OK don't think this fits in anywhere else. Next week we are going on a cruise, one of the excursions we were thinking about is called "Sea Trek" basically going down in an old divers helmet. They say maximum depth is 30 feet. Have asked the doctor but they are still checking. They thought the only problem could be the PEG with the water pressure. Has anyone done any diving or snorkeling with a PEG? She does have a Mc-Key, was thinking could even try to cover with Tagaderm. I think they said that they need a doctors approval. Any experiences?

Thanks,

Tom I have one of the old copper and brass diving helmets you can borrow. Thing weighs as much as I do. LOL Just make sure you have a good air compressor.

Hi Tom, as you can see, this topic i know about. I was a triathlete before TX, and will return. I was also a almost daily ocean swimmer. I thought I could swim through treatment, wrong!! Bud I did research the subject and my GI said as long as the wound was healed it would be OK. 6 weeks should be good enough. I do not know about diving, a bit more preasure rthan swiming on the surface!

BTW, 6 months post treatment, PEG is out and I am back in the pool. Ocean soon! Swimming is a very good post tx exercise, easy on the bod and nice to get the full body streach

good luck

Sounds like similar to doing hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Nothing needs to be done. I go 'down' 30+ ft without any peg problems or adjustments. If you are thinking the tube will get wet, then yes cover it with tegaderm.

While the doctors do not advise swimming or hot tubs with having a peg, diving shouldnt b a problem. Just dont be sitting in water or it can seep into your body thru the hole the tube comes out of.

Hi, thanks for the responses. The doctor did come back and recommended that she not dive. They couldn't find any documentation one way or the other but thought the pressure might effect the balloon holding the PEG inside her stomach. My feeling is that it would probably be OK but don't think we will chance it. My only concern had been the water getting in around the PEG or if she would have trouble because of some small tumors in her lungs. I think the diving place said that a typical time down was about 35 minutes.

I guess I didn't think about hyperbaric treatments, Pam hasn't had any of them. Is that basically under the same pressure as being under 30 feet? Christine, do you know if your PEG has a balloon inside? I know Pam's first PEG had a hard plastic piece that basically fit through by stretching the opening, I think they said the one they replaced it with was held in place by a balloon filled with saline.

Tom, yes HBO is exactly like diving. You are in a pressurized oxygen tank which is increased to similate diving with depths around 30 ft. My PEG is actually a J-G tube which has 2 anchors. The one part in my stomach is the regular type and the second part located right past my stomach in the intestine is the balloon type. The balloon is not affected at all by the pressure. Since her balloon is filled with saline, its actually not really a typical balloon then, not filled with air that would pop. Another concern about diving is lifting and using her abdomin muscles. Although you can do most anything with having the tube, still need to be aware it is there and not do heavy lifting or anything that could dislodge it.

Which doc did you ask? This would be a question for the gastro docs. As far as the spots on her lungs, I would ask whatever doc she sees for that if she could dive.

My biggest concern would be the tumors in her lungs, not the PEG. People who do HBO are given a chest x-ray before they start. I asked my doc 'why' and was told pressurized oxygen affects something in the lungs. Im sorry for not being able to better explain this and use the proper medical terms.

As far as the PEG tube question about diving goes, if it were me I would cover up the PEG with tegaderm and go! But, with having the lung complication, that would make me stay on the boat and watch. Check with her doc who treats her lungs and see what they say.

Im sorry if Ive given you even more things to consider. Its all about safety coming before having fun.