Need quick answer about my child and the pump

[foosheedebbi]

My daughter 14 years old began the pump last Thursday. She really wanted the pump till she got it. Needless to say she HATES it. No reason....it is just annoying .. her words. She really wants to go back to the shots tonight. She goes back to the doctor Tuesday. Should I force her to leave it on till then or should I let her go back to the shots???? I am so confused.

[iDream]

I tell her give it a chance, wait until the doctor. Its only been 5 days. Tell her there are major benefits to staying on it...more freedom, etc. I'm 16, and its the best thing that has ever happened to me.

[Gordonm]

I could see how a child would not like it. I love mine and have had it for a year. I told myself I would give it a year and make a decision. After 3 months I made the decision to stay on it. Have her give it a few weeks and get used to it. I took about a month before I felt totally comfortable with it. Good luck.

[JediSkipdogg]

I would ask her to hold out but in my opinion the decision is up to her. If she doesn't want to have the pump then you shouldn't force it on her. I'm one that believes a child should not be forced to do anything, but persuaded. If you force you will just be met with resistance and then in my opinion more problems later on. So ask if she can hold out then try and see what the doc can do with her.

[xMenace]

I would tell her it's more annoying having 3,000+ blasts of laser in the eyes and losing my vision, but that's me. Talking to a 16yr old is very tough indeed.

[Funnygrl]

I hated pumping the first month. My CDE told me to give it a month, then I could go off it. I recommend that approach.

[LantusFiend]

You can get good control on MDI! And you can have bad control on pumps. I'd suggest asking her to give it a little while longer, but let it be her choice.

[RobiJo]

Encourage her to try it for a month. Once you get used to it, it's really no big deal (and it becomes like a wedding band or favorite necklace--you feel weird when it's not on).

I got mine right when I turned 19 and was a freshmen in college. I wish I would have had it in high school.

Perhaps try to get her to write down her pros/cons about why she wanted it vs. now hates it. Let her know she doesn't have to share the list, but to "verbalize" reasons. Sometimes they seem silly to you when you see it on paper.

I suspect she likes the idea of a pump, but now that she has it she is cautious about what others will say and also how she will wear/conceal it. (Common among this age group.)

Also, (perhaps at the next dr. appointment) go over off-pump day strategies like for school dances, summer parties at a beach, etc. when it's OKAY to go back to MDI for the day or two. (Or even the random I don't want to wear it day in regular life)

Good Luck!

[Diana]

I got my first pump when I was 16, my choice, but I hated it too. Only wore it for about 4 days. Of course, eventually I wanted to try it again, and about a year and a half later went back onto it. Had an on again/off again affair with it for a couple of years, but am now on my second pump, and have worn it full time for about 3.5 years (and love it). My advice would be honestly, let her take it off if she wants to. If she is anything like I was at that age, trying to force her to keep it on is only going to make her more determined to hate it. At least now she has the pump, so at any stage she can easily choose to go back on it again. Its only a tool, wearing a pump without the motivation to use it properly is only going to cause problems.
I would have chucked an absolute fit if my mum tried to force or guilt me into keeping my pump on. And I would have then probably have been too embarrased to admit that I wanted to use it again later on down the track.
I would be happy to talk to your daughter if she wants to discuss pumping with someone who also initially hated it. Send me a PM if so.

[mortis505]

I have to wonder about her reasons for hating it. Is the tubing too short? Does she not like the pump being tied to her while sleeping? Or is it a peer pressure issue?

However I also agree with the others. Ask her to try it a bit longer. perhaps she may get to like it.

[Scratch]

I would tell her it's more annoying having 3,000+ blasts of laser in the eyes and losing my vision, but that's me. Talking to a 16yr old is very tough indeed.
Usually you provide good advice, but here you seem a bit off, IMO.

While we lack a large number of details about the person's current situation such as her current level of control, there are a fair number of diabetics who use MDI and have excellent control. To present the pump is such dire terms, ie "Use it or lose your eyesight" is fundamentally misrepresenting the potential of the situation in such a skewed fashion that it is likely to cause resentment in this originating poster's daughter.

I think this girl can be encouraged to give the pump more of a try and I wouldn't object to that. The initial period of adjustment can be rather daunting, especially when we're dealing with a chronic condition that even gets to the most diligent about taking care of themselves. I know if I were to elect to ever go to a pump I might feel a bit crazy about it during the first few weeks as the adjustable basals are to be found and tested for.

I understand, xMenace, that you want this girl to get the best possible outcome. But I disagree with the scare tactic method along with its being joined to a fundamental misrepresentation that control can't be good enough on MDI.

[HollyB]

Hi,

Sorry to hear your daughter's disappointed in her pump. There is some trouble shooting to do at first, and if she'll talk to you about what's upsetting her about it, you might be able to help her find some workaraounds. Longer/shorter tubing, better adhesive, a more discrete way to wear it, etc. might help her feel more comfortable about it.

I do think the ultimate decision is hers. If she's wants to "get this **** thing off me, NOW!" and go back to shots, it's not necessarily the end of the road. You can still encourage her to talk to her team about what she's disliking about it and see if there's a workaround. Or maybe the pump really is not for her, not right now.

If you think she might like to virtual talk with another teen on a pump, my son is 15 and has been pumping for about a year and a half. He would be very, very upset if he had to go back to injections! If she's having specific problems or just finding it awkward to deal with socially, it might help to see how another kid manages.

[iDream]

I know a girl that won't get the pump becuase she thinks it is big/doesn't want her diabetes "visible to others." Is she not technology savvy, and having trouble operating the pump?

[xMenace]

I got my first pump when I was 16, my choice, but I hated it too. Only wore it for about 4 days. Of course, eventually I wanted to try it again, and about a year and a half later went back onto it. Had an on again/off again affair with it for a couple of years, but am now on my second pump, and have worn it full time for about 3.5 years (and love it). My advice would be honestly, let her take it off if she wants to. If she is anything like I was at that age, trying to force her to keep it on is only going to make her more determined to hate it. At least now she has the pump, so at any stage she can easily choose to go back on it again. Its only a tool, wearing a pump without the motivation to use it properly is only going to cause problems.
I would have chucked an absolute fit if my mum tried to force or guilt me into keeping my pump on. And I would have then probably have been too embarrased to admit that I wanted to use it again later on down the track.
I would be happy to talk to your daughter if she wants to discuss pumping with someone who also initially hated it. Send me a PM if so.

I like this approach. Ultimately it is her decision. Leave her an opening to make the choice to go back down the road.

Suggest she join a facebook group Insulin: All the COOL kids are doing it!
(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204471074)