Safe for those with LE?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema
Is swimming in the Atlantic ocean safe if one has truncal and arm LE? How about lakes? Or chlorinated pools? I assume pools are safer, but is there a protocol on when to avoid, showering after, etc? Wondering if this is cellulitis risk. Guess I should see if StepUp SpeakOut site has info.




I have plans to go to NJ beach this Sunday, and next week I will be in FL and able to swim in Gulf. Any suggestions would be great. I know sun block, bug spray, umbrella, hat, sunglasses, and coverup are a must.
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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited June 2012

    Swimming is considered good for LE....I think oceans and lakes are even better than pools...you get more water pressure...maybe.

    I have never heard about a cellulitis risk. I guess if I had an open wound I might skip a really polluted place. 'A shower after sure could not hurt. 

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  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited June 2012

    I will be at Flagler Beach in FL late June and did not think about not getting in the water.  I guess Cookie is right.  If I have any open cuts to not do so.  Otherwise I will shower immediately after and put on the lotion and sleeve.  I have an old sleeve that is too big.  I may wear it in the water. 

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited June 2012

    Another consideration is the scuffs and scrapes you get from bumping along the sandy/rocky bottom. Make sure you have topical antibiotic and bandaids along, and use them promptly for any skin breaks.

    Pools are only as good as the maintenance they have. Public pools are less safe than a home pool that's well maintained, as, uh, anything can happen in a public pool, y'know?

    Take along healthy snack foods so you can avoid the saltier ones. And take extra care to STAY WELL HYDRATED--because that's really hard to remember to do when we're swimming.

    Hmmmm--are we having fun yet?!Undecided
    Binney

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited June 2012

    I think the upshot is, that it probably does more good than harm. I love a nice huge cold lake, I feel like it's one thing I can do that really helps. I swam for an hour both Sunday and Monday.

    Also swimming really restored my range of motion better than any exercises could. I think elementary backstroke is especially good.

    My NYC LE always says, "Swimming is excellent"

    NYC has some pretty iffy water places, like Orchard Beach in the Bronx and the Staten Island Beach, I do get a little nervous there something could harm my arm. 

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  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited June 2012

    A note of caution about swimming in the Northeast:  check for goose poop on the shore before hopping in.  I didn't have an obvious break in the skin, but I managed to get an infection swimming in an apparently pristine lake.  Only afterwards did I notice all of the goose poop on the beach (which almost certainly got into the water).  

    Not sure if they have fire coral in Florida, but that stuff is vicious:  like poison ivy on steroids!  Avoid it. 

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  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited June 2012

    To avoid scrapes and micro abrasions by sand on Bilat Le arms, I wear a whisper thin lycra shirt, that fits rather snugly. I never get sand inthere so I assume it protects from scrapes on the arms. I spent 2 summers wrapped w/o water and never again. Life is too short.

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