Dry suit
From Pahwiki
A well fitting dry suit can significantly reduce the dangers of line infections for IV Flolan or IV Remodulin patients. A dry suit manufacturer that we have been very pleased with is Hammond Drysuits. Hammond has a very good online measurement chart specifies all of the necessary measurements for a perfect fit (make sure they are aware of the need for space for the backpack). In the case of children, allowances should be made for growth. Another benefit of this manufacturer is that when your child does outgrow his/her drysuit, Hammond will lengthen it.
The cost of these dry suits is substantial. We originally paid $550 for a child's dry suit and more recently paid $150 for alterations and repairs.
Speaking of repairs dry suits can and do wear out. The rubber seals on the arms and legs are susceptible to damage from the oils contained in sunscreen as well as chlorine in pools. Do not let oil stay in contact with the rubber for an extended period of time. Also, wash the dry suit in fresh water to remove excess chlorine.
Getting into and out of the drysuit can be a bit difficult, particularly for a small child. We have found that baby powder works well to ease the difficulty, but unfortunately does not eliminate it. Over time, the seals will loosen up, allowing the user to get into and out of the drysuit more easily. The included instructions show Hammond's recommendations for getting into and out of a dry suit.
When in the drysuit, certain "bodily functions" become more difficult to perform. Use the bathroom prior to getting into the drysuit.
When a person is in the drysuit, do not forget that the Flolan ice packs must be changed. The additional heat in the drysuit tends to melt the packs more quickly. Also included are instructions on trimming the drysuit. Another parent that I know of recently trimmed their child's drysuit to allow easier drysuit entry. Unfortunately, they trimmed too much of the seal and had to send the drysuit back to the manufacturer for repair. Remember that the seals do stretch over time.
