Swimming after a laryngectomy

You are right. If you have had surgery to remove your voice box, you can swim using a breathing aid. There are a couple of different devices including a Larkel (from the words laryngectomy and snorkel) and an Aqua-Ther (Heimomed).

These breathing aids are tubes that allow you to breathe while you swim and keep water out of your stoma. There is a cuff one on end – you put this into your stoma and inflate it. This stops water getting in. You attach the other end to either a snorkel, which you strap to your head, or a mouthpiece, which you hold in your teeth.

This diagram shows a Larkel which is the most common type that people use at the moment.

The Larkel is not made in the UK and they can be difficult to get hold of. Breathing aids for swimming are not available on the NHS. A Larkel costs around £280 depending on the exchange rate.   

To use a breathing aid for swimming, you need to have been a good swimmer before you had your laryngectomy. Before you buy, you need to ask your specialist if you can use one. You may even need their written consent.

If your specialist says you can use one, contact the National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs (NALC). NALC has 2 registered trainers they can refer you to. Because there are only 2 trainers, you may have a bit of a wait for your appointment. And you may have to travel quite a way to see them. Most people need at least 4 sessions with an experienced trainer before they can fit the aid themselves and swim with it in.

Your trainer will measure you to make sure that your aid fits properly. They will teach you how to fit it, and how to breathe using the mouthpiece and the snorkel. Using a breathing aid for swimming takes practice. If you use the mouthpiece, you’ll need to learn to draw air in and out through your nose, your mouth, the tube and your lungs. If you use the snorkel, you’ll learn to breathe using the snorkel, the tube, and your lungs.

Although it’s not easy, people who love to swim, or do other water sports, do speak highly of these aids and how it has helped them continue with the hobbies they love. So it is worth finding out if it’s suitable for you and then taking it from there. There is more information about living with a laryngectomy in CancerHelp UK’s section on laryngeal cancer.