New Pump

[5xxxxx]

Well I'm on the pump! As of last Tuesday and things seem to be going well, But I did not know this would be so much work, Number two I did not know that the needle for the set would be that big, And why does it sting when I bolus? Everyone tells me to hang in there. What do you do with all of the extra tube all day long (43") it's great when changing your pants or to use the restroom but for the other 97% of the day. So far this thing is just in my why.

[Shalyndria]

Congrats, 5xxxxx. I hope your experience with the pump improves over the days to come. :)

What length/type of infusion set are you using? The angled sets have a longer introducer needle while the 90 degreed sets tend to be shorter. Do you use an insertion device or do you manually insert? If your site is stinging when you bolus you may be butting up against some muscle, in which case you might need to use a shorter cannula or stay away from that part of your body.

I use the 43" tubing and I just coil it and tuck it into my pants/undergarments depending on what I'm wearing and where my site is located. If you find the tubing is getting in your way you might want to switch to a shorter length, or maybe try clipping the excess with a safety pin (without piercing the tubing) or a barrette.

As time goes by and you get used to wearing your pump and injecting sites it should get easier. The adjustment period can be a bit difficult and I even find now that sometimes my pump is in the way, but I think that all gets easier with time.

Good luck!
Shy

[5xxxxx]

Shy thanks for getting back with me, This day realy has me down.

The stinging part is like a bad bee sting, and yes I'm using the angled set's and they are the manuall insert. Seems to hurt as I'm doing it. The line is 43" long and all of this seems like alot of work or I think it takes me the same amount of time to take a shot as it does to count carbs test blood put all of my numbers in the pump and then bolus. Also I seem to be filling the cartage every day with insulin which takes about 5mins prime 2mins. I think it was faster taking shots.

[Belinda]

WOW....manually can't be easy and inserter works great if you can get your hands on one. As for changing your site you will get much better and quicker as time passes. It use to take me forever to change a site now in about 3-5 mins I am done. Here is what I do. Usually the night before a change I get the reservoir out and filled with insulin, attach the tubing and manually pump it through the tube until I see a drop of insulin come out of the needle...with this done I leave it on the bathroom counter and go to bed. The next morning I insert the new resevoir and prime for about 3 mins. by the time I am fully awake and got the coffee started it is ready for me to install and that take no time at all but remember I also have an inserter. Once you get use to counting carbs and figuring out what amts you need to take it will be soooooo easy you will think to yourself..how come this was so hard when I started


Good Luck

[Vic L]

5xxxxx

Remember you just changed to a pump. Your learning new things and how to do them properly. I would suggest changing to the quicksets or softset qr sets. They have insertion devices and tend to be easier when inserting.

You should not be changing your reservoir daily unless you use that much insulin. Which pump do you have again?

[5xxxxx]

I know I have alot to learn been type 1 for 22yrs and had the shot thing down pretty good. Now I go on the pump hole new program. Anyhow Vic I'm on the Animas IR1200 and I have a basel of 3.50 per hour so that= 84.00 per day. Then just so far today I bolus 13.10 this morning and 17.60 at noon= 30.70 so for the day so far I'm at 114.70. Now my reservoir only holds 200units. So I need to refill every day. This is what is taking the time up.
Belinda sounds like you have it down with a system. I think I can learn this stuff.

[Belinda]

WOW over 100 units a day... I only take up to 30 a day so I don't have to chance mine that often. That would not be good for me If I had to change it that much. You really can learn this stuff good luck

[Shalyndria]

Holy moly that's a lot of reservoir filling. I have to do site changes every second day due to a slight allergy and that's enough of a pain in the butt. Could you possibly trade your pump in for one that has a 300U reservoir?? Might make life a little easier. And maybe get yourself an inserting device, that way you get rid of the human error aspect. Angled sets are easily inserted incorrectly; gotta be careful that you don't insert either too deep or too shallow. A device will help with that.

I think you can learn it too! Good luck, keep smiling and keep us posted.

Shy

[BobP]

5xxxxxx,

Were you using syringes before the pump? If so why did you switch? Control issues? (This was the case for me.)

I'm also using a 43 mm canula and have gotten used to it ; coiling it, stuffing it. getting it out of the way becomes a reflex after awhile. I tried a 23 mm and found it was too short; but this is personal preference.

