Swimming in Lake water?

[rcq925]

Okay, I am posting this here and in the family section because I would like to see what everyone thinks.

Very good friends of ours, just bought a lake cottage here in Indiana and we will likely spend a lot of time there in the summers. Recently I have read in posts on another online group that children with CF should not swim in lakes or ponds. I don't think I would ever let my child swim in a pond, but, I am looking for some cold hard facts, about swimming in the lake. I am sure that there are bacteria in the lake, but bacteria is everywhere, we cannot avoid it and I don't want to raise my daughter, Hayley, 2 w/CF, in a bubble.

I have read over and over on the adult board here that adult CFers are greatful that their parents did not raise them in a bubble, let them be "normal" kids, play in the dirt, swim, ect.

But I am interested to see how many adults swim or swam in a lake as a child and has it adversley affected your health, CF wise, meaning catching or culturing new bacterias after exsposure to lake water. Does any one have links to articles about CFers swimming in lakes or the types of bacterias present in lakes?

Any help or opinions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance for all replies!

 

[thelizardqueen]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>rcq925</b></i>




I am sure that there are bacteria in the lake, but bacteria is everywhere, we cannot avoid it and I don't want to raise my daughter, Hayley, 2 w/CF, in a bubble.</end quote></div>

Exactly what you said. While there is bacteria in a lake, there is also bacteria all around us. Some parents prefer to take as many precautions as possible, while some parents realize that no matter how much they try to avoid things, etc, bacteria is all around us.

I grew up swimming in lakes, public pools, etc, and it never affected my health in anyway. I've never grown some wierd bug, and its never made me sick in anyway. My CF doctors knew that I was swimming in lakes during the summer, and they were perfectly fine with it. Do what makes you feel comfortable.

 

[Debi]

I, too, swam in Midwest lakes and pools my entire childhood and young adult life until I moved to Arizona. I never cultured any strange bacteria from it. In fact, I suspect that all that swimming helped improve my lung function. I applaud you for not wanting to raise your daughter in a bubble.

Debi
54 w/cf

 

[Emily65Roses]

I've been swimming in ponds, lakes, oceans, etc all my life. Didn't start getting lung problems (i.e. bacteria) until I was 16. When I did get them, I got them because I worked at a retirement home and got MRSA from the old people. And it snowballed from there. But swimming has never adversely affected my health. In fact, it's really good exercise. Not too much pressure on the joints, but still requires muscles to work and stuff.

 

[julie]

Becky, just posted to you in the family section but remembered one other thing. If you are going to let her into the lake, since she is still young, DO stress the importance of NOT drinking any of the water in the lake (just as a precaution) and let her know that if she's thirsty while in the lake, she can have a "special" drink (maybe a fruit juice or someting) to encourage her not to drink it.

I agree with what others have said though. Mark grew up playing in lakes EVERY summer and fishing in the winter.

 

[CowTown]

I also grew up swimming in lakes, rivers, the ocean, etc and never had an problems. You never know where the problems lie, they could be airborn anywhere really. I wouldn't shelter her too much b/c she will value all the memorable experiences.

 

[Mathews]

Our transplant doc. warns against swimming in any lake/pond. The doc. says a private swimming pool is fine but no public pools due to germs and exposure. Lucky for us, my sis has a inground pool at her home so we hang out there a fews days a week during summer season.

 

[imondeck]

When we lived in Pa. and Ohio, my children swam in lakes all the time and hardly ever got sick or came down with anything. When we moved to Oklahoma it was a different story. The temps did not get unbearably hot in the former places. In Oklahoma/Texas we would have endless days of 100+ degrees. Coupled with water that didn't move - diaster is waiting. Children will swallow water not matter how careful.

One year at Lake Texoma my one son (without CF) got very, very sick from the water. We found out later that they had a bacteria in the water and that 3 children died that summer from it.

Needless to say, I did not allow the kids to swim in the lakes in the hottest part of summer here. They have not gotten sick since then (in the summer months).

Just my experience and two cents....

 

[wanderlost]

I swam wherever I wanted (and I live in Indiana, btw) - well not ponds, but only because I thought it was gross, not because of bacteria. My parents were pretty unconcerned with that stuff, and thankfully I never picked anything up anyway. As a previous poster said, obvioulsy you want to tell her not to drink the water, but I tell my own kids that and they aren't CFers.

 

[rcq925]

Thanks Wanderlost!! Where in Indiana do you live? We live in Fort Wayne and go to the CF clinic at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne! Always nice to meet a fellow Hoosier! Thanks again for your post!

 

[rcq925]

Thanks Liz, Emily, Julie and everyone who has replied so far! Its great to hear that you all enjoyed swimming in the lake water with no adverse effects! I obviously will do my VERY best to make sure that she does not drink the water!

I definitely do not want to raise Hayley in a bubble and that's why I find the advice you guys give here on the adult board so valuable!! You all can tell us parents of young CFers the mistakes that your parents may or may not have made when you were growing up and to see you all doing so well at various ages really gives me such hope that Hayley will lead a long and healthy life!!!

It is so hard to know as a parent of a CFer where to draw the line sometimes when it comes to possible exposing your child to bacteria or illness, but I just want you all to know how much I appreciate everyones opinions and the fact that all of the adults on this board are willing to share their experiences with the parents of CFers!!

 

[JazzysMom]

We owned a lakehouse growing up & I practically lived in the water there. IN addition to a local brook. I recently was looking at pictures from fun times at our lakehouse & realize how much healthier I looked compared to now. I had more weight, more body muscle & a healthier color. It did something right for all those years!

 

[anonymous]

I say definetely let them swim in the lake. The exercise they will get playing in the water and the fun they will have with their friends out way any risk.

 

[julie]

Becky, I don't think you'd be at all over reacting/putting her in a bubble if you inquired (maybe with the local health dept???) about any recent wanter testing. I do know they do that sort of stuff periodically.

 

[Landy]

This is going to gross everyone else out, but when I was little we were known to swim in a cattle pond. You know the kind with all the moss (that we used to throw at each other)?
We lived in a small farming community and there was no public pool or lake with in 15+ miles so when it was 100+ degrees out (we had no a/c in the house either) you did what you had to do to cool off!!
I would never do that now.....ewww!!
I was half afraid of water so never went under & that's probably a good thing!