Question:
(email replies only please) After getting so many pump recommendations - like how it's supposed to make my life and diabetes control better and easier, and that "99%" of people (or some other immense number) who start it don't want to go back to injections - I tried it this last week. Just stopped it today. AWFUL. If you are on the pump, and it's helped you, then I am glad. But I am wondering if there are any others for whom the pump didn't work, because I feel like I am in an extreme minority. Here's my story and (partial) list of complaints. OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help me with the (astronomical) amount of info needed to start and continue the pump routine. I was on it for a few days. Well, I couldn't really find any special benefits with it. In fact, it made my life a tedious HELL. Changing the reservoir and putting in a new infusion set is one of the most monotonous tasks I've ever done in my life. And this needed to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount of little objects and details that needed tending to during the set-up was obnoxious (clip this piece onto there, take this piece off from that one, yadda yadda yadda). There was also the issue of constantly having to flick air bubbles, because the reservoirs are big and get more air bubbles than a singular shot does. And what's worse is that the entire set-up needs to be done rather quickly, because when the pump is disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking insulin going inside (god, I missed Lantus). Another big drawback - all the RESTRICTED body movement with having this machine attached to me! Going to the bathroom and changing clothes became an ordeal, sleeping became uncomfortable because I didn't want to move to my other side and accidentally hit some pump buttons, and my shower times no longer would be relaxing - they had to be rushed because, you know, there's no freaking insulin going inside anymore when you take that pump off. Exercise time is also limited - and I can only imagine what it would be like for sex, since I am not in a relationship. But I could just see it: "Honey, I gotta take my pump off now. Just a minute. Oh, and let's make sure this doesn't last too long, because I will be needing my insulin again shortly." I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine attached to me that needed constant monitoring and attention. There was also the problem with determining the right basal rate(s). This might have gotten easier with time as my health care provider and I worked through it, but I was getting highs at night with a fixed basal rate. My body does not produce glucose at a fixed rate, obviously. Again, I missed Lantus. One injection of that, and I was pretty stable throughout the day. So, to summarize, I felt like a restricted robot. It didn't make my life easier - I fail to see how a machine that is attached to you and needs more attention and set-up time than simple injections is supposed to make *anyone's* life easier, let alone the vast majority of people, but that's how it goes. I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice to have shots when I eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be DONE with it. No hassle with detailed set-up processes, no awkward machine attached to my body throughout the day - ah, much better for me. -K
Answers:
On 10 Jan 2004 22:46:16 GMT, khendradm~aol.com (Khendradm) wrote:
(email replies only please)
After getting so many pump recommendations - like how it's
supposed to make my life and diabetes control better and
easier, and that "99%" of people (or some other immense
number) who start it don't want to go back to injections - I
tried it this last week.
Just stopped it today. AWFUL.
If you are on the pump, and it's helped you, then I am glad.
But I am wondering if there are any others for whom the pump
didn't work, because I feel like I am in an extreme minority.
Here's my story and (partial) list of complaints.
OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw
two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help me
with the (astronomical) amount of info needed to start and
continue the pump routine. I was on it for a few days.
Well, I couldn't really find any special benefits with it. In
fact, it made my life a tedious HELL. Changing the reservoir
and putting in a new infusion set is one of the most
monotonous tasks I've ever done in my life. And this needed
to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount of little objects
and details that needed tending to during the set-up was
obnoxious (clip this piece onto there, take this piece off
from that one, yadda yadda yadda). There was also the issue
of constantly having to flick air bubbles, because the
reservoirs are big and get more air bubbles than a singular
shot does. And what's worse is that the entire set-up needs
to be done rather quickly, because when the pump is
disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking
insulin going inside (god, I missed Lantus).
Another big drawback - all the RESTRICTED body movement with
having this machine attached to me! Going to the bathroom and
changing clothes became an ordeal, sleeping became
uncomfortable because I didn't want to move to my other side
and accidentally hit some pump buttons, and my shower times
no longer would be relaxing - they had to be rushed because,
you know, there's no freaking insulin going inside anymore
when you take that pump off. Exercise time is also limited -
and I can only imagine what it would be like for sex, since I
am not in a relationship. But I could just see it: "Honey, I
gotta take my pump off now. Just a minute. Oh, and let's make
sure this doesn't last too long, because I will be needing my
insulin again shortly."
I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine
attached to me that needed constant monitoring and attention.
There was also the problem with determining the right basal
rate(s). This might have gotten easier with time as my health
care provider and I worked through it, but I was getting
highs at night with a fixed basal rate. My body does not
produce glucose at a fixed rate, obviously. Again, I missed
Lantus. One injection of that, and I was pretty stable
throughout the day.
