I need your help! My daughter (age almost 9) is on Swim Team for the first time. Just so you know this is a rather laid back team in that it is very much for the love of swim and not extreme competition...it's only in the Summer. Anyway, she goes to practice every morning to swim laps and learn to improve strokes. However, she always has to stop and sit on the edge of the pool because she says she's nauseous. When she was a toddler she would occasionally get motion sick...for example while driving in a hot car, swinging too much at the playground, anything that involved twirling around, etc. She would even get whoozy between meals. I thought she had kind of grown out of it, but she has thrown up a few times after swim practice recently. We have tried things like: eating 1 hour before swim, eating 2 hours before swim, not eating before swim (hard because swim is at 8:45am), not eating any dairy before swim, only eating toast or other bread before swim....anyway, nothing seems to work! Is there some secret to the eating/swimming thing? I'm really getting fed up with her not being in the pool practicing when she is supposed to (mostly because I feel my money is going to waste)but I of course want her to feel well. She is a really good back-stroker and I would hate to see her give up what she enjoys because of this issue...so HELP PLEASE!!!
Take her to an ENT, it sounds like Vertigo- something that I suffer from on and off for the last 15 years.It can become debilitating, I have had to stay in bed for days because of the dizziness and vomiting.
Good luck, i hoe she feels better.
Has anyone mentioned an inner ear problem yet? That can cause motion sickness and dizzyness and naseua(sp)
I've never heard of this before, but it might be an inner ear issue. Have her pediatrician check her for ear infections at the very least (swimmer's ear?). If she is nauseous/throwing up b/c she's dizzy, that might be a sign of vertigo or other problems.
Did you have her ears checked? That can cause nausea sometimes, especially ith the pressure on the ear from swimming.
I started swimming at 6 brother and sister also, we swam competitivly in NJ and FLA, I would absolutely suggest to you to observe what your childs actions say,if she really has a passion for swimming , illness would definately not be an issue sometimes its nerves, sometimes its just non concious choice. Please no need to be frustrated with wasted money issues, she may be just trying to please you! You might want to make sure she does'nt feel guilty for wasting your money.
A.
Is she drinking enough water before practice? Swimming is a good workout and dehydration could happen more easily than we think.
Best of luck,
AM
In the pharmacy section of your drugstore, there are little terry cloth wrist bands called "Sea Bands" I think. Anyhow, they have a little plastic nobby that sticks into your wrist, at a pressure point. These are supposed to preent motion sickness on cruises, etc. It's worth a shot! They're about $12, so it's not super cheap, but I've heard good things about them. Good luck!
She may have an inner ear problem. Tell her pediatrician these symptoms. good luck!
Have her checked for an inner ear infection.
Find out if she's dizzy. Maybe she has vertigo.
It'll make you feel ill.
I get motion sickness in cars, etc.
but never swimming.
my advice is to elimimate the physical
before determining if it's psychological.
Have you tried motion sickness medicine. There are wrist bands she could wear during practice or talk to your pediatrician about the ear patch.
It sounds like your daughter may need occupational therapy to address sensory integration issues.
Each of our sensory systems has receptors, which communicate information to the brain. The senses of taste, smell, sight, hearing, and touch are commonly recognized. Less well known are the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. The vestibular system receptor organ is in the inner ear and gives us our sense of balance. Feelings of nausea and motion sickness can occur if there is a problem with this system.
Therapy for kids who easily become motion sick may include activities which are rich in sensory information: swinging, spinning on a tire swing, etc...It looks more like play than therapy, and the kids usually enjoy it!
Ask your pediatrician about Occupational Therapy for sensory integration.
See link for more info about sensory integration related to the vestibular system. I hope this helps. Good luck!
Could it be nerves? I ask that only because I used to run track and cross country and, even though I was a pretty good runner, I would work myself up so much before a competition or time trial and would often not feel well and try to get out of the race. So maybe she's just nervous as opposed to motion sick... Either way, good luck. Swimming is a great sport!!
I am not sure how to help you here since I have a little of the same issue. My problem is when I "flip" under water I get really dizzy and then the nausea kickes in. I can't flip under water any more because it has gotten worse over the years. Ask her if she feels okay until it is time to flip at the end of the pool length.
Hi R.,
About the only thing I can think of that might help is if your daughter has a place to focus while she is swimming. Backstroke is a little harder - you're looking at the ceiling/sky, so there is temptation to watch what is going on instead.
Goggles and learning to swim while looking at the starting block or a colored cone at the end of the lane might help.
Good Luck,
M.
any signs of asthma? is she having trouble breathing after exercise? just a thought.
