Thinking of switching to MDI for an all day waterpark day

[BrendaK]

I'm sure there have been lots of posts about this, but I wanted to get some thoughts.

We're going to a waterpark for the entire day tomorrow and we're thinking of leaving the pump at home and switching to MDI just for the day. Has anyone had experience with this?

One reason we're thinking about it is because we don't know what to do with the pump at the waterpark. I'm mostly worried about it getting stolen. I don't want to put it in a locker -- it would fry the insulin, even in a cooler!! I can put it in a cooler and have it with me but what do we do with it when our whole family wants to go in the wave pool or waterslides together?

The endo says that when you switch to lantus from a pump, you give about 1 unit more lantus than your total daily basal rate. Should I do this, or is there more risk of lows later at night?

If I give the lantus at 7am, do I hook him back up at 7am the next morning, or does it take longer for lantus to wear off?

I just don't want to worry about a site coming off (which it is sure to at the waterpark) or that he's not getting any insulin and making ketones at the waterpark. If it was only for a couple of hours, I'd just disconnect, but we want to go the whole day...

Any experience with this??

[selketine]

We use Skin tac and the sets do *not* come off - even in the water all day long. That stuff is like super glue and we use unisolve to get it off. I realize you might not be able to find skintac by tomorrow - but FYI for the future. I would think if you put the pump in a small cooler wrapped up and then with ice packs around it it would be fine. You could also get fresh ice to put in baggies and change those out periodically to keep it cool. I would suggest going "untethered" if you could find the skin tac to keep the set on.

I can't help with the MDI suggestion - not tried it since he started pumping 4 yrs. ago. Have fun though!

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

We've done the waterpark thing several times. Finding a home for the pump sounds a lot easier than hauling around syringes, insulin, alcohol wipes, and finding a spot to dispose of the syringes. (no offense MDI users- this is just my opinion)
We had several people around, so we didn't have to worry about leaving the pump unattended. I would call the waterpark and see if the First Aid Station would store the pump for you or have a suggestion for you.
It never hurts to try new things either- for future situations. If you do try the extra unit of Lantus, let me know how it works out!
Good luck and have fun!!:D

[twodoor2]

The endo says that when you switch to lantus from a pump, you give about 1 unit more lantus than your total daily basal rate. Should I do this, or is there more risk of lows later at night

I've heard the opposite, you give less Lantus than the pump, but I could be wrong. I did a small trend analysis here on Lantus and collected many people's Lantus doses per their weight, and the smallest amount of Lantus an individual gets corresponds to about 10% of their body weight, so if they weigh 57 pounds, then 5 units is a good starting dose. Not sure if this would work for your son, but I think what the endo is offering may be dangerous if it's substantially greater than 10% of his body weight.

Some others might want to chime in on this as well. I could be wrong.

[Amy C.]

In my experience, Philip's basal went down about 4 units when he was on the pump. Now, it is 8 units less than when he was on Lantus. For one day, using the same amount of Lantus as basal won't hurt as the child will be active.

[Nancy in VA]

I'm not sure I'd use Lantus if it was just one day. The insulin needs are going to be a LOT less because of all of the activity. I think I'd just use fast-acting and test often and just correct if there is actually a need - then restart the basal when you reattach the pump at the end of the day. I think you'll be surprised. If you use Lantus, I'd be afraid you'd be chasing lows all day

[BrendaK]

I think I'll call the First Aid Station and see what they suggest. If I keep the pump there, then we'd have to get it from them every time we have a snack (unless he's low) and I want to know their location in relationship to where we'll be.

I think I'm mainly concerned about it being stolen. We would take a pen cartridge of insulin with us and syringes and keep it with our bag of sunscreen and stuff. We'd keep the cartridge in ice, of course. If that got stolen, not a big deal. But if the pump was stolen, that would be BAD!!!

It will only be our family, so there will not always be someone to man our stuff at the chairs. (We're putting wallets and stuff in a locker...)

