Aarrg! MM won't stick! won't stick! won't stick!

[melissabeth]

Guys, this is driving me nuts! I've read the post about taping 3 times, switched from the tape that came with it to special ordered tagaderm, switched from antiseptic soap to alcohol wipes, used 2 pieces of tagaderm just in case, and the stupid thing starts to come undone in hours!!! This morning I pulled off the peeling tape, alcohol wiped everything, let it dry for 5 minutes and re-double-taped. That lasted for about 2 hours.
I'm SO frustrated! He hasn't had a bath today or anything! (In the bath it falls off 70% of the time). Now that it's gotten hot and humid here I'm finding this IMPOSSIBLE!!! He's such a sweaty kid- I don't know what to do! I'm ready to flush the d*mn thing down the toilet.
Strangely, his pump never comes unglued...
Could it be the site? It's on his lower-back/upper butt, more or less where we put the pump. Should I try a different location? Maybe on his belly?
Of course that was my last sensor and they don't know when they can get us more...So annoyed today! Sorry for the rant:p

[WestinsMom]

I feel your frustration! Are you using any kind of skin prep around the sensor before taping?

[EmmasMom]

I don't know if you've ever tried it, but mastisol is like super glue for dressings. You can get it at several on line medical supply places, or at local specialty pharmacies or home health supply places. You also need Detachol to remove it when you're ready.

We always use IV prep under the tegaderm and it really helps it stick, but we've been having some tape issues with the heat and humidity around here too. We're having the opposite issue though, the sensors are staying on and the pump sites are falling off...argh!!!!!
If I wake up one more time in the middle of the night to 450+ blood sugar and large ketones, only to find her site sitting in her jammie pants...:eek:... I'm going to need a padded cell for a few days! Thank god her sensor is staying in because it's the only thing that has kept her from ending up severe DKA twice in the past two weeks. I will be using mastisol under all dressings for the rest of the summer!!!

Is anyone having luck ordering sensors right now?

[Mama2H]

We us Skin prep wipes instead of the IV prep wipes under opsite flexifix. The Iv prep never did work for us and the tegaderm was never really any help either. We also had bad luck getting the sites on the butt to stick but now that we have switched to the arm site things have gotten soooooooooooo much better. I think it is because there is less "wear and tear" on the arm since they are not always taking your shirt off but they need to pull pants up and down constantly to use the bathroom.

[melissabeth]

Okay, thanks for the suggestions. I'll stop by the pharmacy tomorrow to see if Mastisol or something else is available here.
Thanks again for your responses. Have had a glass of wine and I'm feeling calmer now:)

[payam7777777]

Mellisa,

we're having the exact same problem you are experiencing and we ordered Mastisol and Detachol. but i feel that upper but cheeck has too much movements and even with Mastisol the sensor would come out sooner than expected. i'm thinking about arm site. keep us posted.

[melissabeth]

I'm thinking about trying the arm too- although he's so little that I'm worried it would hurt more. But, then again he does have chubby arms:D

[payam7777777]

I'm thinking about trying the arm too
http://ihatet1diabetes.blogspot.com/

[payam7777777]

he's so little that I'm worried it would hurt more.
i think we should try the back of the arm (triceps) rather than the side of the arm; there's more 'meat to work with' there.

[rickst29]

Even if you use Mastisol (as I do), you probably won't need their remover Smith+Nephew Uni-Solve wipes work just fine, and the individually wrapped wipes are more convenient than the Ferndale liquid.

Detachol is Ether-free, while Uni-Solve contains some Ether. But the amount you'll use via the pre-soaked pad is probably a lot less than you'll use via juggling and squirting the bottled stuff.

[Cyndi]

My daughter just started using the Guardian. After reading many postings about different tapes we chose to try the opsite flexifix tape. It sticks very well and is working great for us.

