Day 1 of Accu-Spirit pump

[bonerp]

Thursday
Fitting day!
Bit apprehensive to say the least! Even forgot to pick the appointment card up before leaving home so had no idea where it was at the hospital. Found it in the end with some help from staff!
Two others also attending today for their fitting. Started at 10, finished at 12.30 learning all the basic aspects of the pumps functions, how to draw the insulin, put in the infusion set and prime all this.

Was dreading putting in the needle cos its a bit bigger than what I'm used to! Was fine tho. Panicked about nothing! Everyone in the group was nervous - I was even shaking with sweaty mitts and been type 1 for 30 yrs injecting thousands of times!!!!
Anyways, I'm now on water for a week then back next week for the main event, changing to insulin.....

Next thing was living with it. I got home with it stuffed in my trouser pocket. Wearing a shirt and formal trousers to work, I dont want the tube on display so what to do about it?!?!!!!

I used the elastic belt around my upper waist and the alcantera case. Was a bit uncomfortable though I must say! Didnt get on with that. Will think about how to overcome that....

I have ordered a new case with is more like a pager case and hides the whole pump. could probably then slip the tube under my belt and over trouser waist - under my shirt.

I dont want it on display - I know some of you are comfortable with this but I am VERY self concious about it at the mo - surprising cos wasnt expecting that! I'm normally very confident and dont generally give a toss about things! Wierd!

Other thing was I was being VERY stiff - darent move in case I ripped it out or hurt myself. Apparantly another regular feeling when first hooked up! Still not accepted the little rubbery thing inside me 24 7!!!!

Anyone, next hurdle - today just had to be the first date with a new girlfriend didnt it?!?!!!

Didnt show her but eventually told her I had diabetes and loosely mentioned the pump over dinner and that I was feeling a bit fragile about it - she was cool, and we had a top night out so looking forward to our 2nd date which she agreed would be great too yippeeee.

Next, bed....didnt sleep too well - may have been the jalapeno peppers or my new desire rather than the pump tho haha! Had in tucked in pocket of my new bought for purpose jammy bottoms!

Things not going too bad actually - until went for no 2 (sorry!) - where the hell do I put it?????????????????? Ah I know, used the alcantera case and hung it round my neck! Job done

Now I'm at work with it in my jeans pocket and I just really wanna get on with the insulin now.

Although its been over a month since knowing I was going on the pump and becoming more anxious every day I got closer to have it on for first time, its been ok actually. I'm still very concious about it and wondering how my lady will see things when I'm in the buff, or what I do when I go swimming, but sure it'll be ok.

Been a little personal but those are probably the issues most people consider as the major concerns in wear this gear.

I'll see what happens when my 5 yr old daughter is with me this weekend and wants to jump all over me!!!!

More soon - hope you find this useful, those of you thinking about pumping....
Paul

 

[Addy]

Hey, i'm glad your first day went okay, sounds like you've had a laugh anyway. I agreee the needle is bigger and a tip is to insert quickly (i know sometimes it's hard) it can hurt if you insert slowly. I must admit i use the alcantera case and get on with it okay, but it does sound like the full cover case will work better for you, i've also got one of those and it looks quite nice, you can clip that onto your belt and still hide the tube under your shirt.
When you go swimming, you can detach the pump just make sure you do a blood test and give yourself a correction bolus if needed.
Your daughter shouldn't damage the pump at all, but i know when i've been playing with my dads puppys that one of them has caught the tube, that was a sudden wake up call!!!! [:0] It didn't hurt just felt it tugging.
Oh and glad your date went well, i must admit i've been pleasently surprised with peoples reactions at the pump, everyone seemed quite against the idea at first but now they've actually seen it they kinda of see it differently. I think they must of had the image of me dragging around an IV drip trolly thing you get in hospitals

...falling is not the problem, it's when you land...

 

[bonerp]

Addy
Do you put it in stop mode if you take it off for a while, like swimming??

The SDN said to leave it running which suprised me! If left it running while in the shower today, by time id finished I had to reprime it cos of air in the tube and cartridge.

If I have to do this each time I remove it - that'll be a fair waste of insulin.
Paul

 

[Claire]

Good luck with everything!

Claire

 

[Addy]

I put it in stop mode, but the rep also told me that i could leave it running so that it wouldn't beep at me, but i don't mind the beep it means i don't forget to reattach and i also think that it's a waste of insulin.

...falling is not the problem, it's when you land...

 

[bonerp]

OK I will question it again today - back this morning to go onto insulin. Not that happy cos they couldnt get novorapid in vials so having to go back on humalog but had some bad experiences on that previously, like blood sugars dropping like a brick very soon after injecting - for me it was too quick at responding although that may change on a pump so will see how it goes.
Have changed a couple of infusion sets ok - not the problem I thought. Stil turns my stomach tho!!! Silly sod, been injecting for 30 yrs+!!!!
Also want to set up another couple of profiles and use multiwave but my nurse thinks its too soon for getting complex!
I'll update later once ive been on it for a while.
P

 

[Addy]

I didn't adjust mine for quite a while, i have only now started using multiple basal rates so all in good time. I'm on Apidra insulin, but was on Humalog with the pen. All the best for today

...falling is not the problem, it's when you land...