[Chappo]

New to the pump.

It took 2-3 years of colleagues and my doctor trying to convince me to get it. My main qaulms were:
1. Having it attached 24/7
2. Just having a machine doing my care for me - didn't like the feeling of that.

Now, the only regret to me was that it took so long for me to take the plunge. I never feel the pump and i'm amazed just how good it is when you need to do something (correction, extended bolus for a big lunch etc).

I love it. I should've gone onto it earlier

[judi t]

I've been on a pump for four weeks. All I can say is MDI is primitive; like being back in the cave. The pump is miraculous. I can't believe the difference. I should have been on it ten years ago. You have to try it. You have nothing to lose. If it doesn't work for you, return to MDI.

[colleen]

Yes, the day the BIG BOX came it did feel like Christmas, I sat right down on my living room floor, tore open the box and immediately started checking everything out.

I've been pumping for about a week now and am mostly in love with it. There are defintiely little stressors too adjust to for right now- like waking up at 3AM for a BG test every night, and dealing with teh tubing when getting dressed, etc....but I'm working on not letting those things bother me b/c over all the good days are just too good to give up

Judi- I think you started pumping just before me...how is everything going after a few weeks?

[Subby]

Originally Posted by colleen

There are defintiely little stressors too adjust to for right now- like waking up at 3AM for a BG test every night, and dealing with teh tubing when getting dressed, etc....

For how long are you going to test at 3am? You shouldn't need to do it for too long, to get a decent basal profile worked out so you can just forget it. I mean, it is of course your choice to test at 3am as long as you want, but one would hope the pump's basal adjustments could render it unnecessary after a while.

As for the clothes, yes I know what you mean. These days, I just disconnect, get dressed, connect. Sometimes I catch myself trying to juggle pump and getting into jeans and have to remind myself there is a better way... dump the pump for a minute.

[colleen]

Right now my dr. and I are still working on getting the night basal rate settled, which is why I'm still doing a 3AM test...but I think maybe only another week or so of that...the numbers are starting to look better. How long until you you had you rates figured out? And are those rates still working for you?

[Jan B]

I spent about two weeks getting my six basal rates perfected. Then after Spring came and I started becoming more active earlier in the day, I cut back to five basal rates. The most amazing thing to me was when I got the DP wiped out with increasing basal amounts in the early morning hours.

[colleen]

OK, a few weeks is what I expected...this is only day 10 of pumping and I'm scheduled to go back to my dr. mid next week to over the numbers.

So once you get your initial basal rates set is it up to you to decide when to change them (ie seasonal changes, vacations etc)?

I havnen't even played around with a temporary rate yet...I feel like its going to take me a while to experiment with all the different features.

I almost tried a combination bolus today at lunch but couldnt remember what exactly how I should split the % up. I need to start writing these things down so I remember to ask my dr. next week.

Was it just a lot of trials and errors for yo (and everybody) in learning when to use temp rates and when to use different kinds of boluses?

[Jan B]

Colleen,

Yes, there is a lot of trial and error involved! Using "Pumping Insulin" by John Walsh, as a guideline I did, and do, change my own basal rates. I also used that book's advice for temp basal settings.

As far as the different boluses types go, I use the Wizard, Manual and the Easy Bolus. Dual is fun, but I just gave up the foods that would cause me to need it (pasta for example)! Square wave (for long, drawn-out snacking) is also fun to experiement with. I definitely use and like the Easy Bolus (I set mine in 1/2 unit increments, since that amount matches my breakfast, and a common snack).

Small steps are good -- don't try to use everything all at once!

[colleen]

"Small steps are good--don't try to use everything at once"

Jan, thank you- that is a good piece of advice I need to remember...there are so many potential rate and bolus options I feel a little clueless right now, but I can see how over time I will learn the different features and when they are and are not appropriate. I think I'm looking foward to learning them over time now. I guess before I started I I kept hearing people talk about how once they started the pump life was GREAT. And since I've started, pump life is definitely better- but is requiring a lot of trial and error- so its good to hear thats normal...hopefully I'll have at least my basal rates down pat soon enough.

Thanks again!

[judi t]

Originally Posted by colleen

Judi- I think you started pumping just before me...how is everything going after a few weeks?

Judi here. It's absolutely brilliant during the days and I can't believe I've had a normal BG all day. It just never happened on MDI. I'm also dealing better with hypos. I checked my BG the other day after work and it was 3.8 - don't know what that is in 'American' - heh, heh. But it's low in Aussie. However, I just had two jelly beans and drove home, confident that my pump would not let me down. It didn't. Great stuff. On MDI, I lived in fear of hypos, which used to devastate me, physically and emotionally.

I still haven't quite managed the night basals. But given how 'brittle' I was on MDI, I didn't expect it to be easy. My endo has been supportive but has discouraged me from upping my night-time basals. I have to say, I did anyway, but felt terrible for disobeying the doctor. How ridiculous! I'm 51. Why am I so intimidated by a young consultant physician? Okay, she's no doubt miles more intelligent than me - at least in the maths/science realm anyway! However, I know what I know about my experience of the big D, having lived with it for ages.

I'm a bit sick of waking every two hours to do a correction bolus during the night. But I'm getting there. And my school hols just started so I have time to read John Walsh's Pumping Insulin and wrap my mind more effectively around the entire thing. I think it will be easier to sort everything out without the stress of exams and report writing to contend with.

Re being intimidated by my endo. I told my DE what I was experiencing. She agreed with me. "Yes, it's the way we were brought up," she said. "We were brought up to believe the doctor is always right and we have to do what they tell us."

Then she added: "But I work with them and I'm over them."

She encouraged me to change my basals if it seemed appropriate. And given she's pumping insulin herself, I'm inclined to believe her.

Still think my endo is great though. She's been highly available, with good advice, above and beyond the call of duty.

[Holly]

Just think - sometime down the road when I need a pump and have similar emotions - you'll be writing me with your wisdom and encouragement.

This forum is a great assist!