Pump Questions...

Cinnabon · #1 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 01:36 PM

As i get closer to getting this lil gadget I have a gazillion questions. But to start off how is this first placed? Surgery? outpatient?

camjen1 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 01:48 PM

You do it right in your DR's office, well that is where I went. A pump trainer in your area should contact you and set up a date to get started. The pump will arrive at your house and once you open it you will be thinking what did you get yourself into.

I thought it was going to be like learning how to fix a car, but it was far from it. The training took me about 2 hours. After the training you will have to keep in touch with your DR as well as the trainer. During the fist week or two they will be trying to set your basal rate so be prepared to eat very little. Some people started on saline first before doing insulin, but I never did.

It went pretty smooth for me. The only hard thing I encountered that was rough was not being able to eat the first couple of weeks.

Cielo · #3 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 01:53 PM

Yea, Adam put his first infusion set in at his doctors office just to get a feel for it and took it off that night (he still hadn't received his pump). Then once he got the box full of everything, the Animas trainer came out and it was also 2 hours long and she walked him thru the set-up of the pump as well as putting it on. That was almost 2 weeks ago and he calls his doctor every single morning. He can't really eat either, he has to fast a lot to get his basals down. And he hasn't slept a full night yet since he has to check his sugar at 12am, 3am and again at 7am. It's been rough, especially since it doesn't seem to be working out. I hope you start off better. Just BE PREPARED for crazy sugars. I think as long as you go into this knowing that things will be a bit off for the first 1-2 months, you will be ok. Don't get so frustrated, it will take time and a LOT of patience.

Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace, Grace is a little girl with mud on her face.

duck · #4 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 01:54 PM

My surgery had lots of complications, it was terrible. The gangreen I got from the unexpected staph infection was worse than the initial post-op, though. As much as I like the pump, I don't know if I'd do it again.

Okay, that was all a lie. There is no surgery involved, to call it "outpatient" still seems a bit more intense than it was/is. Like Camjen said, the trainer comes over or you go to them, and you learn how to put a set in, etc. You should also get a DVD from the pump company about your pump, many questions are answered within those...

camjen1 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duck

My surgery had lots of complications, it was terrible. The gangreen I got from the unexpected staph infection was worse than the initial post-op, though. As much as I like the pump, I don't know if I'd do it again.

SHAME ON YOU!!!!!

Cinnabon · #6 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 02:07 PM

I was about to collapse reading about Duck's gangreen, LOL

Ok,,, so do u get cut somewhere? Is there something hanging out?

(Please excuse all these dumb questions, I feel ignorant being diabetic for so long and having waited all this time for a pump. Just let me know when you have had enuf of me

)

duck · #7 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 02:31 PM

It's an external device, you can completely detach it from yourself at your desire. There is a "canula" that is inserted (by you) under your skin that is attached to tubing that is attached to a reservoir in your pump. No surgery, no cutting.

I had the same misgivings five years ago--I didn't want a pump because I didn't know if I have the guts to have surgery...

camjen1 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 02:51 PM

The infusion set that you insert into your skin has a needle at the end with the cannula (notice the 2 N's Duck

) covering the needle. Once you get the needle in, you will then pull the needle out and the plastic cannula stays in. That was another one of my worries is how am I suppose to bend or move with a needle in.

You can insert the needle 2 ways, one being manually or the other by using a serter which is a special instrument that your load the end of the infusion set into and pull it back and it locks in place. Once you find a site on yourself you then hold the serter against your skin and press a button and POOF!! it's in.

I myself insert it manually just because I accidentally threw my serter away and since then Minimed raised the prices. I have looked on Ebay but people our dumb to pay more for it on Ebay then buying it brand new from Minimed. I don't mind manually inserting it. When I was using the serter it would take me numerous times to even attempt to push the button.

Cinnabon · #9 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 03:04 PM

WOWZERS....
I know I can hadle this, even if it was surgery. But, we know how that goes, hearing things and you tend to imagine much worst. I guess Im anxious too. I have also heard that the sleeping IN was a great advantage, what other advantages have you PUMPERS found?

Smoky Joe · #10 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 04:49 PM

Quote:

what other advantages have you PUMPERS found?

Having used a pump for over ten years sometimes I forget all the reasons I like it so much. But some of the topics here remind me, such as where to take an injection in a restaraunt. The discretion is wonderful.

Mostly I have found the flexibility & convenience unbeatable.
Decide to have another helping or desert? No worries about another shot!
The bolus calculators are great, and the combo bolus feature that which distributes the total carb bolus over a longer period, would be very hard to duplicate with multiple injections (I am just learning to use it correctly with a new Animas).

I remember that even after a week of using it, I would have never gone back!
Before I bought my first one, I was able to try one for two weeks, while I decided. That was Disetronic, and I'm not sure if other companies or doctor's offices still offer the same, but it might be worth looking into.

Good luck,
Jeff

Cinnabon · #11 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 04:52 PM

I feel like someone should slap me for asking this, You can eat dessert?

Smoky Joe · #12 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 05:01 PM

I recently picked up a book listing carb values for lots of food chains.
Had to put it to the test, so I got a bananna split

It was a heck of a dose, but I nailed it perfectly, bloodsugarwise!

I'm sure it's not a recommended meal, but if you know how many carbohydrates, sweets can be managed.

duck · #13 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnabon

I feel like someone should slap me for asking this, You can eat dessert?

NO, YOU'RE A DIABETIC! YOU CAN NEVER EAT A ****ED THING YOU WANT TO EAT EVER AGAIN!!!!!

Okay, now that I have said that, the true answer is "But of course!" You'll need to learn to "carb count", so that you know how many carbs are in food you eat--You should be good enough at it that you can eyeball foods and know that "X amount of bread = X amount of carbs"...Then you will have what we call a "insulin to carb ratio"...For every one unit of insulin, it can cover X grams of carbs. For me, I am about 1:8 all day, though lunch seems a little more demanding for me (don't dwell on that yet). So, duck decides he needs cheesecake (yes, needs cheesecake, okay? I NEED it). I know the slice I am about to eat has a whopping 60 grams of carbs, but what a wonderful 60 grams it is...duck's little brain does the math:

60 divided by 8...carry the 5, is: 7.5. So I bolus 7.5 units from my pump. In two hours, I should be back to "normal" blood sugar levels, at anout 120, plus or minus about 10%.

You do this with every meal, it's very liberating.

And I do not eat cheesecake that often, just when I need it and I hear it calling me.

Do you understand "basal rates"?

duck · #14 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoky Joe

I recently picked up a book listing carb values for lots of food chains.
Had to put it to the test, so I got a bananna split

It was a heck of a dose, but I nailed it perfectly, bloodsugarwise!

I'm sure it's not a recommended meal, but if you know how many carbohydrates, sweets can be managed.

And there is NOTHING wrong with that! LOL.

gettingby · #15 (**permalink**) 05-20-2005, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnabon

I feel like someone should slap me for asking this, You can eat dessert?

When I was diagnosed 20 years ago, I was told "ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO SWEETS UNLESS LOW !!!!!!!!
Now with carb counting and knowing about boluses (extra shots or higher dose in my case), I realize now that a treat every once in a while is ok.

Took a while to change my way of thinking from what I was taught in the beginning.