Cold water!

[Sandych55]

I went swimming for the first time yesterday since my diagnosis of PAF 18 months ago. I'm on holiday in France at the moment. It was an outdoor pool and it's hot here so the water felt really cold. I went in waist deep and then ducked under. I swam for a few metres then realised I was in AF. I guess it was the shock of the cold water. I stayed in AF for a few minutes then it changed to tachycardia. I panicked and got out and walked back to our motorhome. By the time I got back I was in NSR albeit in the 80s which is fast for me. It took about ten minutes. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I now be avoiding swimming? 😞I do enjoy it when I get the chance.

[jeanjeannie50]

I had to stop going to our local swimming pool because every time I swam I went into AF

[Sandych55 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes I was really disappointed as I wanted to start again to get a bit fitter 😞

[Megams in reply to Sandych55]

~So that you don't miss out altogether why not consider walking in the water for strengthening of legs.

I did this in the past (can't swim) and it kept me in shape.

[DianeEM]

I go swimming - in an indoor pool - three times a week, and have never experienced this. AF is a strange beast and can strike anywhere in any situation, personally I would try again before I made a decision to stop.

Best wishes

Diane

[Sandych55 in reply to DianeEM]

Yes I probably will. It was a bit of a shock because I never even considered the possibility of it happening.

[24yearsandcounting in reply to Sandych55]

It is the cold water that gets to me; I swim twice a week at a local leisure pool and never had any problems. If I do too much I soon know about it and have to go to bed as soon as I get home. Just being in the water is bliss and i sometimes walk to the deep end.

[Leechg]

I think it could have been the cold water. It has happened to me but not in warm water. All the best.

[Bob56]

It’s not unusual to experience what you did on entering cold water. I think the heart responds to the dramatic change in temperature and it’s happened to me before on more than one occasion. I don’t think you should necessarily stop the swimming but I might suggest you enter the water very slowly and let your heart acclimatise to the change. I have no problems in a heated pool but I’m wary of cold water these days. It’s also wise to monitor your breathing as a sudden change in that department might also trigger some adverse heart activity. Slow and steady would seem to be the order of the day!

[secondtry]

I believe cold is a trigger, particularly if you have vagally mediated PAF. I have reluctantly avoided swimming in the sea and am slowly testing my resilience to AF (aka playing with fire) by increasing 5 secs of cold shower at the end of my morning hot one....so far so good.

I have triggered AF gulping a cold drink on a hot day.

[Espeegee]

Cold water swimming is considered really beneficial for many things. Cold water shock though is an autonomic reaction, caused by sudden unexpected immersion, like falling through the ice or jumping in without realizing how cold water can be, and is why some people die, the vagus nerve reacts inducing the heart response, people panic and drown. Bob is correct, enter slowly, acclimatize, don't duck your head under until you're confident your body is ready. For good advice and guidance read up on Wim Hof, try his breathing technique, there are lots of videos on YouTube, Don't deny yourself a pleasure which can have benefits too 😉 I have PAF, it's never happened in cold water but I started slowly, in my bath as it happens, I love it.

[OzJames]

mine has worked the other way. Once in AF I tried to run it back into Sinus, no luck so I jumped into a cold pool and bingo back in sinus. The running had worked first few times so I guess the ‘shock’ can work both ways

[Starboard13]

I am a regular open water swimmer (4 times a week) and often go into AF or tachycardia shortly after entering the water or shortly after coming out. As has been said enter the water slowly to let your body adjust and enjoy your swim. We give up enough for this beast without removing all the pleasures in life. Have fun 😊

[Sandych55 in reply to Starboard13]

Does your AF last long or just a few minutes? If I was sure it would revert back quickly I wouldn't be so worried but I guess it's different for everyone.

[Starboard13 in reply to Sandych55]

Once it kicks in It doesn't usually convert back to NSR for around 6-8 hours. I swim and skydive with AF.

[Sandych55 in reply to Starboard13]

I've only had it 3 times but I'm quite symptomatic and last time my heart was so fast I had to have a cardioversion. I'm now on calcium channel blockers to control the rate but getting another full blown attack does scare me.

[Starboard13 in reply to Sandych55]

This condition is trying for sure! You will learn to live with it in time 😊. Best of luck to you.

[Sandych55 in reply to Starboard13]

Thank you 😊

[gorpo59 in reply to Starboard13]

With PIP or just converts naturally? Do you do anything to assist the conversion?

[CDreamer]

Af has never stopped me swimming but I do take a lot more care these days getting into cold water ultra slowly. My guess is that it was the difference in temperature your body struggled with but don’t rule out the exercise. I was told to avoid breast stroke, I did and no problem. Breast stroke - my heart really didn’t like that.

[irene75359 in reply to CDreamer]

It is the only stroke I can do! That's all that was taught when I was at primary school.

[CDreamer in reply to irene75359]

Time to learn another?

[Sandych55 in reply to CDreamer]

Doggy paddle is a very underrated stroke 😂

[irene75359 in reply to CDreamer]

Both my daughters swam competitively and I remember hearing my younger daughter's gales of laughter whilst she was (trying) to teach me front crawl!

[CDreamer in reply to irene75359]

I prefer back stroke, just need eyes at the top of your head in a crowded pool😉

[Sandych55]

Thanks everyone. Before AF I was very much a get in quickly and get it over with person but I think I need to try the slower approach and see how I get on.

[Takamine]

I havnt swam in ages miss it , but become concerned I might go into AF with sudden change in temperature. Our local pool is pretty cold .

[Sixtyslidogirl]

I have had an AF episode triggered by swimming in cold water after a run. I had not warmed up properly after the run so was a bit chilly when I got in. Now, I get in really slowly, never get too cold and warm up in the sauna afterwards (not getting too hot in there either!

[MIC1]

When I swim at our local pool, I wear a Body Glove tight fitting rash guard. It helps with the initial shock of entering cold water. If that doesn’t work, you could try a half wet suit.