Swimming

[Karen4639]

Has anyone heard that swimming is not good for balance issues? My daughter is a swimmer and she said that swimmer have bad balance-it make it worse. I have been wondering if it would be a good think but now I'm not so sure.

[cindyj]

Hi, Karen...interesting.  I've never heard that...I have been swimming a good bit this summer.  It did make me a bit seasick at first with the motion of the water, but nothing that stopped me.  I haven't noticed my balance suffering any, I don't think?  Know we have some true swimmers around here and I don't remember anyone saying it was detrimental to their balance, but perhaps others have experienced or heard different? 

Cindy

[leapyrtwins]

I'm not a swimmer, but I've never heard of this.

I would imagine that any kind of exercise would be good for the balance, but I'm not 100% sure.

Jan

[texsooner]

I swim in my backyard pool quite a bit and have had no balance issues. Now, if you combine swimming with consuming several cervezas , then all bets are off on the balance question.  

Patrick

[sunfish]

I'm a triathlete, and have swam miles and miles and miles since CK in March.  Yes, I do have some balance issues, but I'm 100% confident they're not related to swimming.  Swimming is the only time my balance feels "normal."  Plus, isn't freestyle swimming where you turn side to side kinda like some of the balance therapy exercises?  In my opinion, good, safe exercise.

[Nickittynic]

The only thing I've ever heard about swimming and ANs is that people missing vestibular nerve(s) shuoldn't swim underwater. I guess there's a risk, without the visual stimuli, of becoming disoriented and hitting the wall or bottom of the pool?

[grega]

Hi Karen,

Like Patrick, backyard pool swimming is almost a daily thing, with no balance problems whatsoever.  I see by your "signature" that it's been only six weeks since your surgery.  Perhaps more time will help you more fully overcome balance issues.

Best to ya!

Greg

[leapyrtwins]

Daily swimming?    Backyard pool? 

I don't know about anyone else, but right now I want to move in next door to either Patrick or Greg 

Karen -

I think Greg might have hit the nail on the head.  Six weeks post op isn't a long time - especially where balance is concerned.  I'm guessing things will get better in time.

Patience,

Jan

[grega]

Couple more thoughts .... there I go thinking again!  

Karen ..... I'm guessing that easy swimming in calm water might be avantageous, helping to overcome balance issues, cause your body is moving in ways different from usual motions (e.g.walking), and the increased different motions might increase "healing".   Maybe someone else knows if this might be true .... or at least possible.

Jan .... there are 4 pools in this cul-de-sac, and the homeowners are all friendly, so you should have no trouble swimming daily in this neck of the woods.  

Greg

[leapyrtwins]

Greg -

I'll be there . . .

Oh yeah, just as soon as I find gainful employment and can afford the airfare - and have some paid days off!

Jan

[uvawfu]

Hi Karen.

I grew up swimming competitively (over 30 years ago now).  I had my AN remove March 11 and went swimming for the first time Memorial Day weekend.  It felt really strange.  I did what I could for as long as I felt like it, not pushing myself too hard.  Every week, I tried to get in the water once or twice to swim with my girls (age 10 and .  Over the course of the summer, things got much better.  So, I would say, don't rush to judge too early and keep working on it.  It gets better over time, even when you think its slowing down, a couple of weeks later you will notice an improvement.  I had moderate balance issues, requiring 2 months of physical therapy following surgery.

I've never heard about swimming making your balance worse.  Mine has improved over the course of the summer as I have gotten back into swimming.

[ixta]

I swam my first 2.4 miles for an Ironman Triathlon last June. At that distance, everyone is dizzy getting out of the water.
I did the whole race in 14 hrs, and yes, was dizzy the whole way due to ssd.
One just needs to reframe these things. I just felt drunk the whole way. No danger being dizzy until you fall off a cliff or something.
Regarding grega's post on "healing". I do find that running, swimming, and biking does take away vertigo or at least reduces it. I have not worked out hard since the IM Tri and now notice I am "dizzier".

enjoy the dizzy, embrace the dizzy, live the dizzy.

[leapyrtwins]

Fantastic attitude, ixta 

"enjoy the dizzy, embrace the dizzy, live the dizzy".

You are definitely proof that there IS life after an AN.

Thanks for the inspiring post,

Jan

[Kansas]

Swimming was not detrimental to my balance.  I don't know if there is any correlation, but my balance worsened when I quit swimming.  Newbie

Hi, Karen...interesting.  I've never heard that...I have been swimming a good bit this summer.  It did make me a bit seasick at first with the motion of the water, but nothing that stopped me.  I haven't noticed my balance suffering any, I don't think?  Know we have some true swimmers around here and I don't remember anyone saying it was detrimental to their balance, but perhaps others have experienced or heard different? 

Cindy