How do you keep track of your sites & how long between?

[Jan2306]

I haven't yet found a good way to keep track of my sites as I move along my body. My pump trainer recommended going from one side of my body to the other in an S and when I reach one end, go up an inch and start going the other way. But since I need to skip certain sections of my abdomen that method's not quite working. I move to the right or left of the last one according to the little red dot still left but those dots disappear within a day. I can't always rememeber if I'm going left or right. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

My trainer also said to give a site 6 months rest before using it again. I don't have that many sites and will probably return to the first one in a month. How long do you let your sites rest?

[JediSkipdogg]

We have sites? I just randomly pick. For me I always change from one side of the body to the other. And for some reason on me the red dots last about a month, maybe two, so it's easy for me to see where to avoid. Occasionally I can even feel where an old site is because the skin seems to be tougher there for a few days, so I avoid those areas as well.

I guess if you really wanted to you could always tatto a little line drawing on your stomach. LOL

[Cyborg]

My pump trainer recommended going from one side of my body to the other in an S and when I reach one end, go up an inch and start going the other way.

I also try to use a pattern. I start at the outside of my abdomen, near my side, and move in toward the naval. Once I get there, it's time to switch sides and do the same thing. If I come back to a spot that is not quite ready, I will move a little higher on the abdomen.

It definitely doesn't take 6 months for a site to heal for me. It's approximately 4-6 weeks before I reuse a site.

[kgm0612]

Let's say I'm using the left side.....I go up in a straight line pattern. I start at the outside bottom of my abdomen, move to the middle, move to the top (just below waistband area) and then move up above the waistline. Then I move to the bottom middle of the abdomen and work back up. Then down again and back up. So that's 12 sites on one side. Next I move to the right side and do the same........another 12 sites. I then go to my right backside/hip area and usually can get 4 site changes there. Over to my left backside/hip area for another 4 sites.

Karen

[KritterMom]

This is really good to know. I've not been good about keeping track of what sites I'm using, I just tend to pick a spot and use it. Guess I should start paying attention. Thanks for the wake up call!:)

[HollyB]

We can't figure out how to get that many sites on Aaron's belly. He basically has one good place on either side of his belly button, and one less good but OK place (skinny) on either side above it. Below we hit the line of his jeans/boxers, and below that there's no meat at all. Farther to the side of his abdomen, there's nothing.

Also 2 or 3 good spots on each love handle, so we're rotating about 8-10 sites. Doesn't seem to me that's enough to last long term... but you need something under the skin to insert into?

[jeggeman31]

I use one side for about a month, and then switch to the other side. The little red dots tell me what part of the side I have used. I switch out every 2 days.

[issysmommy]

I am totally not getting the S thing...do any of you have a drawing that may show it better?

And is that not uncomfortable to wear it on your hip? That seems so awkward for me.

[EasyType2]

I only inject once per day, so it's simple for me. Only thing I try to avoid is bruises from hitting a tiny bleeder.

Some years ago, I met a D on a now defunct D board. She said she had a 5 x 6 grid tattooed on her abdomen with numbers for each day of the month. For months with 31 days, she went "outside the box". :)

[am1977]

I generally only use my lower abdomen and lower back/butt regions for sites. Unfortunately, I don't have much luck with using my legs and I'm not quite brave enough to try my arms, so I'm sort of limited.

I generally won't reuse an area until there's no sign that it was used in the first place (if that makes sense). I mean, if I can tell I had a set there, then I won't use it until any mark or sensitivity is gone.

I think waiting 6 months to reuse a site isn't very realistic. Yeah, I'd run out of sites too if that was the case. But I think it is a good idea to branch out and try other sites too.

[dgrilli]

I like to write the Date and Time on my box of Insets at the time of Insertion.

I then swap sides left and right after every site change.


My insertion wounds heal quickley now and withyin a week and half the sites are healed.

When I had high BG's before I became compliant my wounds would like never heal they would stay open. I was very high as you can imagine. Also my stomach problems disapeared when I became a very good guy compliant.

[nneighbour]

I'm not a pump user, but this may work. Why not map the locations on a diagram?
http://stuff.ubersite.com/1159288590885114547/1/body-diagrams.jpg

[JanTx]

I go from low to high starting near the midline of my belly. So very low on the left side - close to the middle. then very low on the right side - also close to the middle. Once I reach as high on my abdomen as I want to go, I start low again, but this time a little bit farther out from the middle. I usually get 5 sites from top to bottom (3 below the waist and 2 above) so one rotation gives me a month (before I start low again). It takes a long time for my dots to go away - so this gives me several months before I get back where I started. When I get to the farthest area on my abdomen I'm going to try my thighs and upper buttocks. I haven't done that before and still have a while to go before I get to that area so we'll see. If I can use those areas it might be 6 months before I get back to the center area again. Of course all this would depend on how long a torso you have - how much abdomen there is to use!

[Shotokan]

I use a W and M pattern on each side. There are 5 sites in the W pattern and 5 sites in the M pattern (the M is really more like an inverted W). You can picture this by mentally drawing the letters on your abdomen.

Each "leg" is at a 45 degree angle and about 2 inches from the previous site. So if I start at the left-top site of the W, the second site is 45 degrees downward about 2 inches (3 or 4 finger widths).

I start with a W pattern to the left of my bellybutton (extending the W to my side), then switch to a W on the right, then switch to an M on the left, and end with an M on the right. The W and M form a criss-cross pattern, so they don't duplicate any sites.

The entire cycle has 20 sites, and I change sites every 3 days, so the each cycle lasts about 2 months. I also use my upper hips above the beltline, which gives me about 3 more sites on each side. I haven't tried anyplace else.

[mcneely]

If your son doesn't have a lot of meat, consider using the area near his but cheek. But to avoid the side where he uses his wallet.

I keep a figure 8 and go clock wise. Lookind down on my body I might start from the right leg or belly above the waist. The next change I move to my right glute (but cheek). The next change I move to my left leg or bellow above my waist, then the last step of the cycle is my left glute.

I like this pattern because sometimes, rarely, I get sore from a bad insert and I don't want to put the thing somewhere close to the previous insert.

Also, if you have good lats (the area of your side/back behind your elbow) you can insert the site there. I need help from my wife when I do that one.

I have heard of of some folks using their leg, anywhere, but I am not sure how that works. When I use my leg I use the upper part, near the crease where my hip and leg meet.

If none of our suggestions help, talk to your doctor about a different insert. There are options out there. The angled inserts work best for skinny folks.

[blue_eyed_devil]

We have sites? I just randomly pick.

i'm so glad you said this!!! i just go for it, looking at where my tummy has the least amount of little red dots!!!

[Cyborg]

I forgot to mention... One thing that I do to help stay on track, is to put the new set in right next to the old set before taking the old one out.

[Injecto]

We have sites? I just randomly pick. For me I always change from one side of the body to the other. And for some reason on me the red dots last about a month, maybe two, so it's easy for me to see where to avoid.

Cool, that is the exact same thing for me.