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ebony321

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Ello peoples,

Intended to be a quick question but will probably end up being long knowing me :)

Basically from experiences injecting in the past, i have spent god knows how long injecting and using my stomach for infusion sites.. and nowhere else.

When i injected i got horrendous bruising on my legs, terrible blue bruises that were often painful to lay on :(

The other week i ripped my cannula out when i was asleep and it made quite a mess. It's healed okay, still can see a mark but not surprising as it was quite sore.

so the other day i decided to give my stomach a well deserved break and place my cannula elsewhere. I tried many times in my back (muffin top area) and i got it in all well and good. but it took some doing as it was painful in many places..


Sooooo, my question is ... Is this area naturally sensitive or is it because i haven't used this area before??. I want to give my stomach a good break, maybe a few weeks, but changing my cannula every 2 days i think i might run out of areas pretty quick. Does anyone use their legs or bum with the pump okay? i know the legs tend to have a different absorption rate too, my back is fine as i haven't had any dodgy results so i'm not worried there..

Any tips/advice/help/opinions as always gratefully received.

Spanks :)
 
Hi ebony,

There are other members who use different areas like the bum and legs one uses her arm!!

I have tried to put cannula in my bum but it was sore so gave up on that one. I would like to give my belly a break too.

I think my problem is that i know its safe in my belly so being a bit of a chicken when not trying anywhere else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

josie
 
I've tried moving things around but always ended up coming back to the same middle of the tummy area. The reason? Seem to get more consistent results in terms of BG levels. Having stuck needles in and around that area for 40+ years and for a lot of that time done that four, five, six times a day, it seems to me that once every three/four days is nothing to worry about - although saying that I DO understand the need for site rotation. Problem (for me) is getting a consistent 'take up' rate as I know that when I have gone too far around the side, I end up having days of highs and correction boluses.

Alan
 
Seems as though i'm not the only one!

I just feel sorry for my belly always being the pin cushion!

My back seems to be fine absorption wise, but i'm worried about sticking it somewhere else and having a tiresome day of chasing my BG.

I don't think i'd opt for the arm, i can see myself tied up on the floor with my tubing unable to release myself.. yes i'm that clumsy :lol:

I may have to try the backside and monitor closely for a few hours.. ouchy
 
I use only my thighs. I don't have much stomach area & almost no fat so find the stomach uncomfortable to put the cannula in. I was also always catching it on my waistband which was uncomfortable too.

I start at the top of my thigh (front or side) on the first cannula change day of the month. I then zig-zag back & forward across my thigh from side to side top to bottom over the month. The next month, I use the other leg.

Absorption is slower using the thigh, but there are just too many physical & psychological reasons for me to not use my stomach. The literature that I have read all merely says that one should use the same area of the body so as to get a consistent absorption rate.

I use an angled teflon cannula, so can choose the insertion angle to get the cannula in at the right level. I rarely get bruising (I often did with injections) and I use neat lavender oil to help heal the marks left by removing the cannulas. I've only once had a "bleeder" in over 2 years of using my thighs (though it was a corker & bled profusely for a good few minutes!)

I'd say, give your thigh a try, just be prepared to bolus a little earlier before your meal than you do currently.
 
Hi,

Very interesting. Is it not awkward to have the tube down your trouser leg? i know it's not exactly near your ankle, but it feels weird as it is having it in my back!

I may give it a try, i bolus just before i eat so will be weary of the need to bolus earlier, thanks for the tip!
 
I don't really notice the tubing down my leg, but I do find it useful that, with the cannula in my thigh the tubing is long enough that in winter I often pop the pump in my boot (slouchy types) or clip it to my boot (ankle boots) under my trousers, it's nice & discreet that way & easy enough to get at at lunch time. Practically, even with the pump clipped to your waist band, when you go to the loo and pull your trousers down, there's no danger of the tubing being too short as it can be with the cannula in your tummy (apologies if that's TMI!)

I usually try to get my bolus at least 15 mins before eating, but I don't worry if I'm out & can't do it until the food arrives & I know what's on the plate.

Good luck.
 
Ooooh, now there's an idea! the pump tucked into the boot! how long is your tubing?

I'm due a change tomorrow so i think i'm convinced enough to tackle the leg.

Also i thought thoroughly about my tubing length because of that very reason, must be long enough for me to safely use the loo! :lol:
 
My tubing is 80 cm. My inside leg about 30" (75 cm) so plenty of length from my thigh to boot, but not from tummy to boot. The thigh is certainly better for me.
 
Hi All
I have been reading your comments on the Pump and insertion of the canula, I have had type 1 diabetes for 50 years and am just about to go onto a accu-chek combo pump in the next few weeks.
I have always injected in my tummy and sometimes I can inject up to 10 injections a day, I am a fairly large guy (fat) but looking at your comments about putting the canula in the legs, bum etc shows you in the manual but only if you have to, they do prefer tummy areas? I have no experience in canula,s yet but when I get my pump I can add my comments to the forum.
If you go to www.palingswickhouse.co.uk and look for Kevin Baum you will read a bit about my life history of diabetes and see how large I am. I can say I find this web site very interesting.
Look forward to hearing your comments

Kev
 
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