Medtronic people....don't do this!

[notme]

Why is it that I always find a way to over-ride all of the safety features on a pump and I manage to screw things up.

Here is a NEW way you can stop your pump from working and you too can shoot your blood sugar up over night.

1st.....Don't listen to all the other pumpers and change your set at night before bed. Do what you want.

I changed my set at bedtime because there was BARELY enough insulin to make it through the night.

2nd....When you get everthing primed and ready to re-attach, make sure that you forget to do the little last .3 fixed prime after you prime the pump and reattach.

Did you know if you don't push the ACT button and actually deliver the .3 (or whatever you have set) the .3 will flash all night and never start your pump up. There is no alarm, it does not over-ride after a certain amount of time.....it just flashes .3 all night.

So, this morning when I woke up, I felt like he**. I checked my blood sugar and it was 430. I have taken 20 units so far 10 by pump at 7:30 am and another 10 by shot about 1/2 hour ago. I am now down to 350.

Please everyone. Listen to the nice people on this board. Don't change your sets at bedtime. Please remember to do the fixed prime after you have connected back up.

:motz:

[JediSkipdogg]

I'm amazed the Paradigm doesn't alarm at you. The Animas beeps at you every 3 minutes if you don't fully complete the priming process. It will beeped that you haven't done the prime yet. Yeah, you can skip the fill canula part (which is at most 1 unit, and won't really hurt the average person too much), but you can't skip the prime part wihtout it alarming.

I'm kinda surprised that alarm not existing would pass the FDA.

[camjen1]

Haha I have done that plenty of times. I have always caught it within hours though. I bet you felt like **** this morning! So sorry Nancy hope you feel better!

[archimeech]

I've only changed my site at night when I had to, but definitely stayed up a little longer to make sure it was working. gotta be careful with these pumps, guys. We're the ones that are supposed to be in control. Sorry that you had such a bad time of it, hon'.

[jenet]

Nancy, hope you're feeling much better now. Yes, life doesn't always work as planned, and I also have had to change a set at bedtime once or twice. If I do that, I follow archimeech's advice and always stay up an extra hour or two to make sure everything is "OK fine". (That's more about my concern to make sure the new set is working.) I am surprised though that the MM doesn't have an alarm to let you know the set change is not complete and/or it's not delivering any basal. Guess that's why we still have to actively be in charge of the whole thing.

cheers,
j

[Dewey]

Yikes, Nancy! Sorry to hear your sugar went high. :(
Hope things are getting back down to normal now. I don't know if others have experienced this or not, but I hate it when the set "decides" to quit working overnight, and then you wake up with a higher number....have had that one happen, myself!

The Animas beeps at you every 3 minutes if you don't fully complete the priming process. It will beep that you haven't done the prime yet. Yeah, you can skip the fill canula part (which is at most 1 unit, and won't really hurt the average person too much), but you can't skip the prime part wihtout it alarming.
The Deltec/Smiths Medical pump does this, too. It will alarm if the steps to load/prime the pump aren't complete.

[notme]

I am feeling much better. Went low about 2:00pm, but was easily fixed.

I will not try this trick again (second **** time) I will find a new trick.

Why is it I always seem to be able to figure out flaws in the pump system??? LOL

I am surprised also that Medtronic doesn't have an alarm system for this type of stupidity. You think they would have second guessed all of our mistakes by now.

[Funnygrl]

Yeah, cozmo alarms if you don't complete any programming, then gradually gets louder and more constant.

[spike]

Nancy,

Sorry your bg's got out of hand.

I agree that it's not a good idea to put in a set (especially a cannula type set) at night. Needle sets aren't as problematic.

I'm confused about the correlelation you drew between the lack of .3U and going as high as you did. Perhaps I've misunderstood your post?

[camjen1]

Spike she never fixed primed the tubing so her prime kept flashing which in return never pumped insulin throughout the night.

I would add that this just doesn't happen at night. I'm not a night changer and I have forgotten to press the fixed prime button after inserting to many times to count.

