5th Day Pumping

[PusCat1970]

Well it's my 5th day pumping and I'm loving it already, no more injections 4/5 times a day.

Being attached 24/7 isn't as bad as I thought, hardly notice it's there. Did my first cannula insretion on Monday at Diabetic clinic, a full set change on Wednesday, again at Diabetic clinic. Inserting cannula isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Due to change cannula today, so It will be the first time doing it on my own, a little bit nervous. At the moment I have the cannula at the top of my but, and have been told to rotate insertion points, stomach, but and so on. Wasn't to keen on the but area at first but I've got use to it now.

BGs are a little unstable, but I expected that, so hopefully they will stabalize soon.

So far pumping is GREAT :)

Best wishes.

[UpNorth]

Good to hear it's a good experience for you this far :) Hope it will continue being good. What pump and which sets are you using?

[KAnderson]

Glad things are going well. Don't worry about doing the insertion yourself - soon you'll be an old pro at it! As you get more comfortable with the pump and begin to see patterns as well as testing your basal rate, etc, you'll be able to make the adjustments to fine tune the pump to your body. Most folks see an increadable improvement in their BGs fairly quickly.

Good luck!

Ken

[xMenace]

Great stuff. Keep us updated.

[morrisma]

Excellent. Glad you are getting more comfortable with the process. You'll get those set changes down to 5 minutes in no time. :D

Rotating the sites prevents the buildup of scar tissue. I was told to keep at least an inch from the previous site, however I try to spread things out a bit more than that. I use a little round band-aid on the last site so I can easily remember where I was.
Mike

[kgm0612]

Welcome to the "Pumper's Club", Beth. Glad to hear things have gone well for you this first week.

Karen

[palefacegirl03]

you are doing great.

The set changes get easier every time.

[Jan B]

Hi Beth!

I've been pumping for over a month now (I think). I LOVE it. There will be an adjustment period and if you have ANY questions, problems, aggravations, please come here and get some advice and opinions. Most people who start pumping would never give it up! I don't think I ever will. I haven't had any scary lows since I started, and that's wonderful! Congratulations!

[stlduckhunter]

To me, pumping is the only way to fly. You might try the side of the hip, works well for me.

[Yodee]

Glad you are liking it so far - my son Josh loves his and he has been pumping for about five years. It was truly amazing how much it changed our entire families lives when he got it.

[gettingby]

I'm glad things are going so well for you. I started pumping in October after 20+ years of injections. They will have to pry my pump from my cold dead body if they want it. :evil:

[PusCat1970]

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies.

Did my first set change on my own on Saturday, and messed it up. The cannula I use is the tenderlink which you insert at a 30% angle and it leaves a soft flexible cannula in (I'm using this one because it's best if you exercise a lot). Tried to put it in at the top of my bum (which is where I inserted the last one - other side - with the pump trainer, no probs.) and it didn't go in correctly, because when I checked my BGs they were 20.2 (UK). So took it out and inserted a new cannula in my abdomen which worked OK.

Tonight I need to change the cannula, and not looking forward to it! I'll try the top of my bum again tonight, as I will have to get used to doing this to enable me to rotate sites. Finding it difficult not to place the cannula on a belt line, as clothes vary, any tips?

My pumup is the `Accu-chek Spirit' by Roche and even after a week on pump I would never go back to MDI.

Best wishes.

[Subby]

Everyone seems different. Your bum may or may not work out for you - that's life. As suggested there are a few different places you can try. The thread http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/pumping-insulin/10272-strangest-place-you-ve.html has quite a few ideas (most of which you don't need to worry about) but it also has some diagrams in there, of typical placement sites.

My reaction to what you are saying - you are only just on the pump and you should not stress yet too much about a "whole rotation plan". If the abdomen is evidently a receptive spot for you - use it for a while! You could camp around there for a while. Giving a few cm between sites, you should be able to go quite a few weeks just on the abdomen before repeating sites - and then I imagine a repeat could be fine, too! In that meantime you can adjust to your pump life knowing you are using a site that appears stable and is easy to use.

Then you could go back to "maybe" sites like your backside later on when your skill with insertion is so much greater and you are better at detecting an unsuccessful insertion earlier.

It's great to hear of your progress.

[Subby]

Ahh the old double post :)

[elmwood]

I am new at this too! Just began pumping 3/4. Sleeping with the pump on has been a challenge, but I am getting used to it. How has having the insertion site on your rear been? I was thinking about trying it out when I rotate tomorrow.

[MarieD]

Been using the accu check same as yourself and the tenderlink since mid January now. Only ever used the tummy area - have managed to rotate around that one area ok. How often are you changing cannula? Luck for me the 3 day maximum wear is working fine - it's so great not to have to do all those injections anymore! Wouldn't change back from the pump to MDI for anyone! :)

[PusCat1970]

Elmwood and Marie,

Tried the top of my bum but I messed it up, so haven't tried it again, so sticking to the tummy area for now. Sleeping with the pump has been no problem at all for me I just clip it on to my pygama bottoms, and it doesn'et bother me at all.

Had a few problems last week, just couldn't push the cannula in, and messed up twice. I was getting stressed about cannula change day. So I went to see the nurse at the doctor's surgery on Tuesday and Friday, so she could watch me inserting the cannula and I was doing it fine there, just wanted to build my confidence a bit. Was due for a new cannula today and I managed to do it first time no problems, I'm so happy, so I think I will be OK doing changes now.:)

I'm changing the cannula every 3 days and the site seems OK every time, no infection.

Best wishes.

[Subby]

Sounds like you are inserting manually. Nothing wrong with that, but optionally most sets have an appliance available called an inserter that "automatically" inserts the canulla. It is loaded with the set and stabs it in with a button press, the one I have used for the quick-set could certainly be far less stressful than manual for many people.

If there is not a "specific" inserter for the tenderlink, it looks the same product as another set, the silhouette. So a sil-serter should work - but double check this if you follow this up.

I mention this so you are aware of options for insertion - you have options both in the set type (which does change the insertion process quite a bit) and in getting an inserter. In my opinion, there is no reason to keep doing manual insertion if it stays stressful or unpleasant.

Good to hear of your progress. Keep it up!

[MarieD]

Well done!
I was worried about the pump at bedtime but have had no problems either. Have a little pumpy toy that the rep gave me (it's actually for kids) but I saw it and I wanted one - the big kid I am! The pump sits inside the body of the toy and it lies beside me in bed :)

[Cyborg]

Sounds like you are inserting manually. Nothing wrong with that, but optionally most sets have an appliance available called an inserter that "automatically" inserts the canulla. It is loaded with the set and stabs it in with a button press, the one I have used for the quick-set could certainly be far less stressful than manual for many people.

If there is not a "specific" inserter for the tenderlink, it looks the same product as another set, the silhouette. So a sil-serter should work - but double check this if you follow this up.

I mention this so you are aware of options for insertion - you have options both in the set type (which does change the insertion process quite a bit) and in getting an inserter. In my opinion, there is no reason to keep doing manual insertion if it stays stressful or unpleasant.

Good to hear of your progress. Keep it up!

The Unomedical Insets each come with it's own disposable inserter. They are a breeze to use and very convenient...