Do you culture MAC and swim?

[bookworm]

Just wondering what people's experience is with culturing MAC and swimming. If you swim, how often do you swim? Have you been doing it for awhile without problems? Were you ever treated for MAC?

What does your CF centre have to say about swimming in indoor pools?

 

[static]

I swam all my life, only cultured mac recently.

3-18 I swam at outdoor pools as part of a swim team. The last 5 years I've been swimming at 24 hr Fitness in their indoor pool.

I've asked my doctor about this too and he said the benefits outweigh the risks, and most of the time public pools are chlorinaded enough to kill it anyways.

Having said that, late last year I started to swim much more because I felt I needed it (it is the most effective form of airway clearance for me) and then cultured MAC. Since then I'm on treatment and have stopped using the gyms shower, but I still swim.

Basicaly this is my long way of telling you I don't know. You can go by my 15 yrs outdoor pool experience, the 4 yrs I swam indoors without problems, or my last few months.

 

[Cat in the Sunlight]

I have cultured for MAC in the past, but do not currently. I was a frequent lake and indoor pool swimmer from age 5 through my 20's. My alternate days were dedicated to running outdoors (even in winter). I became a daily indoor pool swimmer around age 30 and continued this until recently (the past 4 months). For reasons totally unrelated to this discussion, I changed doctors 4 months ago and based on a previous MAC culture (about 9 months), the new doctor suggested I reduce indoor pool swimming as a precaution. His thoughts were that over time, the body becomes overloaded by exposure to a variety of germs and eventually we test positive for these. He is being cautious, but I am 60 years old and don't want to take a chance. My previous doctor, however, thought swimming was fine, even when I did culture positive for MAC. I don't think anyone knows if there is a direct connection. The benefits of swimming for so many years far outweighed the risks for me. My new doctor, a CF specialist but not part of the certified CF center that had treated me in the past, has recommended Yoga and I find this a fantastic addition to my other daily exercise routine. It has helped me lengthen my inhalation period and control my breathing. It is great for flexibility, strength and balance, which is helping me in my power walks and weight training.

I would say this. Follow your instincts. I have always lived by the motto "I can live with my mistakes but not with my someone else's." When my instincts tell me that something is not good for me, I don't do it. If I make a wrong call, I can handle that. But when I go against my instincts and the results are not good, I become angry at myself for not listening to my instincts.

 

[bookworm]

Thank you for your thoughtful replies. It's given me some more to think about. I was a swimmer in indoor pools for many years and gave it up due to MAC, but I miss it very much.

I think the advice Cat in the Sunlight gave seemed to echo what I've been feeling about the swim/don't swim dilemma:

"I would say this. Follow your instincts. I have always lived by the motto "I can live with my mistakes but not with my someone else's." When my instincts tell me that something is not good for me, I don't do it. If I make a wrong call, I can handle that. But when I go against my instincts and the results are not good, I become angry at myself for not listening to my instincts. "

 

[bharison]

I have been swimming laps for over 30 years and prefer outdoor pools. I have swum in indoor and outdoor over the years. I was not diagnosed with CF until 4.5 years ago. I am now 68 years old. I think if I had not been swimming all these years I wouldn't be writing this. I have not cultured MAC but have PA. To swim is to live as far as I am concerned. I do not go in hot tubs/spa anymore but did in my younger days.

 

[bookworm]

Hello bharison. If I'm not mistaken you're the inspiring woman from the LivingXtreme video. Lovely hearing your story . Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[bharison]

Yes bookworm I am that woman golfing in Living Xtreme, but swimming is what really keeps the lungs working and keeps me going. I wrote a blog in 2014 for www.CFLF.org on swimming with CF.It is posted there along with many others.

 

[Gammaw]

The site referenced by bharrison also contains the link to Recreation Grants, which was the subject of one of my previous posts. If you need funds to pursue exercise or sports, do check it out. Grants are not loans - you do not have to pay them back. Don't skip membership at the Y or gym, or the marathon you want to enter, or the team fees for your little one because of lack of funds. Swim, hike, play basketball, baseball, do gymnastics or dance -with possible financial help if you need it. Not all grants are approved, but your may be! Check it out....http://www.cflf.org/apply-grant