So, to summarize, I felt like a restricted robot. It didn't
make my life easier - I fail to see how a machine that is
attached to you and needs more attention and set-up time
than simple injections is supposed to make *anyone's* life
easier, let alone the vast majority of people, but that's
how it goes.
I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice to
have shots when I eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be DONE
with it. No hassle with detailed set-up processes, no awkward
machine attached to my body throughout the day - ah, much
better for me.
-K Not a T1 so I know nothing about pumps. I do want to comment on your "e-mail replies" though. We try our best to share info here. For all you know, there may be someone out there with the same problems, and concerns that you have. Much better to have replies from the many pump pros in the NG, posted in the NG for all the pumpers to see, and maybe pick up a tidbit that they didn't know. JMO Sleepy ----------------------------------------------------------- You can tell those republicans sure do like the poor folks, They just keep helping create more and more of them! -----------------------------------------------------------
Answers:
(top reply) You didn't say what kind of work you do? I have done a lot of heavy bending work and now that I am retired I still do a lot of working on lawnmowers etc. For awhile I corresponded with a lady that has T-1 diabetes and celiac disease. It was just a friendly correspondence but she absolutely went ballistic when I stated that I could understand it if you worked in an office like she did but I was active. We never talked about the diabetes-celiac connection anymore. When I first started taking insulin twice a day I used to hide in a bathroom or excuse myself when taking my insulin. I finally got over that, but have gotten some strange questions or remarks when taking my insulin. I guess this happens to everyone? I just wanted to support your story and I haven't tried it(pump) but have read similar stories in my diabetes magazine. I now take 16 units of Lantus and Humalog as needed. Charlie "Khendradm" <khendradm~aol.com wrote in message news:20040110174616.07996.00002636~mb-m16.aol.com...
(email replies only please)
After getting so many pump recommendations - like how it's
supposed to make my
life and diabetes control better and easier, and that "99%"
of people (or some
other immense number) who start it don't want to go back to
injections - I tried it this last week.
Just stopped it today. AWFUL.
If you are on the pump, and it's helped you, then I am glad.
But I am wondering if there are any others for whom the pump
didn't work, because I feel
like I am in an extreme minority. Here's my story and
(partial) list of complaints.
OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw
two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help
me with the (astronomical)
amount of info needed to start and continue the pump
routine. I was on it for
a few days.
Well, I couldn't really find any special benefits with it.
In fact, it made my
life a tedious HELL. Changing the reservoir and putting in a
new infusion set
is one of the most monotonous tasks I've ever done in my
life. And this needed
to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount of little
objects and details that
needed tending to during the set-up was obnoxious (clip this
piece onto there,
take this piece off from that one, yadda yadda yadda). There
was also the issue of constantly having to flick air
bubbles, because the reservoirs are big
and get more air bubbles than a singular shot does. And
what's worse is that
the entire set-up needs to be done rather quickly, because
when the pump is
disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking
insulin going inside
(god, I missed Lantus).
Another big drawback - all the RESTRICTED body movement with
having this machine attached to me! Going to the bathroom
and changing clothes became an
ordeal, sleeping became uncomfortable because I didn't want
to move to my other
side and accidentally hit some pump buttons, and my shower
times no longer would be relaxing - they had to be rushed
because, you know, there's no freaking insulin going inside
anymore when you take that pump off. Exercise
time is also limited - and I can only imagine what it would
be like for sex,
since I am not in a relationship. But I could just see it:
"Honey, I gotta
take my pump off now. Just a minute. Oh, and let's make
sure this doesn't
last too long, because I will be needing my insulin again
shortly."
I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine
attached to me that
needed constant monitoring and attention.
There was also the problem with determining the right basal
rate(s). This might have gotten easier with time as my
health care provider and I worked through it, but I was
getting highs at night with a fixed basal rate. My body
does not produce glucose at a fixed rate, obviously. Again,
I missed Lantus.
One injection of that, and I was pretty stable throughout
the day.
So, to summarize, I felt like a restricted robot. It didn't
make my life easier - I fail to see how a machine that is
attached to you and needs more
attention and set-up time than simple injections is
supposed to make *anyone's*
life easier, let alone the vast majority of people, but
that's how it goes.
I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice to
have shots when I
eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be DONE with it. No
hassle with detailed
set-up processes, no awkward machine attached to my body
throughout the day -
ah, much better for me.
