Pump Site Locations

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

We've only used the bottom for site locations. We tried a stomach site and it only lasted a couple hours and she wanted it out.
I know YDMV (Your Diabetes May Vary).
If you don't use certain locations, I'm curious to why?!
But mostly I'm curious to know what locations you use.

[LJS118]

Ryan prefers the back of his arms. I make him switch sites, which he doesn't like, and he usually does either his butt or legs. But his #s are much better in his arms. I've heard the tummy is supposed to be the best... He's too skinny to do the tummy, we've tried but it stops insulin delivery.

[Adinsmom]

We use thighs and upper butt so far. :cwds: We haven't tried his tummy yet there just isn't anything to pinch. I was also wondering if I am taking full advantage of his backside area, our fist time using it we had a bad site (pod) because I hit muscle I think.

I will be watching your post with interest.

[Nancy in VA]

Emma doesn't have any belly fat. When we try to put a site in her belly, she sucks it in so that she looks like a starvation child.

We use her butt - 2 or 3 sites in a cheek and then switch sides.

[tandjjt]

We go tummy/right side, tummy/left, bottom/right, bottom/left... etc.

We've only been pumping since late August and he doesn't like the idea of arms and legs... thinks it would get in the way too much.

As a note of warning. My niece who just turned 21 is also T1D (dx'd at 2) -she only used her bottom for a long time and had 2 cysts develop back there - 1 had to be removed... yuck - she learned a lesson and rotates better now.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

we try and do a full rotation, belly, belly, butt, butt, thigh, thigh, arm, arm.. so by the time we get back tothe first site its completely healed.. sometimes she does NOT want it in a certain spot so we will skip it and I'll let her choose another spot IF there are no markings left.. and its NOT the spot it just was.. we started out using her belly.. even though there wasn't a lot of fat ther.. she sucks in her belly, so now I have to get her to blow it up big.. I've also found that its so much easier to do it while she's standing.. Ithought it would be harder.. but its so much easier to grab an inch while she's standing.. Our favorite spot is her arm.. doesn't get in the way of anything..she's starting the sensor next week, not sure where we are going to put those.. thought it would be her bum.. but I'm worried with her sitting, walking, rough housing, going potty.. it won't last long there.. so I'm thinking we may try the arm..

[Ella's mom]

Ella is a bottom only! She will see pics of your kiddos with sets in their arms and like looking at it but says....."never am I going to do that!".

Deep down I would like to try other locations but at the sametime I don't want to rock the boat:rolleyes:

[momtojess]

Jessi used to only want her bottom used.. We tried her stomach and she cried for hours saying " I want my belly back". she was only 3yrs old i think then.. We have been able to use her stomach for the last year or so now.. We were rotating her bottom and stomach, but during the school year, I prefer not to use her bottom. ( i dont like the idea of sharing the toilet with 999 other students.)

For those that use the arm, where to you put the cord and the pump?

[Lee]

Only tummy...we got her to do a bumm once, and only once!

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

I would have thought we'd get more thigh responses?!
That's where I'm going to ask or sweet talk into trying next.

[Chase's mom]

Chase will only let me put it in his bottom right side then left side. Every three days and he only likes it in about a quarter size area on each side. I have been trying to make him try another site but he refuses. It's hard when they are 13 to hold them down .LOL We tried the stomach when he first started the pump and that was a dissaster. It hurt and we got a NO DELIVERY notice everytime. That's when we moved it to the bottom. I would like to hear from others that are teenagers where tey put it. Let me add he is VERY ACTIVE with sports and hunting right now.

[liasmommy2000]

I said stomach. We tried the thigh once and had nigh numbers, so haven't tried it again. She didn't like it on her bottom and asked for it out. Can't imagine using those little bitty arms yet!

[Kaylee's Mommy]

Jessi used to only want her bottom used.. We tried her stomach and she cried for hours saying " I want my belly back". she was only 3yrs old i think then.. We have been able to use her stomach for the last year or so now.. We were rotating her bottom and stomach, but during the school year, I prefer not to use her bottom. ( i dont like the idea of sharing the toilet with 999 other students.)

