So it is official, I am a pumper as of 6:15 PST. Crazy!
My Minimed rep was totally cool and we hit it off right off the bat. We went over all the basal and bolus options and how everything works. It was great and I am totally excited about this. I do have some questions that I forgot to ask so I am counting on you OC for some help.
1. If my infusion set comes out early (which I expect happens) do I have to fill a new reservior and dump that insulin or what?
2. I went with a 23" tubing and I am wondering what you guys use and why. I already had a lot of fun changing into my pajama's! The other option I have is 43"
3. Do I need to keep an infusion set and reservoir with me at all times?
I am sure I will have more questions soon but let's start with these shall we?
I guess I should join the Insulin Pump web ring now right? I am so amped right now!
My wife and kids gave me a pump birthday present. It's a t-shirt that says "Change happens, courage reacts" (which was that sweet little saying that has stuck with me since I heard it) on the front and "One 'bete' at a time" on the back. Sweet.
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13 comments:
George,
Trying to remember the questions you asked. First of all. If I loose a site before its time. I do NOT change the reservoir and everything. I just put in a new site and prime it. I am terrible. I will reuse the tubing and just reconnect with a new reservoir if not site change time. 2. I would recommend bringing a site with you when you are about a 1/2 hour or more from your house. I generally say if you are also gonna be gone more then 2 hours. A good solution is to put a site in the car. I don't carry a reservoir with me everywhere. Also you could just carry a regular syringe and suck the insulin from the tubing and stuff to work that out. I use the 43 inch tubing. I HATE the short tubing. It actually pulls out the site if the pump falls. Okay think I answered them all.
Congrats on your pump! I'm going to basically ditto asskeeper on those answers - Don't dump the insulin if you just need to fix the site. Remember, its good for like a month at room temp, so you're fine just putting in a new site and priming. I have a spare site in my bag, but really only need it if you're going to be far enough from home that going back for it will be a pain. One in the desk drawer at work too. And definitely go with the longer tubing. It's much easier to be able to set the pump on the dresser, etc while you're dressing than to have to dance around with it in one hand.
1. If my infusion set comes out early (which I expect happens) do I have to fill a new reservior and dump that insulin or what?
No, just attach new tubing to current reservoir and re-prime. Or you could even keep the current tubing and just change the site.
2. I went with a 23" tubing and I am wondering what you guys use and why. I already had a lot of fun changing into my pajama's! The other option I have is 43"
I tried 23 inch. It was miserable. Couldn't sleep, couldn't get dressed, I was disconnecting all the time. 43 inch is wonderful.
3. Do I need to keep an infusion set and reservoir with me at all times?
Yes! And I would even keep two sets.
Congrats Mr. Pumper!!
I really can't add to the advice as everyone has given you what I would :)
I'm so impressed that you're walking the walk now. So many people say they'll make changes, but never really follow through.
You make me proud :)
1. If my infusion set comes out early (which I expect happens) do I have to fill a new reservior and dump that insulin or what?
When O's site has come out, we just replace the site, not the tubing or reservoir, unless it was close to a site change anyway. If you find that your sites are coming out, check out some of the sticky things out there - Mastisol, Tegaderm - to help hold the site down more firmly. If you swim or sweat a lot, these might be a big help.
2. I went with a 23" tubing and I am wondering what you guys use and why. I already had a lot of fun changing into my pajama's! The other option I have is 43"
O uses the 23" but she's not that big. She found the 43" caught on things. I believe there are things you can buy to hold your tubing in place, if you decide to go with the long one. A piece of velcro would also do the trick - loop up the excess tubing and velcro it and stick it in your pocket or where ever.
3. Do I need to keep an infusion set and reservoir with me at all times?
I keep an extra with us at all times. I also keep an extra meter and syringes with us, too. I have to remember to put the insulin in my bag every time we leave, since it's (in theory) summer time and warmer and I don't like leaving it out all the time, but yeah, I'd recommend just keeping a set and a couple of syringes with you all the time. If nothing else, you can draw insulin out of the pump and inject should the entire pump die.
Congrats!
Like everyone else: If I disconnect the site (which doesn't happen all that often) or I get a "No Delivery" alarm (which happens more frequently) I just switch out the site and leave the reservior. I, too, prefer the 43" tubing. As for the why: Well I'm a short guy (5'6" with a 30" inseam), and even being this short, the 23" tubing leaves the pump banging into my shins if it drops. With the 43", it just stays cliped to my pants even when, well... my pants are 'round my ankles. Try them both out and see which you prefer.
