Abdominal Protection

Hi everyone,
I have had a SUP for a while but always just used it casually on really small days. I had a kidney transplant in June and not being able to lie down on my shortboard with the new kidney being below and to the right of my belly button (tucked in the iliac crest) means I'm getting way more into SUP. I've seen on this forum a bit about impact vests and the like and am wondering if anyone had some advice regarding abdominal protection for me. I haven't seen one of these impact vests in person but it looks as though they probably wouldn't protect me low enough. If anyone knows of any other options or ideas, or even better has had or knows someone surfing post transplant, that would be awesome. I'm also open to ideas regarding designing something, which I've been thinking about.
Thanks

You've probably got 1 "unlikely" risk....

1) When surfing forehand, there is a chance that you catch the heel side rail, and the board goes up onto its edge, and then you fall onto the boards edge. It is one way that guys sometimes crack a rib. Pretty rare. Sometimes the board might hit you in the stomach instead of the ribs, and for most of us, this is a better result that getting it in the ribs... But for you, this could be very bad!

Simon

Thanks for the responses guys. I've had mixed responses from Doctors. One reccomended I take up chess. I've grappled and kickboxed for a long time so I think he was worried that I wasn't accepting I couldn't do those things. My surgeon, who surfs, said you still need to live your life, just don't go out when its huge. I think more risk is probably in a sucky shallow break, which is probably the only time I've landed on my board in the past, sliding the tail and catching a rail or something ,and having the board spring back.

I think maybe Tom Lonergans worry is impact to the remaining kidney whereas my problem is to the new kidney at the front. I really need to try the impact vests but I'm pretty sure that the actual padding won't get down far enough. I've thought about getting old wetties and inserting plastic strips in them as one idea but I'm keen to see if anyone else has come up with anything.
Cheers

Imagine paddling out with that on-you would have to put shinpads and thai pads on your forearms to co-ordinate. I took up stickfighting (sounds violent but is quite safe) a couple of months ago to keep some sort of combat sport up and I was told I had to wear my belly pad to a group training day. It is the most awkward and out of place thing to have on if there isn't someone in front of you kicking it. I think if I paddled out in that people couldn't resist running up and kicking me in the guts (I know I couldn't!).

The motorbike one is really light actually. Probably only 3/4 inch thick. Flexes in both directions. I'll go and try mine on.... wait a moment...

- ok -

Yep, it works great in reverse, plastic on the stomach. Would give better protection than those other soft cushions. The Dainese product when worn "backwards", would transfer the impact onto the pubic pelvis area, and the rib cage, and what ever muscle and other padding you have on top of those regions!

The Dainese product is exactly what I would get.

With the modern wonders of the iPhone, simple video shooting, and instant video upload to YouTube.... you'll get a video in a moment. Give me 5...

You'll see this video, and most of you will laugh !! But it's all in the effort to get another person onto the water!

I'm wearing this off to the right a tiny bit, to match your description of where your new kidney is... I smack it really hard, and my hand hurts a little bit now, but it was absolutely perfect load transition to a wide area, and zero "point" impact to the "centre right kidney". I seriously think this is what you're looking for.

Medical Disclaimer: I'm a person of reasonable intellect, with a tertiary degree, and I have had some injuries over the years whilst in pursuit of having fun, and I do have an understanding of your situation from your brief description, and I have an interest in medicine, and I almost became a Radio Imager, but I ended up in Estimating & Infrastructure Estimating as a profession. Therefore I have shown all care, but I take no responsibility. And besides, my Professional Indemnity Insurance doesn't cover a consultation like this! So in brief, DON'T sue me if anything goes wrong! I'm not "technically qualified" to give medical related advice...

Specifically, the device is very light, and quite thin (3/4" to 1 inch). It is polyester material, foam padding internally, and plastic shields, and flat wide plastic rivets to hold the shields in place, and wide elastic waist belt. So it would perform really well in the ocean.