Sick of insulin pump?

[Hollipop0014]

Hey, long story short, I have had my insulin pump for around a year and a half now and to be totally honest, more often than not, I have days that I feel like I can't handle it anymore. I just want to throw it at a wall. I feel like it's a constant reminder and it always hurts when I put the cannula in compared to pen injections where I hardly felt them. I don't know, I just have days where I feel really down. Also, while I'm here, I just wanted to talk about the diabetes specialists and nurses. I feel like they don't care about how you feel as long as the numbers look okay then it's all good. For example, I've tried explaining how I feel about the pump and is I want even a week off to go back to injections but I get the same response every time. They always tell me that it's way better and my number are more stable and I use less insulin. Sorry for the long post, I just need to get it all off my chest. J appreciate it if you read this far x

 

[CarbsRok]

Hello, you do really sound fed up You say your cannulas hurt, well they shouldn't so ring your pump company and explain the problem to them and ask if they have any sample packs of cannulas you can try as loads of different ones available.

Do you have back up pens for pump failure? If so there is nothing to stop you unhooking your pump and using them so you have your break.
Another option is to write down your frustration and feelings on paper esp the not being listened to and hand a copy to both the dsn and the consultant.

Have just looked at your profile and it says you are 21 yet your other posts you state you are 15 so I'm a tad confused as to your age. If Only 15 then you need to talk to your parents about your feelings as well and obviously consult with them regarding the coming off of the pump for a while.

 

[Hollipop0014]

Thanks for the help, I'll try writing it on paper. I'm glad there's sites like this so I can just get all this of my chest and know people will understand x

 

[Tylers73]

It is all a pain and right now I'm not coping. So need someone that understands and someone to talk to. Don't you sometimes just feel your all on ya own

 

[Gaz-M]

in one sentence you have put me off my upcoming pumping

thanks

 

[Hollipop0014]

Yea that's how I feel all the time And gaz I would recommend you try the pump, I know people who have tried it and loved it

 

[tim2000s]

@Gaz-M, pumping is, as I like to describe it, just another insulin delivery device. The main difference between it and a pen is that you can fine tune it to your body more effectively. Does it require more work? Not really. Is it a constant reminder of diabetes? Well if blood tests and injections don't remind you then maybe, but on the other hand, is that a bad thing?

Most of us will tell you cannula insertion really isn't painful.

If. Was in your position I'd read this for what it is, which is a cry for help, and not worry about my own decisions.

 

[azure]

I don't find my pump a reminder of my diabetes at all. Firstly, I forget I'm wearing it, and secondly because it keeps my blood sugars smoother I feel more 'normal' and more like myself.

I don't think anyone can really forget they have diabetes - not for any real length of time. That's just the way it is sadly.

 

[candi-girl]

hate my pump, been pumping 10 years, now back on pens. far better, feel i have my life back.

 

[candi-girl]

hate my pump, been pumping 10 years, now back on pens. far better, feel i have my life back.

though first few years were ok, it went down hill fast. you are sometimes made to feel a failure if pump dont work for you or you dont like it cuz everyone says how wonderful they are. that's fine but they are not for everyone

 

[candi-girl]

i use the same amount of insulin on pump or pens, and just have a week off. i did about once a month for the whole 10 years i pumped, it was that or go mad

 

[novorapidboi26]

i use the same amount of insulin on pump or pens

really?

I suppose its possible but not common......do you have a resistance problem.....? how much you on now?

 

[candi-girl]

really?

I suppose its possible but not common......do you have a resistance problem.....? how much you on now?

my average daily dose on pump or pens depends on what i eat... but between 25 and 28 units per day.

 

[MushyPeaBrain]

@Hollipop0014 just out of interest what pump and cannulas are you using? Does it only hurt on insertion or at the site the whole time?

