Someone asked me this question yesterday. I responded--Although I would not allow them to be on the swim team or sign them up for a summer camp that would have them swimming in chlorine every day, I do allow them to go into chlorine when it comes up. These times are pretty limited all things considered. These times include other kid's birthday parties or playdates at other children's homes-or even the random vacation that might include a chlorinated pool. Do I like it? No, but, I dont want my children to become completely paranoid and need more therapy than I could have already possibly caused them to need:).
We live in a world that sadly includes a lot of toxins and I do my best to limit them to a very high degree. Can I do it completely, no. No one can.
Weirdly yesterday when I was asked this question--my little daughter came home from a day at the pool at someone else's house having left in the morning completely well-with a very high fever and excruciating headache. She had been fine in the pool the entire day but became almost immediately unwell after being in the hot tub! The heat I am certain allows for the pores to open and the chlorine to penetrate much more deeply much more quickly. She was with a sitter who did not know enough to realize she was getting sick from the chlorine. By the time she came home she was so completely ill. Maybe they had just put chlorine in that afternoon or chlorine and bromine. I dont know, she has been in chlorinated hot ubs before. But, use your judgement. If it smells strong, keep them out. Dont intentionally have your kids in chlorine on any regular basis-but also do not create a world of paranoia-just common good sense. The more you limit these toxins the healthier they will be, but, remember-moderation to some degree is probably also wise so create balanced human beings. There will be certain absolute no nos and other things you can lets slide a bit. The where's and whats are up to you!
We can only do the best we can
Well-food for thought!
Dr.M
Comments
I have wondered the same
I have wondered the same thing... I noticed this was happening to me in the shower... Taking hot showers gave me a headache and made me feel dizzy.. They sent a letter in the mail saying they increased the chemicals in our tap water to keep the pipes cleaner and less maintenance... I could smell it in the tap water... It really reminded me of pool water. So I bought a filter that goes on the shower that takes out the chlorine, and other chemicals, and it has helped a lot. I don't get headaches, or extremely tired after warm showers anymore.
Very good to know. Thanks for posting.
I wish my parents had this
I wish my parents had this knowledge when I was little. I grew up with a pool in our backyard and because of this had started swimming lessons at age 3-4 months old and was a competitive swimmer from a very young age. As the years went on I had such severe asthma attacks that would have to be pulled out of the swimming pool at swim meets. Rather embarrassing, but I just figured it was something that asthmatics needed to learn to deal with, and my mentality nothing was going to stop me from doing something I enjoyed and was really good at. Well, obviously now I know this was not normal. A few years later tried swimming for exercise as joints were getting worse and my body really seemed to retaliate with numerous ailments rearing their ugly head. It's not worth seeing children suffer from something that could potentially avoided. Those that have asthma and are done or much farther along in the healing process will we ever be able to go swimming in a chlorinated pool or is it always something we will have to avoided? Thanks for the insight on this topic.
I also think Hot Tubs are
I also think Hot Tubs are breeding grounds for bacteria. I really can't imagine after years of use, and not cleaning them out, how bacteria could not be there. If you go to a nail salon, and use their foot bath, you risk infection so easily. Oh, they riinse it out with bleach etc, just like the hot tubs, what they don't and can't get to are the filters. That is where the bacteria go to live and multiply. I went to a nail salon once and had a foot bath, she then pumiced my foot and took out a piece of skin in the process which neither she nor I noticed. my whole toe and part of my foot turned black. I had to take cipro for over a week to clear it up. Just sayin, I never ever use hot tubs or foot baths at nail salons. Thanks for the post..Julie
How timely!! We have a local
How timely!! We have a local township pool and it is impossible for me to avoid it completely. If I did not allow my kids to go to the pool, they would truly hate me. They swin for about an hour a few days a week in the summer. When they visit their grandparents they swim in the neighbor's pool a LOT which does not make me happy at all but I have to try to keep perspective. However, my 4 year old gets terrible rashes from the chlorine so she is not allowed at all- poor little girl. Luckily, she is pretty cheerful about it but she is missing out on a fun neighborhood activity. Not sure what will happen as she gets older. Her dr said, "maybe she is the lucky one- chlorine is terrible for all of us"
I wish the twp would convert it to salt water!! Makes me sad that I might never get to swim again with the kids unless we are at a lake
Julie, saline pools are a
Julie, saline pools are a reasonable alternative to keep the bacteria levels down and healthy immune systems can manage a bit of bacteria. I don't think the bacteria is the big issue. I think we need to find a way to keep pools clean using other technologies. Even then they will never be perfectly bacteria free. That is not realistic!! Having said that, nail salons are pretty gross and I choose the ones that have wash basins that need to be dumped and cleaned after each use. And with IC I don't go to a salon but someday I will and bring my own non toxic nail polish. Had you been with ICAMA when you got your foot infection you probably would not have needed cipro. Just sayin' :)
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Dr. Brizman, thank you for
Dr. Brizman, thank you for this post!
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Julie- i agree. They are
Julie- i agree. They are gross. No thanks!
Dr M, are we allowed to swim
Dr M, are we allowed to swim in hotel saltwater/saline pools in treatment? Thanks!
Sorry been out of town and
Sorry been out of town and just seeing all of these. Best to avoid all pools until strong enough-so say when you reach about list 4-ish and then try saline pools. I have a saline pool and it is great. I know there are other technologies these days that MAY be better-but I just dont know. I go by how I feel in my pool and it is really nice with the saline. I have many firneds who are sensitive and they too feel comfortable in it.
Having said that, I just got back from a vacation where the pool was the primary thing each day. And yes, it was chlorine. I did go in, and I allow my kids to do so on these few times per year that we are somewhere where the pool is chlorine-but, it is limited to that. So, I feel in the big picture this is a very tiny exposure.
However, if the smell had been strong of chlorine, I would have strongly urged being in the ocean instead of the pool, but this was not the case.
If you are super sensitive, or unwell, any amount of chlorine is a problem. So, this is important to remember.
Dr.M