Continuing Asthma/swimming problems

[Danestress]

I've posted about this before and been offered advice. We have seen a doctor. Currently DS (age 13) is swimming 6 days a week and not really managing his asthma symptoms well. He only has them when swimming, by the way. Never any other time.

 

He takes Singular, Asthmanex, Foridil, and Albuterol. Yep. FOUR medications. Between them, he is still having problems breathing.

 

He loves swimming. Loves it. Will absolutely be crushed if he has to quit. He also loves the organization he swims with, though I think that the "bubble" environment is part of the problem. I have thought about switching him to a bigger swim organization with a larger indoor pool that probably has better air quality (though I am not sure).

 

I am making an appointment to take him back to the allergy/asthma specialist, but thought I would arm myself with more experiences/advice if you have it.

[Lolly]

Uggh. He is probably reacting to the chlorine. A pool with better ventilation might help; it might not. Any chance of a team that swims in a salt filtration pool nearby?

[katilac]

I would be extremely uncomfortable with an asthmatic child swimming in a chlorinated pool six times a week, particularly if the symptoms are not well managed.

 

Maybe someone else will have more updated or helpful advice, but as far as I know, chlorinated swimming pools are a known trigger and there's no way to minimize it (other than reducing exposure). Four regular meds and trouble breathing would just worry me too much; I would require a break at a minimum until you figure out some kind of stategy.

[HeatherM2]

Uggh. He is probably reacting to the chlorine. A pool with better ventilation might help; it might not. Any chance of a team that swims in a salt filtration pool nearby?

 

:iagree:

 

My son has this problem.. Indoor pools are just not good for him.

[lisamarie]

Yup, a heavily chlorinated pool in a not well-ventilated room will send my DS into an asthma attack. He has no issues with most pools (our local middle school pool, the YMCA), but if the room smells like chlorine, he'll have an attack. He had a really bad one last summer at a hotel pool when we were on vacation. I thought we were going to have to call 911.

 

If he loves it that much, I would try to find a different pool that is better ventilated. Have him visit the pool and see what happens before shelling out money.

 

But I understand the dilemma. My DS LOVES soccer, but soccer is in the spring and fall, which is high allergen season. And the field that our league plays on is bordered by weeds and a marshy area (both major triggers for my DS). He would end up having an asthma attack during or after every practice and game. I almost made him quit because it wasn't worth it. But then my FIL (a Dr) suggested I have him use his inhaler BEFORE the games/practices and see if that helps. Worked like a charm. Since DS's asthma is generally allergy-triggered and infrequent, I'd always been reactive, not proactive so I didn't have him use his inhaler unless he was having an attack. I also add in a second allergy med during soccer season and that helps, too.

[In The Great White North]

If he only has it while swimming, I wonder if it isn't also triggered by exercise.

 

Many kids (and parents and doctors) have no idea how strenuous physically competitive swimming is. They have the child use the inhaler 20 minutes before soccer practice or baseball, which are comparatively sedentary, but don't even consider it before swimming. Their heart rates go up to 180 and stay there for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. I definitely would ask the asthma specialist about exercise also.

 

Some pools are worse than others. The swimmers can all tell you which are bad, hard to breathe, "thick," etc. I would have him try the other pool (for practices, not just a meet) and see if it is better. What happens at outdoor pools?

 

One of the pools near us is salty, another has a UV system that cuts down on the chlorine and a separate warmer pool, another is a college pool with no little kids swimming in it and the absolute worst has an old chlorine system, with most of the baby/toddler/preschooler swim lessons in it and inadequate ventilation. They have to chlorinate it more because of the littles, the chlorine reacts with the bodily fluids and creates chloramines, which are what really cause the problems.

[wapiti]

:iagree: If he might have exercise-induced asthma, and you haven't already tried this, have him use the inhaler right before he swims.

[swimmermom3]

If he only has it while swimming, I wonder if it isn't also triggered by exercise.

 

Many kids (and parents and doctors) have no idea how strenuous physically competitive swimming is. They have the child use the inhaler 20 minutes before soccer practice or baseball, which are comparatively sedentary, but don't even consider it before swimming. Their heart rates go up to 180 and stay there for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. I definitely would ask the asthma specialist about exercise also.

 

Some pools are worse than others. The swimmers can all tell you which are bad, hard to breathe, "thick," etc. I would have him try the other pool (for practices, not just a meet) and see if it is better. What happens at outdoor pools?