From previous experience, Carson does use more lantus than his total daily basal rate on the pump. Probably even more than one unit. When Carson started pumping 3 1/2 years ago he was taking 7 units of lantus. And now he's only on 8 units of total daily basal on the pump. When his pump broke last year for a day we had to go to lantus and I just gave the same amount of basal with lantus and he ran high most of the time.

I'll let you know what we decide to do. I'm still completely undecided. :rolleyes:

[zell828]

I'm not sure I'd use Lantus if it was just one day. The insulin needs are going to be a LOT less because of all of the activity. I think I'd just use fast-acting and test often and just correct if there is actually a need - then restart the basal when you reattach the pump at the end of the day. I think you'll be surprised. If you use Lantus, I'd be afraid you'd be chasing lows all day

I think I would have to agree with this. I don't see why you would have to bother with Lantus since it is just one day either. I would just stick with the fast acting. If your son has results like my SD does with swimming (she drops fast) then the less insulin, the better.

[BrendaK]

I just got off the phone with First Aid at the waterpark -- VERY nice people. They will keep the pump for us and we can come and get it whenever we need it. I think that's what we'll do -- it's right across from the kids play area where we'll be at most of the time, very convienent.

So my question is -- do I have them store the whole pump in the refrigerator? I've never put the pump in the fridge before :rolleyes:. Is that okay?

[dngtrumps]

When we went to Blizzard Beach in WDW 3 weeks ago, I had my son disconnect the pump and I put it in a Frio wallet to keep it cool. Not sure what park you're going to; for us security wasn't a big issue. We just left the pump in our beach bag along with our camera, test kit, etc.

I did test him every 90 minutes, reconnected for lunch, and finally toward the end of the day, left him connected and go in the water with it. He wears a pump pouch and we use the Animas which is waterproof. I had doubled his skintac before we left for the day.

So he was disconnected from 10-1, 1:30-2:30, and reconnected from 2:30 to 4:30 in the water. Pump stayed cool in Frio wallet.

I understand the stress involved in planning a fun water-related day for a pumper. Relax and have fun. Just takes a little more planning and testing.

Dawn

[Lee]

good question about the fridge??? I would just have them leave the whole thing out since it is probably AC in there anyway!

I was just getting ready to post that I don't think 1 day of Lantus would be good since it does stay in the body for 3 days - even minimally...you would be looking at chasing #'s for 3 days instead of just 1.

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

So my question is -- do I have them store the whole pump in the refrigerator? I've never put the pump in the fridge before :rolleyes:. Is that okay?

This is just my opinion...
When Abby is wearing the pump, outside playing, softball game or what not it's covered up by her shirt and that's it. I don't think I would go for the frig, but that's just me and my opinion. For sure out of the sun, and out of sight. I'm a little hesitant of the frig... do you have a frio bag to store it in? Maybe in your own cooler?

[WestinsMom]

If it were me I would just correct with shots throughout the day ***SHRUG*** Just seems easiest. Let us know how it goes! Is Carson out of school yet? (I want to say you said the 9th but I can't remember) :)

[BrendaK]

I think I need to get a frio bag :D. This is the first time we have ever lived even remotely near a water park and now we have season passes!! (Season passes are for Great America that includes the waterpark.) So need to get used to the waterpark thing because we'll be going there a lot.

I think for tomorrow I'll just put the pump in some ice packs and let first aid take it -- it will at least be out of the direct sun. I don't want it in the fridge either!!

I'm really really nervous about it being stolen -- when we moved here our car got broken into at the hotel right across the street from the park. Windows smashed in and everything in front of the main entrance to a very nice hotel and the car was right under a huge light. So I guess that's why I'm nervous!!

Now I need to go buy snacks and suncreen :). It's suppossed to be almost 90 here tomorrow!!

Thanks so much for talking me through all of this. I think it will be fine. We have been to Great Wolf Lodge a few times. It's indoors, though. And we only played for 2-3 hours at a time. So this is a different experience.

Don't think I'll do lantus! Thanks for talking me out of that idea ;)

[selketine]

I would never leave the pump in my bag or cooler at my chair unattended. You are really taking a huge risk doing that no matter how safe the place seems to be. Someone could think it is an Ipod, etc. I think you are right in being cautious.

