Removing the condom cath

[Marie13]

Hell the She-P gals are friggin rock stars!

Yes, we are!

 

[Marie13]

This has been... terrifying. The sacrifices that are made for diving...

I don't shave because it itches like the devil when it grows back in. Waxing is too expensive and complicated (although I do get my eyebrows waxed). I do a close clip. Get one of the "personal clippers" at Walmart or Target near the women's razors and use that. Does't hurt, doesn't itch, and is fairly cheap.

 

[formernuke]

Sorry to re-rail the thread, but...

Rerailing a thread on scubaboard is strictly prohibited.

Get one of the "personal clippers" at Walmart or Target near the women's razors and use that. Does't hurt, doesn't itch, and is fairly cheap

I tried a high end personal clipper available from them..... ouch. I found the manscaped to be easier to use YMMV.

 

[Marie13]

I tried a high end personal clipper available from them..... ouch. I found the manscaped to be easier to use YMMV.

Just looked it up. Didn't know a "personal groomer" for guys existed. Good option, then!

 

[Dsix36]

Sorry to re-rail the thread, but...

I recently measured at home, and ordered singles of the closest size, one size up, and one size down, of each of these:
Bard Rochester Wide Band
Coloplast Conveen Optima

Testing them out at home, I found that one size up seems like definitely not the way to go. The closest measured size for each of these fit well in my apartment, so decided to order more of those. Went ahead and tried out the one size down on my first and second dives using a P-valve.

Dive 1 I used the one-size-down Rochester Wide Band. Manscaped what seemed like a reasonable amount, went out for a dive, it worked great on the dive, zero issues. Removal process was quite illuminating: my manscaping was not remotely sufficient -- noted! Removing was painful but not too bad. Used some soap and some EMT shears to split the cath along the top, which gave me 2 places to peel and made it a lot easier (learned that trick from a different thread on SB, cannot find it right now).

A week later, dive 2 I used the one-size-down Conveen Optima. Manscaped way more than last time. It went on easy, but the end of the thing is a lot bendier than the Rochester. Had a hard time routing the tube such that it wouldn't kink, but found a maybe-workable solution, tested it out on land and it seemed to work. Used it twice during the dive, and it was noticeably more difficult to evacuate the bladder the first time, but much easier the second time. When I was gearing down at the truck, noticed that I must have had a blowout, since undersuit was damp in that area, but dry near the seals. Confirmed in a rest room later, in fact the thing was barely stuck on there at all, wtf!

With that experience, I think removal is no longer my primary concern. How do I avoid the blow-out? Factors that come to mind:
* There probably exists a better way to route the hose. Next time I will experiment at home rather than trying to figure it out facing my truck's open door on-site.
* Is the Conveen Optima simply inferior to the Rochester? It definitely has less of a sticky patch, and is bendier in the region between where my junk ends and the hose starts, which do not seem like desirable properties in hindsight.
* I put it on at home, drove 120 miles, stopped for a fill, picked up my buddy at his place, drove to the site, set up gear, finally got in the water. All in all it was on about 4 hours prior to splash time. Is this a mistake? From some of the removal suggestions here, it sounds like I be putting it on just before the dive, not hours prior?

Anything else?

Make sure the tip of the catheter and all of the tubing is bent smoothly without any kinks, the restriction and backflow can cause the adhesive to begin lifting and thus leaking.

 

[formernuke]

Make sure the tip of the catheter and all of the tubing is bent smoothly without any kinks, the restriction and backflow can cause the adhesive to begin lifting and thus leaking.

How much of the tip is supposed to be sticking out?

 

[Dsix36]

How much of the tip is supposed to be sticking out?

whatever amount is there, just have it routed so it does not kink

 

[CuriousRambler]

For all the bodyscaping: the Norelco Bodygroom (link) isn't incredibly cheap, but it's the hair trimming equivalent of safety scissors. Seriously worth the money.

Even if you don't need one, the reviews are good for some chuckles.

 

[formernuke]

For all the bodyscaping: the Norelco Bodygroom (link) isn't incredibly cheap, but it's the hair trimming equivalent of safety scissors. Seriously worth the money.

Even if you don't need one, the reviews are good for some chuckles.

That's the one I tried

 

[Stoo]

Another trick is to put the catheter on before setting off, in the privacy of your own home or hotel room.

I used to get Mrs. Stoo to help, but we kept missing the boat...