Cold salt water

[lindsayg]

I am currently on a cruise (which I did not want to go on) and am going to the salt water pool every morning. For reference, Dr. Hibner gave me Botox shots 11 weeks ago and I was doing well, as well as taking all my heavy duty pain medicine. Maybe only 2 bad days a week. Because it is so hot, I have been standing in the pool for 1/2 - 1 hour each day. But I have been hurting and burning for the last 48 hours. I know many of you sit in warm sitz baths with salt. Is there anything about cool salt water that should be bothering me? My other thought is that I haven't been able to wear underpants for going on 4 years, and I of course, am wearing a bathing suit bottom. Just wanted to see if any of you could give me your experience with cool salt water, before I blame it on the bathing suit.

[Violet M]

Lindsay, I'm assuming this is a chlorine-free pool? I've sat in epsom salt sitz bath before but never sodium chloride. I never had a problem but I didn't sit that long either. If the burning was caused by salt water it seems like you would be able to see some external skin irritation. Do you have that?

Violet

[lindsayg]

Hi Violet,
Thank you for your fast reply. The pool does have chlorine, in fact, I heard it was heavily chlorinated today. Is that bad? I was in the pool this morning for about 20 minutes. I am now in my cabin, having showered and looked for irritation. I appear red but I'm not sure that isn't always the case. I am, however, reclining on my bed with an ice pack. I have a horrible feeling like being stretched and pulled down there. Haven't had that feeling before. Any thoughts?
Lindsay

[Lernica]

Lindsay,

It's the chlorine in the pool, and also possibly the wet bathing suit. Stay out of it for the rest of the cruise. And stay dry down there. (Advice courtesy of my pelvic PT.)

[ezer]

Chlorine and/or Bromine is an absolute no no for me. I would advise to stay away from it. Any small irritation down there is quickly amplified by our condition.

[lindsayg]

Thank you all for your responses. I don't understand why something topical would cause so much burning and pain to an internal nerve or muscle. I don't think it's the chlorine because we have chlorine in our pool at home and I spent the warm months walking laps in the pool. I also wore a swimming suit. I'm just at wits end as standing in the water at the pool, meeting other passengers is the best part of the day for me. I spent 30 minutes in the pool this morning, and the only time I haven't been in pain and burning was while I was standing in the pool. It's the only social activity I have done, for the most part, and if I have to sit I use my twin cheeks cushion from cushion your assets. And that always helps. So I was more concerned about the salt water but why didn't it burn while I was in the water? I'm stumped!

[lindsayg]

Sunil,
Thanks for your reply. I think the water is getting even colder now as we head to New Zealand, so I will take your advice and stay out of it.

[lindsayg]

Sunil,
Thanks for the suggestions. I just noticed you are in Brisbane. We were just there 4-5 days ago. It was great, we enjoyed it. Used the hop on hop off bus, shopped around town. Ate at champs behind the Ferris wheel. Took the city cat. Saw a lot in one afternoon.

[lindsayg]

Thanks Sunil. I haven't been in the cold water again, but that's mostly because the temperature outside has been cooler and I'm not down at the pool.