General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water? Rss Feed  
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2012-08-06 12:09 PM


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Subject: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?

Did the Cayuga Lake tri yesterday (near Ithaca, NY).  Was only my second tri ever, and my wife and one daughter did the race as well.  We all did it last year, and improved our times this year - and all agreed we felt substantially better at the end this year than last.

It was a pretty windy day, with the wind coming from the south right up the lake into the starting beach creating quite a bit of chop.  And because of that my hydration plan included a gallon or two of lake water.  Same for my wife. I'm sure we weren't alone.

Anyone ever have experience getting sick from ingesting water on an OWS?

BTW, after yesterday I'm pretty sure we're going to be doing more than one a year now.

 



2012-08-06 12:52 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
I'm sure it's possible, but I try to block all of that kind of thinking out since I swim with my mouth open.

Edited by bufordt 2012-08-06 12:52 PM
2012-08-06 12:54 PM
in reply to: #4349154

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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
Yup. Then I got well. It happens.
2012-08-06 1:20 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
My experience with bad effects of drinking water during an OWS fall into two categories.  First is I will get nauseous and throw up right away.  Maybe its psychological but within minutes I'll burp it up and than I'm fine.  The other is something more like food poisoning where I'll get those types of symptoms several hours after I swim and than they pass in a day.
2012-08-06 2:11 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
I've seen and heard of people ingesting salt water, their stomachs bloating some causing discomfort and in a few cases, vomiting, then they proceed to race. It can happen.
2012-08-06 2:13 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
Yup. Had 6 inches of intestines removed as a result!


2012-08-06 2:15 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?

ratherbeswimming - 2012-08-06 3:13 PM Yup. Had 6 inches of intestines removed as a result!

Surprised

2012-08-06 2:27 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
Yes.  Google CDC Recreational Water Illnesses for more information.  Don't let it freak you out; but you should be aware.  the one I had (giardia), was not bad.  Took a few months to go away however.  Some can be more serious and a Dr should be consulted.
2012-08-06 2:37 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
I regularly check for Zebra mussels after my OWS's...
2012-08-06 2:42 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
jmhpsu93 - 2012-08-06 3:15 PM

ratherbeswimming - 2012-08-06 3:13 PM Yup. Had 6 inches of intestines removed as a result!

Surprised

Rare bacteria and a one in a million chance of it actually sticking around enough to cause harm... Not your average open water experience.
2012-08-06 3:54 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?

I haven't gotten very sick, just nausea/icky feeling.  What I found cures that is to eat a small bagel RIGHT before the swim (the small one, or Half of a full one). Slowly eat it as you're setting up Transition and kind of make it last until you're ready to swim. I have not found this method to be too heavy on my stomach. 

Theory is if you eat it, the bagel will absorb the water, thus causing a LOT less issues. Think of it like a sponge in your stomach.

Sick from bacteria or other water borne organisms, I have not yet gotten sick. 



2012-08-06 3:58 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?

This thread is enough to convince me to never do an open water swim!

2012-08-06 6:12 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?

Yes, twice, but not seriously. Just a day or two of making sure I was within sprinting distance of a toilet. It was here in VN and I'm sure the water was contaminated to some extent. In one case the chop was pretty extreme and I took in several big mouthfuls, so not suprised. I'd just gotten over strep and had come off several days of antibiotics, so it's possible the gut issues were from the illness or antibiotics rather than the water. Also possible that the drugs in my system kept me from getting a lot sicker LOL.

But they have these races every year and no one I know has gotten seriously ill; I've also swum there (in calmer water) on vacation and not gotten ill, so not a big worry. I wouldn't advise doing OWS in a developing country, though, unless you're pretty adapted to the local microflora. Even then, you're taking a risk--if you've followed Yanti's typhoid saga, you'll know what I mean.

2012-08-06 6:32 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
I did a race last fall with short, steep wind chop.  One of the guys I train with got sick on the swim from all the bobbing around and waves breaking on our faces when trying to breathe.  As far as bacteria, amoeba's, etc... luckily I don't know anyone who has gotten that sick.
2012-08-06 6:37 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone ever get sick from drinking OWS water?
Last year got sick.  Was bed ridden for two days.  
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