peeling pump tape

[Hollyb]

Hi everyone,

Well Aaron has been pumping for just over a week now and things are going pretty well. He's definitely liking it a lot, and though we're still fiddling with his doses his numbers are looking very nice.

The only real problem we've run into is two infusion sets out of three have started peeling at the edges before his three days are up. I slapped a Tegaderm patch over this last one to hold it together over the final night but I don't really know what I'm doing. I gather some people have no trouble with the tape lifting, while others use Mastisol or Tegaderm (both on the skin and over the set?). I'm looking ahead to summer and swim season...

Do you have this problem? What works best for you or your child? Do some sets have better adhesive than others? He's using the Comfort Shorts right now, and is going to try a Quick-set next change.

Holly

[faithe113001]

I've been pumping for 3 1/2 years now, and whenever I have a problem with my tape peeling, I put on an IV 3000 by Smith and Nephew. You have to cut a hole in it for the set, but other than that it's great. It moves well with your skin, sticks well, but isn't hard to pull off when that time comes. You say you have quicksets, so are you on the Paradigm? If so, you can get this tape right from Minimed. I really don't know if some sets have better tape than others, since all I've ever used is the quicksets. Glad your pumping experience has been good so far!

[Cheryl]

Holly,
We also use the IV3000. After applying the clear dressing, which does move with the skin well, we insert the infusion set right through the IV3000 without any difficulty. You could also try an adhesive you apply to the skin first...my son blistered from the adhesive but no reaction to the IV3000.

[Hollyb]

So one of you puts it over the set, and the other one under it?

[Ellen]

Are you using any topical numbing cream? If so, you must wash it off thoroughly with soap and water, rinse well and pat dry before inserting the infusion set.

My son washes the skin with a non-oily soap , rinses well, pats dry. He puts a tegaderm down on the clean, dry skin and then inserts through the tegaderm. This has worked well for years for him.

Others find Mastisol to be an excellent product to make the tape stick. http://www.ferndalelabs.com/images/spacer.gif

[munchkingirl]

I had the problem with the tape too the first few days I was pumping.

As the others had said try using the IV3000 - yes, some put it under the set - the set just pokes right through, no problem. others cut a hole in it and put it over the set. It works VERY well both ways.

Also, my pump nurse told me about this other stuff : "Tincture of Benzoin" its a fairly cheep over-the-counter stuff and you just rub that stuff in a circle around the where the site is going to be, leaving a hole for the actual needle, and it works like magic for the sticking! I use that and its been amazing for me.

[Rob]

all i use is an IV prep swab, leaves somewhat a sticky residue behind when it dries. also make sure the site you are going into is reletativly in a neutral state. for example when i'm putting them in my abdomon, i'l make sure i'm standing otherwise as soon as i stand up and stretch i can feel it starting to pull off at the edges. other than that, the cleener the better. right after a shower or bath is the perfect time, makes sure there is as little dirt and dead skin to take up valuble glue space as possible.

[Hollyb]

Thanks,

Maybe it's because he's a busy kid (basketball season now -- lots of bending and stretching) or something about his skin but the IV prep isn't that much help and Tegaderm -- well it helps because it peels before the set tape does and seems to take about three days to get to the edge of the patch, but peeled up bits of Tegaderm are annoying too, and it pretty much came right off in the pool. Our Animas rep just sent us some Skin tac, though, and that seems to do the trick pretty well. But he has to make sure not to get his fingers sticky or they stick to the patch as he puts it in!

Thanks everyone for sharing your methods.