For those that use the arm, where to you put the cord and the pump?

I run the tubing down the inside of her shirt to her pump.. her pump is almost ALWAYS in a pouch.. there are times that it is in a dress.. but not to often.. I always thought it would get hooked or caught on something, but actually it works far better than I ever thought it would.. the site is to far up her arm that most of the time her shirt covers it.. I always try to make sure the tubing is at the top of the site, not the bottoms.. so it doesn't have to 'loop' around..

[Lindy]

we prefer the lower back region...

[hrermgr]

We use thighs and bottom. Didn't see as an option so I thought I would just reply.

[Tori's Mom]

We do all sites but preferred are stomach and upper arms. Since we switched to the sure t's, Tori does not like them in the upper butt very much but up higher in that area above the hip on her lower back is fine as well as all the other areas.

[EmmasMom]

We use bottom and thighs only. Emma doesn't have enough fat anywhere else.

[Mama2H]

We use everywhere but the arms, we save the arms for the sensor. Lanae, did you see Hailey's thigh site yesterday while they were swimming? We just started using the thighs in our rotation and Hailey really like them there.

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

We use thighs and bottom. Didn't see as an option so I thought I would just reply.

We use bottom and thighs only. Emma doesn't have enough fat anywhere else.

Sorry I forgot a thigh and bottom choice :(

[vettechmomof2]

We do not use the thigh as she absorbs the insulin to quickly and from shots it just did not work that well.
She doesn't want to use the arms as hers are very small and the pod will wrap abit around the arm.
So belly and butt for us.
Both areas work great.
Allene

[momofsingingdiabetic]

Danielle is strictly belly...we've talked about other places but she refuses for now.... like another said, kinda hard to hold down a teenager...

[kel4han]

We have been trying the tummy's with a new set but Maddison complains (and I agree) that she feels like it is about to fall off at any point. The tummy feels so vulnerable. We use the lower hip area too with upper bottom rotation.

[Boo]

We've only been at this for 6 months so far, but my son will ONLY use his belly. Last time we were to the docs, she suggested he start wearing it elsewhere (...not like I don't suggest it every time, though! :rolleyes:)

He is very wary to try a site in his hip/upper butt. He is afraid it will snag on his pants when he pulls them up or down. Is this a problem for anyone? Any suggestions how I can get him to try it? (Bribery doesn't seem to be working or me this time). I really don't want him to ruin all of his belly tissue. :(

[Chase's mom]

We've only been at this for 6 months so far, but my son will ONLY use his belly. Last time we were to the docs, she suggested he start wearing it elsewhere (...not like I don't suggest it every time, though! :rolleyes:)

He is very wary to try a site in his hip/upper butt. He is afraid it will snag on his pants when he pulls them up or down. Is this a problem for anyone? Any suggestions how I can get him to try it? (Bribery doesn't seem to be working or me this time). I really don't want him to ruin all of his belly tissue. :(

Chase was also afraid of pulling it out when he went to the bathroom and afraid it would hurt if he sat on it. THe site is in his upper outer butt. He has never had an issue pulling it out or rubbing it.
My son had a hard time at first with his stomach and we actually had to stop pumping for awhile. He refused to put it back in and didn't want to put it in his bottom. So the next time we went to the doctor to discuss our issue the nurse said come here Chase and let me try. He got right up and went to her and she put it on his upper butt. So i'm thinking next time maybe I will tell her to put it in his thigh or arm??

[JenFur]

With Kimbelry it is the butt and once in a great while the tummy to give her butt a rest. She hates trying new things.

Michelle is butt, tummy, and I have tried the arm once. I would like to try her arm again. She is more willing to try things out.

Jennifer

[piratelight]

We pretty much use the belly now. We had used the bottom until switching to the Cleo's. He did try his thigh once not too long ago and was ok with it but just not totally thrilled with it and found it hard getting dressed and undressed. So...he has to deal with it so..tummy it is!

