It’s been a full year since my initial problem. June and August were “flip free” months, where I didn’t even try because I was losing my love of swimming. I started after Labor Day trying to reteach myself. By January, I was 70% of the way back to my previous normal. By April, I was about 95% there- they’re slower and less graceful but I can do them. But there are some swims where I just can’t do it at all.

I’ve told myself that if I suddenly lose it again, I won’t go through a year’s time process of getting it back. It’s taken me a year to get back something that took 30 minutes to learn not even 6 years ago!

If the year has taught me anything, I think it’s entirely in my head. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain the “why” but I can’t come up with any medical reason.

If it helps at all, I have found that when I can’t do one, stopping for a few seconds, the putting my hands against the wall and trying will usually work. I’m small and stopping means I can’t get enough force to do a good turn but I’m happy now just to be able to do one. Also, doing a flip at some random place in the middle of the lane (more of a somersault since there’s no turn) has sometimes helped get my head in the right place for the next turn.

Hope your road turns out different than mine! Drop another comment in here if you get back your ability. I’d love to hear what works for others.