Quote Originally Posted by jesvetmed View Post

I have an annual exam in 3 or 4 weeks and will discuss it then with the regular doc... (it will take me that long to get in anywhere else anyway unless I hit the er!)

I'm planning to hit the lake next Friday with my friend in her kayak -- I think I'll try no wetsuit first, then if going okay put the wetsuit on and see what happens. If I can't do it, I may scratch the tri until I get an exam and see what's going on. It is pretty scary to say the least. Will probably mess with my head a bit now!
After reading about SIPE, I'd say bag that swim with the friend and the kayak; see the doc first! (please, please, please!!!) I don't want you to die! Your friend would have to jump out of her boat, drag your "flooded" body back to shore, and attempt CPR with the impossible task of forcing oxygen into lungs already drowning in their own plasma. She'd be left feeling like a failure, she'd blame herself for the rest of her life. And she'd lose her kayak in the process of rescuing you!

(scared yet?)

Seriously, please see the doc and tell him about SIPE and your concerns *BEFORE* you go swimming again.