 

[steveo4]

I was in a similar situation to you hollie I was on the pump for 5 years and earlier this year like yourself I got completely feed up with it and have now gone back to injections and I dint miss it at all but if I was offered the omnipod then I may give it another go but that is unlikely as my hospital don't have them

 

[novorapidboi26]

I was in a similar situation to you hollie I was on the pump for 5 years and earlier this year like yourself I got completely feed up with it and have now gone back to injections and I dint miss it at all but if I was offered the omnipod then I may give it another go but that is unlikely as my hospital don't have them

So you were fed up with the tubing and the hassle that brings then?

Did the pump bring any benefits for you?

 

[novorapidboi26]

my average daily dose on pump or pens depends on what i eat... but between 25 and 28 units per day.

I suppose what I meant to ask was what is the difference in basal amounts on the pump and MDI?

 

[candi-girl]

I suppose what I meant to ask was what is the difference in basal amounts on the pump and MDI?

pump 10.80units basal mdi 11units basal 6u 8am injection and 5u 10pm injection (levemir)

 

[tigger]

Hi @Hollipop0014 I know where you're coming from. It sounds to me like you're going through quite a lot of different and difficult things. I've had type 1 for 32 years (since age 3) and have had certain periods of my life particularly around the teenage years where the enormity of having type 1 hits. The thought that you are entirely dependant on a medicine for your life and what on earth would you do if you couldn't get it? The fact that there's no escape not even an off day? I can say it does get better or rather times like that are few and far between and as you go through life you do accept more that everyone has different challenges and often unpredictable ones and you do your best with the hand you've been dealt.

I agree with @CarbsRok about writing your feelings down. It really helps. The other thing though is that if you're not being listened to you can switch hospitals. I had an amazing consultant from the age of 8-15 until he retired but didn't like the next one. When I turned 16 I could have gone to the hospital where he also worked but chose another instead. If you're 15 you will need to discuss this with your parents. Also if you want to continue with the pump you need to make sure it's a hospital that will support and fund this.

I've only been on the pump for about 6 months and while it has done wonders for my numbers while giving me a lot more flexibility in what I can eat and how I live I'm still not convinced it's for me. I've read online about people who take pump holidays and that sounds a good idea in your case. I'm planning on having one once I'm past breast feeding (I'm pregnant now and in the early stages of breast feeding I've had horrible comas in the past) and then I'll take stock and decide whether it's for me or not. As @CarbsRok says you can just use pens and take a break.

I've already had a discussion about what will happen after I give birth as they put you on a drip for this and I don't like having people having control over my diabetes when they don't have a clue. I was told they'd be really uncomfortable with me using a pump while in hospital to which I suggested I just inject and my consultant thought that was a good compromise.

I get where you're coming from entirely re doctors and nurses only caring about your numbers. My first meeting with my current consultant informed him telling me that hba1cs above 7 meant you were statistically more likely to have complications (mine was around 7.4). To which my answer was that statistics also showed people with hba1cs under 7 also got complications and that at the end of the day I was a person and not a statistic. We actually get on quite well now

I've had a number of consultants over the years and most of the decent ones have accepted the fact that at the end of the day the patient knows their diabetes best as they're the one who lives with it 24/7. In addition, the more humble ones also recognise that after 20 or 30 years of dealing with it you have more experience than most of them have. Saying which if you want to be in charge you do need to educate yourself as to how to do so, get confident with working out what works for you and what doesn't food and dosage wise and enable yourself to lead your own life.

I don't know if things have majorly changed since I was diagnosed or if no one ever read me the memo that you have to do what doctors and nurses say but the message I've always had over the years was it was up to me to work out how to deal with problems. The few times I've asked consultants for help with particular issues they have been unable to provide any guidance which has meant that they are not my first port of call.

People on this forum however are incredibly helpful......

 

[donnellysdogs]

hate my pump, been pumping 10 years, now back on pens. far better, feel i have my life back.

Back on MDI too after 5 years and would not go back to pump.