Obviously nose plugs are an answer, but I only remember to put them on when I'm practicing rolliung or going into a hole/surf that's very likely to end with me flipping.
Sometimes I catch something on the fly, or just get upside down by accident, and then I flail around without my plugs on.
Do other people suffer badly from post-rolling/swimming sinus pain? Other than nose plugs, are there tricks to prevent the river from literally getting inside your head?
Or do you paddle (OC) with your nose plugs on all the time?
making the transition to c1 a few years ago I found that if I was wearing my plugs I would keep rolling until I got it, even if it took 4 tries. If I wasn't wearing my plugs, I usually swam after two tries. I got in the habit of always wearing nose plugs, even after I could nail the roll every time. now I'm trying to break the habit of having them on for every little thing and just wearing them for bigger rapids and holes.
I wear them where I think I *might* flip - that varies with the river (class and cleanliness), mental conditions, etc - certainly a lot less now than before.
If you have sinus problems, wearing the nose plugs is a small price to pay to avoid infections. Something else to consider is irrigating your sinuses (essentially rinsing them clean) - if you're not familiar with that, google it or PM me. I could go into a lot more detail than the squeamish might care for
I don't have a good answer, but if I get upside down and get water anywhere near my nose all the muscles of my sinuses tighten up and I get an instant headache. No thought of hanging around upside down and rolling. I wear nose plugs most of the time now. It has the unfortunate side effect of turning me into a mouth-breather by the end of the summer. Takes me all winter to break that habit, just in time for the spring.
I used to wear nose plugs for rolling practice and when engaging in serious playing on the river, but my kids have been helping me to break the habit. The three oldest are competitive swimmers. Competitive swimmers have to deal with the problem of water up their nose on every lap when they perform a flip turn. Consequently, they quickly get used to bubbling air slowly out their noses whenever they flip upside down. Of course, all three of my swimmers laugh when I offer them nose plugs for rolling practice, and their advice and experience is now helping me to lose the plugs as well.
My kids ask me why I need the nose plugs when they don't (they're only swimming at this point, not yet rolling) and I tell them it's because their Dad is an old dog with decades of sinus problems (that are finally getting better) that would rather learn other new tricks that don't involve water up the nose! [Is there a smiley around here with a stuffy nose?] Fortunately my kids don't seem to have the sinus problems and won't have this crutch to unlearn! And they swim like such little fishes...
It's generally clean, mountain river water, so I don't think it's algae or anything like that. I don't feel like I've got an infection or anything serious. Just river up my sinuses.
But it is a pain, kinda flu-like, any worse I'd had to've called in sick. Night of - congestion, major pressure, nose dripping & blowing; Day 1 - sinus pressure, congestion, drippy nose, associated headache and fog, almost feels like a low-level fever. Day 2 - less pressure and nose runniness, some congestion, worse headache and foggy.
I guess I'll just have to: 1) remember to put my plugs on more often, and 2) not take as many chances when I know they're off, or 3) not make multiple attempts at rolling if I'm not wearing them.
But I feel better knowing I'm not the only one it hurts in this way.
What you are describing sounds more like a persistent or chronic sinus infection. Paddling, specifically rolling agrivates it and causes it to flare up. Maybe just a strong course of antibiotics and decongestants gets rid of it. You may want to see a Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist.
yarnellboat wrote:
But it is a pain, kinda flu-like, any worse I'd had to've called in sick. Night of - congestion, major pressure, nose dripping & blowing; Day 1 - sinus pressure, congestion, drippy nose, associated headache and fog, almost feels like a low-level fever. Day 2 - less pressure and nose runniness, some congestion, worse headache and foggy.
I get the very same thing everytime. I have had antibiotics for it and many visits to the doctor. But prevention is the only cure for me. I HAVE to paddle with a nose clip on.
If I use indoor pools I am even worse and have to skip work and can miss a weekend or two of paddling. I don't join the others in the pool in the winter.
Pools have always been bad for me though. As a result I was a late swimmer, not getting it until my late teens.
I usually wear nose plugs only when practicing my roll etc. in a pool, I don't like the chlorinated water dissolving the little brain I've left.
"Outdoors", on most of the rivers, I don't wear nose plugs at all and I don't need them. It seems, that the cold water just "freezes" my nose and sinuses shut. No water enters. Is it a shock reaction? I don't know, but it works for me.
Putting on nose plugs above every little rapid seems a bit funny to me. It's a habit especially of buttboaters (some people though paddle lots better with their noseplugs on...), since we (O)C paddlers got our noses a bit higher up
But for practicing and playing nose plugs are a good invention.