-K
Answers:
Try this on for size: 1. I've been pumping since 1996 and wouldn't go back if I was given $10,000,000. 2. Changing a set takes me between 3 1/2 to 5 minutes, tops. 3. You can be disconnected for approximately an hour with no ill effects. 4. You aren't going to reprogram your pump by rolling over on it or "hitting some buttons". It just doesn't work that way, due to the design of the sequence of button pushes needed to change something. 5. You just don't have much patience to learn something technical, is my take as your major complaint. 6. In a few years when you have some complications, perhaps you'd wish you got over you technophobia in 2004. 7. You won't have to worry about feeling like a robot when you die younger than you would have if you'd been pumping for the next umpteen years, unless you have a great A1c already, in which case pumping won't really help YOU much. 8. Your whining about "little objects, etc" makes me glad I'm not your doctor. I'd have no patience with someone who threw their best hope for control of a serious disease out the window because of their negativity. 9. Since you don't like pumping, I can't say that I feel sorry for you, as you seem content to be doing MDI, but I needed to post a rebuttal to your comments which really aren't all that applicable to good pump candidates. You've made mountains out of molehills. Especially the whining about changing your set. What's 4 minutes out of every 2 to 3 days?? 10. Good luck with your MDI. dave Khendradm wrote:
(email replies only please)
After getting so many pump recommendations - like how it's
supposed to make my life and diabetes control better and
easier, and that "99%" of people (or some other immense
number) who start it don't want to go back to injections - I
tried it this last week.
Just stopped it today. AWFUL.
If you are on the pump, and it's helped you, then I am glad.
But I am wondering if there are any others for whom the pump
didn't work, because I feel like I am in an extreme
minority. Here's my story and (partial) list of complaints.
OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw
two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help
me with the (astronomical) amount of info needed to start
and continue the pump routine. I was on it for a few days.
Well, I couldn't really find any special benefits with it.
In fact, it made my life a tedious HELL. Changing the
reservoir and putting in a new infusion set is one of the
most monotonous tasks I've ever done in my life. And this
needed to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount of little
objects and details that needed tending to during the set-up
was obnoxious (clip this piece onto there, take this piece
off from that one, yadda yadda yadda). There was also the
issue of constantly having to flick air bubbles, because the
reservoirs are big and get more air bubbles than a singular
shot does. And what's worse is that the entire set-up needs
to be done rather quickly, because when the pump is
disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking
insulin going inside (god, I missed Lantus).
Another big drawback - all the RESTRICTED body movement with
having this machine attached to me! Going to the bathroom
and changing clothes became an ordeal, sleeping became
uncomfortable because I didn't want to move to my other side
and accidentally hit some pump buttons, and my shower times
no longer would be relaxing - they had to be rushed because,
you know, there's no freaking insulin going inside anymore
when you take that pump off. Exercise time is also limited -
and I can only imagine what it would be like for sex, since
I am not in a relationship. But I could just see it: "Honey,
I gotta take my pump off now. Just a minute. Oh, and let's
make sure this doesn't last too long, because I will be
needing my insulin again shortly."
I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine
attached to me that needed constant monitoring and
attention.
There was also the problem with determining the right basal
rate(s). This might have gotten easier with time as my
health care provider and I worked through it, but I was
getting highs at night with a fixed basal rate. My body does
not produce glucose at a fixed rate, obviously. Again, I
missed Lantus. One injection of that, and I was pretty
stable throughout the day.
So, to summarize, I felt like a restricted robot. It didn't
make my life easier - I fail to see how a machine that is
attached to you and needs more attention and set-up time
than simple injections is supposed to make *anyone's* life
easier, let alone the vast majority of people, but that's
how it goes.
I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice to
have shots when I eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be DONE
with it. No hassle with detailed set-up processes, no
awkward machine attached to my body throughout the day - ah,
much better for me.
