Blood Everywhere! :)

lark 27 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 01:28 PM

I've been pumping for only about 6 months and had a first today and wondered if this is a common experience as I have not heard of it. While changing insertion sites (last changed about 3 days ago), I noticed a bit of blood in the tubing of the old site. I removed the cannula and blood came out slowly for a few seconds and then just started shooting everywhere. (On paperwork at my desk, all over my pants/shirt, on the floor...). I quickly closed my office door as I don't know what passersby might have thought. I had to apply pressure to the site with my T-Shirt (It's now 1/2 white and 1/2 red) for a couple minutes and then bandaged.

I suppose somehow the cannula got bumped recently and knicked a capillary or something. Anyway, I'm going to classify this as one of those whimsical joys of diabetes

Anybody else experience this? I'm going to make sure to stow an extra set of clothes here at work.

princesslinda · #2 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 01:30 PM

I can't answer your questions, but someone will--I know everyone will check out your post with that title!

Granny Shanny · #3 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:02 PM

I don't know a lot, but I know if blood was SPURTING out that it wasn't a capillary, it was an artery.

Mindstorm · #4 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:46 PM

^ Yeah, I'd agree with that.

Whenever I've had an issue like this it just drips out fairly quickly (enough to drip down and stain whatever clothes get in the way). Actual spraying I would not expect to have happen. Where exactly was this infusion site? I always put them off to the side of my abdomen (usually at least 3-4" away from my bellybutton) and have only had the rare bleeder, but never have I struck a fountainhead.

poodlebone · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:55 PM

Congratulations! You've had your first gusher. In 4 years of pumping I've only had one so far. After first reading about them somewhere I got in the habit of removing my old sets while I was in the shower. When I finally got a gusher there was no cleanup to worry about. I was amazed at how much blood just kept pouring out. I had no issues with the set for the 3 days before removing it for my regular change.

techgirl12 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:07 PM

yes that happened to me once and at the time i had only been pumping for 2.5 months. (now i've been pumping for 4.5 months).
it scared me but i am more careful when removing old sites

9903card · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:15 PM

I've been pumping for 9 years and that has happened to me 4 or 5 times, it does surprise you that that much blood can come out. I don't think there's much you can do to prevent it. It does seem to happen at the worst times. The first time it happened to me we were driving to Fla, I was going to change my site in the car (no I wasn't driving). There was blood everywhere before I could find a napkin. I was freakin' out, my wife's a nurse however & explained to me what happened.

xMenace · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:26 PM

Alright, a gusher!

My first was embarassing. I yanked my set out in the car before a hockey game. I had to walk with my blood-soaked white shirt by 20 or so parents watching heir kids play. I managed to sneak by everyone, including my already changing teammates with only one person noticing. He was a firefighter that knows my sit, and he merely smiled at me

CountYourselfIn · #9 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesslinda

I know everyone will check out your post with that title!

Guilty.

That's messed up yo.

Diabetes is so so wrong sometimes lol.

Sounds like arterial spurting.

Subby · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:24 AM

One of the occasional joys of pumping. I too have had one, in the 1.5 years of pumping. Although I'd call mine more a splurter than a gusher

lark 27 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 07:30 AM

Thanks for all the replies. It's good to know that others have been there, done that. The insertion site was the side of the abdomen about 5 inches from the navel so a textbook location. In hindsight the fact that there was blood in the tubing was a pretty clear sign that blood might be coming out so I should have been better prepared. AFter seeing my shirt, my wife chastised me for closing my door while bleeding profusely (thinking I might pass out), but ultimately it looked worse than it was.

Happy 4th Everyone! Here's to enjoying it abundantly while consuming moderately!
Lark

SCC · #12 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 02:17 AM

Add me to the "yep, had a couple of gushers" list. Usually anywhere in abs, upper or lower. Once in upper thigh. I think only one left an ugly bruise, though. Happy 4th!

rak1978 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010, 02:20 PM

I remember this thread going around a while ago, and couldn't relate at the time.....

Well, let me just say that I can now relate. Just removed my old set and got blood everywhere. Yikes.
Soaked up a whole dinner napkin.
At the very least, diabetes is interesting! Our lives would be so boring without it.

SharpTail · #14 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010, 03:31 PM

I've had two of those since I started pumping on Oct. 5. There was no warning that it was about to happen. The amazing thing was that there was no bruising or evidence of blood underneath the skin after it happened, as I would have expected. Surprised the heck out of me, since I had never heard of a "gusher" related to pumping.
Pat

rak1978 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010, 04:25 PM

Yeah, I'm kind of a bleeder, so I wasn't too suprised when I saw the first sign of blood. Then it just kept coming....more like pooring. All over my pants and my hand.
Funny (at least it is to those not bothered by these things).