pd dialysis and swimming ?

[Beachgirl32]

last week it was so hot here I wanted to get in a pool so bad. But I’m extra careful with my exit site . But I read stories where people say they swim in the salt water ocean or a pool . And had no problems.

I am wanting to hear from any of you who have gone swimming have you gone in an ocean or a chorinated Pool or salt water pool what I read is has to be chorine pool is that true. To me there sand on the bottom of the ocean and all kind of stuff like seaweed I just can’t see that being safe.

As I said I would like to hear from those who have went swimming how do you prepare your dressing what do you put over it? Have you had any infection from going swimming ?

I go see my pd nurse next week so I will see what she said but want to hear from people who experience swimming while on pd dialysis .

[Hidden]

Hi Beachgirl! When I got my PD catheter I was told that I could swim in the ocean or in a chlorinated pool, but no rivers or lakes... Or take baths. I did not swim while on PD, so I am limited in answering your questions. Best wishes and happy swimming.

[RonZone]

I am so with you on this. I REALLY miss going to Pensacola Beach. I've never asked, but I think I might next week at my Neph visit. How can I take not take a bath in nice clean water, same as my shower, but then it's ok to jump in with all the seaweed, fish poop and whatever else might be floating around in the sea water Not sure they can give me an answer to that. Wish i could talk with the people who made that rule. I have a small salt water pool in my back yard that is so far this year only been used by neighbors and friends who come to visit, while I sit with my feet dangling in the water as we chat. I've not got up the nerve yet to get in my own pool! I really do not want to get an infection. So for this year, I'm just enjoying sitting out next to it, sipping sweet tea and spend my pool time just keeping it clean and looking good. It's still relaxing just to sit with my legs in the water, though I sure would like to dive in on the HOT July and August days we're having this year! Others have said they use a waterproof bandage over their transfer set, but I've not tried that as of yet:

amazon.com/dp/B08LCYX2V9/?c...

[Beachgirl32 in reply to RonZone]

Ron I use those for my showers i don’t know if I would feel comfortable using those swimming. If my pd nurse said I can swim.

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

Also, I was told swimming in your own private pool is much more acceptable than a public pool where lots of other people's germs are floating around. But I'm still skittish about getting in my own pool at this point. Maybe next year, if I do, I'll post a report.

[RonZone]

So you use them for showers. Gotcha. I don't use em for that. I probably should. So far, no infection though, so my water mustn't be too dirty coming out of the shower. So how do they feel? Are they not secure enough to use for swimming in a pool? I've not tried them, though others have.

[bestmom247 in reply to RonZone]

I use the show shields (I purchase rolls of tegaderm on Amazon) for showering and swimming in my own swimming pool. I was told no beach, lakr, river or public pool. I will not swim in my pool if I have a lot of guests either. I had my original cath for 2 years 10 months until my dialysis center bullied me into replacing it since I WILL NOT get a fistula. Long scary story - had to hire an attorney.

[RonZone]

Hey, also, I really feel badly for Horsie!

[Beachgirl32 in reply to RonZone]

I use the really big one I don’t know if I would feel secure enough in a pool with them . My dressing not even wet however after a shower . I keep the old dressing on put waterproof bandage on. After shower I change new dressing that what I was told to do so I been sticking to it.

I haven’t heard from Horsie is she ok I need to send her an dm.

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

Hey, I'm all about sticking to what is working, totally understand that. Hear to many horror stories about infections.

About Horsie, this is what she said in her last post here:

healthunlocked.com/nkf-dial...

Seems they are putting in an emergency hemo dialysis port.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to RonZone]

Thanks I don’t know how miss that I usually get notice when you or her post . I did send her a dm today haven’t heard anything hope she is ok.

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

Let me know if you hear anything, I'll do the same. I really feel for her if that's what they are having to do.

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

Any word at all from Horsie???? I've not gotten any response.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to RonZone]

No not a word. I pray she is all right .

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

My fear is that she's going to have to go on hemo, possibly home hemo? Wish we could hear something, anything. I sent her my email address in a private message asking if she would give it to her husband so he could let us know. Not sure she will. Hate not knowing.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to RonZone]

Yeah us three went in this journey together. Please let me know if you hear anything. If she has to do hemo I pray she can handle it.

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

I'll let you know if I hear anything. Nothing yet. I think she can handle home hemo, but that would definitely have an impact on her continuing to work I would think. I'm not familiar enough to know if she could continue to work doing home hemo or not.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to RonZone]

I think she could my cousin did home hemp in her rv she travel around the country doing it she had no problems her husband help her a lot she was blessed to have a transplant last summer.

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

Oh wow, that provides home that Horsie can do home hemo and still work either full time or part time. Before she started PD she was contemplating going on disability I think. She may decide to go ahead and do that. We'll see what she says as time goes on.

[bestmom247 in reply to Beachgirl32]

You ar e exactly correct. I do the same.

[Porter20]

My nurse told me I could swim in salt water. I never did but she also said it was fine.

[RonZone in reply to Porter20]

yeah, I'm wondering how many PD people actually swim in a salt water pool or in the ocean regularly. I've not heard of anyone yet.

