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Originally Posted by kid_fears99 1) Do you have to be hospitalized to go on the pump? Is it recommended? |
Not any more. Back when I started on pumps (1981) probably yes.
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2) How long does it take to really figure out the pump - I've read about different levels at different times of the day, depending on exercising, etc. - sounds a little confusing.
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No longer than it takes to figure out injections. I just switched from an older Minimed 507 (roughly ten years ago) to a new Animas 1250.
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3) Is anyone on the Omnipod? If not, how hard is it to get used to being attached to something with the cord? Does it change what you wear?
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I'm not on the Omnipod. I can't really say much about it, other than you might want to look at whether your insurance would even cover the Omnipod before you get too worked up over it. Some people I've heard from who looked into it felt that it made a big bump in their shirt (the site) and that they'd rather have a pager-or-phone-looking device on their side than an odd bump in their clothing. The people who were ON the Omnipod didn't seem to feel that way.
Pumps are easy enough to get used to wearing. It doesn't change what I wear, though I likely wouldn't wear belts with jeans if I didn't have a pump. I don't HAVE to wear a belt, but it grips the pump a bit better, and my hips are just plain USED TO having a belt on. It feels odd without one.
If I'm going to sleep naked, sometimes I'll just clip the pump on my medic alert necklace (helps if it comes with a dog-tag type chain, they almost never break) so that I can get up and go to the bathroom without "walking off without my pump."
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4) What do you do when you go to the beach?
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I take it off. Each Silhouette infusion kit comes with a cover for both ends of the kit. One for the site, and one for the tubing. No need to worry about either getting dirty. My new pump is waterproof, so in theory I could go swimming with it on. That'd be breaking 25 years of pumping habits for me, so I'd constantly be a bit nervous. And the exercise of swimming makes me not really need so much of the insulin anyways.
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5) If you have a pump with a cord, where do you keep your pump? Is there anyway to disguise it or does it have to be worn on the outside of the clothes.
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There's belts/bra holsters and things that go on your legs you can shop around for. I wouldn't be bothered. It is very non-descript, particularly in a leather case or with a cover. Nobody will have any idea that it's unusual. Once in a while someone asks what the tubing is, and I tell them. Who cares?
You'll find that the 23" tubings are much less noticeable than the longer ones. The longer ones can be a little bit "safer" as if you're my height the pump could fall on the floor and not always yank out the tubing. Not that I ever let that happen, mind you. I go with the 23" ones. It is easier to tuck the tubing in my pocket, and doesn't waste so much insulin at the end of a set.
Sorry I have so many questions - any input on any of them would be great![/quote]