[spike]

Spike she never fixed primed the tubing so her prime kept flashing which in return never pumped insulin throughout the night.

I would add that this just doesn't happen at night. I'm not a night changer and I have forgotten to press the fixed prime button after inserting to many times to count.

Hmm...I must have missed that part. All I saw was the part about missing the .3 prime.

[notme]

Sandi has it absolutely right. I forgot to do the fixed prime. I would have thought that the pump would alarm after awhile of it flashing the .3u. It didn't. It just flashed all night and never delivered my basal.

[poodlebone]

You can always just change the reservoir and tubing, leaving the cannula in to change in the morning. Or, you can just add a little extra insulin to the exisiting reservoir to get you through the night and then change it all out in the morning. At least that way you know you have a working set.

[dkev]

I forgot to do a fixed prime the first time I changed my set. But fortunately I seem to be extremely sensitive to highs or lows. I can tell when I am even slightly high, 140 or so. Kind of feels like a caffeine high with very slight nausea. Hopefully I won't lose that sensitivity.

[Funnygrl]

Nancy,

Sorry your bg's got out of hand.

I agree that it's not a good idea to put in a set (especially a cannula type set) at night. Needle sets aren't as problematic.

I'm confused about the correlelation you drew between the lack of .3U and going as high as you did. Perhaps I've misunderstood your post?
The pump "froze" because the set up was never finished, and delivery was stopped all night.

[archimeech]

The pump "froze" because the set up was never finished, and delivery was stopped all night.

Yet another reason I'm glad I switched to Animas. At any point in the process of changing your set, if you do not complete the task it will start to alarm audibly and with the vibrate.

[JediSkipdogg]

I'm just surprised that alarm is not mandatory since I've done that maybe a handful of times and it just alarms till you finish the steps. Heck, even the IR 1000 did that and that pump is 5 years old.

[kgm0612]

Leave it to my friend Nancy to do this! LOL (((HUG)))

I try not to change my site before bed unless it's absolutely necessary.

Karen

[spike]

I'm just surprised that alarm is not mandatory since I've done that maybe a handful of times and it just alarms till you finish the steps. Heck, even the IR 1000 did that and that pump is 5 years old.

You are too young to be so forgetful!! <g> I've never forgotten to prime my pump during a set change and I'm an old codger.

[JediSkipdogg]

You are too young to be so forgetful!! <g> I've never forgotten to prime my pump during a set change and I'm an old codger.

It's not forgetfulness, it's called distractions during a set change.

[spike]

It's not forgetfulness, it's called distractions during a set change.

Are you changing your sets while driving in rush hour traffic? :)

[JediSkipdogg]

Are you changing your sets while driving in rush hour traffic? :)

Rush hour + driving = not possible, lol. It's called walking down here.

No, I change sets during chat times, lol. So the rest can guess the distractions.

[melissata]

I posted before that I don't do the .3 prime any longer. I also don't press the ACT button, and the .3 just goes off of the screen itself. I don't think that the screen should freeze and not deliver the basal just because you don't do the fixed prime. My husband was changing Melissa's set the other day, and I saw that he did press ACT. I told him that I never do and that it wasn't needed. I have been doing this for a long time now. Anything that you start to program and don't finish should have a tone sounded. This isn't one of them. I will check to be sure next set change, but I am pretty positive that this shouldn't happen. If I were you, I would call Medtronic to be sure.

[Pumped]

Forgive my unawareness - why is the fixed prime even necessary? I use a 715and everytime I change sets I prime it until the tubing is filled with insulin and I see a couple of drops of insulin drip out of the tubing mouth that goes into the cannula. What does the fixed prime do?

[JediSkipdogg]

Forgive my unawareness - why is the fixed prime even necessary? I use a 715and everytime I change sets I prime it until the tubing is filled with insulin and I see a couple of drops of insulin drip out of the tubing mouth that goes into the cannula. What does the fixed prime do?