Even if you store it at First Aid you'd still have the problem of the sets coming off right?

[BrendaK]

We might have a site issue, but I'll just bring some syringes, too. Since the pump will be disconnected all day, I'll just give insulin through a syringe if I have to, then do a site change when we get home. I do have the site taped over today with IV3000 -- he has a field day ALL day at school today in the very hot weather (bs has been great though!) So I'll see how the site has weathered the massive amount of sweat today.....and maybe it will be okay tomorrow.

[Sari]

We went to Sesame place this weekend and what we decided to do was put the pump in a tupperware. It was sealed tightly and when we needed to take it off, we put the pump in the tupperware and carried it with us on the ride. IF we happened to drop it, it floats!

I know, you probably all think we are nuts for doing that, but seriously, for us it worked like a charm. It was there when we needed it and no walking back and forth to the locker or first aid station for it. Stayed on him while we were on line and came off just before taking the plunge.

I want to talk to tupperware about making on with a handle! :)

[tiffanie1717]

We went to Sesame place this weekend and what we decided to do was put the pump in a tupperware. It was sealed tightly and when we needed to take it off, we put the pump in the tupperware and carried it with us on the ride. IF we happened to drop it, it floats!

I know, you probably all think we are nuts for doing that, but seriously, for us it worked like a charm. It was there when we needed it and no walking back and forth to the locker or first aid station for it. Stayed on him while we were on line and came off just before taking the plunge.

I want to talk to tupperware about making on with a handle! :)

Oh my gosh, that is a really good idea! You stand in line for so long on those rides anyway that it could be attached for all that time and then unattached for the actual ride. Very good thinking! :) I'll save that for when Kylie has a pump (and will actually go on a water ride! :) lol)

[BrendaK]

That is a really good idea! I have a ton of Lock and Lock tupperwear -- it is airtight AND watertight!!

I think for tomorrow I'll just use the first aid, though because I don't want to leave the pump in my beach bag while we're in the pool. I would definitely use it for the rides, though!!

[bz'smom]

We went to Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA last year, and we are going again this year. We took a container (one that is plastic that is made for storing CD's in) I put Brandon's pump, meter, and snacks in that, and we put it in the First Aid office. They had a/c, and I also had a Frio bag so his pump was nice and cool.

We sometimes split up (DH would take Brandon & I would take Bri or the other way around) then we all knew where his supplies were in case of a low. We use skin-tac, and had no problem with his sites coming off, even on the 3rd day.

We were really hesitant about the whole pump thing and lows, but our CDE said she would really be surprised if he would go low with all the excitment. He only had 1 low in the 3 days that we were there. We tested every hour or so, and his numbers were perfect.

Good luck & have fun!!

[jendean]

I'd just take the pump off, check often, bolus when you need to and bring a few sites in case.
The site should stay on either way.
BUT here is one tip for swimming that we do at camp.
Put a site in. Cut a slightly smaller than dime sized hole in the middle of a tegaderm before removing the backing.
Then put the tegaderm OVER the site, with the infusion set DISCONNECTED, so that the tegaderm is a reinforcer, and the site may be connected off and on as often as you need.
With all the activity I would be willing to bet that sugars stay in good range. :)

[BrendaK]

We had a really great time today! That tupperware idea was so great! We ended up leaving the pump at the nicely air conditioned first aid station. The kids play area was right next to it, so we parked there and only had to walk across the sidewalk for the pump.

I ended up putting the meter, lancet and glucotabs in a lock and lock container. They are used like tupperware, but they are water and air tight and won't pop open if dropped. And we carried it with us everywhere. They even let me take it down the waterslide! I was worried Carson would go low waiting in line for the slides, so I always wanted the meter and tab on me and it worked out great.

Site stayed on fine, too. We just taped over it with IV3000 (which is like tegaderm). We were there over 4 hours (not as long as planned -- got out before it stormed), and blood sugars were fine -- a little high even. I didn't bolus quite enough for lunch.

Thanks so much for all the advice!

[WestinsMom]

Yeah, I am glad you had a nice time! So, what kind of weather doing we have heading this way? :)