[luvmytwins02]

I'm curious about the arm too? How does that work? We use the butt and tummy. We started only using the tummy, but Hannah developed scar tissue so we were informed we had to switch to the butt. Time has passed and now we can roate between the two.

[SamsMom]

Sam does his thighs and stomach. Today st school, the thigh site fell out :eek: so back to the stomach for now.

[Ali]

I'm curious about the arm too? How does that work? We use the butt and tummy. We started only using the tummy, but Hannah developed scar tissue so we were informed we had to switch to the butt. Time has passed and now we can roate between the two.

I have always wondered how the sites become usable again. What happens to all the scar tissue? Ali

[Abuchanan]

We always do the stomach. We have tried to bottom once but Makaela wants nothing to do with it. She is pretty skinny still since she lost all the weight pre diagnosis so I have never mentioned the arms or thighs.

[Kinerinu]

We use the upper butt, lower back spot. I would love to try thigh and upper arm, but am not sure where they should go on those! She is 6, but is tiny so it is hard to find any fat! We tried the stomach and she started crying saying it hurt, so we took it out and have not tried that again.

I just do not want to put it somewhere that it should not be! Information would be great on this!

[dvane]

We use the bottom. Ethan tried the tummy but it came loose a few hours later. We then managed with Lightning McQueen band-aids to keep it on for a day.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

Kaylee site in her arm..
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/jaylinkaylee/IMG_1578.jpg

she is rather thin, and surprisingly there is plenty of room to move the site around.. we can go up a little bit more..we go in the direct back of the arm.. a little up from the elbow.. you don't want to go on the side.. there is muscle there.. it looks furthar down that it actually is.. I JUST did this site, without emla.. and not even and ouch or a flinch.. she doesn't notice the sites in her arms.. and we get very nice numbers when its in her arm..we are starting the minilink next monday.. I'm thinking we are going to go for the arms.. so this will probably be her last site in her arm..

[Chase's mom]

I would like to see pictures of someone with a site in the thigh or upper back. I'm going to try and use a different site for Chase tonight.

[Mary Lou]

Brian will only use his upper butt. Now that we've added the sensor, the wear and tear is a concern. He did try the thigh, but it bothered him with his gymnastics (he unhooks, but the thigh site rubbed on the pommel horse, and he didn't like it showing.) He is afraid of the stomach, but we're working on it.

Andrew is butt-only, too, but he's only been at it for 4 months...

[MamaChrissa]

Behind only. He calls the tubing his "tail" and according to him...tails go on your hiney! ;) Gotta love kid logic!

[Reagan's Mama]

Only her bottom with Reagan, like others she just doesn't have the meat on her at this point to use another spot.

I am curious about the lower back too, I haven't gone much higher than the top of her bottom, always feel like I am running out of fatty area.

Do you go above the pants waist line area?

Great post! Thanks :)

[Treysmom]

Thanks Kaylee's mom for posting that pic. I think Trey is to muscular in that area, it gives us a idea of how to if we want to try.

For NOW we use booty only.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

I would like to see pictures of someone with a site in the thigh or upper back. I'm going to try and use a different site for Chase tonight.

I JUST changed Kaylee's site today,so it'll be a few days before I move it.. but if you want to do the thigh, you want to go on angle.. you don't want the top and you don't want the outside, but somewhere in between.. like the outer edge of the top... stay away from the inside.. to many main veins.. also, you want to stay AT LEAST 3 fingers width above the knee cap.. Kaylee's sleeping right now.. but tomorrow I can take a picture of her with the spot circled so you can get an idea.. I can do that for the back and upper bum to if you'd like..

[yonex888]

My daughter also has no fat in the stomach area. We usually use the upper part of the leg of the butt area. We are currently using the 9mm Cleo 90 from Smiths Medical. We want to start using the stomach and were wondering what size cannula would be best.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

I'd go with a 6mm.. I don't know what sizes the cleo comes in.. we use MM,their sites aren't interchangable.. so i don't know a lot about the sites for the other pumps..is the cleo a 90degree cannula or is it at an angle? If its 90degrees I'd try a 6mm:)

[Mama Belle]

My daughter also has no fat in the stomach area. We usually use the upper part of the leg of the butt area. We are currently using the 9mm Cleo 90 from Smiths Medical. We want to start using the stomach and were wondering what size cannula would be best.

