Pumping Saline

[jenet]

I'm a little dazed this afternoon, and not too sure how to feel. I thought today's first pump training session was just Pump Menus and Options, but I'm sitting here all hooked up with saline. I thought that was next week, so I'm a little off balance emotionally - I didn't have time to psych myself up for it. (I like to plan and prepare well in advance for "great unknowns".)

I mean it went OK, and everything. My CDE is also a certified pump trainer for Animas, and she was very positive about how comfortable I was with the menus and with the pump settings I put in this last week while it was still unattached.

Filling the reservoir and putting the infusion set in was a piece of cake - as I expected with the Insets. I had already played with one Inset this last week, so I knew how to do it; although I did use a firm cushion instead of me for my first time - just in case. I really didn't feel it, just the ka-thunk of the auto-inserter. But somehow, it just feels strange sitting here all hooked up a week early.

Hopefully, the strangeness factor wears off quick? :eek:

cheers,
j

[TvBabe]

I pumped saline before I went "live" as well. I actually thought it was an excellent way to get the feel of things and I was able to experiment with the different settings without getting myself into trouble :)

[lelggren]

That is kindof an interesting way to get you used to the pump. I was just started out with the whole cabanna....Insulin and all....The newness factor does get better. Promise :) You will come to love your pump. I know that I love mine!

[camjen1]

I have heard of alot of people starting on saline before insulin. I myself was also started on insulin right away. I didn't experience any problems. I know it took me a good 20 minutes to get my first set in. I sat there and thought about pushing the button on the insertion device. Finally, my trainer pushed my finger catching me totally by surprise. Poof it was in!

[dws]

It will feel normal in a few days, I started insulin the day after I got my pump, ----- the first morning after starting, I found myself standing in the bathroom with a syringe in one hand and a bottle of lantus in the other, trying to figure out whatwas not right!! :) I threw the lantus away and put the syringes on the top shelve , haven't needed them since 2003
don

[duck]

I keep running around saying "You will be assimilated..." to everyone I meet...

[amccrazgrl]

no saline for me
i jumped head first into the insulin in my pump and havent looked back
sometimes it takes me a good few mins to sike myself into insserting the needle cuz it will ethier hurt or not

[jenet]

That is kindof an interesting way to get you used to the pump. I was just started out with the whole cabanna....Insulin and all....The newness factor does get better. Promise :) You will come to love your pump. I know that I love mine!

I loved it yesterday, and probably will tomorrow. At the moment... it's more of a tentative acceptance - like I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop! ;)

cheers,
j

[jenet]

I have heard of alot of people starting on saline before insulin. I myself was also started on insulin right away. I didn't experience any problems. I know it took me a good 20 minutes to get my first set in. I sat there and thought about pushing the button on the insertion device. Finally, my trainer pushed my finger catching me totally by surprise. Poof it was in!

Thanks! Your story gave me a good laugh. :hahaha:

I think I did it fast enough that my CDE was surprised. Maybe she thought I would have a hard time making myself do it. She said to go ahead, so I looked out the window, counted 1-2-3 fast and pushed the inserter. Pop! All done.

cheers,
j

[jenet]

I keep running around saying "You will be assimilated..." to everyone I meet...

Friends are already teasing me about being "bionic girl". Anyone who holds still for 30 seconds gets to hear all about it. :party:

[jenet]

for the reassurance. To borrow a quote:

"I'm feeling much better now." :)

cheers,
j

[Cinnabon]

Thats great Jenet...
It takes a few days and then you are amazed... I was still in schock from not being forbidden from foods.... and NO schedule.... LOL
Then again i was a cavegirl when it came to my MDI.

[spike]

I'm a little dazed this afternoon, and not too sure how to feel. I thought today's first pump training session was just Pump Menus and Options, but I'm sitting here all hooked up with saline. I thought that was next week, so I'm a little off balance emotionally - I didn't have time to psych myself up for it. (I like to plan and prepare well in advance for "great unknowns".)

I mean it went OK, and everything. My CDE is also a certified pump trainer for Animas, and she was very positive about how comfortable I was with the menus and with the pump settings I put in this last week while it was still unattached.

Filling the reservoir and putting the infusion set in was a piece of cake - as I expected with the Insets. I had already played with one Inset this last week, so I knew how to do it; although I did use a firm cushion instead of me for my first time - just in case. I really didn't feel it, just the ka-thunk of the auto-inserter. But somehow, it just feels strange sitting here all hooked up a week early.

Hopefully, the strangeness factor wears off quick? :eek:

cheers,
j

It took me a long time for the strangeness to wear off...about 1 day. :)

Welcome to pumping--I hope it does for you what it has for me--it's revolutinized my life. In fact, it gave me back my life. Been pumping since 1996. I haven't spent 1 day off of a pump since and I wouldn't have it any other way. MDI and I don't agree, after 18 years of "practice". Enjoy your new toy!

[someone]

Ouch, I had the saline about 4 weeks ago too.. I remember it stung more than actual insulin does.

[duck]

Friends are already teasing me about being "bionic girl". Anyone who holds still for 30 seconds gets to hear all about it. :party:

LOL, I never thought about the Bionic Man since I got hooked up to a pump, that's funny...


"We can build him better..."

[TvBabe]

Thanks! Your story gave me a good laugh. :hahaha:

I think I did it fast enough that my CDE was surprised. Maybe she thought I would have a hard time making myself do it. She said to go ahead, so I looked out the window, counted 1-2-3 fast and pushed the inserter. Pop! All done.

cheers,
j

You use an inserter?!?!? Heck I do it all by my lonesome :)

[someone]

You use an inserter?!?!? Heck I do it all by my lonesome :)

Me too :(. I am too skinny to use the inserter. It goes into my muscle.