[SadMad]

I wrap up my site or wear a colostomy bag. You can swim in a well chlorinated pool or the ocean or beach. Lakes are not safe. I have an above the ground pool with a saltwater generator that produces chlorine. I have also swam in the ocean this summer. You just have to clean your site afterwards and not just stay in a wet bathing suit.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to SadMad]

How do you wrap your site with colostomy bag do you put it over like you do a bandage . Do you put your transfer set inside. All the colostomy bag look like this I seen is thus what you use . Also you said you have a salt water generator that produces chlorine . I know my one friend has a salt water pool can you not get in a salt water pool does it have to have chlorine. You are the first one I heard that gone swimming so thanks for your input. Have you ever got an infection because of swimming .

Colostomy bag for swimming with pd dialysis

[SadMad in reply to Beachgirl32]

A salt water pool is what I have..The generator uses salt to produce chlorine without all the chemicals and expense. I test my water before I get in to make sure the pool is well chlorinated and have never had an infection.

I either put the waterproof thingy over bandage or with the colostomy bag, take bandage off. Been using colostomy bags this summer, much easier and no wet bandages. Just put your set in the bag and attach the bag over your exit site. I get my bags off of Amazon. They are plastic with a sticker hole.

[SadMad in reply to SadMad]

Peritoneal Dialysis Shower Pouch Waterproof Shield PD Port Protector Disposable Cover for Transfer Set Holder Catheter Peg Feeding GTube Bathing Accessories Colostomy Bag(Pack of 50)

Sorry I didn't word it better above.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to SadMad]

Thank you so much for your input . You have been a big help. I see my pd nurse tomorrow I will see what she said. Ron sadmad gave good tips look like you could use them to get in your own pool .

[SadMad in reply to Beachgirl32]

You are so welcome. Glad to be able to help.

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

Yep, this is encouraging. My clorinator went out so I've been using typical chlorine tablets for this year. Next year I think I will invest in another clorinator (the machine that turns the salt into chlorine).

[Beachgirl32 in reply to RonZone]

Seen pd nurse today she said she can’t tell me not to swim but they just don’t recommend it. I told her how sadmad said to cover it she said that is a really good idea. She said definitely no public pools and if it just me and my friend in her then maybe so I’m still cautious I may give it another year we will see .

[RonZone in reply to Beachgirl32]

yeah, I'm going to wait until next year to get my pool in excellent shape and to build up my courage

[RonZone in reply to SadMad]

Hey, I've had an issue with chlorinators over the years. Mine died earlier this year so I've just been using chlorinating tablets since I've not had the courage to actually get in the pool this summer (fear of exit site infection). Which chlorinator have you had good luck with that will last more than three years.

[Imaanforever]

Hi Beachgirl32

I told my consultant that I am going on holiday and would really love to swim as I haven’t swam in over a year since I started dialysis. He said I could with an Ostomy pouch. The type people with colostomy use. I was so happy to hear this as I was told not to go in a public pool or a river or a bath.

The patch has really strong adhesive that stops water penetrating. I received my pouches this week and I can’t wait to jump in that pool on holiday. Ooohh have I missed swimming. 😆

Talk to your caregiver about you wanting to swim and maybe suggest the pouches to them if they don’t come up with anything useful.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to Imaanforever]

Thank let me know how your holiday goes .I miss so much I used to water aerobics and swim now I know I can’t do those because yeah I know that a public pool . I have two friends that have a pool so it would be nice if I can go in those .

[Fabiomom in reply to Beachgirl32]

Hi Beachgirl! I am new to the site, but do feel like I have “cracked the code” on the swimming and bubble bath thing.

1). Apparently bacteria cannot live in salt water? Or at least it’s more unusual for it to thrive in salt water, so that is why the ocean is OK. Except some places in the Gulf of Mexico in FL. They now have some sort of bacteria in their water that is dangerous to us. And you cannot go in if there’s red tide or anything else.

Public pools are (so I’ve been told) not only bad bc of other peoples’ germs, but bad bc of how heavily chlorinated they are. The chlorine eats through the tube to the transfer set, no longer allowing it to be sterile & people get peritonitis.

HOWEVER! (Aha!) I did lots of experimenting & found a fairly foolproof solution: Colostomy bag covered by large tegaderm patches (I think mine are 6”x6” and I use two to cover the whole area around the pouch so there is at least. 2 inches of extra tegaderm around all areas of the colostomy bag.

It is great! Tegaderm alone, or without those extra inches, leaks. Colostomy bag alone, for me leaks. But the combo together allows me to take my beloved hour long bubble baths w/o any infection! At least for the 7 months I’ve been on PD.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to Fabiomom]

Thanks for reply. Glad you found something that work. Where do you get the Tegaderm Patches from?

[MToQ]

Hi.

When I was on PD, I was told that it was ok in private pools, yours or that of a friend. (Someone you trust that cleans their pool properly. ) You can also swim in oceans but no lakes, streams or rivers. If you swim in the ocean, you should check the beach out prior to check local contamination levels. Personally, I would stick to private pools unless you are on a boat and swim smack in the middle of the ocean

I used tegaderm dressings/patches. They are awesome. Get the largest size you can find. Here's a link to 6x10 ( also other sizes) on Amazon:

Tegaderm Transparent Dressing, 6 x 8 Inch, 10 Count by Tegaderm a.co/d/9IuWgXc

I only swam in private pools. My portal didn't have a super long tube so it wrapped up nicely and one large tegaderm sealed it in perfectly. As soon as you get out - shower, wash your body thoroughly with soap and water with the tegaderm on and dry off. After that, you can peel it off. I honestly can't remember if I used a bag with the tegaderm or not.

I was super cautious with my pd portal and never had an infection.

It is possible, whenever you are ready and feel comfortable. Have fun and Good luck.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to MToQ]

Thank you