Clare(Offline)

OK - so this is now temporarily the grown up area... where we girls can discuss things sensibly

I realised when diving in a wetsuit in Egypt that I am unintentionally or otherwise diving poorly hydrated. Whilst I normally have good hydration, I limit my water on dive days as I don't want to have a problem underwater. I once found myself sorely tempted to cut deco short as I needed a wee - I didn't cut short the stops of course but the result was painful crossed legs and would not have been good decompression either.

I've tried wearing nappies, but to be honest have the same problem - I don't want to use them, so again limit my water intake so I don't have to.

I discussed this with a diving doc when I had my HSE medical and have decided to use a catheter and a conventional P valve when diving. I have discussed this with my GP who has been reasonably helpful (you should have been a fly on the wall for the start of that conversation ) and a mate has helped me get hold of the right valves to convert the standard P valve to be user friendly for a female (they have to work differently).

It will be fitted to my new suit when it arrives and, if anyone is interested, I'll post about how I get on (desperately trying to strike a balance between To Much Information and sharing knowledge with others). In the meantime, what do others do?

__________________

Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

A-M(Offline)

Always a nice subject and you're right: limiting your water-intake is definately no solution.

I used the lady-version comdoms ( http://www.sumatec.de/produkte/kondo...female%20pouch ) for a while but that's quite hassle to get on and too expensive to use for regular dives. The last 2 years I use diapers which work pretty well actually. Even the longer dives are no problem but you need to get over that treshhold of peeing in your drysuit

So please keep us (me) involved how satisfied you are with your new P-valve!

Salvo(Offline)

Clare,
Let me know what changes need to be made to make the standard p-vales to work and I will see if I can help with your quest.

Barry

Clare(Offline)

Wow, A-M, that's about £6.50 (10 euros) a go...

I've managed to get the cost of the disposable Foley catherters down to about £2.00 (which is similar to the cost of a male condom for dive use I think) but my GP seems quite open to the idea of prescribing them - which would make them even cheaper.

I'll report back as and when.

Right you guys - I can see you looking at this thread - bet you wish you hadn't

__________________

Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

Clare(Offline)

Thanks Barry - the prototype works with the valves I have got hold of from an engineering/medical supplies company but if I can reach a stage where we can produce something then of course I'll talk to you.

__________________

Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

JohnKendall(Offline)

Not at all, It's always good to have the information when someone trys to catch you out asking awkward Questions

Whether or not those people regret asking is a different question :D

J

Mal Bridgeman(Offline)

Not at all...looking forward to the dive report...with pictures, of course

Mal

__________________
Opinions and beliefs are correct at the time of posting but are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the author.

Helen(Offline)

I use nappies which are great, except i found you need to be in a head up position otherwise it tends not to go where you want it to!

As for internal catheterisation..... you are on your own there girlie, well, at least until i see how you get on. Better than previous options which required waxing to within an inch of your life.

__________________
You can dive any way you want to. Just don't expect me to be down there with you....

Haglund(Offline)

I have to ask regarding the use of a catheter. This is something you insert into your urine bladder. I cannot imagine this being very healthy in the long run.

Isn't it a risk of getting small injuries and repeated infections when doing this on a regular basis, not to speak of the uncomfortable procedure.

Is this the way you're thinking about doing it, or are you developing something "new"? This really is an interesting problem, and I, just as you , have tried nappies but always try to avoid using them...

/Linda

__________________
Every thought that enters your mind, is not required to exit through your mouth...

Dawn(Offline)

Hi Clare,

In the past I have always used adult diapers and they work just fine (max
in-water time using these was around 5.5 hours). Always entertaining to explain why you have a case of these at home to a non-diver date or visitor...:p

I also heard about a new style of "glue-on", external catheters they are developing for women. Sorry if this is TMI, but it definitely makes sense that certain areas have to be shaved in order to use this effectively and without too much pain. There have been some women who have tested this and said it is wonderful, but I don't know when they will be made available to the public (they may be already...)

Hope this helps! Happy Holidays,
Dawn