HI R.,
I'm a swim coach and former swimmer. I hope your daughter got to see some of the Olympic Trials on TV this week!
It probably has nothing to do with what time she eats before practice.
It could be nerves. Is she hard on herself and overly critical? Maybe she is making herself sick. Is she actually vomitting or just standing over the trash can? Not to sound harsh, but tell her to puke and get back in the pool: Get it over with and keep swimming. If she actually pukes and gets in trouble while swimming the coach or lifeguard will save her.
I have had some swimmers on my team who, whenever the workout gets tough, complain about headaches, bathroom, etc and find any excuse to get out of swimming. I tell them that if anything happens to them, myself or the guard on duty will jump in the pool and save them. They are here to swim and since we only have so much pool time, they better be in the water. Its tough love.
If she is truly nauseous, she could be swallowing pool water when she swims. The chlorine will upset her stomach. She needs to focus on breathing correctly by exhaling completely underwater until her mouth clears the water to breathe.
Good luck!
I have some good sports psychology techniques that will hekp her if you are interested. Just email me and let me know. I'm interested to see how she does!
-Kate
She might have chemical allergies. My daughter had similar issues. I would give her some fresh-pressed OJ before swimming as this will help to counteract the chlorine a bit and give her some ginger capsules about half an hour before.
Pay attention to what kind of food she's eaten when she's dizzy between meals. Processed foods of all kinds, meaning anything that comes in a box with ingredients, could be an offender. These foods contain small amounts of chemicals that can make some people allergic or sick.
A magnetic bracelet may be helpful for balance and some people notice success with motion sickness. If you know a Nikken distributer they have one that's good for kids, durable and flexible (got rid of my wrist trouble).
Hydration with good quality water is essential to prevent dizziness. No pop or Gator Aid! They are full of junk. The body and brain needs good quality water. Fiji is a good brand if you buy bottled water although a filtration system would be far cheaper long term and more earth-friendly too. Just be sure that the water is alkaline and not reverse osmosis or distilled which are very acidic. The flavored water from AquaFina is actually more acidic than Coke. My friend and I tested about 15 different waters and pop and were rather shocked at that. You'd think it would be a good thing!
Please report back to us how this turned out. Of course have her ears checked as the others suggested.
S. Hoehner
www.sharethecause.com/detoxqueen
I think you got a lot of great suggestions. I also get motion sickness very easily but not swimming which I do very often. My suggestion is try giving her a dose of Bonine Non-drowsey. It is like dramamine but i think it works great with no side effects. Follow the directions on the package because it is important to take it a certain amount of time before you will be exposed to motion. Use it to see if she still complains if she feels sick. Because I do not believe that she will get motion sickness if she takes it before she goes in the water for practice. If she still gets sick you will know that it is not motion sickness and there is something else going on like nervousness or drinking water. I would also maybe see an ear,nose and throat specialist to make sure it is not a health condition.
She should definately eat before practice because motion sickness is always worse if you have an empty stomach. And if she is not properly hydrated it will make her feel really nauseous. My only other thought (and this is probably not what is happening) but you said she gets whoozy between meals and that made me wonder if she could have a sugar low problem. I know that people who dont process their sugars properly can get some of the symptoms you have described. Good luck and hope this helps
Hi! Could be inner ear disorder if she is having or had motion sickness.If this is the case, a doctor can help and if it's really a problem, i would not send her anymore and get your money back.
HI. It actually sounds like she needs some protein before exercising. We often forget just how much energy is actually used in the pool. I am not a medical person by any means, but my gut is saying it sounds like she needs to eat some protein before working out like that. Maybe on the way to practice she should try a protein bar (or start w/just 1/2 of one) and see if that helps.
I also saw that someone mentioned low sugar - I thought about that too... see what happens with some added protein (nuts, peanut butter, meat, beans, etc.) I think you might be surprised.
I love our family Dr. and would probably make an appt to see him if it was my daughter (of course we have a very low copay, so it's no harm no foul to do so). In my opinion, you can never be too cautious.
Good luck!
T.
Hi R.-
I know someone who had a similar problem. It turned out to only be a heavy wax buildup in the ear. (why that happened, I don't know) The Dr. removed the wax in the office giving my friend instant relief. He was able to keep up with the wax at home with an ear syringe and warm water.
I would have it checked out. Good luck!
-K.
hey, I swam on swim team my whole childhood and I had that happen once when I was doing an intensive workshop. The coach told my mom to give my peanut butter sandwich right before the workout. Never had a problem again. good luck
