UOAA Discussion Board

Wondering about scuba diving with an ostomy. I actually have a colostomy and a urostomy and want to get back scuba diving. Has anyone done this and what's been your experience and any tips you can recommend? Thanks.

When younger, I used to swim in pools with a permanent ileo. Would try to time this for when I had not eaten a full meal. Back then I secured the appliance with extra tape. Have you tried the clear plastic Sure Seals over the wafer? I've found them to be not only water resistant but also give a bit of support.
Good luck with your plans. It must be a beautiful world beneath the sea.

I have tried the strips and those will help. It is beautiful and peaceful with your head under water. Looking forward to the experience again. Would really like to discuss with others who have gone scuba diving and what they can offer as fare as any problems or suggestions.

I'm a scuba diver. I have been many times with my colostomy. In fact, I spent a week on a live aboard going around the Cayman Islands a few years back. Diving with a colostomy was essentially the same experience as without one. I did have to find a different way to add weights as the weight belt would have dug right into my ostomy. However, with today's integrated BCDs, weights aren't really an issue any more. I always dive with a wet suit of some thickness to avoid getting cold, or when in the ocean, to avoid bumping into coral. The wetsuit helps keep everything in place. As far as flange durability, I always use a Sureseal to go around the flange, and haven't had a flange failure yet. I also wear a Sureseal every year when I go to the beach for a family vacation as I'm constantly in and out of the water.
Go get some bottom time, you won't regret it!
Hope that helps some.

David

Thanks David. I would love to discuss in further with you. Did you just "resume" and go on a dive trip or did you do a trial in a pool? I can't wait to get my head back under but have some concerns on things. It's nice to hear from someone who has done this without any troubles.

Mark

Mark,

Well, kind of both. The trip I took was the first time I had been diving in many years. My brother, who has less experience was going on the trip as well, and wanted to take a refresher course, so I took it with him. It was like riding a bike. Once I got there, it all came back to me. I go to the ocean every summer, so I knew that my appliance would hold up throughout the week without any issues while using the Sureseals.
I should note that I am an irrigator, so I don't typically have movements during the day, but it does occasionally happen. I did have a movement once while diving, and it wasn't a big deal, just emptied after I finished the dive.
You can PM me if you'd like, I'd be happy to share my experiences with you.

David

I'll second ot dave's experience. I have an ileostomy. I also use the SureSeal when I am going to be in and out of the water.

I've done quite a few live aboards over the years, and some of those were 5 dives a day. I have 200+ dives and all but 10 of them have been with the ileostomy. I make sure it is empty before I go down, and with a live aboard you don't really have to worry about it getting all that full before you have a chance to empty. I'm not sure if that is as much of a concern with a colostomy.

Are the Sure Seals Rings from Active Life Products covered by Medicare and/or insurance? I switched to a small distributor of ostomy products and Mercy Supply can't order these and they sound helpful with leakage. I meant to call the manufacturer today to ask about them and to get a sample but will do so tomorrow. I may have to switch back to Edgepark or Byram or Sterling... although someone at Convatec recommended Medical180 -- but that's a DIFFERENT subject. Thanks in advance for any info on ordering Sure Seals Rings.

Diane C wrote: 2020-04-20 18:34:40 Are the Sure Seals Rings from Active Life Products covered by Medicare and/or insurance? I switched to a small distributor of ostomy products and Mercy Supply can't order these and they sound helpful with leakage. I meant to call the manufacturer today to ask about them and to get a sample but will do so tomorrow. I may have to switch back to Edgepark or Byram or Sterling... although someone at Convatec recommended Medical180 -- but that's a DIFFERENT subject. Thanks in advance for any info on ordering Sure Seals Rings.

Diane, I don't know if they are covered by insurance or not. When I was ordering through Edgepark, I could get them there. But, they are also available through amazon. On amazon, they are about $25 for 10. I don't go through them that fast, so I don't have a great need for them throughout the year. In fact, sometimes they "expire" (whatever that's worth!) before I go through the box since I only use them when I know I'm going to be spending extended periods of time in the water. I suspect that each individual insurance company has guidelines in place for ordering these...like they do everything else.

David

Diane, I get mine from Parthenon out in Utah. I've found them to be the nicest people to deal with. Family owned & operated. 1-800-453-8898 They can probably help you with insurance questions.
Active Lifestyle Products, Inc. 1-877-257-4562 manufactures the Sure Seal Rings.

Thanks, Dave and To Dream,

I've liked working with Carol Holleran at Mercy but the supplies the small company offers are just too limited. I do know about Parthenon and used to have a catalog. I've personally had no problem with Edgepark although folks say it is costly. I'm used Sterling and Byram, too, and had no issues -- years ago. I don't know how well these seals would help with ileostomy leakage (because the ileostomy was placed over a scar that dips in) but I'd like to try. I do wonder why these are only used for swimming and not to help with leakage -- maybe uncomfy for long-term use meaning 3+ days? Am calling the company to see which size to buy or get a sample. I'm wearing high-output pouches these days -- dislike the flap that protects the filter (which I no longer need) with Coloplast. Hollister is ok -- better than when I started to use them. I didn't like how the material of the high-output pouches crinkled with Convatec but may give them another try.

I saw this video describing the Sure Seal rings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R17gKpXCe7c&t=58s

Thanks again for your help!

Diane: Great video! Thank you for sharing the link. The young folks who shoot those are extremely professional.

I put my sure seal ring on myself lying prone in the bathtub after I've put the new wafer on & snapped the new pouch in place. (I leave the white apron on a ConvaTec wafer & just cover it with the seal. I noted the lady in the video first trimmed it away.) My old hands find the film a bit tricky to remove, so I try to fold one corner down over itself during the initial change to make a tab to pull when I remove the appliance after two or hopefully, three days. I like these seals because they feel like skin, have not irritated my sensitive old fragile hide & give me a little extra support. Because the seals are also lightweight & flexible, you may find them malleable enough to accommodate scarring & any uneven surface.

Good luck. I hope they prove as useful to you as they've been for me.

Diane, you can use these for leaks. I just use them for swimming because they are excellent at keeping the edges of the flange securely against my skin. They are like the microskin on the cymed flanges. They are comfortable, and I forget that I’m wearing it when it’s on.
I would think these might be useful over dips/divots/scars.
Hope they help.

David

Diane, I order mine through Edgepark, and my insurance covers them (previously Cigna, and currently Tricare).

Hope that helps

Edgepark has been calling me. I used to use them but have been ordering through a small company, Mercy Supplies, which my visiting nurse used in 2019. Edgepark was able to order these seals and I think insurance will cover them. I'd prefer to use Mercy which offers very personalized service but the supplies it can order are much more limited. I may try Parthenon next time but I've never really had a problem with Edgepark although I know others have.

Many thanks!