 

One of the pools near us is salty, another has a UV system that cuts down on the chlorine and a separate warmer pool, another is a college pool with no little kids swimming in it and the absolute worst has an old chlorine system, with most of the baby/toddler/preschooler swim lessons in it and inadequate ventilation. They have to chlorinate it more because of the littles, the chlorine reacts with the bodily fluids and creates chloramines, which are what really cause the problems.

 

I am so sorry. I know this has been an on-going problem for you and I know from personal experience it is an absolute pain to deal with.

 

My kids all played different sports when they were really young and we didn't do competitive swimming until my oldest was 11. She had no signs of asthma until she moved to the top age group squad at 12 and was swimming 6 days a week. It took us over a year to learn how to manage her exercise-induced asthma. Now, all of my kids and myself have it to some degree. Mine showed up about three months into my swimming with a Masters' team. Our routine is 2 puffs of Xopanex ( a less jittery form of albuterol but not as good at stopping an attack) about 30 minutes before swimming. My dd uses it before running as well. We found that this eliminated the need for the corticosteroids unless the kids have colds.

 

Make sure that your son knows to stay well-hydrated and do look at other pools, but I know it is hard to consider changing if you like where you are. I would also second the post that mentioned being proactive instead of reactive in dealing with asthma. That strategy made all the difference here. You will find an answer, just hang in there in the meantime.

[Danestress]

Albuterol, Foradil, and Singular. The Asthmanex is before bed every night.

[swimmermom3]

Albuterol, Foradil, and Singular. The Asthmanex is before bed every night.

 

Rats! I was hoping we were smarter than the doctors and had the answer for you. :grouphug: Please keep us posted on what you find out.

[NCMom]

I'm sorry he has to deal with this. :grouphug: I will say though, that almost every single kid on our team in the two upper groups except my kids and one other family has chlorine induced asthma. This includes 2 or three state champs. :001_huh: I guess they just all swim through it. The dr's in Cleveland County apparently ASK if you swim for SAC when you come in for asthma treatment. There is a lot of popping in and out during practice to use inhalers.

 

I will also comment on the bubble. If it's the one at the private school, I would def consider changing teams. We made the decision to not attend meets there in the winter after a horrible experience a few years ago with kids dropping like flies at a Saturday meet because of poor ventilation (not to mention the giant waves, lol).

 

Could he swim at the big pool in downtown or one of the 2 big ones in H-ville for a few times to see if it makes a difference? Maybe get a weekend pass to one of those to see?

 

Georgia

[violinmom]

I have asthma and allergies. I sneeze like crazy if I get in a chlorinated pool. Probably why I dislike swimming so much. It reminds me of having an allergy attack. So much better in salt water or even a mixture.

[mom4him]

Uggh. He is probably reacting to the chlorine. A pool with better ventilation might help; it might not. Any chance of a team that swims in a salt filtration pool nearby?

A salt filtration might help but if you read about it the salt filtration turns it into Chlorine. Our community center uses one and it is still VERY strong with Chlorine smell.

If you read about public pools and people that work in them lung problems are very high.

My son reacts to Chlorine. We have a 15' pool that we set up in the summer time but that doesn't help with swim team.

I am sorry that he is fighting this.:grouphug:

[swimmermom3]

I'm sorry he has to deal with this. :grouphug: I will say though, that almost every single kid on our team in the two upper groups except my kids and one other family has chlorine induced asthma. This includes 2 or three state champs. :001_huh: I guess they just all swim through it. The dr's in Cleveland County apparently ASK if you swim for SAC when you come in for asthma treatment. There is a lot of popping in and out during practice to use inhalers.

 

I will also comment on the bubble. If it's the one at the private school, I would def consider changing teams. We made the decision to not attend meets there in the winter after a horrible experience a few years ago with kids dropping like flies at a Saturday meet because of poor ventilation (not to mention the giant waves, lol).

 

Could he swim at the big pool in downtown or one of the 2 big ones in H-ville for a few times to see if it makes a difference? Maybe get a weekend pass to one of those to see?

 

Georgia

 

Our team swims at a permanently enclosed 50m pool with a newly-revamped air filtration system and many of our senior swimmers have asthma. The proportion is high enough to support the belief that chlorine plays a hand in it. Most of these kids have spent up to ten years or even more being in that environment daily. It is not just the chlorine that is the culprit though. One of the Masters coaches explained that one of the reasons it is so important for everyone to shower before getting into the pool is that all those dead skin cells are an incredible irritant to the respiratory system. My mind can't even go there.:tongue_smilie: