Ok to go oversea travel 1 week after getting pump?

[gardencream]

After hearing all the possitives about pumping on the forum, my daughter(in college) finally agrees to change to pumping. She is trying to change to pumping from MDI this summer but doesn't really have the time because of summer school/out of town volunteer work/family vacation. We are going to Asia in late July and am wondering if she can get it just before the trip( that is 1 week before). Advisable??? if this is not good enough, what about 2 weeks? We really like to get it before the big trip because it should make the trip more enjoyable. Comments?

[MrsBadshoe]

I don't know how long you are traveling for but it has been my experience with 2 pumpers in my house that it took close to a month to get things set where we weren't adjusting every single day and night. I think it could possibly make the trip more difficult.

[Twinklet]

I agree with Mrs. Badshoe. It took us the better part of a month to get all the basals right, and learning a pump is almost like starting completely over from diagnosis. Personally, I think I would wait until the vacation is over.

[Kirsten]

I wouldn't advise it. After insulin start you need to do a check every 2 hours around the clock for two weeks to set everything.

Kirsten

[gardencream]

I see - that's too bad because we really want to make the trip more enjoyable. Our trip is long for about a month in very hot asia.
Then what about start pumping 2 weeks before semester (college) starts? any problem there? schedule is going to be very hectic but is it better than oversea trip?

[wendyc]

I'm sorry to say, I agree with the others. Not only did it take us a good month to get all the wrinkles ironed out, but we had to check in nearly daily for the first two weeks, and we also had to go in for a follow up visit about 3 weeks into pumping. Plus, if you go and have some type of problem that you aren't familiar with, you most likely would have a hard time getting tech support.

I also wouldn't advise going through such a major time change so early in the game. You are trying to get basals set for a specific time period, and boom...you are mixing it up big time.

I would give yourself at least 2 months before embarking on such a big trip with a pump. I would either try and start pumping asap, or stick with MDI and wait to start right when you return. I have an adult friend who went to Fiji about 3 weeks after pumping, and she admitted that it wasn't the best idea in hindsight!

[jpb286]

I kind of agree, normally I would advise holding off on the pump, but due to the fact you will be in "hot asia" where insulin requirements can drop due to the heat (your body thinks you are exercising), combined with a DRASTIC time zone change, I think you MIGHT(keyword: "might") be better off ("TRYING" it)with the pump with whatever starting doses your doctor prescribes (compared with trying to regulate insulin injection doses). Bring lantus/NPH/levemir, or whatever long term insulin you are currently using in addition to your humalog/novolog/apidra so you can always switch back if things become impossible. If your college schedule is about as ever-changing/hectic as the trip, then I don't know if it would make any difference waiting to start the pump. OBVIOUSLY I would recheck and readjust settings when you get back since the time zone and environment will be much different. But on the plus side, since most of these pumps are made in asia anyway, you probably wont have trouble finding a doc/nurse (if needed) that knows about pumps.

Best of luck, enjoy the trip, and take one day at a time. (And dont forget your passport!)

[gardencream]

thanks guys and yes it may be too early to make such a big trip. Am disappointed but nothing I can do.

[Hollyb]

I'm going to play devil's advocate -- if you can start at least 2 weeks ahead and it's going well, I would go for it. If her numbers are still wonky you can always go back to MDI for your trip. If everything is going smoothly, the pump is brilliant for travel, making time changes, quick corrections and oddly timed meals/snacks a breeze.

Our pump start was not nearly as gruelling as many people's here -- quite likely because Aaron was older (13). We did not have to check constantly round the clock or do dose adjustments any worse than what we were already having to do on MDI. Within a week Aaron was getting numbers as good or better than before he started. If your daughter's in college she's probably no longer in the midst of the "puberty storm" and her insulin needs may have stabilized fairly well. Also, you don't have to use all the cool features of a pump at once. You can more or less use it like MDI, with the added option of unhooking or turning down your basal if you're being really active.

Good luck, whatever she decides.

[gardencream]

now you get my 'hopes' up. What should I do? anymore comments?????

