On the Bubble

[jebcanyon]

Okay, I'm close to making the "Go" vs. "No Go" decision. I'm all about going on the pump, but I have a couple of concerns that I am hoping that all of you can help me with.

I am extremely active, so I am concerned about a pump in the following scenarios:
1. Amusement Parks and roller coasters.
2. Days at the beach, with snorkeling, watersports, wave runners, etc.
3. Martial arts.
4. International travel that may involve the above.
I know that these things don't take up the majority of my time, but I want to make sure that having a pump won't slow me down. I know that, overall, a pump gives you more flexibility. I just need some practical examples from real experience on the above items.

Thanks for your input.

[JediSkipdogg]

1) I never have a problem there. I go to amusement parks all the time and wear my pump on them. Just watch where you put it while riding so that the harnesses does crush it or maybe snap your holder in half if you hit a "bump."

2) That shouldn't be a problem. If you get the Animas or Cozmo then both are guaranteed waterproof. So you can wear them doing all of those. Against, just protect them if you go wave running, fall of, and take a hard smack. Minimed does make a protective waterproof case for theirs, so you could wear that if you choose them.

3) Depending on how long you do it you can remove it during your training. It will be hard to say how to do it since I don't know what your BGs will do during the exercise, but you may be able to just give a small bolus before removing it and then connecting real quick every hour for a small bolus then as well.

4) Again, no problem. Flying is simply with it and all of the above I assume are the save overseas as they are here.

[barbarac]

I have not a gone through a summer with my Animas so hoping the waterproof is the real deal. As far as the waterproof case for the menimed??--I had the 508 and a big clear plastic sports case that was suppose to be waterproof. Caught it in time, but it was leaking several times and I quit relying on it. Just unhooked instead. Hoping not to do that now. Want to float in my chair and read my book without worrying about it. I wouldn't trust the waterpoof case for menimed unless it has been improved a lot since 2001.

[melissata]

Okay, I'm close to making the "Go" vs. "No Go" decision. I'm all about going on the pump, but I have a couple of concerns that I am hoping that all of you can help me with.

I am extremely active, so I am concerned about a pump in the following scenarios:
1. Amusement Parks and roller coasters.
2. Days at the beach, with snorkeling, watersports, wave runners, etc.
3. Martial arts.
4. International travel that may involve the above.
I know that these things don't take up the majority of my time, but I want to make sure that having a pump won't slow me down. I know that, overall, a pump gives you more flexibility. I just need some practical examples from real experience on the above items.

Thanks for your input.

Don't have any experience with amusement parks with the pump, but you can always go back to shots for a day if you like. Days at the beach are best with the pump left on. I also would not get Minimed and trust a bulky case. This is one of our big reasons for changing from the Paradigm. Of course you can take it off, but where do you safely leave a pump? If it gets stolen your insurance company won't replace it. Most homeowners policies won't either unless you have a separate rider. We tried to do that, but our insurance company couldn't figure out what to call it! Martial arts, you can take it off and bolus to make up for basal if you need to. A lot of times when you are active, you may find that you stay steady without it for an hour or two. One of the features of the new Cozmo is that it will suggest a replacement amount for anytime you unhook the pump. You can give some up front, and the rest after. Foreign travel would no probelm, especially if you get a loaner pump to take along. Cozmo offered this right up front. I know that the others will do it, but I was impressed that the Cozmo rep brought it up. We won't need to use that option because we will have her old pump to take along, which will be great because we travel a lot in our RV. We have never had a pump problem where she had to go back to shots, but it's nice to know that now she never will!
You sound like the perfect pump candidate, and I'm sure that you would benefit from being able to adjust basal for your active lifestyle.