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Changing Infusion Set

C

coralreef

Member
Messages
5
I have only been on a pump for a relatively short while and experiencing awful problems with air bubbles when I turn the vial over, once the insulin has been drawn and try the speedster the vial from the reservoir. Techique obvious wrong any suggestions please.
 
Hi

Can you just say what insulin pump you are using?

There have been loads of msgs left on the pump forum all about air bubbles and what a nightmare they can be. Are you injecting air downwards into the vial of insulin or are you injecting air upwards?
 
Hmm Ive never heard of speedster so not sure what pump you are using?

If you are injecting insulin upwards into the vial, make sure that you tip the vial completely over first before you insert the reservoir needle and then inject the air up into the insulin and you will see loads of little air bubbles float to the other end. Keep the plunger up for about 30secs and then let the plunger drop downwards. You might have to gently pull on the plunger to withdraw the amount of insulin you need. There will be an air bubble so dont worry push the plunger back up so that the air bubble goes back into the vial and then gently withdraw again. You might have to push the plunger up and withdraw a few times but usually after doing this about 3 or 4 times you should end up with a reservoir with no bubbles in it. The key thing is not to do it fast...... take your time when you withdraw and do it slowly. More haste............ less speed so to speak.

Does that help or is there something else that you are not sure about?
 
I inject a little air downwards into the vial and then turn it upside down to begin drawing up the insulin. Am I understanding right in that you're injecting air into the upturned vial? I guess that creates loads of little bubbles if you're injecting air directly into the insulin.

Also is your insulin at room temperature? And do you draw it up very slowly? Both these things help eliminate air bubbles. And if you do get bubbles in the cartridge, flick them towards the end and prime them out.
 
Hi

I am using a Minimed pump, sorry typo, did not mean to type speedster!!!! My insulin is at room temperature, I attach the reservoir to the vial when the viasl is standing upright with the plunger extended fully, I push the plunger in fully and then turn the vial over, let go of the plunger to allow the insulin to transfer into the vial. I am certain I get rid of the air bubbles until I again turn the vial over to remove the reservoir and attachment. This is were my problems begin. I take the point about not rushing, as I do believe that is to a certain degree where I come unstuck, but as I really should know what I am doing by now, I have been using the pump for 2 months now.

Many thanks for the advice I do appreciate it.
 
coralreef said:
Hi

I am using a Minimed pump, sorry typo, did not mean to type speedster!!!! My insulin is at room temperature, I attach the reservoir to the vial when the viasl is standing upright with the plunger extended fully, I push the plunger in fully and then turn the vial over, let go of the plunger to allow the insulin to transfer into the vial. I am certain I get rid of the air bubbles until I again turn the vial over to remove the reservoir and attachment. This is were my problems begin. I take the point about not rushing, as I do believe that is to a certain degree where I come unstuck, but as I really should know what I am doing by now, I have been using the pump for 2 months now.

Many thanks for the advice I do appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Hi

what you are doing is the technique that Pickle has mentioned. When you remove the reservoir from the vial just turn the reservoir sideways and remove the cartridge adaptor with the vial still attached to the adaptor first and then quickly cap the reseroir so that air cant get in. Then pull the vial away from the adaptor.
 
Hi - I also use the minimed pump and Medtronic reservoir paradigm. I seem to do more or less the same as you and have not had a problem with bubbles at all. A couple of things which you may be doing already anyway - move the plunger up and down a few times before starting. Also, when the reservoir is filled, turn it back from it's inverted position and place the whole thing back on the table with the vial now in an upright position, then take off the blue attachment bit first quite firmly and then detach the reservoir. Hope some / all for this advice works for you. :roll:
 
May sound a daft question but are you sure you have the connection tight enough from tubing to cartrdge? Thus if it isn't tight enough air will seep into the cartridge and cause bubbles.
 
Thank you all for your suggestions and I will put them all into practice tomorrow when I change the set again.

I am curious as to how much tuition you were given prior to going onto the pump and what sort of support you are/have been given. I just feel as though I have been left to my own devices.
 
coralreef said:
Thank you all for your suggestions and I will put them all into practice tomorrow when I change the set again.

I am curious as to how much tuition you were given prior to going onto the pump and what sort of support you are/have been given. I just feel as though I have been left to my own devices.
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I read the manaul on line and set the pump up myself :) This was over 4 years ago though. I also had good support from Advanced Theraputics who distributed the pump I used in this country. I had no pump clinic or consultant and still don't even though I am on my second pump now. Oh and I also bought the book pumping insulin by John Walsh. (Amazon)

As to being left to your own devices that is the idea of the pump. :) Perhaps sit down and read your manual and go through things step by step.
If all else fails we will try and help :thumbup:
Have you actually also contacted your team to say you have a problem? If not it might be a good idea as they are not mind readers :lol:
 
Hi Corel

Ignore my msg about removing the reservoir adaptor... Riri's msg is better I think so try that way first.
 
Hello again. I found it was a lot to take in all at one sitting and that was the problem for me. The medtronic rep and nurse went through everything the once but had I not have had my husband with me at the time I would have really struggled to remember everything. The manuals are fine but for me the way I learn is through actually doing it or being shown soemthing ........few times :roll: I did write up my own notes after doing it myself a few times which I found useful for me and i did watch Youtube clips and the on-line medtroic tutorials a few times also.
 
Riri said:
Hello again. I found it was a lot to take in all at one sitting and that was the problem for me. The medtronic rep and nurse went through everything the once but had I not have had my husband with me at the time I would have really struggled to remember everything. The manuals are fine but for me the way I learn is through actually doing it or being shown soemthing ........few times :roll: I did write up my own notes after doing it myself a few times which I found useful for me and i did watch Youtube clips and the on-line medtroic tutorials a few times also.
Click to expand...

I quite agree being shown a few times helps a lot but the manual is there for back up :) There's also loads of info on the pump manufactures sites and plenty of tutorials as well. Medtronic even has a pump school on line. :) as you say.Plus loads of forums with experienced pumpers to help out in the first few over welming months.
I bet it wont be long before Corel will be helping out other newbies to pumping. :thumbup:
 
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