Programing pump

[Momof4gr8kids]

So the last few days I have been going through old threads about pumping, reading pumping books, and I watched the DVD that came with our pump. I watched the DVD first thing, paused it, and decided to play with the pump while I watched as I am a hands on learner, and thought it would be good expirience, even if I didn't get it right we could reprogram at pump start.

Anyways, I have seen several people say that they were told not to do anything, but set the time, and date.

1. How much trouble am I in?

2. Why are we not allowed to play with settings before connecting?

[wendyc]

1. How much trouble am I in?
Oh honey, you stepped in it big time! You are in Sooooooooooo much trouble!
Sorry, I'm playing with you:)
I did the same thing, I need to learn by doing. Just make sure to tell the trainer what you did so that they can just check everything over. For example if you programed a basal from 3-5pm of 0.500, and your endo's orders called for 0.100, then that is definitely something that needs to be adjusted.

2. Why are we not allowed to play with settings before connecting?
Pretty much for what I explained above.
Don't worry you can't screw it up. Just double check everything.

Happy pumping:)

[Momof4gr8kids]

Thanks Wendy,
That makes me feel alot better about it. I will make sure to let them know I reset most of it, I figured it would probably need to be changed when we did our start, but like you I needed to play with it so I knew what I was doing a little more. I guess some of us are just like that, lol.

[jeep_bluetj]

Anyways, I have seen several people say that they were told not to do anything, but set the time, and date.

1. How much trouble am I in?

You do realize, young lady, that this is going on your permanent record? This is a serious infraction of the rules, and must be dealt with.


2. Why are we not allowed to play with settings before connecting?

Maybe Dr. Killjoy? Goodgolly, I've no idea. It's not like a pump is explosive or something. I've got NO idea why "don't play with it" is the standard direction. What else am I supposed to do with it? Look at it for hours? Sheesh. Luckily we were encouraged to play with it, I had basals set, max bolus set, fired a bunch of boluses off, etc.

[Momof4gr8kids]

Thanks Jeff, I am glad I am not the only one. I was never told not to touch it, so hopefully it wont land me in the dog house ;) If I didn't set it up how the endo wants, like if he wants to go easier on the basal, or a little more heavy, all we have to do is change the settings :D

[EmmasMom]

That's funny!!!:)

Our pump actually came in "training mode" so you could do anything you wanted to it and play with all the settings. You're supposed to go through the entire training manual and try everything out on the pump. Once you rewind for the first time it became "live" and then the settings and such were saved, but hands on playing was highly encouraged!

I could never sit with a new D gadget in the house and not touch it!!! It would make me insane!:p
When our new pump and sensors arrived today I had everything set up and ready to go in a couple of hours. I had specific instructions from MM not to use a sensor until I was contacted by the trainer, but I've used them before, and I can figure out the new pump on my own, (it's not that different). I did the online training, read all of the manuals twice and hooked her up this evening. Woo hoo!
I did contact my rep who is actually a pretty good friend now, I wanted to make sure I couldn't get into trouble by starting on my own, and wanted any tips she could offer. She told me she wants to hire me to do pump training... so take that MM!!;)

[Momof4gr8kids]

Good for you Amy!!! :D I am sure I can do this, but I always think it is nice to go through and play with things. Our pump doesn't have a training mode, but all of the settings that I changed were either blank, or settings that would not have worked for us at all, like a SF of 50! Ours is 100.

So, are you going to take your rep up on the offer? You would be good at it. I have thought about going back to school to be a diatician. Maybe someday.....

[jeep_bluetj]

And I've thought about being a CDE.
My endo once asked if I would teach new Dx's. I said sure - but nothing ever came of it. Unfortunately, engineering pays better than CDE, so I'm stuck writing software. I also think Amy would be good at it. (I keep using her/Emma as examples in some of my posts... Sorry..)

Jamie: You really can't mess up the settings - they're pretty easy to understand, and from your posts I get the feeling you know what they all are.
We set basal flat based on our lantus dose. Ended up being off by about .5u per day, so we were real close. I was arguing with our CDE, 'cause she wanted a much lower dose. (She's great though, don't get me wrong.. I really, really like her). I just figgered basal==basal and nobody could give me a reason it wasn't.

Guilty Admission: Our permanent record shows we blew off some of the saline part, and went right to I -- without permission from the office. Wow.. Good thing we snuck that trough. :)

GL with pumping.

[Momof4gr8kids]

Thanks Jeff, I do somewhat have a clue. I have been swimming in pump information for a few months. I read a few books on pumping pre choice to pump, and reread them recently to make sure I didn't miss anything. I am sure I will get even more books on the subject :D I am nerotic. We also did a saline before we chose which pump. Part of me knows I can do this, and wants to pass on the second saline, but the other part of me is scared I am going to mess up, freeze, and forget, something along that line, and I also want to get the teacher, and school nurse familiar with it before it is filled with insulin. I think now that I have it programmed I might take it to school this week, and get started training. Our school nurse is almost as excited as I am. She just loves Julia! If I get in "trouble" I get in trouble. Oh well. It can't be malpractice or anything. It isn't hooked up to anyone. Worst case I get known for doing things on my own, and that isn't a bad thing. I think I already am kinda in the dog house with the endo anyways. I don't notify of every dose change I make because it changes what seems like every two weeks, and they are always suprised that her dose isn't what it was. I am sure after I no longer need to call in numbers on the pump I will make dose changes again without calling. It is just me. Sounds like I am not the only one ;)