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Sick Leave or Not Bother...?

**shell**

**shell**

Well-Known Member
Messages
116
Location
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Insects, ignorance, horror films.
Hi,
I'm just looking for some advice, I eventually (after 5 years of asking) got my very sexy pink Medtronic MiniMed on Monday (08.09.2014) and I'm currently just running saline through it to practice using the settings etc but I am due to go live on Tuesday coming with insulin. I've read a few times whilst staring longingly at users responses to pumps etc that people really struggled the first few days as they were consumed by testing etc and never had much time for anything else. Do people recommended taking a couple of days off to make sure things are under control and give yourself time to imerse yourself in all things diabetes or is it best to try and get on with your day-to-day life straight away to avoid any decisions you might make that don't reflect your usual daily routine.
I would love to hear how people coped, I understand it all varies from person to person but I'm a bit concerned about coming into work and not feeling great and also not giving myself the one oppuritnity to throw myself into getting the hang of things and making the most of it. Then again I have taken to the pump very well and dont want to take unnecessary time off work.

Thanks,
Michelle
x
 
I am getting a nice blue one in November.
In all the leaflets my clinic gave me it was recommended that I take a week off work when I go on the pump due to it being a lot of work.
I have to test every 2 hours for the first 48 hours when I go on it.
Hopefully some people who have already started a pump will be along with more advice on their experiences and I hope it all goes well for you.
 
I've now been on the pump for 4 years and my DSN advised me to take the first week off work. Testing through the day would have been awkward for me but what would have affected me more was the testing at night and the basal testing. I was so thankful that I was given sick leave for that first week because it was hard work.

It's well worth it - I feel so much more in control now!
Good luck
 
Hi **shell**

Pump approval very exciting indeed I've been on mine since may and what a difference to my life :) I took the first couple of days off work to get the night time testing etc out the way but found it easier to check things were set up for my daily routine than for sitting in the house,you will need to set it up for your routine anyway so might as well getting out the road and get comfortable with your pump. I did find it much easier telling my boss / work colleagues before hand so that testing a couple of minutes here and there wasn't going to inconvenience them another thing I would say is ensure you have enough test strips on repeat in your possession I had an issue with my GP not wanting to give me a prescription at all because I was using too many strips

Good luck and let us know how you are getting on

Danae
 
My clinic advised me to take a week off work and we weren't allowed to drive a car for the first few days either. I'm glad of this advice as my BG was horrendous whilst we got the basal right.
 
We weren't given this advice so I was off to work the next day. Tested regularly in work but in an office job so it didn't pose a problem. I recall being a bit exhausted by it all because of night testing but again I worked flexi so I started later that week. Also recall starting the pump on a Thursday so had the weekend off - that's good and bad as I didn't have my DSN at the end of a phone if I needed her. There is something to be said about getting the pump going in normal circumstances ASAP but I do understand that it can be quite overwhelming and all-consuming for the first few weeks/months. All the best. As you're using it with saline to begin you'll be used to the screens and buttons so that's a big help too.
 
So what happens if you are self employed and have livestock to feed and water? Do you give them the week off from eating and drinking?
All I did was make sure I had a good supply of quick acting carbs and tested every hour on the hour. It wasn't a problem.
 
To be fair in an ideal world you'd want everyone's first week to be as calm and stress free as possible to give people the best possible chance to get used to it and 'like' it quicker. I think that a nightmare start can be very scary and put people off. So whilst I see where your're coming from Carbs Rocks I say if you can have a bit of 'me' time in that first week then go for it be it signing off or annual leave - that's a personal decision.
 
I was advised to take a week off work when starting the pump and told that I should not drive during that week also! Will make going back to work tough though as I'll feel like I'm going back to square one again after a week as my insulin requirements in work are much different!
 
Thanks for all of your opinions.
I think I will speak to my nurse when I see her tomorrow. I have already mentioned the possiblity of needing some time off to my office manager, she didnt seem very fond of that possibility but I suppose what can I do.
I'm surprised at the every 2 hour testing thing - even through the night! I didnt know that would have to be done! I test pre and post meals anyway so I suppose it wont be anything new for me to grasp for a week or so.
Once again thanks for the replies :)
 
I took time off as advised by hospital. It did not count as "sick leave". It went through HR as DAL(disability adjustment leave). Was given a letter from hospital that explained the pump therapy to my work and they were happy to give me the time off. I was almost 60 when got the pump at end of May and I definitely needed the time off as was testing every 2 hours day and night. Took a while to get ratios and rates sorted. All well now though and I would not go back to injections
 
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