Float like a cork, swim like an elderly Labrador...

I swim three times a week and whilst I swim between 800-1000 metres each time I'm really quite slow and a bit rubbish compared to the super fit and super fast swimmers at the pool. I need to stop every 50-75 metres but what perplexed me is that I'm so rubbish at swimming when my lungs make me float like a cork! Not for me this treading water lark I just bob, but when it comes to swimming it just seems to hinder me. Anyone else noticed this or had similar trouble? It also doesn't help that I can no longer put my face under water either!

[Hidden]

Hi,

Don't worry, I think it must be quite common with COPD, I too bob up & down like a cork - no need to tread water anymore either, it's a real fight to get underwater at all now.

I suppose one good thing to come out of it is, we'll never drown !!!

Take care

Dave

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

True enough - weird just to be able to lie there or be upright in water with no effort at all!

[Hidden]

I noticed in the spring that I seem to be unsinkable. Well actually my husband noticed. We were on holiday and I can no longer swim about as it takes too much effort but do like to float in the pool when I get too hot and just 'wiggle' a bit . Well, I did not wiggle arms, hands, legs or feet. I just lay perfectly still and my husband could push me along and I just remained floating. The really funny thing was when he tried to sink me - yes, he is like that, and I just bobbed back up, again with no effort. He says if this continues by next year I should be able to walk on water!

[vittorio in reply to Hidden]

- Nice one Auntymary ! - Fraid I can't swim at all, - I've only got to get in me Tub, and I start puffing and spluttering for fear of going under ! but your letter did amuse me - liked the bit about being " Unsinkable " - sure your name's not " Molly Brown" ? ! and did'nt they say that about the "Titanic" ? !! , and as for "Walking on water" - if you can do that, wow ! ,you really are in good Company !!!!! - good luck to you !! - Vittorio.

[Daxiemad]

Well if you swim anything like my friend's eldery lab, you are probably doing extremely well. I don't do underwater either, and I have Brittle Asthma, well done for doing the amount you do each week, afraid I vary so much accordingly. As for floating like a cork, well at least corks are little I am a contender for the "Bobbing Apples," at Halloween.

Give yourself a pat on the back and don't compare yourself to others, the fact you are exercising is positive enough!

[Hidden in reply to Daxiemad]

Oh Daxie I too am definitely a bobbing apple!

[Gordon57]

Call me daft if you like but I have a theory, that ties in with the feelings I sometimes get. I don't go swimming any more as I just can't get there by myself and would be worried about the effort of changing in a damp atmosphere too.

I often get a feeling of air bubbles, or trapped air, above my stomach but below where I think my lungs end. If I move about a lot, jiggle, then it goes all 'fizzy' on me and some can come out as burps. It really does not feel like this is coming from my lungs as part of normal breathing, but an extra effort to get rid of the trapped air is needed.

Whatever it is makes my stomach feel taut most of the time, as well as putting pressure on my chest and lungs. Having read the experiences above of built-in floats, I could relate to them.

[tanyamarie]

Ok guys I got an idea. I reckon we should hire you all out as floats for the little ones when they learn to swim hee hee. I got a 2 year old that needs to learn so any takers???????