Started Pumping!!!

[Chase's mom]

My son started pumping yesterday we had a class for like 4 hours. THen it was time to connect:eek: My son actually did everything himself all I did was watch him. He said it didn't hurt that much and seemed to be ok. Well after we left we went home and it was time for dinner. We were all excited not to have to get a shot so he Bolused hisself and Bam there it goes. The nurse said to watch it deliver to 0.3 and the put back in pocket. so we did and chase said mom this keeps vibrating. So I look at it and NO DELIVERY GOING ACROSSS SCREEN. Great so now what?? So I call MM and they said to do a site change and asked what kinda set did we have it is the Quick set, So Chase changed the site and it hurt so bad he said and it just wouldn't go away, we figure that it was in a muscle and so we had to disconnect and go back on shots last night.THey are sending out the silohettes maybe better luck with these.

[mischloss]

Poor thing. Sorry to hear all this. We use the 6mm 90 degree insets, and we had issues with it hurting and getting a muscle as well when we first started pumping. If you son is lean (as mine is) there are limited areas of fat to stick the infusion set in. Be sure to get the shorter cannulas and not the longer ones. We preferred the 90 degree straight in set and not the angled ones.

Also, for the tummy be sure you child is standing up or at least sitting up. Not lying down. We found out that the infusion set goes deeper when lying down and that could hurt a lot more.

Conversely, if you are going to use the top of the tush for insertion, then lying down on the tummy with tush up is the best for placing the set in. The muscles I was told in the tush should be relaxed and that is achieved by not standing up.

Be sure to ice down or use some sort of cream for numbing. We don't and never have. My son pops it in, it stings for about 5 minutes and then subsides. IF the sting continues for longer than we know we hit a bad site.

Also, with no delivery, I would try to reprime (disconnect from child first!) and see if that helps to fix the tubing/delivery issue. Sometimes a simple disconnect/reprime and reconnect does wonders.
Hope this helps.

[Carrie]

We're only about three weeks into pumping, but I was thinking the same thing...reprime or open a new infusion set and use that tubing to see if maybe it was defective tubing. If the BG hung high, THEN I would consider changing the site. Thinking back, I think we had that same message. I was bound and determined that I wasn't going to poke her again. :eek:

[EmmasMom]

I guess I've been lucky so far, but we've never had an error message on Emma's pump. Weird.
I agree with the others, I would just disconnect and re-prime before trying a new set if it happens again. I'm sorry it's been a rough start for you guys.:( It seems like their have been a lot of rough pump starts around here lately. I wish I could spend a week with all new pumpers and help w/ all the new stuff and night testing. Well maybe not the night testing part... LOL.;) Maybe someday they'll send everyone home with a "pump nurse" for a week. How great would that be!?

I hope things get easier quickly!

[Carrie]

The insurance company probably wouldn't pay for her to stay that long!!! :D

[TaeandTiff]

We are having a rough start too; alot of highs, ketones, site changes, I cant wait for the "better" to come:(

[Carrie]

We had a lot of highs and ketones too the first couple of days. Hers ended up being a matter of changing her card to insulin ratio and uping her basal rate. HUGE difference!

[Chase's mom]

Just an update, I spoke with the nurse yesterday and she and MM had spoken and decided that we should try SURE-T infusion sets, Has anyone here used these? And they also recommended that we hold off until next wednesday to start pumping again.:(

[EmmasMom]

I haven't used them, but I think it's a good idea if you're having trouble. The cannula is steel, so you don't have to worry about kinks.
Are his cannulas coming out kinked?

[Chase's mom]

No they seem to be fine, I'm not sure why it's so painful for him. THe 1st insertion wasn't that bad but wouldn't deliver, the second one was so painful even after 20 minutes we had to remove it but we did Bolus 1 unit before we did and it deliverd fine. I'm not sure how a steel canula is not going to hurt more than a plastic one????

[Kris60]

we use the mm 522 and the 6mm quick sets. We use the quick serter too. Lauren doesn't have much cushion there either, and we've had a couple painful sites too. It happens, and I feel so bad for having to do another poke.
One thing I have her do is 'be fat' push her belly out a bit, because the sticky tape tends to pull on those itty bitty hairs, and it's like instant death for her :p. We've also been using her inner thighs, and she says she can't feel a thing going in there. Maybe try an alternative location for now?
Hang in there it will get better

[kiwikid]

We use the Rapid D which I believe is just like the Sure T - a metal needle which stays in.

WE LOVE THEM!!!!!!:D

Good Luck!

[mom23boys]

Kathy,

I am sorry to hear about your trials. Christian had his pump hooked up yesterday, but they want us to do a saline run for a week. Did you have to do that with Chase. Plus our nurse prac is out of town so I am really just tempted to take off the pump and start after the holidays. I feel clueless with the pump and have so many questions, but hate to bother everyone during the holidays. Good luck with Chase keep us updated.

Terri, wife to Tony 17 yrs
Christian 12, dx'd 4-06 MDI, starting pump MM
Gunner 10 and Micah 6

[Chase's mom]

Hi Terri, I thought we were going to have saline at first but they decided to go ahead and start with the insulin,I think that is a big problem cause we really didn't know how to do anything but Bolus. We didn't know how to trouble shoot like what if it doesn't deliver the insulin. I think it's best to wait until after the holidays cause there is so much that can go wrong we need someone that can help now not 3 days later. I will say that MM has been really good about trying to help us. BUt you just feel so helpless when it's just you and the pump and your kid is looking at you and asking what should they do.Good luck to you on your start.WE are supposed to try again wednesday after christmas. With the silohette or the sure-t sets.

[mom23boys]

Hey Kathy,

So glad to chat with someone in the same boat as us. Christian is also going to wait. We are scheduled for Jan 2 for the insulin hookup. He is going to wear it a few more days with saline to get used to it. We will take it off for Christmas. It was quite hilarious today with the whole family trying to figure this thing out while we were doing his first hookup on our own. My son has it all down pretty good, but I feel clueless as far as operating the pump.

I even got a tear in my eye today as I thought about him now wearing a pump the rest of his life. This will be his last Christmas without being attached.

Good luck, keep me informed on how things are going with Chase.

Terri

Christian 12, dx'd 4-06
Gunner 10 and Micah 6