Forgive my unknowing of what a fixed prime exactly is, but I'm guessing just like the "Fill Canula" on the Animas. What set are you using? If you are using any plastic canulas and you don't do a fixed prime you are not getting the full insulin. During the prime process when you see insulin come out of the end of the canula, it is coming out of the hollow needle. Then when you insert the set and pull the need out, you pull the insulin that was in the canula as well. Therefore, if the canula holds .3 units of insulin, you will not be getting that .3 units of insulin for however long your basal is for.

So if you're on a 1 unit/hr basal rate during that set change. YOu will not be getting any basal insulin for 18 minutes, which is .3 units. For some, that could shoot their numbers up if they are very sensitive. For others, it may just take you up a little bit. But to me, any shortage of insulin like that is unnecessary.

FYI>>>If the fixed prime IS NOT like the Fill Canula, then ignore the above, lol.

[ToddyC]

Yep, I believe it's basically what Jedi said -- you do the fixed prime to put insulin into the canula...different amounts of fixed prime depending on the canula length.

[melissata]

I just finished changing Melissa's set. It took about 1 or 2 minutes for the screen to go blank. I did not hit escape or any other button. I then looked to make sure that the pump had restarted, and it had like it always does. If you have a pump that the screen stays lit and the .3 doesn't go away, there is something wrong with it.

[camjen1]

With the pumps you have to prime and then press esc to even get the fixed prime screen. Yes, the screen disappears but it doesn't disappear if your still in the first stage of priming. There is nothing wrong with the pump.

I think what Nancy really meant it was stuck on the first stage of priming and she forgot to do the fixed prime.

[melissata]

I hope Nancy checks back in to clear this up, because here is what she wrote:

"Did you know if you don't push the ACT button and actually deliver the .3 (or whatever you have set) the .3 will flash all night and never start your pump up. There is no alarm, it does not over-ride after a certain amount of time.....it just flashes .3 all night."

That doesn't sound to me like she never finished the actual prime. You don't get the fixed screen to flash .3 until after you press ACT to stop the flow of insulin.

[notme]

With the pumps you have to prime and then press esc to even get the fixed prime screen. Yes, the screen disappears but it doesn't disappear if your still in the first stage of priming. There is nothing wrong with the pump.

I think what Nancy really meant it was stuck on the first stage of priming and she forgot to do the fixed prime.

You have it exactly right Sandi....

[Tony]

With the pumps you have to prime and then press esc to even get the fixed prime screen. Yes, the screen disappears but it doesn't disappear if your still in the first stage of priming. There is nothing wrong with the pump.


With the 515, after you do the intial prime it goes right to the fixed prime screen and will flash unitl you take the fix amount.

I thought it was just me that did this. I have forgot to fix prime a few times.

Glad to hear your numbers are back down, Nancy.

[camjen1]

On mine after I do the prime I have to esc to even get the fixed prime option to highlight. Then I would push act and it would bring me to the flashing .5. Now if I were to leave it like that the screen would disappear but if I never pressed esc to get to the fixed prime the pump will remain on the units I primed and would not deliver any insulin. What can I say I have an old crippled pump.

[Tony]

Oh you know what, It's been a long day...

I too have to hit the esc button to get to the fixed prime screen. If I don't the screen will stay flashing at number of units that I have primmed. When I enter the fixed prime screen .3 will flash until I take that amount.

[camjen1]

It's ok Tony that's a good excuse, we all have slipped a day or two in our lives at some point. :D

[JediSkipdogg]

It's ok Tony that's a good excuse, we all have slipped a day or two in our lives at some point. :D

Some more often than others....:whistling

[notme]

This is the second time I have done this Tony, so I suppose I "slipped" also. Last time I did it, I caught it a lot sooner. This time I went all night with no insulin being delivered. Hopefully, this is the last time I will try this trick.

[melissata]

Oh you know what, It's been a long day...

