam in one since that one time..

livandlex's picture
livandlex

I asked Dr. B about taking my daughter to swim lessons and she said no...that I shouldn't be around chlorine at all. Plus she said it's so bad I shouldn't let my kids go in either.

Claire's picture
Claire

I used to swim all the time- I miss it so much!  Matia has said no, no, no to chlorinated pools, that the ocean is usually OK if it doesn't bother you from being so cold (I am in Maine, so usually up to me calves is enough!) and that lake swimming can be irritating but if it's not bothering you then it's OK. 

cprince's picture
cprince

Oh no! No chlorine! If I had any clue what chlorine was doing to my body I would have avoided like the Black Plague! I grew up with a pool in my backyard and was a competitive swimmer through high school! My skin was always so dry and break out in red itchy rashes and asthma symptoms always exacerbated! I pretty much quit swimming during college then after graduating ffrom grad school decided to take up swimming again and my bladder started to really act up! That chlorine is dangerous stuff, looks tempting but will never subject myself to that again! 
I asked Dr. B about lakes because I really flared after swimming in a lake, she was surprised. It should be ok if it is clean and not too cold! Dirty and cold water can sometimes really be aggravating! 

Thea's picture
Thea

Well, I was a competitve swimmer from the time I was 7 and swam all thru college until I was 21.  Dr. B says this is the main reason my body is so toxic.  Before I started seeing Dr. B., I had a masseuse who was from Japan and of course trained in the Eastern culture.  He would tell me that everytime he would lay his hands on me (that sounds bad:) )  that all that kept coming thru his touch was chemical toxicity. 

Pico's picture
Pico

Thank you everyone for replying about the chlorinated water. I don't think I'll ever venture in one ever again based on them. Good to be reminded!!!
 
However, yesterday I learned that an employee had misinformed me about one of the pools!!  There is one lovely really large pool that is adult only and saline!!!!   I have an unopened saline pool at home (in the northeast ) that I have been unable to test.  So I took the plunge late yesterday afternoon and did 12 amazing laps and have not had any flares yet (it is now 10am the following day). So I am hopeful and looking forward to a full summer if swimming. I will let you know if I have any reactions as I am heading in for some more laps now...:))))))
 
Thanks  again everyone. 
 
Sue