snorkeling with catheter

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Rick1950

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Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
I have a supra pubic catheter. This catheter enters my body just above the pubic bone and goes to the bladder. I must keep the entry site dry and clean. I love to snorkel in tropic waters such as Belize. Does anyone who snorkels also have this issue and how have they managed? I have thought of using a dry suit or somehow waterproofing the actual site. Your suggestions are appreciated.
 
Talk to your doctor. And/or call Divers Alert Network. DAN will give free and qualified medical advice to anyone over the phone or email, or they can refer you to a local dive medicine specialist.
 
I am assuming this is a well-healed surgical area. Wouldn't swim until completely healed after the procedure.

So the obvious concern is infection. While there is some concern at the area transitioning from skin to internal tissue, any infection should become apparent early on.

The bigger concern in my mind is introduction of foreign organisms into the bladder. If your cath is clamped and you don't have air in your bladder, you should be okay. However, that's hard to do, since the catheter is commonly open to the drainage bag and there will be a compressible bubble in the bladder that shrinks when you dive below the surface during any breath-hold plunge. When that bubble shrinks, sea water may seep into the bladder around the catheter edges.

If you are only surface snorkeling, this risk is less.

Yes, drysuit swimming with a minimal liner in tropical conditions would be a good (albeit expensive) solution.

Diving Doc
 
A supra pubic catheter can cause bladder infections more or less like a normal urethral catheter, and/or skin/soft tissue infections at the port of entry.
It is nearly impossible to waterproof the port of entry, at least in my experience. So-called waterproof dressings don't work well in this situation, and sometimes they increase the risk of infection trapping water and keeping the wound wet for longer. Some doctors would not even recommend normal baths to avoid possible contamination.
A dry suit would obviously solve the problem, but it may be a bit too warm to snorkel in tropical waters. If you don't mind, that's the solution.
The final recommendation should be up to your doctor though, and he may find that a short snorkel followed by fresh water rinse and careful cleaning represents an acceptable risk. If you decide to go that route though, and you snorkel in a foreign country, make sure to ask your doctor to prescribe some antibiotics you can take with you, in case you notice any early symptoms of infection. Last but not least, keep in mind that an infected catheter would need to be removed and replaced, so only travel to countries where you would be comfortable having that procedure done locally, in an emergency.
 
^^ Sound advice IMO ^^
 
Thanks for everyone's suggestion. I have contacted Kokatat and they have recommended the Hydrus 3.0 Swift Entry dry suit. I don't expect to travel until late next year or early the following year. Will post afterwards..
 
Thanks for everyone's suggestion. I have contacted Kokatat and they have recommended the Hydrus 3.0 Swift Entry dry suit. I don't expect to travel until late next year or early the following year. Will post afterwards..

What are your body measurements...I have an NRS waterproof-breathable (goretex) drysuit with the tags still on it that I am looking to sell. It is a few years old as I purchased it for whitewater kayaking and then moved overseas.

-Z
 

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