I have been friends with a lady with a daughter on a pump for over 3 years now.
We met via this website because I PM's her when she was in despair. We then started talking by phone, by email and txt. We have never met. I would call her one of my most trusted friends, despite never meeting. Initially we would speak pretty much every night, and change pump settings or just chat.
However, I think her daughter was about 8 when she went on the pump. It was hard for mum and daughter, but they stuck at it. We still remain in contact, and it is quite spooky sometimes as when we have occlusions, we text each other as invariably the other pump user (her daughter) will get one the next day or so, if I have had one and vice versa.
I think at times Mum found it **** frustrating not being able to get hold of nurses, nurses giving wrong info such as.... If high then change the basal on the actual hour of that high test..... And of course having to get up at night. However, I think she also recognised that the daughter was given DLA payments and Mum saw this as a sort of allowance for having to do a little bit extra than a "normal" mum has to do. I know the hba1c results have been greatly improved from the pump, and that is proof for mum that the extra needed in the first place was worth it. Am now in touch regularly with another young lady from the website, again.. never met but have a buddy system and friendship virtually that is wonderful for support, fun and just friendship and support.
I won't give names, but the past 4 years my pump has brought me great joy from the lady that helped me so much, to going on and helping a mum and child to another younger lady.
I know parents struggle, and young children, but just saying that I think your child and yourselves can find a way through start up with pumps. It is **** hard, but there are some great success stories from parents here... I think one parent has 2 young children on pumps,, this was back quite a while ago though....
Give a lot of thought to longterm benefits of a pump...speak or get in contact with others before throwing the towel in...
I was very lucky to "virtually" meet this lady. For any help I have given her in her early days it has been a wonderful experience of friendship that she has returned to me. We still remain wonderful friends today.
Some hospitals offer a "buddy" scheme nowadays, I know my own CCG are looking at this scheme and diabetic volunteers.
I just wanted to relay that it is hard for children and parents. I have no children,but recognised a parent at the time in despair. All the advice given to the mum was given on a basis of "this is what I would do".....
The NHS nurses aren't available 24/7 and boy, at some points it's **** frustrating. I too had a lovely virtual, phone call lady from this website that helped me enormously with my pump when I started and through some incredibly tough times personally. I will never forget the love, friendship and support she gave to me.again, we never met. Just from this website.
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