-K
Answers:
I'm surprised that your doctor gave you the go-ahead to get a pump when you are so clearly not motivated. Most endos screen their patients thoroughly before prescribing a pump. Someone was asleep at the wheel, in your case. Read on... I copied this from an earlier post of mine regarding what makes a good pump candidate. You certainly don't fit the profile: 1. Good insurance or deep pockets 2. Willingness to check your bg's at LEAST 4 times or more EVERY day. 3. Not intimidated by things electronic and programmable. 4. Yearning to return to a more "normal" lifestyle. things like getting out of bed anytime on the weekend instead of your diabetes dictating your every move. eating at odd times. exercising on almost a moments notice. 5. Willing to learn some new concepts to calculate boluses and basal rates. It's not THAT hard, as the literature provided is excellent! 6. Someone who won't feel awkward wearing a device 24/7 that most folks will assume is a beeper. 7. Someone who takes responsibility for their disease instead of waiting for the doctor to correct mistakes. YOU have to monitor, you have to adjust, YOU have to eat properly, YOU are the one with DM; not the doctor (well, that's not entirely true; two of my last three endos are diabetic). Think of the doctor as the guy who monitors you 3 or 4 times a year, and you are the person who monitors you 24/7. If you care about your health AND having a normal life, GET A PUMP. I have all these characteristics, and there's nothing special or unique about me. Before I got my pump, it was drilled in to me that the ONE thing that an evaluator will look for is a strong desire to pump. They won't recommend to the doctor that you pump if you are ambivalent. I was able to skip the evaluation process because I came to my endo's office with charts printed in Excel of how I could transition from MDI to my first day on the pump. I had ratios calculated from the rules listed in a pumping book. He reviewed my assumptions and then erred on the side of caution and reduced my first day's insulin be about 20% and gave the ok. My first day on a pump was SO EXCITING! Every day (over 6 years now) I thank god for my pump. Above all, you must have an endo or DS who is pro pump and is good at getting you started, or who will refer you to a good pump educator. My first pump was made by MiniMed. their rep came to my house and explained the pump thoroughly (and I had LOTS of questions). I also received a couple of videos, plus a couple of books. If you got through high school you can learn to pump. PlEASE ask ANY questions. I'm more than willing to expand on anything I've said here.
Answers:
Sorry you have had so much trouble. You didn't give yourself enough time to work though any of the problems you can encounter with the pump. When I got my first one a couple of years ago I hated it...I am still not sure I like it too much but I am too lazy to inject 5-6 times per day and still get high HgbAic's. My problems are with the company and those will be resolved I am certain. You speak of basal rates and how you were on one. I am on 5 most times and use a LOT of Insulin (Novolog) everyday. I can see better, feel better and do more things then when on injections. I hate being attached to any machine...I don't even like my watch and I hate my glasses but without those I don't see and without the pump may not be able to at all. Why not give it a retry and have some more training with your CDE. Call your pump rep. I have found them to bend over backwards to help get you back on track. I hate connecting and disconnecting to go into the pool, hot tub, shower etc., but it beats all hell out of those constant injections and forgetting to do them and having a nice trip to the hospital. I hate inserting a set and having it go into the wrong area and bleeding having to remove it and start all over again. Not just a terrible waste but it slows one up. Give it another chance. Talk to your docs, reps and CDE and get on track. It can take months to set a basal and one that is done you may just have to change it all over again. By the way it is outstanding during surgical procedures and and other xray exams or CAT scans. Never a problem and even without food I didn't end in the hospital after 24 hours of prep. Matt Khendradm wrote:
(email replies only please)
After getting so many pump recommendations - like how it's
supposed to make my life and diabetes control better and
easier, and that "99%" of people (or some other immense
number) who start it don't want to go back to injections - I
tried it this last week.
Just stopped it today. AWFUL.
If you are on the pump, and it's helped you, then I am glad.
But I am wondering if there are any others for whom the pump
didn't work, because I feel like I am in an extreme
minority. Here's my story and (partial) list of complaints.
OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw
two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help
me with the (astronomical) amount of info needed to start
and continue the pump routine. I was on it for a few days.
Well, I couldn't really find any special benefits with it.
In fact, it made my life a tedious HELL. Changing the
reservoir and putting in a new infusion set is one of the
most monotonous tasks I've ever done in my life. And this
needed to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount of little
objects and details that needed tending to during the set-up
was obnoxious (clip this piece onto there, take this piece
off from that one, yadda yadda yadda). There was also the
issue of constantly having to flick air bubbles, because the
reservoirs are big and get more air bubbles than a singular
shot does. And what's worse is that the entire set-up needs
to be done rather quickly, because when the pump is
disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking
insulin going inside (god, I missed Lantus).
Another big drawback - all the RESTRICTED body movement with
having this machine attached to me! Going to the bathroom
and changing clothes became an ordeal, sleeping became
uncomfortable because I didn't want to move to my other side
and accidentally hit some pump buttons, and my shower times
no longer would be relaxing - they had to be rushed because,
you know, there's no freaking insulin going inside anymore
when you take that pump off. Exercise time is also limited -
and I can only imagine what it would be like for sex, since
I am not in a relationship. But I could just see it: "Honey,
I gotta take my pump off now. Just a minute. Oh, and let's
make sure this doesn't last too long, because I will be
needing my insulin again shortly."
I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine
attached to me that needed constant monitoring and
attention.
