1. How do I use my She-P for the first time
Please watch this video from Laura first :-)
Before diving with it you might try it at home first while standing in the shower or bath.
For personal fit you can cut/shape the contact area of the She-P to fit best for your body. Remove only little peaces as you would do with drysuit seals. Cutting off too much is a problem ;-)
Attach adhesive on the contact area. A small volume is enough but make sure it’s around the whole area and not just little dots of adhesive. Some more glue at the back is important.
In case of Adapt Paste: let the adhesive dry for about 30 seconds before positioning the She-P.
If you use Hollister spray: Spray on, spread into an even film on the whole 'wing' area, wait till tacky (this happens very quickly) and place - back first, as far back as basically possible without covering the anus.
Example of the amount of Adapt Paste (use some more on the back)
 |
 |
|
| Example of the amount of spray | ... Wait a few seconds till it's tacky | |
If you use Adapt paste, the She-P can be secured with tape. Use 4 or more big pieces of tape and apply them around the She-P.
Always put a small sanitary napkin (or in the beginning a bigger one until you know the She-P works well for you) on top. When removing the She-P a little pee is left inside. The napkin will prevent spilling it on your underwear and is a good safety measure during the dive in case there is a small leakages.
While peeing, try to control the volume as the p-valve tube can only handle a certain flow through the tube.
2. How do I remove adhesive and clean my skin
After a dive / trial remove the She-P and put it in a small plastic bag till you can clean it.
Be careful while removing the She-P. There might still be a little pee in so make sure you keep the tube-part closed while removing it.
Remove Adapt Paste: Let the adhesive dry before removing it. If it’s still sticky it’s a pita to remove it well. When it’s dry it’s seconds work.
Clean the p-valve with vinegar or warm water with disinfectant. Let the She-P soak in warm water with disinfectant for 5 minutes and rinse well.
NEW ! Look at Laura's video how to apply and clean the She-P (she used the Hollister Spray in this video)
Remove Hollister Spray from the She-P: Alcohol for the She-P side, only rub it back and forth a little bit to loosen up an area, then wipe one direction only and it will start kind of rolling up like rubber cement. (or if using a day or two in a row, just wash and let dry, and respray on day two)
You can also use real acetone (NON-acetone nail polish remover only makes matters worse) to remove Hollister Spray from your She-P. Please remember to wash your She-p well after cleaning it with acetone (it's harsh stuff) and a nice wipe of isopropyl alcohol to disinfect.
Never use baby oil to remove the glue from the latex She-P - it affects the material!
Remove Hollister spray from your skin:
-
Baby oil works fine, but NOT on the latex She-P (it affects the material!)
-
The Hollister 7731 Adhesive Remover works fine but burnes and stings.
Available in USA:
-
TRIAD adhesive tape remover pads
- Smith & Nephew REMOVE pads (smell funny but works well)
NOTE: Use untested adhesives at your own risk, some adhesives contain chemicals that may damage your She-P.
<up>
3. Peeing underwater, is it difficult during a dive or do I need to practice?
For one or another reason peeing in a wetsuit seems easier than peeing in a drysuit. You really need to focus to start peeing and it can take a while before it workes. So yes, it definitely needs practice.
It’s the same for putting the She-P in place. After using it a few times it will go very fast and takes you 2-3 minutes to install the She-P at the dive site.
<up>
4. Wich adhesives are available?
Hollister Adapt Paste
The Hollister adhesive is developed for stoma patients so suitable for skin contact. When opening a new tube of adhesive it sometimes gives a kind of burning sensation on the skin (probably alcohol). This will disappear in a few minutes. There shouldn’t be a reaction on the skin from the adhesive!
Hollister is only one of many producers for this kind of adhesive. You can always try different brands.
The adapt paste is a cheap option for adhesive. Removing is easy after you dried it on your skin and the She-P. Just peel it off. Read #3
Adapt paste prevents liquid drainage from getting between your skin and your skin barrier. THis product protects and often extends the life of your skin barrier. Too much paste may actually interfere with a good seal. The Adapt paste is stick for a short bit then gets kind of hard and no longer tacky as soon as it's dry.
Hollister Spray
This is a very sticky adhesive. Removing the spray from your She-P is a little more difficult.
Price for Hollister Spray 7730 in the Netherlands is approx € 55 (This is why we do not supply this). In USA this spray is much cheaper.
Look at Laura's video how to apply and clean the She-P (this video is about the Hollister spray)
Click this link to read more about the Spray and the Adapt paste on Laura's website.
<up>
5. Do I need to shave?
Hair removal on the place where the She-P contacts the skin is important to get a proper seal which prevents for leakages. You don’t have to do it every day though and you don't have to shave everything. About once a week works well enough.
<up>
6. Do I feel the She-P during a dive?
Yes you have a lightly “stuffy” feeling during the first dives. Although it’s only a small device women are not used to have anything in that area. And same as when wearing a diaper, you will feel the She-P too. For this reason the She-P is made from a soft and flexible material and doesn’t give pressure on your skin or bones. After using it for a while you will get used to it though. Swimming, driving a car and scootering are absolutely no problem while wearing a She-P.
<up>
7. Where do I install my She-P - at home or at the divesite?
In the beginning you might do it at home or in a restroom because you need some more time installing it. After using it for a while it takes you probable 2-3 minutes for preparation and installing the She-P. Some girls prepare the She-P, adhesive and tape while standing next to their car (with the drysuit hanging on it to have some privacy ;-))
If you choose to install the She-P at home it’s more comfortable to stay away from very thight jeans.
<up>
8. Multiple dives during a day
You can wear your She-P during long dives or even when you’re doing multiple dives a day. Install it in the morning and remove it after the last dive. If you want to pee in between dives you can do it the “male-way”: look for a tree and pee while standing :-). Standing in the water or floating at the surface works fine too.
<up>
9. Bumping it or a suit squeeze, does it dislodge it?
On the contrary, some suitsqueeze makes everything stay in place perfect. I always use a small sanitary diaper on top in case there is a small leakage. Just test it as soon as you enter the water. Then you know if everything is in place and can correct if needed.
<up>
10. How many times can I use my She-P?
There is no maximum number of times, you can use the She-P for months or years.
The most important part is keeping it very clean and disinfect after every divingday.
Keep the She-P away from direct sunlight as that will affect the material.
Be careful when removing the She-P from your skin and removing the tape to prevent tears in the latex.
The color of the silicone She-P will change into yellow after a while, this has nof effect on the material itself.
<up>
11. Can I use an underwater scooter using a She-P?
Yes you can scooter with it and there are no issues with dislodging. If anything, the crotch strap holds things even more 'in place'. With changing to the Hollister Spray, issues with dislodging and leaks have been reduced tremendously.
For help with getting on and off if you choose to try it without accessories first, a piece of tape as a tag helps place and remove it from the pee-valve connection (see picture below)
<up>
12. Hose routing with a She-P
The routing is exactly like guys who point their package "north". There is more than enough hose standard with the Halcyon streamlined valve to reach where it needs to go. For convenience sake if women feel that connecting is difficult (and not having to rummage in your drawers quite so much) I have been recommending either a quick disconnect or a 4" piece of scrap neoprene or silicon tubing as an extension if women feel the length on the She-P is an issue, also in theory this spares wear on the outlet of the She-P. We do not choose to make the outlet on the She-P itself longer, as it's that nice soft latex/silicone material and we don't want it to pinch or kink.
Example of hoserouting (on the inside of the dry suit)
|
 |
 |
||
Placement of Quick disconnect 4" of norprene tube, notice with the barbed fittings back in play, no need for extra tape This works MUCH better... Super easy to hook up, and plastic parts away from girl parts and pubic bone. |
She-P side with "Flow through" connection, Suit side still on suspender. Do NOT forget to hook up!
|
|||
| Link for ordering quick disconnect in USA at Laura or <here> | ||||
- For girls getting a bruise on pubic bone from the device; make sure your buckle on their DUI suit crotch strap is not
lined up directly with the device.
- For women getting a rash from the norprene hose, either tuck shirt
behind device or poke hole in back up diaper if you are using one,
otherwise use 'boy' style long johns :)
14. My back is leaking, what can I try to prevent this?
1. You can use two strings and put one on the left and one on the right on the She-P tube.
Pull the strings high up between your butt.
2. Use some extra tape on the back.
3. Put the normal amount of spray on your She-P and put some extra at the backside (with your finger) on your skin.
You now have two layers on the backside.
4. Be sure your skin and She-P are completely dry, no residues of water or remover solutions.
15. How important is it to clean my p-valve?
VERY important! Please read this article about infections and complications of P-valve use in drysuit divers (pdf)
<up>
16. Other tips:
Easiest way to connect the She-P with the p-valve tube is to make the tube-end a little wet.
Try to test/prime the system when entering the water. This time you know the She-P and p-valve tube work well (and there is still the opportunity to change something if it doesn’t). Also priming the system makes peeing during the dive easier.
A nice trick for keeping your P-hose from being wrapped around your
leg or stuffing it down in your boot when getting into your suit.
Small velcro strap available at office supply store or computer store.
Any Questions left? Please do not hesitate to contact us.
She-P | Disclaimer | Contact us