First Day on the Pump

Oradev · #1 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 12:52 PM

Well, I finally did it. At 12:30 pm EST, I officially became one of yall. I got on the Animas 1250. Now, I have one question. Where does everyone wear their pump? I found it quite a headache to wear the beltclip. I currently have it in my pocket. Is that a good place? Will the tubing get crinkled up easier? Just curious, I'm sure i'll have a million questions in the next two weeks so stay tuned and thank you.

Adam

koblenz · #2 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 01:10 PM

Way to go.

I am in the "clip on the belt" camp. I do wear it in my pants pocket when dressing up a little and don't want it to show, but 99.99% of the time, it is clipped to my belt. Only took me about a week to get used to it and now I never even notice. Sometimes I kind of forget it is there when taking off pants and get quite the pull on the set!

I had my WOD sew a button hole in the upper inside front pockets of my pants, then I can slide the disconnected end of the tubing through that and keep my pump in my pocket as easily as on my belt.

Good luck and of course you know we will always answer questions here!

duck · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 01:32 PM

I am a belt-clip kinda guy as well...I'm used to carrying pages, PDA's, cell phones and now Blackberrys, so one more device is nothing to me...*sigh*

ricardo · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Well, I finally did it. At 12:30 pm EST, I officially became one of yall. I got on the Animas 1250. Now, I have one question. Where does everyone wear their pump? I found it quite a headache to wear the beltclip. I currently have it in my pocket. Is that a good place? Will the tubing get crinkled up easier? Just curious, I'm sure i'll have a million questions in the next two weeks so stay tuned and thank you.

Adam

I put my pump either in a leather case (more damage protection and static charge protection) with integral belt clip, or I use JUST the plastic belt clip. I've never damaged a pump (knock on wood) yet. At night I toss the pump beside me. Sometimes I roll over onto it, but the bed absorbs the pressure so it doesn't hurt it or me, and when I get around to it, I move the pump from beneath me.

ricardo · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Well, I finally did it. At 12:30 pm EST, I officially became one of yall. I got on the Animas 1250. Now, I have one question. Where does everyone wear their pump? I found it quite a headache to wear the beltclip. I currently have it in my pocket. Is that a good place? Will the tubing get crinkled up easier? Just curious, I'm sure i'll have a million questions in the next two weeks so stay tuned and thank you.

Adam

I should have mentioned that I don't use my pockets because I don't want to mingle the pump with keys, change and whatever else I might want to carry.

rzrbks · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Oradev

I currently have it in my pocket. Is that a good place? Will the tubing get crinkled up easier?

Oradev, don't get messing with your pump too much

Oradev · #7 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 03:44 PM

Some more questions:

Do you guys change the cartridge and infusion set on the same day?
My infusion site is kinda sore. Not red or anything, just kinda irritated. Am I doing anything wrong?

Rzrbks, I especially get excited when my girlfriend is messing with my pump when it's inside my pocket.

koblenz · #8 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Rzrbks, I especially get excited when my girlfriend is messing with my pump when it's inside my pocket.

OH MY! Behave!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Some more questions:
Do you guys change the cartridge and infusion set on the same day?
My infusion site is kinda sore. Not red or anything, just kinda irritated. Am I doing anything wrong?

I do change my cartridge and set at the same time; every 3 days. On the irritation issue... hmmmm. not sure. I have only been doing this for a few months my self. The only time I have had it bother me like you said (not itchy or red, just sore), is when I put it in at too steep an angle and it was close to the muscle. Yes, I use a 17mm angled set (Comfort brand). I was not sure if had done something wrong either, so I just changed it out after one day. Have not had the problem again.

Maybe some of the more "seasoned" folks will have better insight.

Dewey · #9 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Some more questions:

Do you guys change the cartridge and infusion set on the same day?
My infusion site is kinda sore. Not red or anything, just kinda irritated. Am I doing anything wrong?

Congrats to you for starting on the pump today!

Is your pump set on a faster or slower delivery speed? Although both settings seem pretty fast to me (and can cause a sore or stinging feeling), the slower delivery seems to work a bit better. This may or may not be the same for you, but it's worth a try. Hope it helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Rzrbks, I especially get excited when my girlfriend is messing with my pump when it's inside my pocket.

LOL Adam!

Forgot to add: I wear my pump on my shirt, but wearing it in your pants pocket should be just fine. I met an Animas Rep. who wears it that way, and has a slit cut into his pants to run tubing through (same as Koblenz).

Oradev · #10 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 04:45 PM

It is sore when I touch it or press against it. Is that normal? Should I take it out and put in another one?

Smoky Joe · #11 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 04:46 PM

I've never used a belt clip in over ten years of pumping. (got issues with sharing my diabetes)

If I am wearing pant, I have a pouch that I attach to my calf with a velcro strap.
Shorts, it just goes in my right pocket.

I thought I might have to change my habits when I switched to an Animas and need to look at it more often than my old one that I could operate entirely by sound, but with suit pants, it's easy enough to pull up the cuff. Not sure how that would work with jeans, but I'm in Texas, so I've got a while before wearing anything other than shorts when I'm not at work.

camjen1 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

It is sore when I touch it or press against it. Is that normal? Should I take it out and put in another one?

Could it be that you just aren't used to it yet??? I paid special attention to the infusion site for the first week and thought it was uncomfortable but once you get used to it you don't even know it exists.

Dewey · #13 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

It is sore when I touch it or press against it. Is that normal? Should I take it out and put in another one?

Hmmm, not sure there. If it's sore, then it may be best to move the site. Are your sugars running ok? Also, if your delivery speed is set to fast (i.e. approx. 1 unit per second), you can slow the delivery speed (to 1 unit every 4 seconds) by going into advanced settings. Though it doesn't slow it too much, it may help to keep the insulin from stinging or making your site feel sore (as well as preventing possible pooling of insulin).

ricardo · #14 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oradev

Some more questions:

Do you guys change the cartridge and infusion set on the same day?
My infusion site is kinda sore. Not red or anything, just kinda irritated. Am I doing anything wrong?

Rzrbks, I especially get excited when my girlfriend is messing with my pump when it's inside my pocket.

Yes, I change set and reservoir at the same time. What type of sets are you using? If your set becomes sore you should replace it right away. Make sure the cannula isn't sitting in muscle. In other words don't place a set on a lean portion of your body.

Oradev · #15 (**permalink**) 05-10-2005, 07:16 AM

I use the comfort set. When you guys shower, do you cap it? Also, do you guys suspend your pump when you shower or just leave it running?