[payam7777777]

My daughter just started using the Guardian. After reading many postings about different tapes we chose to try the opsite flexifix tape. It sticks very well and is working great for us.

where do you insert the sensor?

[melissabeth]

Detachol is Ether-free, while Uni-Solve contains some Ether. But the amount you'll use via the pre-soaked pad is probably a lot less than you'll use via juggling and squirting the bottled stuff.

What effects does ether have? Is it bad for your skin? I have visions of primitive 19th century anaesthesia...am I thinking of something else???:o

[Cyndi]

We use the upper butt, hip area. Now remember we just started using the Guardian but this tape really, really sticks. It is even a little hard to pull off for us. She doesn't complain, though.

Cyndi
Mom to Mackenzie 3, dx at 13 months, pumping Animas since 16 months, Guardian 7/07
Jacob 5, and Cody 16

[rickst29]

What effects does ether have? Is it bad for your skin? I have visions of primitive 19th century anesthesia...am I thinking of something else???:o
Because it's a powerful solvent, it IS something which you don't want on your skin for too long. (But you're only wiping for a couple of seconds to remove the adhesive, and then you take off the leftovers with a clean, dry washcloth.)

Yes, this is the same Ether used to knock people out for surgery before safer and more reliable methods came about. But tearing open a bunch of Uni-Solve pads and sniffing is a really EXPENSIVE way to knock yourself out, you'll need dozens... and there's no "high" at all. (BTW, I don't even get drunk, much less whack myself with other drugs. Real life is amazing enough already:D)
- - - - -

For those of you who aren't familiar with it: Flexifix is available for purchase in really long rolls, costing much less to use than individual IV-3000 pads. I don't know anyone who uses the 4" size, everyone on diabetescgms goes for the 2" width.

[mom2jjm]

I don't know if you've tried Opsite Flexifix?

I can so relate to your frustration! My daughter Mollie must just have an "unsticky" skin composition. Insulin sites and sensors come off easily, and almost always in water.

I've seen several folks posting about flexifix and so I ordered some.

I got it from a store on Amazon, Health Products for You.

http://www.amazon.com/OpSite-Flexifi...3854933&sr=8-1

I used it for the first time today and then we went to the waterpark. (Daring, I know!) We were only there an hour, but it didn't show any signs of loosening.

Melissa
__________________

[EmmasMom]

We use the upper butt, hip area. Now remember we just started using the Guardian but this tape really, really sticks. It is even a little hard to pull off for us. She doesn't complain, though.

Cyndi
Mom to Mackenzie 3, dx at 13 months, pumping Animas since 16 months, Guardian 7/07
Jacob 5, and Cody 16

Hey Cyndi,
I can't believe how big Mackenzie looks! She is so cute! :) I'm glad you joined us!

We used to use flexifix when we had the older version of the transmitter that was larger, and it stuck very well with minimal skin irritation. We haven't had any problems with the tegaderm yet, (and I like that I can see the site through it), so I haven't used the flexifix in a long time but it's good to remember that it's an option. The next time we go swimming I may use it instead!

How are things going with the guardian so far?

[Cyndi]

Hey Cyndi,
I can't believe how big Mackenzie looks! She is so cute! :) I'm glad you joined us!

We used to use flexifix when we had the older version of the transmitter that was larger, and it stuck very well with minimal skin irritation. We haven't had any problems with the tegaderm yet, (and I like that I can see the site through it), so I haven't used the flexifix in a long time but it's good to remember that it's an option. The next time we go swimming I may use it instead!

How are things going with the guardian so far?
Amy,
Things are great with the Guardian. It is just amazing! Now I can't imagine living without it!! We are on day 5 with the same sensor but I think we will change it tomorrow just in case. I don't want to push it too far on the first one.

The opsite tape does stick very well, however, it sticks so well we caused some trauma to her skin removing it. We might try the tagaderm.

Emma is also very beautiful!!