[jpb286]

Take AT LEAST double the normal amount of supplies, be prepared for anything, (particularly getting frisked at the airport, but not really a problem once in Europe/Asia, they are more familiar with pumps), bring all D-supplies in your carry-on, and DO NOT let the diabetes supplies go through X-ray. Have the number of the pump company for tech support, and your MD, or CDE with you.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

I would try for a pump start two weeks (or three if you can do it) before your trip.. I think it would be better to be on the pump while on this trip.. you can adjust her basals on a pump than you can with MDI.. Like someone else said make sure you bring on the regular stuff incase you need to go back to injections..

When we started pumping things were pretty good.. we hit a rough patch, but everyone does.. and you hit the same rough patches with MDI... I love pumping and would take it on a trip anyday rather than MDI.. I think if your daughter is confident in doing it then Isay go for it.. I would try and do it a week before the trip.. at least two weeks, and if you could, 2.5 weeks or 3 would be even better..so you are all confident in dealing with it before you leave.. not sure how easy it would be to get a hold of an endo from asia;)

I hope you have a fabulous trip!!!:)

[hold48398]

Wow, you are brave :). I would definitely consult with the endo team and get their input to weigh pros and cons. I think there can be a case made both for and against. For us, the first 2 weeks were rough going, then things got much more stable.

[Emmasmommy]

I personaly would go but thats becuase I know my daughter and how she reacts to things and becuase its hot where you are going I know that her needs would DROP large! so I wouldnt be to worried becuase you wouldnt need that much insuline to begin with and I also think that the tip would be easier to handle on the pump and maybe even safer then MDIs.

Good luck and I would talk to you doctor about it as well as study all the books that you got with your pump so that way when you start on the pumo you know your pump!

Anyway Good luck and eaither way hope you really enjoy your trip pump or no pump!

[gardencream]

thanks all. Now I am on the fence.

[Hollyb]

Here's the way I look at it. The trip shouldn't stop your daughter from starting the pump. That doesn't commit her in any way to using it on the trip -- it's completely simple to go back to MDI for a few weeks since all her dosages will still be current.

And then you can just see how smoothly it goes, and how confident she feels. If everything is going great, then you're golden. If it's proving difficult to get the doses just right, or she feels like there's still a lot to learn and she's not very relaxed with it yet, then leave it at home and pick it up again when you return!

[gardencream]

so true. What is involved to go back to mdi from pumping, assuming you have all the supplies with you.

[Hollyb]

Just go back to your normal doses. You pump with only rapid insulin, so you don't have to worry about overlapping the long-term.

So -- plan to take your Lantus at the regular time. To be safe, you could turn off your basal insulin on the pump an hour or two beforehand so it clears your system. Then take off the pump, take your Lantus and go back to MDI business as usual -- simple.

Good luck

[wendyc]

Would your doc possibly let you start off on an untethered regimine? This would mean being on the pump for bolus, but still using Lantus for basal. This might possibly work for your trip, then you could always start the basal program upon your return/before she heads back to school.

[gardencream]

Wendyc, this sounds like an idea! will need to talk to the endo. Althoug it also means that we are not using one of the major advantages of pumping:not having to worry about having long term basal in your body, thus having to watch out lows for expected activities.

[Boo]

First of all, have you consulted with her endo as to whether or not this is even an option in their book? Is she under good control on MDI? Do you have reliable carb/insulin ratios and correction ratios? These will make switching over to a pump much easier.

We went out of town for the weekend (this weekend) the day after switching from saline to insulin. Actually things went very well, but I'm not so sure I'd be willing to go out of the country for a month so soon in the ballgame. Just because things have gone well for us so far doesn't mean we may not still hit a major glitch.

Personally, I think I'd wait until a couple of weeks before the fall semester starts. But this is a personal decision that you need to consider as a family along with the input from her doctor.

I do hope you can find/make the time sometime this summer. It has been less than a week for us, and I really am LOVING it so far.

[luvmytwins02]

I would see how the numbers go the first 2 weeks as well, and make your decision based on that. Each person is different when it comes to pumping. I expected a really hard trasition because I have a toddler, but her pump transition went very smoothly, with not a lot of changes needed. We actually saw better BG numbers within 1 day of use!

We must have hit just the right numbers the first time we hooked her up....we worked very closely with her doctor to figure out the best possible calculations.

Good luck!