Unlike everyone else, I don't carry a spare infusion set and reservoir with me at all times (but I think that's going to change). I do keep some at the office, though.
Pump on, buddy!
1. I am a cheap bastard and when the set pops out before it's time, I just stick in another set without changing the reservoir. I am also known to refill a reservoir if supplies are running tight. Not the best advice I can give, but at this time, my medical insurance is a nightmare and I am trying to keep costs down.
2. I use the 23" tubing. The 43" keep getting caught on everything and made me feel like I was tangled in a spider web. But I'm barely 5'4" so maybe the height thing is coming into play. I also wear the site in my thigh, which may make things a little easier.
3. As far as an extra infusion set goes, I keep them everywhere. I have three insertion devices and I have one at my office, in my car, and in my home. I have a back up infusion set, too, at these locations. I also keep a syringe tucked in my testing kit in case the pump malfunctions and I need to draw the insulin straight from the reservoir. I also have an insulin pen that I keep in my purse at all times.
Sounds fastidious, but after I learned the hard way that a site can be ripped out when you're moving boxes at your mother's house, an hour and a half away from home and a possible site change, that little bit of preparation goes a Loo-ooong way.
Good luck with being a bona fide pumper now, George! I am so happy for you!
3. Do I need to keep an infusion set and reservoir with me at all times?
Oh shoot. I didn't erase your third question. So much for being fastidiously prepared. :)
Congrats dude!
Everyone already pretty much answered your questions - and I agree with most everything that was said.
I use the longes tubing available.
See how the OC came rushing to your aid? Answering any question you post! I just think that's awesome.
You guys are sooooo awesome! ( I say that on almost every post so you better believe it by now!)
I keep a Manly Tote bag with me so I have thrown a couple syringes and 2 infusion sets to keep with me. I am leaving one here at work today.
I already HATE the 23" tubing. I am going to call and see if I can send back the unopened boxes. I already had a heck of a time getting dressed and I cracked up when i read all of your comments.
Did not get much sleep last night due to my brain in full effect and a few lows that I took care of. It was weird just being able to go to bed without having to draw up a Lantus shot.
I am sure I will post again tomorrow.
Thanks OC!
Way late... But hey, I don't have much additional to offer.
1. Cheapskate. I'm cheap - just like Kerri. Conserve the insulin. I just change the site and prime. I also reuse reservoirs.
2. I can only go with the 43 inch tubing; I cannot sleep without pulling the site out with the 23 inch. It can be a pain during other parts of my day, but I absolutely have to have it for sleeping.
3. Always have at least one extra site on you. And at least one extra reservoir. And insulin and a syringe -- just in case you should need to inject to correct should there be a problem with the pump. I keep my extras in my testing bag, right alongside the usual supplies, that way I'm not hoofing anything extra around.
I find my practices are a little different, so I thought I would add my 2 cents, for what it's worth.
1. If my infusion set comes out early (which I expect happens) do I have to fill a new reservior and dump that insulin or what?
When I change a site I want it to last all 3 days. I don't like changing the reservoir when I don't change my site, so i change everything at once. Sometimes that means adding more insulin to the current reservoir. (I'm bad, i know)
2. I went with a 23" tubing and I am wondering what you guys use and why. I already had a lot of fun changing into my pajama's! The other option I have is 43"
I go with the 43." Most of the time it just stays rolled up in my pants. The extra length is handy both my changing clothes and when I do arm sites.
3. Do I need to keep an infusion set and reservoir with me at all times?
See...This is something I SHOULD do, but I don't. But unlike a lot of others, I'm not a work for 8+ hours at a time. I just have 1-2 hour classes. I keep a syringe with my at all times. If the site goes bad, I disconnect the tubing and suck insuling out of the reservoir. If I'm gone for a long time, then I do, but otherwise I don't. Bad, bad Jen.
1). I use the cozmo, but no, if a site falls out, I don't throw that reservoir/insulin out. If there's still plent in there, I just disconnect the old site, use the current tubing, add a new site, fill the new portion and insert.
2) I don't carry reservoirs with me (see above), but I do carry a spare site.
3)I H-A-T-E-D, Ha-TED! the shorter tubing. I almost returned the pump because of it. I use the 43".
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