[semperwife]

:)Make sure that if you are using moisturizing body wash to use a little dial antibacterial soap and clean the area first. Our CDE from the conference (Natalie Bellini- Infusion Site Goddess) is the person who told us that moisturizing body wash could be causing alot of lost sites. Sure enough we haven't had a lost site since we started incorporating antibacterial soap on a cotton swab, clean with napkin, swipe with alcohol, dry, swipe with IV Prep, let area get sticky and viola.

Some other mom posted this quote below and she has loved it all summer.



How to keep sites on with summer here. A few days ago this was a hot topic.

I just kept deleting the emails regarding it because I thought "I got it covered. Some Skin Tac and an IV 3000 and Alex's sites don't budge. I don't need to waste my time reading these posts."

Boy was I WRONG! Apparently Alex has hit that magical age where his sweat is like battery acid and his sites were falling off within 24 hours.

Four days last week and I went through 5 sites!

The battery acid like sweat was eating through the Skin Tac like it wasn't even there. And the IV 3000 patch - forget it! That sucker was just rolling off as if it were rice paper.

In desperation I started scrolling through my deleted folder. "Where are those pearls of wisdom I so ignorantly deleted without reading!" But alas..........they were forever lost in the many thousands of deleted emails.

So I dragged my butt down to Walgreens vaguely remembering something my endo had said a few years ago about using antiperspirant. How that could possibly work I had no idea. Sure, it would stop Alex from sweating, but wouldn't it leave a film that nothing would stick to?"

I browsed the deodorant isle. Picking first one brand up and than another. Trying to figure out which one would leave the least film. Roll on? Stick? Gel?

*sigh*

Than I saw it! On the top shelf. Very plainly packaged next to those crystal deodorants.

B+DRIER

Maximum strength antiperspirant!

72 hour Protection!!!!!

My god, it read like it was made for 11 year olds with diabetes and battery acid sweat!

72 hours - it's like they had read my mind - that's just how long I needed it to last!

I opened the box and discovered the stuff was a liquid. I figured if it was a liquid it should dry and hopefully not leave a film right?

I feverishly took the box up to the cashier - feeling as though I had just found the holy grail of CWD.

Upon returning home I immediately ushered my son into the shower to wash off all traces of battery acid sweat so we could start with a clean stomach.

I drew a circle about the size of a pea on his belly. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't inserting through the stuff. The circle was for needle penetration. I rubbed the B+Drier all over a 3" sq area steering clear of the circle. I fanned and I blew. And I fanned and I blew - till the area looked dry. I tentatively touched it and felt no residue.

As I knelt on the floor before my son, who just rolled his eyes as if to say "Can we get on with this?", I said a small prayer to the pump gods and than applied my Skin Tac - than the site - than my usual IV 3000.

For three days now I have been harrassing Alex every time he walks in the door. LET ME SEE - LET ME SEE. No peeling. No curling. The damn thing hasn't MOVED! Hallah-frikkin-lujah!!!!

Of course, now I think I may have to go out into the garage and find a chisel to get it off as we have to change his site today.

B+Drier - I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Pam
in Michigan



I haven't actually tried it myself because the whole soap thing seems to be the key for Brandon, but I have a bottle just in case I ever do need it.
And for anyone who doesn't have a walgreens you should be able to find this at any drugstore.

[Mary Lou]

I have a very sweaty 9-year old athlete who can't sit still for anything. He is an avid swimmer in both the lake, pool and ocean. He spends 7 1/2 hours a week training for gymnastics and the gym is more like a sauna with equipment than anything else (no AC).

We had a lot of trouble getting anything to stick through the wet, but decided to try the flexifix. It works like a charm. Stays on for days through it all.

We remove it with tea tree oil, which takes away all residue from the skin and transmitter without the use of any chemical. We love it, although my son dislikes the smell.

We use the narrower roll and ordered it online, although our local medical supply store would order it for us, too, but they had a longer lead time.