I too have to hit the esc button to get to the fixed prime screen. If I don't the screen will stay flashing at number of units that I have primmed. When I enter the fixed prime screen .3 will flash until I take that amount.

Next time you change your set, try NOT doing anything once you get the .3 flashing on the screen. It disapears if you don't touch it within a minute or two at the most. The basal will be delivered. This is a 515 also, and I just tried it yesterday. Melissa was low, so I didn't want to give her the .3. I almost never do, unless she is high. She always has a low after a site change unless I don't give the .3

[notme]

NO. This is exactly what got me in trouble. Once the prime was done and the canula was inserted, I did not hit the "esc" button. What happened was I went to bed that night with the .3 flashing and woke up with the .3 flashing and no basal all night. Several others have had this same issue. This is the SECOND time it has happened to me. It has also happened to Tony. I don't see a reason to try it a third time.

[camjen1]

This is a USER error not a PUMP error!!! I have done this plenty of times and let me tell you if the minute I thought it was a pump problem my butt would be on the phone with MM expecting a new pump. I can't even remember how many times my pump has failed. And please remember what works for one person don't always work for others. Telling him to not give the .3 could mess up his numbers for awhile. Plus not everyone has a .3 fixed, he could very well have a .5.

Hey Nancy, I mentioned the word butt so how long do you think it'll take for a man to respond? :D

[notme]

I already lost.......they are late! :whistling

[melissata]

This is a USER error not a PUMP error!!! I have done this plenty of times and let me tell you if the minute I thought it was a pump problem my butt would be on the phone with MM expecting a new pump. I can't even remember how many times my pump has failed. And please remember what works for one person don't always work for others. Telling him to not give the .3 could mess up his numbers for awhile. Plus not everyone has a .3 fixed, he could very well have a .5.

Hey Nancy, I mentioned the word butt so how long do you think it'll take for a man to respond? :D

It's obvious that we are not understanding each other here, so I'll give up. I do want to clarify that I was NOT telling him not to give himself the .3 at all. I would never suggest that someone not give themselves insulin. I was talking about the minute that it takes to disapear. All that you need to do then is go to the prime screen and do the fixed prime. I guess whatever it is that you are all doing wrong, I am not.

[notme]

We are not understanding at all. Let me try this again. When the pump does the prime it tells me it takes like 3.7u to fill the tubing....at this point I connected and never hit the "esc" button to get to the fixed prime screen. The pump just flashes after the prime if you don't hit the "esc" button to get to the fixed prime screen. I did this again last night and watched for about ten minutes. Once I hit the "esc" button the fixed prime appears and I did it and then the pump went on as usual. It is the process between priming and fixed prime. The pump just flashes.

Anyhow, if it is all working for your daughter and she has never made this mistake that is great. For those of us pumping with the Medtronic pumps, it is a problem and we need to be aware of the issues.

[melissata]

We are not understanding at all. Let me try this again. When the pump does the prime it tells me it takes like 3.7u to fill the tubing....at this point I connected and never hit the "esc" button to get to the fixed prime screen. The pump just flashes after the prime if you don't hit the "esc" button to get to the fixed prime screen. I did this again last night and watched for about ten minutes. Once I hit the "esc" button the fixed prime appears and I did it and then the pump went on as usual. It is the process between priming and fixed prime. The pump just flashes.

Anyhow, if it is all working for your daughter and she has never made this mistake that is great. For those of us pumping with the Medtronic pumps, it is a problem and we need to be aware of the issues.

Thanks for the further explanation. This is a Medtronic pump. Now that you are saying 3.7 or whatever number you use to prime, I get it. It's just when you said that the .3 was flashing that I didn't understand. I changed her set today and realized that she may have meant the prime amount stayed flashing. My daughter cannot do her own set changes, but is VERY observant. She has watched me try to put the set in with the cap still on and just giggle till I notice. If I left anything on the screen, she would remind me. Before I stopped doing the fixed prime, she often did remind me that I hadn't done it.