Drysuit Hygiene

[FishDiver]

I am about to embark on my first liveaboard with my drysuit. I expect to dive 4-5 times each day for 3-4 days. I have done many drysuit dives and several liveaboards but never combined the experiences.

I assume that I should flush out my p-valve and related tubing daily. How frequently should the condom be changed?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I am about to embark on my first liveaboard with my drysuit. I expect to dive 4-5 times each day for 3-4 days. I have done many drysuit dives and several liveaboards but never combined the experiences.

I assume that I should flush out my p-valve and related tubing daily. How frequently should the condom be changed?

I would flush the tubing after each dive if there is more than a few minutes between dives. As too the condom- how much pain can you stand? I would think I'd change it daily at least. Fresh one each am.

 

[FishDiver]

No one has an educated medical opinion about this???

 

[TSandM]

Change the condom daily. Remove it when you are done with the day's diving.

 

[Lenaxia]

Well technically you should remember that urine isn't sterile once it's started moving from the bladder. It's probably a very minor risk but there is probably a potential for a UTI. Considering what a condom is, it is a boon for bacterial growth, so if you put it back on you're just unnecessarily exposing yourself.

I think a bigger question would be: Why wouldn't you change condom's regularly?

 

[princessaprilia]

Well, I think we can safely assume that the OP is not expecting to leave the condom on for the week... what's your definition of regularly? Every dive? Every 3 hours? Every day?

Since I leave my She-P glued on for around 5 hrs, I don't think that the condom needs to be changed any more often than that.

 

[FishDiver]

Well, I think we can safely assume that the OP is not expecting to leave the condom on for the week... what's your definition of regularly? Every dive? Every 3 hours? Every day?

Exactly.

I assume there is an optimal compromise between the abrasion of excessive changing and the UTI probability of infrequent changing.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Agree with TSandM. I'd bet that a more pressing issue would be getting a condom catheter to stay on securely all day. Tincture of Benzoin can help but it works REALLY well. You're also left with TinBen residue on your hardware. You can remove it by rubbing it vigorously with an alcohol swab, but I can't recommend that in good conscience.
Cheers,
DDM

 

[BabyDuck]

ooh, tinben...i love that smell.

lynne, i wonder how tinben would work pre she-p application...snag some, give it a try, and report.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

ooh, tinben...i love that smell.

Covers up lots of less pleasant ones, doesn't it?