I would use the 6mm no matter what. We have been having many issues with the cleo sets lately. We get blockage alarms pretty much every other day. The problem isn't even the set itself it is the stupid tubing (we think at the bottom where it connects to the luer lock. We are this close (::holds thumb and forefinger a half inch apart:: ) to switching to insets. It is very bizarre because we went for several months with zero issues and now all of a sudden we have an issue every single time.

[sheila]

I would use the 6mm no matter what. We have been having many issues with the cleo sets lately. We get blockage alarms pretty much every other day. The problem isn't even the set itself it is the stupid tubing (we think at the bottom where it connects to the luer lock. We are this close (::holds thumb and forefinger a half inch apart:: ) to switching to insets. It is very bizarre because we went for several months with zero issues and now all of a sudden we have an issue every single time.

Our Endo said "No Cleo's" to many people have the blockage alarms on them.

[kiwikid]

I We have been having many issues with the cleo sets lately. We get blockage alarms pretty much every other day. The problem isn't even the set itself it is the stupid tubing (we think at the bottom where it connects to the luer lock.

We had this problem with the few Cleos we tried. The site was fine, but we needed to change the tubing. STRANGE!!

I answered this poll by ticking the bottom only answer BUT yesterday, when Rachel was at swimming lessons, her site was fully visible below the legline of her swim suit. So I am wondering if I would class that as 'thigh'?
I change Rachel's site's when shes asleep in bed, and I sort of stick it in where ever seems suitable (and easiest) at the time - several mornings after a change I've noticed the area seems way different to where I thought I'd put it :rolleyes:
Never Mind - they don't bother Rachel and they all seem to work well:D

[BrendaK]

I agree, that's a very common problem w/the Cleos. But we like them so much that we just change sites every 2 days.

Can someone post a picture of a thigh site on a non-diaper child? I'd love to try the thighs, but Carson seems to have less fat on them than his tummy. Does it interfere w/normal rough and tumble play?

Currently we use left tummy, right tummy, left bottom, right bottom. But I need to branch out more. I just talked to Carson last night about trying the lower back/hip right above the waistline. Didn't go over well...

The arm photo was great. And it really doesn't get in the way?? Can she dress/undress herself w/the arm site? Or does she need help?

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

I agree, that's a very common problem w/the Cleos. But we like them so much that we just change sites every 2 days.

Can someone post a picture of a thigh site on a non-diaper child? I'd love to try the thighs, but Carson seems to have less fat on them than his tummy. Does it interfere w/normal rough and tumble play?

Currently we use left tummy, right tummy, left bottom, right bottom. But I need to branch out more. I just talked to Carson last night about trying the lower back/hip right above the waistline. Didn't go over well...

The arm photo was great. And it really doesn't get in the way?? Can she dress/undress herself w/the arm site? Or does she need help?


At our support group meeting on Sunday (we went swimming) I saw Mama2H had one in her daughters thigh. I'll PM her and see if I can get her to post a photo.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

here are images of where I put Kaylee's sites..
thigh
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/jaylinkaylee/Kaylee%20picture/legsites.jpg

bum/hip

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/jaylinkaylee/Kaylee%20picture/bumhipsites.jpg

on the thigh you want the outer edge of the top of the thigh. so its on that round part.. when you pick the spot have your child sit so they don't have their thigh resting on something.. have them sit on the edge of a chair.. you get the natural shape of the leg and its easier to see the spot..

on the hip/bum, I tryand stay away from the belt.. her belt is a little high in this shot.. I was trying to get it out of the way.. its usually in between the two groups.. there is a group of three.. and then the group below.. typically her belt is in that space...

[BrendaK]

THANKS :) Great Photos, I'm going to try and do the leg over the weekend!