Headaches on Long Swim!

[Rick Olson]

Just did a 3 mile swim in which I got a major headache
which turned into nausea. Don't know if this was swim
cap & goggles too tight related, or not enough pre
fluid loading. I was reading through the book "Open
Water Swimming" and the author suggested taking some
sort of fluid or gel along for long swims. As I have
IM Kona coming up, has anyone carried something with
them? What about avoiding headaches. I already checked
on the swimming news group. Was wondering what you
folks thought. Thanks as always in advance!
Rick

[Ross Macdonald]

I had a headache that started about 400m into a 1200m swim in a tri two
weeks ago. It developed into a migraine by the time I exited the water.
I thought it was because I was looking up in the water a lot following
someone's feet. I asked my coach at masters' a couple of nights later
and she said it was because I went out too fast without warming up
enough. I did hydrate fairly well prior to the swim so it wasn't that.

Cheers,
Ross

[Rick Teichler]

In article <37949A26...@home.com>, Rick Olson <source...@home.com> writes:
>
>Just did a 3 mile swim in which I got a major headache
>which turned into nausea. Don't know if this was swim
>cap & goggles too tight related, or not enough pre
>fluid loading. I was reading through the book "Open
>Water Swimming" and the author suggested taking some
>sort of fluid or gel along for long swims. As I have
>IM Kona coming up, has anyone carried something with
>them? What about avoiding headaches. I already checked
>on the swimming news group. Was wondering what you
>folks thought. Thanks as always in advance!
>Rick

Well, you've already thought about the cap and goggles
being too tight. Those items have done it to me in the
past. What's tolerable for 30 minutes seems to become
awfully painful after 45. One other cause I've found for
headaches is very cold water. Even with a cap, having
real cold water on my face for an extended time will
produce a headache. Keeping my ears plugged in those
conditions helps. If it turns out that cold water is
the root of your problem, you'll at least have no problem
at Kona.... Good luck.

--

Rick Teichler
StorageTek Software Engineering
(Louisville, Colorado)

For Email replies, use:
teichler <at> sweng <dot> stortek <dot> com

[Edward Allen]

Rick:

Try laying your head totally flat in the water and swim for several
strokes. It happens to me as well and I'm thinking it may have to do
with neck position. Looking straight down for several strokes seems to
alleviate the problem most of the time for me.

-Ed

[Phil Squire]

Have you thought about muscle tension in your neck and shoulders? Were you
lifting your head more than usual?

Just a thought.

Philip Squire
MCP
IM
http://w1.116.telia.com/~u11602093/home.html
Rick Olson wrote in message <37949A26...@home.com>...

[Kevin Osborn]

Rick Olson wrote:
>
> Just did a 3 mile swim in which I got a major headache
> which turned into nausea. Don't know if this was swim
> cap & goggles too tight related, or not enough pre
> fluid loading. I was reading through the book "Open
> Water Swimming" and the author suggested taking some
> sort of fluid or gel along for long swims. As I have
> IM Kona coming up, has anyone carried something with
> them? What about avoiding headaches. I already checked
> on the swimming news group. Was wondering what you
> folks thought. Thanks as always in advance!
> Rick

I find when I start out too hard I don't get a good rhythm with my
breathing and I get a headache. I'm guessing it's due to carbon dioxide
retention because I don't exhale completely - but this is only a theory.

Kevin.