[jenet]

You use an inserter?!?!? Heck I do it all by my lonesome :)
Me too :(. I am too skinny to use the inserter. It goes into my muscle.

Lots of brave, brave people here! :thumbsup: Since each Inset from Animas comes with its own handy, dandy inserter, I figure I might as well take advantage of it. Maybe the extra padding has a few benefits after all. :wink:

Well, it's time to try sleeping with my new "partner". :goodnight:
cheers,
j

[GoodJB]

If you ask me pumping saline was a waste. Not only was I still on MDI but i had to "pretend" I was on the pump. And the freakest part about the pump was the insertion set. The Unomedical Inset....granted it does not hurt but the click and then holding it in place and squeezing and waiting for the POW when the needle goes off....the first time honestly took me like 4 min. to get psyched up enough to "pull the trigger." Going on day 6 of the pump with insulin and day 10 of the pump.

[JediSkipdogg]

I think the purpose of the saline is just to get you use to using the pump. You can play with it some and not worry about it killing you at all. I for one never did the saline when I went on the pump, nor was I even offered to, but I believe that's the only purpose. Maybe also to help you get use to inserting an infusion set in case your first few aren't that great.

[jenet]

If you ask me pumping saline was a waste. Not only was I still on MDI but i had to "pretend" I was on the pump. And the freakest part about the pump was the insertion set. The Unomedical Inset....granted it does not hurt but the click and then holding it in place and squeezing and waiting for the POW when the needle goes off....the first time honestly took me like 4 min. to get psyched up enough to "pull the trigger." Going on day 6 of the pump with insulin and day 10 of the pump.
Oh, I mostly agree we could have easily skipped the saline. I read the users guide and Pumping Insulin probably half a dozen times before my first pump training session. (I can read pretty darn fast, with good retention.) But my endo and CDE are cautious, and want to make sure I am well prepared before going live. Then, the first two days with insulin, I have to be at their office all day, so they can keep an eye on me. So I'm using the time to figure out how to wear it 24/7, while I wait for pump start day.

I took one of the Insets apart the first day my pump arrived, and used it as a demo to show folks how my pump would hook up to me, so I was already comfortable with it when it came to actually inserting one, and wasn't bothered by the POW.

Congratulations on your pump start! I hope your first week pumping insulin is going well?

cheers,
j

[jeggeman31]

Friends are already teasing me about being "bionic girl". Anyone who holds still for 30 seconds gets to hear all about it. :party:

My kids call me the bionic dad.

As for the inserter never used it, and when I asked at my pump training my pump trainer told me to throw it away and I have used the confort's my entire pumping life. Could not even tell you what one looks like or how to use it.

As for the saline, never pumped it and it was never brought up to me. I just started live on insulin.

[jenet]

As for the saline, never pumped it and it was never brought up to me. I just started live on insulin.
OK, OK, I admit it - I'm a teeny, tiny bit jealous of people getting to skip the saline and get off to a fast start. :) I'm just trying to be patient while I wait for my start - 9 days and counting...

cheers,
j

[jeggeman31]

OK, OK, I admit it - I'm a teeny, tiny bit jealous of people getting to skip the saline and get off to a fast start. :) I'm just trying to be patient while I wait for my start - 9 days and counting...

cheers,
j

What got to me is they shipped my pump Mid July and it sat in the box yelling "hook me up, pump with me" :evil: :evil: :evil: until September 7th when I was able to get in for my pump start day.

[JediSkipdogg]

What got to me is they shipped my pump Mid July and it sat in the box yelling "hook me up, pump with me" :evil: :evil: :evil: until September 7th when I was able to get in for my pump start day.

When I first started pumping on the IR 1000 I was lucky. I was in college during that time and they shipped my pump to my house. The day after I got home for Winter Break I was trained on my pump and started with insulin immediately.

Then when I upgraded to the 1200, I had to wait 4 weeks to get trained and that took me 4 weeks of complaining. They kept saying the pump trainer only came to Cincy twice month, and one of those times she had a training seminar, so she couldn't make it. The first time she came she didn't think to schedule an appointment first and she just called me when she was at the hospital and questioned where I was. I asked which hospital and then got upset because I couldn't come down on a 2 minute notice while I was at work. So eventually they sent some other trainer to train me, and I asked her what pump she used and she stated she couldn't tell me other than it wasn't an Animas.

I was tempted though to just use the pump anyways, but figured they'd yell to much at me if I pumped without being "trained" on it although I had used one for 2 years by the same company. Go figure.

[jeggeman31]

, I had to wait 4 weeks to get trained

That is what happened to me, they put me in contact with a guy named Scott in Cincy who said he does not do the training that his partner Kristal or something like that in Columbus did the training for all of Central and Southern Ohio. Thus the reason it took me so long to get in. And the kicker is the pump trainers office was in an OBGYN office, so just think of how fun it was for me to be sitting in the waiting room with a room full of woman and then call ME back. Man the looks I got.

[JediSkipdogg]

That is what happened to me, they put me in contact with a guy named Scott in Cincy who said he does not do the training that his partner Kristal or something like that in Columbus did the training for all of Central and Southern Ohio. Thus the reason it took me so long to get in. And the kicker is the pump trainers office was in an OBGYN office, so just think of how fun it was for me to be sitting in the waiting room with a room full of woman and then call ME back. Man the looks I got.

LOL on the location. Mine was at least at the local children's hospital and they said that's where they do it all the time. Which kinda makes me wonder what they do for those older adults (I was still seeing a juvenile endo at both times since he had seen me for the first 21 years of my life.)