Question about showering

[JJeenn]

I had my pump start this afternoon! I'm so excited! Doing the insertion didn't hurt at all like I thought it would.

Now a question I forgot to ask though, when I shower in the morning and disconnect, does it matter if soap/water gets around the site? Or should I try to keep the soap away? Should I just make sure to rinse it really well? I'm using the Cleo infusion sets.

All you seasoned pumpers probably think that's such a silly question ... haha.

[duck]

It won't matter one bit if you soap it up or not. I'd probably avoid a nice, loooooong soaking, though, like in a bath, unless you are close to changing-it-out-time.

[notme]

Honestly duck....baths are fine also. I take a long soaker nightly and I have never had a site come loose. Shower or bath, you will have no problem. When you remove your pump the canula closes off and no water or soap will get into the site. Go for it and enjoy!

[JungleJim]

The first day or two on the pump , I disconnected. For the three years since, I just clip the pump to the shower curtain and stay hooked up. It is at this time that I really like the 43 inch tubing!

[JanTx]

I don't disconnect for my soaker baths. There's a wicker basket of towels next to the tub and I throw my pump in there. I also have the long tubing. I do let the water out while I'm still in the tub so even if some fluke happened when I stand up and it ended up jumping out of the basket and up and over the tub - not likely - it wouldn't go swimming.

[duck]

Honestly duck....baths are fine also. I take a long soaker nightly and I have never had a site come loose. Shower or bath, you will have no problem. When you remove your pump the canula closes off and no water or soap will get into the site. Go for it and enjoy!

You rebel, you...


Seriously, for those of you taking long soaker baths...How are your sugars afterwards? I disconnect for showers and in general I am okay if disconnected up to an hour, so I don't stay connected. But moreso my concern with staying connected in the shower or a bath is that I would cook the insulin in the exposed tubing...

[kgm0612]

The one thing you would want to watch out for is actually getting soap from the bar caked in the infusion set. I disconnect but never cap off. A couple of times while washing up, I've run the bar of soap over my infusion site and it's gotten stuck in it. I end up having to change the site because it's gotten clogged.

Karen

[JanTx]

My tub isn't all that deep - not a jet either - so the tubing isn't really running through the hot water. My sugars are fine afterwards.

[Funnygrl]

Showering I disconnect and just leave the site. The only problem I have even had is going over the cleo hub thing with a bar of soap. Then I had to change the site, cause I couldn't reconnect cause soap was caked in.

If I take a bath I stay connected to my pump usually and pump comes in tub with me.

[tanyatype1]

I disconnect, suspend insulin delivery, and cap the site. I use an Animas pump.

[Belinda]

Disconnect......

As for long soaks....in the hot tub and pool I just disconnect , suspend pump and when I get out for the 10-15 mins I just connect , bolus the missing amount of insulin, disconnect again (suspend) and back on the float I go....I stay in the pool almost the whole day...everyday that I can which is usually everyday that it does not rain.

[Worldcrzr]

I even sit up to 30 minutes in a 104 F Jacuzzi with the power jets going the whole time. It didn't change my blood sugar a bit and made me feel very good. I have arthritis and the Jacuzzi is great therapy. I disconnect for the length of time I am in the Jacuzzi and the shower afterwards. Total disconnect may only be 45 minutes. I usually go in the Jacuzzi in the evenings an hour or so after I have taken insulin for my dinner. Never had a problem with the set coming loose.

[Cyborg]

I always disconnect for my showers (usually very long). I don't suspend my pump to keep it primed. And I no longer cap the infusion site since others here have convinced me it's not required. I do see some fraying occasionally on the site adhesive, but never to the point where an infusion set has come close to coming off. Haven't tried a jacuzzi yet...

[JJeenn]

What do you guys mean when you say "cap" the infusion site?

I disconnected for my shower today and all went well. It was 20 minutes (hehehe, I like long showers) and the site is fine. Do some come off more easily, or as you have them in longer (mine is just over 24 hours old now, have my first set change on Wednesday afternoon).

[xMenace]

Mine comes with a plug. I suppose so I don't leak.

I also bolus what I miss for basal: .10-.40 units

[tanyatype1]

Hey Cyborg! What pump do you have? When I suspend my pump to shower, I don't have to re-prime it. I just press Resume and it continues from where it left off. I have an Animas.

[Shotokan]

What do you guys mean when you say "cap" the infusion site?

Some infusion sets come with a plastic piece that can be snapped onto the infusion set to "cap" it when the infusion line is disconnected. Cleos don't come with caps.

I disconnected for my shower today and all went well. It was 20 minutes (hehehe, I like long showers) and the site is fine. Do some come off more easily, or as you have them in longer (mine is just over 24 hours old now, have my first set change on Wednesday afternoon).

I have used Cleos for 7 or 8 months. I disconnect when showering--usually about 15 minutes--and I haven't had any problems with the set coming off.

[melissata]

Minimed told me that all of their sets are self sealing and the cap isn't necessary. In fact at that time they were going to stop putting them in, but I see that they never did discontinue. I think that I would use them in a public pool or hot tub though. Have you seen the reports on how full of @#$% they are?

[Funnygrl]

Minimed told me that all of their sets are self sealing and the cap isn't necessary. In fact at that time they were going to stop putting them in, but I see that they never did discontinue. I think that I would use them in a public pool or hot tub though. Have you seen the reports on how full of @#$% they are?
That's true will all sets. My CDE told me the cap is if you are going in pond water or something, so that you don't get **** on the seal, then force the **** in when you reconnect. The Cleo sets don't even have a cap though.

[dimes1]

I am pretty new to pumping and probably more careful than I need to be. I have a Medtronic pump. I disconect the site,suspend and cap off.

Steve

[w5wjp]

What do you guys mean when you say "cap" the infusion site?


If you are using Cleo sets, there is no cap. They don't require it. Other sets come with a cap to seal off the infusion site.

[rzrbks]

xMenace

Mine comes with a plug. I suppose so I don't leak.

So, if you did, would you just Collapse like a Macy's Day Float?

[FrankDr]

I disconect the site,suspend and cap off.

I don't do the suspend. I used to set a temporary rate of zero - 30 minutes - so I don't forget - and so it doesn't alarm. Lately I don't even both to change anything. I just let it run disconnected.

I use the Comfort sets. They have a cap. I usually cap it, unless I'm wet before I notice - then I don't worry about it.

Also, the cap does one other thing. It rounds off the square corners of the set.

[JanTx]

During my trainer I was told not to suspend unless I was going to be disconnected for ... an hour? 30 minutes to an hour? Something like that! That info was also in either the manual or in the online pump school. That the tiny bit of basal that would continue to run through the tubing was not a problem.

[notme]

The best reason for suspending your pump is for the alarm that sounds to remind you that you have your pump disconnected. I have taken baths at night and forgotten to put my pump back on. If I use the suspend button, then it reminds me to put the **** thing back on.

[tanyatype1]

The best reason for suspending your pump is for the alarm that sounds to remind you that you have your pump disconnected. I have taken baths at night and forgotten to put my pump back on. If I use the suspend button, then it reminds me to put the **** thing back on.

Exactly why I suspend mine too! The reminders!

[Cyborg]

Hey Cyborg! What pump do you have? When I suspend my pump to shower, I don't have to re-prime it. I just press Resume and it continues from where it left off. I have an Animas.

I also have an Animas, but based on tips from other pumpers, I don't suspend. With a 10 minute shower max, not much insulin is lost and no chance of air bubbles in the tubing.

I completely understand the value of the alarm, but I've only once forgotten to reconnect and luckily I was only 2 blocks from home when I realized it.