PD Dialysis and Soccer (futbol, football etc)

[Jez13]

Hi, I am posting on behalf of my Brother in-law.

He really wishes to be able to continue playing soccer. He is due to start using the PD dialysis in 2 weeks, which is great because he seems to be really suffering right now.
But he is worried that he may not be able to play his only hobby that he has been playing all his life, Soccer. He is 34 years old and is in good shape, eats very well but only moderately exercises due to doctors orders.
I stumbled upon a thread somewhere here that someone is actually playing soccer on the PD by using a protective pouch and belt system. Is this true? Is it possible?

[Joe]

I don't play soccer, but don't see why he couldn't play if he wanted to. I use the stickman PD belt to hold my cath and have not had any issues with it.

[Jez13]

I don't play soccer, but don't see why he couldn't play if he wanted to. I use the stickman PD belt to hold my cath and have not had any issues with it.

Thanks Joe, I looked up the stickman belt, looks comfortable. Is there a more durable sports orientated one out there or would this be sufficient?

[blondie1746]

I use Patients Pride. You can google them. I think it is more useful for sports. I use it for working out, yoga, etc.

[Jez13]

I use Patients Pride. You can google them. I think it is more useful for sports. I use it for working out, yoga, etc.

A thanks, that wide wrap system looks like a good idea for sports. Should that be enough. Perhaps some sort of plastic guard device or something to go underneath (like a hector protector that baseball players use, only for the catheter area)?

[Joe]

I workout with mine and don't have any issues. Most of the time, I don't even feel them on.

[Jez13]

Cool, thanks for the help guys. I didn't realise till now that there isn't allot of options out there for you guys. Surely some innovative entrepreneur should be able to come in to this...

[Riki]

When i was a kid on PD, I was told that I could do whatever I wanted, exercise wise.  The only time i was ever told to be careful was after I had a fistula placed.  I don't see any reason why your bil couldn't play soccer if he wants to, as long as his catheter doesn't get caught in anything, or nobody pulls it, he should be fine.  A belt should prevent that, or even some tape.  My last catheter wasn't long enough to do anything except tape it to the dressing

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

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[UkrainianTracksuit]

Hello Jez13,

I’m sorry I came across this weeks late but I was on vacation.

I played competitive footy for many years.  I stopped two years ago because I just couldn’t keep up!

So, as you can tell, footy was (and remains) a big part of my life.  For this reason, when I hit Stage 4 (slipped into Stage 5 now), I discussed the possibility of playing football when we discussed dialysis options.  With PD, my renal team discouraged contact sports such as boxing, hockey and football.  (Yes, they know I meant soccer.)  Naturally, these were for reasons of the catheter and also to protect the peritoneal cavity.  However, I was informed that if I protected the abdomen area, didn’t take any balls/hits to the torso and avoided any finagling during forming a wall for a free kick etc, that I could very much continue to play football.  As for the catheter, in our research, we decided the Patient’s Pride Security Band was the best bet for vigorous sports such as football.  Luckily, I haven’t needed to use this research yet but I feel very well informed if PD becomes a better option.

My advice would be to always wear a hernia support, (whether playing sport or not,) and to leave the peritoneal cavity drained while undertaking sporting activities that may cause a strain on the groin area.


Henry P

Most posts in this thread focused on catheter security and I understand that being an issue.  Nonetheless, I am with Henry. P Snicklesnorter here.  Fluid may be the main issue with football.  That is what my renal team relayed to me.  There may definitely be some discomfort in the abdominal area during running and as Henry said, a hernia is a possibility. 

I wish I could’ve added some new information.  I just wanted to share that this topic had been discussed in depth with my care team.  Best of luck to your brother in law!