Sorry guys but I'm going to go against the grain on this one. Not swimming was not an option of for me. I got back into swimming as soon as it was practical to do so
For ten years before I changed I was involved in swimming and giving it up devastated me and caused me grief no end. About one year into my change, I started to get back into swimming (I did not have my operation at this stage), by coaching and finally I was swimming competitively in masters and really annoying some of the girls in the short distance events. However they cheesed me off in the long distances.
I always wore two pairs of bathers and while I was coaching (teaching asthma kids to swim) before I started back into competitive swimming I had sponge breasts. I only started swimming competitively when I did not need sponge breasts any more. In other words I was confident about my body in those situations.
I got changed before training and competition and sometimes I had to change back into day clothes in the open as their were no cubicles or they were always full. Then again I did not mind, as I find it cumbersome to get changed in cubicles, because you cannot swing a cat in them. (No I did not swing one and I love cats). However, I handled the situation, discretely and I never had any problems.
So go and enjoy the beach or swimming pool, but whatever you do, do not give up on what you like doing. and the most important thing to remember is 'be who you want to be and do what you want to do'
Kind regards
Sarah B
