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From: Tom LeTourneau <tletourn_at_maine.rr.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Nature calls in a dry suit?
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 16:24:27 -0500
I'm curious if anybody knows about any detrimental effects of urinating in 
a dry suit? Specifically, is there a possibility of damage to the materials 
due to contact with urine? If so, is this damage minimized by a shorter 
time the moisture remains without being rinsed off? I'm about to order a 
dry suit with a relief zipper, more for convenience and comfort than 
anything else. But I have friends who chose to save money by forgoing the 
added zipper. Now, I'm not saying they throw caution to the wind in every 
emergency, but perhaps they should be informed. In the past I've actually 
suffered from a urinary tract infection by "holding back nature" in 
neoprene waders while fly fishing in a float tube. Not fun, let me assure you.

Tom
 >tletourn_at_maine.rr.com<
http://home.maine.rr.com/tletourneau
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From: Paul <pjm_at_sos.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Nature calls in a dry suit?
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 14:13:41 -0800
Tom LeTourneau wrote:
> 
> I'm curious if anybody knows about any detrimental effects of urinating in
> a dry suit?

Well Tom, it would no longer be a dry suit. Be happy you are getting the
zipper. 

Paul
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From: Chris O'Kieffe <okieffe_at_oc6unlimited.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Nature calls in a dry suit?
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 15:07:37 -0800
Here is some advise that might help.  Adult diapers,  You can relive
yourself in relative comfort without spoiling your clothes or giving up the
warming properties of the suit and clothing.  However you need to be able to
pack out what you bring in.

Have fun going to your local supermarket to pick up a pack.  Or Better yet
ask you wife to get them.  Pay back.

Cheers  

Chris O'Kieffe
OC-6 Unlimited
(858) 270-7718
http://www.oc6unlimited.com
> From: Tom LeTourneau <tletourn_at_maine.rr.com>
> Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 16:24:27 -0500
> To: PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net
> Subject: [Paddlewise] Nature calls in a dry suit?
> 
> I'm curious if anybody knows about any detrimental effects of urinating in
> a dry suit? Specifically, is there a possibility of damage to the materials
> due to contact with urine? If so, is this damage minimized by a shorter
> time the moisture remains without being rinsed off? I'm about to order a
> dry suit with a relief zipper, more for convenience and comfort than
> anything else. But I have friends who chose to save money by forgoing the
> added zipper. Now, I'm not saying they throw caution to the wind in every
> emergency, but perhaps they should be informed. In the past I've actually
> suffered from a urinary tract infection by "holding back nature" in
> neoprene waders while fly fishing in a float tube. Not fun, let me assure you.
> 
> Tom
>> tletourn_at_maine.rr.com<
> http://home.maine.rr.com/tletourneau
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> responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
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> 
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From: Mary Zuschlag <mzuschlag_at_attbi.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Nature calls in a dry suit?
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 18:41:46 -0800
> Have fun going to your local supermarket to pick up a pack.  Or Better yet
> ask you wife to get them.  Pay back.

You men are such wimps!!  Goodness what do you think it's like for women all
the time.  I finally bought one of those sani-fem deals and I intend to use
it with a relief zipper.  Perhaps they make similar extensions for men so
you don't need a relief zipper.  Sheesh such whiners. -- MZ

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From: TMitchell <tmitchell_at_hekizan.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Nature calls in a dry suit? Let 'er rip (with the correct equipment of course) Rated 'PG'
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 19:33:49 -0800
Before I suddenly had a burst of sanity and gave it up, I was heavily into 
deep diving with rebreathers.  Dehydration is a prime factor in increasing 
chances of decompression sickness so divers try to get plenty of fluids 
before a serious dive.  This combined with cold water, suit squeeze from 
the pressure and a drysuit liner you want to stay dry 'cause you've got an 
hour or more of deco time causes an obvious problem...

The solution we use is called (naturally) the "P-Valve".  It's usually a 
pressure balanced one-way valve that is installed into the thigh of your 
drysuit.  A small hose then runs from the valve to your, your, uhhh, exit 
point.  It is secured there via an external catheter - sort of a condom 
with a hole in the end that attaches to the hose.   So when you've gotta 
go, you just let 'er rip.

Three key points:

1)  Make sure that hose doesn't kink and cause a peeplosion.
2)  Double check that you actually connect the hose to the catheter.  Every 
diver I know has made this mistake and noe found out until it was too late...
3)  Due to the glue on the catheter, it goes on a lot easier than it comes 
off...

I once told George Gronseth of Deep Trouble fame (engineer by education) 
about the P-Valve.  You could literally see the wheels between his ears 
turning as he pondered how to adopt this to expedition kayaking. ;->

Here's a link with a picture for the interested few:

http://www.halcyon.net/exposure/discharge.shtml

And you probably thought I was making this up,

Thomas



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From: Hal Christiansen <hals.email_at_home.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Nature calls in a dry suit?
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 22:05:59 -0500
In SCUBA diving many men use something like the following:

http://www.gue.com/equipment/pvalve.shtml

Hal Christiansen

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