Can you get a Sinus infection from a swim????

[KAYAKN]

Took a LOOOONG swim this past weekend and my doc said today my sinus's are all jacked up. Didnt have the smiley's on so i took on a bunch of water in the old nose. The doc said it's possible, just wondering if anyone else has had the problem.

[RichardL]

Never had the problem, but yes it is very possible and often times likely. There are numerous bacteria in the water, not all bad on the ecosystem, that when introduced to your sinus cavity cause an infection, and sometimes just a reaction similar to an infection (as these bacteria are alien) your body sais attack noted by increased mucous production and drainage, wbc's swarming the area, sinus pressure, etc.

Just give it a few days and drink plenty of beer all will be well in the future.

Peace
Richard

[scott yarbrough]

YES. Yes you can.

[RomanLA]

My sinuses bothered me for a week or so after rolling in the Nanty. I'm sure the pressure changes driving through the mountains didn't help much either.

[okieboater]

Short answer: yes

Long answer: back in the days of long boats, I was doing pop ups in my Response at Lesser Wesser on the Nanty. Great fun. No ear plugs. Got some water trapped in my right ear.

Next morning, drove home to Tulsa. Ear still stopped up. Did the home remedy routine. This went on for several days. Finally went to family Doc who pumped out blood and green stuff. Went home and Ear got worse. Back to family Doc who immediately sent me to a specialist. Opened his waiting room and noticed all the pictures of him and restored Porsce Cars.

Sat in a modified dentist chair head turned to side and locked down. Doc sezs do not move. Inserts what looks to me to be a scaled down oil rock drill. Drill hums along, Doc keeps saying words like sh*t, thought I had all of it. Finally he injects a syringe of stuff that burned like cheap whiskey.

Said, "I had to scrape off all the crud on your ear drum and now have some serious drugs working on the infection" Take these pills and if you still hurt after a couple days. Call my office and get back ASAP. If things ok, go back to your regular Doctor for a final check"

Since then I wear ear plugs. It does not matter if water is clean or dirty. Water trapped in the ear normally results in some sort of infection.

I like the big time industrial ear plugs from Lowes. If I want to hear on the river, I use Doc's Pro Plugs. Keep a bottle of clear vinegar / clear alcohol mixture in my gear bag and put a few drops in both ears after boating.

Recommend the same routine to everyone as it is only a matter of time till you get infection. You will not believe what comes out of a badly infected ear channel.

[KAYAKN]

Today is RUFF!! I wish my eyes and head would just go ahead and EXPLODE!!! Maybe i'll try some of those beermeds.

[Dean]

Mr. Okieboater,

Where's a good place to get those Doc's Pro Plugs?
I've wanting to get some for a while now.

Thanks!

[RomanLA]

You can get them at OOO if you're a local. If not, you can get them at CKS.
http://www.coloradokayak.com/Docs-Pro-Plugs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Prairie Tater]

It is possible to catch many "bugs" from being in the public waterways. And you don't have to have your head under the water to allow them to infiltrate your body. Any open sore is also an invitation for them.

Some creeks and rivers are more polluted with these little beasts than others. There is one popular river in particular, here in the Missouri Ozarks, to which I've sworn not to paddle again simply because its not worth taking the risk of being sick. A few years back, I came down with a bad gastrointestinal infection after being submergered a few times on this run. And this year, it was bronchitis. And my head wasn't even under water. Let me add that I'm normally pretty healthy.

So, I've become very picky about the rivers & creeks I paddle. If they have that certain smell (earthy gaseous odor), I will detour to the next stream. I've had real reservations about the Ocoee for the past few years. Anyone else here smelled it?

I'll end by just saying that all of the rivers in the Arkansas Ozarks seem to be relatively clean, which is one reason I love them so much.

Terry Prater

[KAYAKN]

Well this is the first time this has happened. Heck i may have been sick for days, who knows?? About the Ocoee, it has to be one of my favorite rivers to paddle. I took a SWR class several years back and had one of those water bottles that has the inner filter system in it. All day long i would drink all my water and just refill it from the Ocoee. Everyone thought i was nutts but the thing worked and worked well. I never not once got sick or had the chits from the water. Never really smelled anything on the Ocoee either. Well that does depend who goes with me. Had a friend that got the chit scared out of him one time Really happened!!!!

[okieboater]

you can get Doc's Pro plugs at a number of places as mentioned above.

You do need to know what size fits you the best and there is a fit kit.

I go direct to the source and get mine at

http://www.proplugs.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My choice is the ones with a lease molded in. Alto I have threaded some fishing line in as a leash to save a few bucks.

Clear ones are cool, color makes them a lot easier to find.

[Cowper]

Ancient history, but there was a time when it was considered totally UNCOOL for kayakers to wear nose clips. Real kayakers didn’t need them. Then as rodeo was coming on strong, some big name paddlers started wearing nose clips in order to avoid some big time sinus infections caused by frequent water injections and to stay out of the clinics and emergency rooms. Then it became “OK” for mere motal paddlers to wear the clips too.

As to ear infections, you can generally avoid those by keeping a small bottle of alcohol in your car, and dumping some in each ear at the end of the day. But ear plugs have the advantage that they will also help protect you from Surfer’s ear (caused by cold water, not an infection), whereas the regular use of alcohol could actually cause that problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfer's_Ear" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I’ve had it for years, but it has recently gotten bad enough that I think I’m going to need to get an operation within a year or two.

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways,
chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming
“WOO HOO what a ride!”
(I’m working on it.)