It is a lot of work and there's a lot of lore to this pump business: dealing with going to sleep with the little bugger; training yourself to be aware of the tubing so you don't catch it on something in the middle of the night (I sleep enencumbered by pajams and use a leg pouch); carrying around batteries; changing the resevoir in the morning and not at night so you can monitor whether the site's good; getting the hang of eliminating air bubbles. All this will come to you (this site's been especially helpful to me with these sorts of details).

The payoff for me has been much more exquisite and improved control, and much less trouble with hypoglycemia.

You're using a lot of insulin (I use about 30-35 units a day) but as others have suggested larger resevoirs are available. For my money, even having to change the set more often is a step up (at least no worse) from the number of daily injections (4-5 per day for me).

The critical thing is what you're comfortable with and what affords control you can live with.

[5xxxxx]

Shy I already have a phone call in to Animas to see what we can do. And Bob I'm going on the pump to try to get better control and yes I was on 5 to 6 shots per day, That is here the 5xxxxx comes in. But after timing every thing you need to do with the pump it looks like more work and maybe more time.
Now here is what I've done so far, Before I had a nice pen looking thing for my novilog and three very small needles, Then I would take two shots of lantus. And test my BGs. three times a day.
Now I need to change the reservoir every day reprime have a tube ruinng all over the place and have the tube inset into my body 24/7 sleep with it. Now for the supplies that you need extra test strips (10 per day) extra set, batteries, insulin and a extra cartage just in case you run out. MMMMM must be a better way.
Now for the real bad part tried to have well let's say make love to my partner (wife) and she said no way you have a tube inset into your body, once again must be another way.
One week one day this seems to be going down hill fast.

[BobP]

5xxxxx

I usually disconnect when making love.

(Several bad jokes come to mind here but I'll spare everyone.)

I had a bad 2 months getting used to the equipment and at first my sugars weren't much better than when I was using syringes. I especially had trouble getting a rhythm for changing sets (I usually do in the morning and am not a morning person - once had to trash three sets before I got it right). I also had a problem with being hooked up to something 24/7.

Set changes eventually became rote and the equipment sort of receded into the background. The greatest benefit for me was being free of all the unexpected hypoglycemic events (I was also taking Lantus and it pulsed erratically during the day); I've done sailor dives into dinner at restaurants, passed out in the middle of the street, broken my back, woke up once in a stretcher in a subway covered in blood. This stopped completely after the pump and because hypoglycemic events are far fewer, have regained sensitivity to the symptoms.

Being able to adjust basal rates according to what I'm doing, I'm able to go an afternoon walking and stay at 100 m/d all day without having to carry around a knapsack full of food. My A1Cs have dropped a full point and I'm actually feeling improvment in my feet. For me, the cons are overwhelmed by the pros.

Again, this business has to do with what works for you. But you really ought to give it a good few months before writing it off.

[Dewey]

Hi 5xxxxx,

I'm really sorry you are having a hard week. Is it possible you hit a sore spot when inserting your set? I only ask, cause when I hit those spots, I have that same type of stinging feeling. Just a thought. Also, perhaps you can set the Delivery Speed in Advanced Setup Screen 2? I know that when I deliver a bolus (currently have it set to normal), that it delivers about 1 unit per second. If you are on higher doses, a bolus being delivered so rapidly would definitely cause pain. The delivery speed on the IR-1200 is defaulted at Normal, but can be changed to slow to minimize any discomfort.

I'm also sorry that you had trouble with the romance. Sometimes, it's even tougher when the one you love either doesn't understand or seems insensitive to you. I am sorry, and really hope that things get better. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me, and I'll do my best to help....(I started on the 1200 yesterday 07/27)

Sincerely,
Dewey

[turtlegirl]

My boyfriend uses the smaller lines than the 43" but he makes sure that they are in a way so they don't get bunched up or caught during the day. He is real careful about that. I know it is tough to get used to the idea of having it attached to you all the time but it has made things easier for him. He disconnects for the romance and quickly reconnects afterwards so he won't forget.

[soremom]

It honestly gets easier and eventually its just part of your normal day. When I went back on mine, I was like "why am I doing this?". After a few weeks it didn't cross my mind.

I know what you mean about the tubing. I use the sof-sets and disconnect during romantic interludes. I still very self consious about my "tail". But am trying to get over that. That also becomes the norm. Animas has their new infusion sets coming out and I was told by a rep that once you disconnect there will be no "tail". You may want to call them and see if they can send you a sample. The have an inserter with the infusion set so you don't have to put it in yourself. I believe it is called the inserter infusion set, but not sure about that.

