Indoor swimming pools and chemicals

[namakb]

Does anyone use an indoor swimming pool? If so do you have any problems with the chemicals they use? I used to swim about 3-4 times a week. I am not a swimmer just a paddler around but it did help with the aches and pains a lot. When I lost my jobabout 7 years ago I quit because the membership is costly. Now I can join at the senior rate becuase my husband is older and they have a 2 for 1 special in January. We can both use the fitness club and the pool for only $214 for the year. Since my odors have bothered me for the past year I wonder how the pool chemicals would effect me.

[Katybarstool]

Hi there

I too love swimming, but unfortunately, the chemicals don't like me. I've tried lots of different pools and always get bad reactions to the chemicals, so now I can only swim in the sea - which is not often enough!

Maybe you could try the pool and see - you might be fine.

Good luck
KAthyx

[namakb]

I am afraid if I try it only once or twice at a cost of $10 each time I would be OK with it but after I sign up and go a few more times I would then develop a problem.

[ktfabian]

I've done physical therapy in the pool many times, and haven't had any problems with the chemicals. I DO make sure to hit the shower first thing after returning to the locker room. I love exercising in the pool! It makes me feel weightless and I don't hurt as much in the pool.

Right now I'm exercising "on land" as they say at the physical therapy place I go. I'm no longer in physical therapy, but they have a wellness program that's $35 a month, and there's always a physical therapist around to help me if I'm not sure how to do something, or they see I'm not using the proper body position when doing an exercise. The movement really does help, I'm much less sore when I stretch and exercise.

I was supposed to go today, but we got five inches of snow last night, and I don't go out in the snow til the roads are well plowed, which can take time around here.

Hope you can enjoy the water,
Tracy

[eyeamdry]

I love pool exercise and need to get back to it.  The moisture from the water makes my eyes feel better and I seem to be able to ignore the chemicals.  I have always loved the water and swimming, so I just don't think it's anything that will annoy me.  I don't like to accidentally swallow some, and start coughing. 

[Carebear]

We have a few pools here that use salt water instead of chlorine.  I can't even step into a building with a chlorine pool or hot tub without gasping for air.  But the salt water pools are okay.

Maybe you have such a pool in your area as well.

[Daisy1234]

I find the chemicals in a chlorine treated pool ok with my body and skin, but make my eyes sting more than usual, so my rememdy is to wear goggles while swimming and to try and keep my face out of the water as much as possible. Both of my eyes are extremely dry, 0 and 0 on the schrimers test.  I have done quite alot of physiotherapy in a heated pool and found it very very helpful for my arthritis and inflammatory issues though.  By the way, the salt water pool is just as bad on my eyes as well.

Daisy

[BonusMom]

We have a salt water pool and it's much easier on my sinuses and skin, not drying in the least.

My eyes aren't real dry from SjS, but the salt water doesn't burn them like chlorine does.

Perhaps you could ask the gym for a complimentary 14 day pass and explain the reason.  Most will gladly accomodate your request if they think they'll get two one-year memberships as a result.

Let's us know how you get along.

[eyeamdry]

I've never heard of a salt water pool.   

[newhorizons]

Cannot use the Wellness Ctr. inside pool due to strong chlorine smell in the air...wore goggles  though had many eye problems. Really had a hard winter last year with respiratory issue for months with lung involvement.  Duke docs said no, no to using inside swimming pool.

My opinion is this lap pool, warm water pool and hot tub do not have adequate fans to remove the odor.  Plenty of air movement inside BUT no vents to outside...

Am now doing land exercises and using a few strength training machines.

True, water is easier on the joints with displacement of my weight!

[Carebear]

Hi eyeamdry,

Yes, all of our pools are or are being converted to salt water.  It is less expensive to maintain, and of course you don't have the chlorine to contend with.

[cremer]

For years now whenever I go to a public swimming pool with chlorine I end up with terrible cold like symptoms, my nose is completely blocked up and I have a terrible sore throat.

But when we went abroad last year and I swam in the sea, I was fine, no trouble at all.

I was never like that as a child or even in my teens.

[dainbramage]

Okay I am the BAD guy here, but indoor pools without good ventilation is very bad for your lungs. If the pool is used by a lot of people you may pick up bacteria and germs. If the pool people don't check the pool chemicals constantly that could cause more bacteria growth. Also, if there are a lot of kids in the pool, YUCK.  I have a chlorinated outside deep (12th) pool and when you have a lot of kids well it is nasty.

[harlin]

I don't use indoor pools but we have an outdoor pool. The chemicals don't bother me. The sun is bothering me tho. I don't know how I will be this summer. Heaven only knows. I try not to make to many plans. Day to day.

[Katybarstool]

When I was a child, public swimming pools used to upset my tummy badly. As an adult, I developed urogenital infections that wouldn't clear, and made me very ill. It was only when I was too ill to swim that the symptoms cleared. Not realizing that, as I got better, I went to the pool again. The infections came back, and I was very unwell again. It was then the penny dropped. Now I only swim in the sea, and I thoroughly enjoy it, and don't get the horrible infections.

Kathyx