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Thoughts on swimming with LS

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Morrell1951
Morrell1951

As someone who's had LS my whole 62 year life (but wasn't diagnosed till a year ago) and loves to swim in our small clear Ontario lakes in summer, I'm now wondering if swimming is so good. Maybe someone with microbiolgy or wound knowledge could contribute here.

For many years I've been careful not to sit around in a wet bathing suit, but that's really a yeast infection strategy. I'm concerned about the little (smaller now with good treatemnt) tear in my perineum that's there 2/3 of the time. Not really that it would become infected, but somehow for the first time I'm having second thoughts about what sorts of microbes might be in our nice clear lakes that would be bad.

Really, I hope someone will tell me I'm wrong and say "Go jump in the lake!"

 

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  • Morrell1951
    Morrell1951

    Posted

    Best thing I can find on the internet is Dr. Margaret Mann talking about care of a wound with stitches, "Pool and lake water are sources of infection and should be avoided until stitches are removed or, if you do not have stitches, until the wound has healed."

    Maybe I need to limit swimming to days I have zero tearing.

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  • wendy14679
    wendy14679 Morrell1951

    Posted

    I think if we start worrying too much, life will pass us by.  Go jump in the lake - I wish I could join you!  It sounds amazing;  you are so lucky. xxxx
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    • Morrell1951
      Morrell1951 wendy14679

      Posted

      Just in case I gave the impression that I actually live on a lake, I don't. But I only have to drive ten minutes to one where I can dive into deep water off a big rock. This summer has been too cool and rainy for it anyway, but you're right, there's a limit! I still have my ten ounces of red wine and some sugar, sooo....
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  • Lainimac
    Lainimac Morrell1951

    Posted

    I was just swimming yesterday in a crystal clear mountain river and I regularly swim in my pool.   I agree that life can't stop or it would be too depressing.  I usually coat my perineum area with A&D ointment and hope that provides protection from any microbes. 
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  • hanny32508
    hanny32508 Morrell1951

    Posted

    Hi Morrell,

    I love to swim and it has always been my summer's physical activity.  But with the LS I have become extremely careful.  The lakes here in the Okanagan, BC look very inviting, but I don't dare with this LS.  The lakes and rivers are not the same as they used to be.  Neither do I swim in a swimming pool.  The fusing is too complicated and I'm afraid that this can easily pick up anything in between these tiny spaces.  Instead I row, whenever I have the opportunity.  Above water, not the same, but a physical activity non the less. Unless there is a way to prevent bacteria from entering or attaching. 

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    • Morrell1951
      Morrell1951 hanny32508

      Posted

      Thanks, Hanny, for giving the other side of this. Come to think of it last summer during the warm spell when I finally went swimming a number of times was the time when I got the abcess under my not-quite-completely-fused clitoral hood. The same abscess Dr. Goldstein described in his presentation. If you're like that now, it's very wise to stay out of the lakes. And I'm going to follow my desire, which doesn't burn like it used to. I probably won't even miss it.
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