Keep on trying you will get there. By the way, I get my IR1200 Monday and can't wait. I fill like it is Christmas.

Kim

[5xxxxx]

Well it's another day and did not plan on the extra time this morning for every thing that I had to do with the pump so I was late for work. But BG's are down, had a great evening went for a ride in my vette and had a small ice cream, Only ate half.

Now for the big question: For as much insulin I'm taking when I wake up in the morning I have 40 to 60 units left in the resivior now this is not enough to make it thought the day so I've been changing it, Seems like a lot just to throw away, Should I fill another resivior and take it with me to work and change it let's say when we get down to 10 units?
Lot's of things to find out by the way thanks for all of the replies this realy helps.

5xxxxx

[Shalyndria]

Well you could change your reservoir at work, if you're comfortable with that. I used to do it all the time; just take a quick trip to the bathroom or change at my desk if I was busy. I would take a few minutes in the morning before leaving for work to insert a new site so I didn't have to do that during the day.

Another thing you could do is draw those 40-60U out of the old reservoir with a syringe and put them in a new reservoir, or just top up the current one. Watch out for bubbles in the tubing if you do that though.

Shy

[BobP]

This is just a matter of tailoring and getting used to your daily totals and adjusting the amount of insulin you pull into the resevoir (I also get annoyed at the amount of insulin I have to throw out when changing a set; I think it's my New England - NH - upbringing). Ultimately, insulin is expendable; good control is the object.

Sounds like you had a good day (you have a freakin' Vette?!).

The days will get better the more you get used to the equipment. Your success is ours (I don't mean to get maudlin here, but this is fact). Keep us posted.

[Belinda]

Originally posted by Shalyndria


Another thing you could do is draw those 40-60U out of the old reservoir with a syringe and put them in a new reservoir, or just top up the current one. Watch out for bubbles in the tubing if you do that though.

Shy [/B]


To save insulin ( I was throwing away around 150-200 units all the time.) when Iwas not working and didn't have the prescription written the right way was to.

Fill a new resevoir and take the needle off and put on the tubing.
Now that I had the needle off the resevoir I just disconnected the tubing from the old one, put that needle on and injected the insulin from the old resevoir back into the bottle. This way it was quick and I didn't worry about bubbles etc...

Good luck

[TonyAlmeida]

I do the same thing as Belinda.

I know of people who toss refrigerated insulin vials after 20 days and they're still 50% full and toss half used resevoirs. Because their Pharmacist or Endo said they had to. That's a waste of good insulin - like drinking half a bottle of expensive fine wine and pouring the rest on the ground (or for the more down to earth of us - drinking half a beer and pouring the rest on the ground). Eli Lilly said Humalog (what I use) can stay at room temp for 35 days opened.

[5xxxxx]

BobP yepp I said Vette she's a 79 with t-top's. I may post a photo on the chit chat thread.
But just an up date I did try to take a syringe and draw out the insulin to put into the new resevoir boy did I get a lot of bubbles and air pockets. I will work on this and get it under control. I just hate to waste that much inslin!
Also to update everyone the stinging problem I was installing the set just under the skin I needed to go a little deeper this helped and is 100% better. The stinging is almost down to nothing.

[Shalyndria]

Well 5xxxxx, it sounds like you're getting the hang of this pump business :thumbsup:
Glad to hear you worked out the set issue! As for the syringe, smack the you-know-what out of it with a pen to get rid of all those bubbles. If you're finding it's too much of a hassle to get it into the new syringe, shoot it back into your original vial.

Keep up the great work :D

Shy

[5xxxxx]

Thanks Shy I'm not one to give up I knew this would take a while but some of these items I'm throwing away seems like a waste. Not that I'm tring to be cheep! I just do not like the idea that I have 40 - 60 units left and I know that is not enought to make it thru the day.
Now for the good news I'm starting to use less insulin per day now that is the cool part and my BG's are way down. Now this is way I wanted to go on the pump, In the long run this will be better for me.

[gettingby]

Way to go 5xxxxx!!!!!!!! I think its great that everything is going so well. I'm still considering the pump. A little more support here at home would help but......you know.
Cin

[5xxxxx]

Gee thanks gettingby things are getting better. And I even fell better. But I do want you to know it is alot more work to get this all fugured out everybody tells me that I still think old school and I'm still living in the 70's. Not that the 70's where bad just the way I think.
But if I can do it anybody can I go back to my endo this afternoon to check my A1C's cant wait. My BG's are way down and I was taking 210 units a day and now around 130. This is great.