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Pumps from other peoples perspective's??

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Location
Northampton
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
Hi

I got asked the other day what the gadget was on my arm (my pump!), I told them it was an electronic tag for women!!!!! Couldn't help myself laughing afterwards....and still laughing.

I was asked by a total stranger, and it was the first thing I could think of!! Didn't want to go in to details...so just span a total off the cuff response!!-It completely shut the stranger up!!!

Anybody got any other ideas on what I could say it was next time some one asks??? (Normally in wet welsh winters, nobody sees it, but being that we have the equvalent of a heat wave here, then being in vest tshirts, I know more people will ask..have thought about it being a camera to catch people that don't clear up their dog mess, but think that is asking for trouble....
 
I would simply say it's an insulin pump because Jess has type 1 diabetes. If the person wants to know more then I'd take it as an opportunity to explain about type 1 and how a pump works and that it's a better alternative to injections. I guess it depends what sort of response you're comfortale with, I know not everyone wants to tell a stranger about their medical condition. Jess' pump is very discreet because she wears it around her tummy usually with her t-shirt covering it. Usually it's her test meter that people ask about and she will happily tell them that she has diabetes and is testing her blood sugar to make sure it's not too high or low. Usually a quick simple response is enough for most people, it's usually children who ask.
 
I'm sure we could come up with loads of funny responses for people, has anyone seen or read the book/film my sisters keeper?

The lawyer in the book has epilepsy and has a epilipsy dog, and when people ask he says things like 'i have an iron lung and he steers me away from magnets' which i thought was pretty funny!

but on a serious note, my nephew noticed my pump for the first time the other week, and he asked me what it was. (he already asked when i was injecting previously and i simply said i have diabetes which means one of my insides doesn't work like yours does so i give myself injections so i can eat just like you do) he's only six and to be honest looked rather scared when he saw it for the first time!

When he asked about the pump, i asked him if he remembered why i said i injected medicine, and he did. So i explained that instead of injections i use the pump and it does it for me instead.

When he's older i'll explain in more detail but i think for now he's happy with that as his reply was 'oh then that's much better isn't it, do you want a sweet now?' (followed with a little pat on my pump :lol:)he's such a little cutie.:)

I haven't had any stranger, child or adult as what my pump is, like jess i keep mine in my pocket or on a strap around my stomach under a t-shirt. I'm sure people may have noticed when i take it out to check the units or set a temp basal rate, but nobody's been brave enough to ask yet :)
 
Funniest thing was that this man, gave me a full history (married 3 times, tried to commit suicide after 3rd wife, liver transplant 13 years ago, loved his dog, and given up women)-and then he says I am extrememly fit and sexy and would marry me!!!!!! (Not just once, but twice!!!)

I only ended up speaking to him, as my old golden retriever stops everybody by sitting on their feet and refuses to move unless she gets a stroke!!!!! Within 20 minutes I had a full life history and a proposal!!!! (At least the dog was happy-had a real lovely stroke from him!).

Even after telling him I had an electronic tag designed especially for women, he thought I was worth marrying!!!!! (I was in a swimming costume and shorts!!!)-something about the welsh weather that when the sun comes out I have to make the most of it!!!

I felt I looked like cr*p, walking with a walking stick and pump and white legs!!! When I went out this weekend in our front garden with just my swimming costume on-hubby told me that perhaps I ought to cover up!!!!!!! Think I will say the pump is a 'real' man detector!!!!!!
 
Yes, I've read My Sister's Keeper and watched the movie too. I had forgotten about the assitance dog and his explanations, that was funny :)

donnellysdogs, we're getting a golden retriever puppy in a little over two weeks time. They're lovely dogs and yours sounds typical of their nature - loveable cuddlies :)
 
Sophia

One piece of advice for getting a Golden Retriever-get good health insurance that pays out for life-not just for one year.....
Freya was 5 when we got her. She is 14 now and is absolutely the most beautiful physical and natured girlie, however, she has had one £4000 back leg replacement, a £600 op where she nearly died due to a corn on the cob (don't know where she got it from) which got stuck in her bowel-it was whole!!!!, for the last 4 years she has also had diabetes insipidis. She has also had cauliflower ears, last visit was a tooth to be taken out. She loves the vet's, and prior to moving to Gods Country!!!-she was having operations on a regular 6 monthly basis-she is absolutely gorgeous though, and the most beautiful tempered dog I have ever known...I even had to teach her to bark!!!

She has been very, very expensive as our insurance (from the people that advertise with a red phone)-only pay for the first year of the illness-not for life of the dog (we didn't realise this when we took it out). Our monthly vet bill for our 2dogs curently is £320!!! Might be more when I go on Thursday!!!

I am so envious of you getting a retriever, they are so gorgeous and lovely...so, so envious....we have been very lucky with our Freya.
 
Wow, she is an expensive dog! :D We'll be getting Petplan cover for her, we have it for our cat too. I know it's a little more than some others but they cover for life which I think is well worth it, as you know. I actually tried to get a quote today for her but they will only quote from 6 weeks onwards, she's 6 weeks old on Thursday so I'll go back online then to get it all arranged.
 
One of my wolfhounds had to have a hysterectomy which cost nearly £500 - fortunately she was insured. It just goes to show how much the NHS saves us, for all its failings.

DD, the man who proposed to you can't have been all bad if he gives a dog good strokes! I usually trust a dog's judgement.

Viv 8)
 
Everybody with our goldie, believes they are special when she stops them for a stroke. They don't realise she does it to EVERY single person!!!!! My walks are elongated with the time spent trying to get her to move away from people that don't want to stroke her!!! Even when she sees the postman across the road, she sits down on the kerb looking and pulling to go across to him-nowadays, he just comes across and gives her a stroke so that I can continue on my walk!!!!!
There is a young girl that comes out of her house everyday around the time of our walk, and she sits there at the driveway waiting for her now-school holidays are here-and I have to wait 5 minutes with golde waiting by the gate for her stroke, that she isn't going to get-because young girl isn't going to school....embarassing....

Amazing at the people you meet and speak to with a dog, got to say it is the first one I have had proposing!!!!!!
 
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