There was also the problem with determining the right basal
rate(s). This might have gotten easier with time as my
health care provider and I worked through it, but I was
getting highs at night with a fixed basal rate. My body does
not produce glucose at a fixed rate, obviously. Again, I
missed Lantus. One injection of that, and I was pretty
stable throughout the day.
So, to summarize, I felt like a restricted robot. It didn't
make my life easier - I fail to see how a machine that is
attached to you and needs more attention and set-up time
than simple injections is supposed to make *anyone's* life
easier, let alone the vast majority of people, but that's
how it goes.
I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice to
have shots when I eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be DONE
with it. No hassle with detailed set-up processes, no
awkward machine attached to my body throughout the day - ah,
much better for me.
-K
Answers:
From: Bay Area Dave da~nospam.com Date: 01/10/2004 7:38 PM Pacific Standard Time Hey, Dave. You might want to dial down your hostility here a bit. Obviously this guy's post went against how you feel about the pump but some of the statements you made to him don't do anyone any good. You have experience with the pump and this would be a good place to give your side of how a pump can be a good thing, but as they say you'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Your post was obviously made out of anger and feeling that your way of doing things was being attacked. Next time you might want to take a deep breath before you put fingers to keyboard. Just a suggestion, of course. I'm a Type 1 as well but don't use a pump. Mainly because my A1c's average in the mid 5's. If I had poor control I would not hesitate to try the pump. I'm glad it's working for you and I applaud your dedication to keeping yourself as healthy as possible. Kurt
Try this on for size: 1. I've been pumping since 1996 and wouldn't go back if I was given $10,000,000. 2. Changing a set takes me between 3 1/2 to 5 minutes, tops. 3. You can be disconnected for approximately an hour with no ill effects. 4. You aren't going to reprogram your pump by rolling over on it or "hitting some buttons". It just doesn't work that way, due to the design of the sequence of button pushes needed to change something. 5. You just don't have much patience to learn something technical, is my take as your major complaint. 6. In a few years when you have some complications, perhaps you'd wish you got over you technophobia in 2004. 7. You won't have to worry about feeling like a robot when you die younger than you would have if you'd been pumping for the next umpteen years, unless you have a great A1c already, in which case pumping won't really help YOU much. 8. Your whining about "little objects, etc" makes me glad I'm not your doctor. I'd have no patience with someone who threw their best hope for control of a serious disease out the window because of their negativity. 9. Since you don't like pumping, I can't say that I feel sorry for you, as you seem content to be doing MDI, but I needed to post a rebuttal to your comments which really aren't all that applicable to good pump candidates. You've made mountains out of molehills. Especially the whining about changing your set. What's 4 minutes out of every 2 to 3 days?? 10. Good luck with your MDI.<<<< ***************************
Answers:
"Khendradm" <khendradm~aol.com wrote in message news:20040110174616.07996.00002636~mb-m16.aol.com...
(email replies only please)
After getting so many pump recommendations - like how it's
supposed to make my
life and diabetes control better and easier, and that "99%"
of people (or some
other immense number) who start it don't want to go back to
injections - I tried it this last week.
Just stopped it today. AWFUL. Did you try it longer then a week? You cannot get a full scope of how good a pump is within a weeks time. Took me a couple months.
If you are on the pump, and it's helped you, then I am glad.
But I am wondering if there are any others for whom the pump
didn't work, because I feel
like I am in an extreme minority. Here's my story and
(partial) list of complaints.
OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw
two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help
me with the (astronomical)
amount of info needed to start and continue the pump
routine. I was on it for
a few days.
Well, I couldn't really find any special benefits with it.
In fact, it made my
life a tedious HELL. Changing the reservoir and putting in a
new infusion set
is one of the most monotonous tasks I've ever done in my
life. And this needed
to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount of little
objects and details that
needed tending to during the set-up was obnoxious (clip this
piece onto there,
take this piece off from that one, yadda yadda yadda). There
was also the issue of constantly having to flick air
bubbles, because the reservoirs are big
and get more air bubbles than a singular shot does. And
what's worse is that
the entire set-up needs to be done rather quickly, because
when the pump is
disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking
insulin going inside
(god, I missed Lantus). hmm odd, takes me approx, 4 mins to rip an old site out, setup a new infusion set, swab the area clean, poke the infusion set in, tape it. prime it and away i go. you're getting bubbles more likely because you aren't 1. withdrawling insulin right 2. insulin is cold. ... it has to be room temp to avoid bubbles. doesn't need to be done quickly!.. lol my endo told me i can bolus a bit more if "i" feel the need prior to disconnect. you should be able to disconnect for a min of 30mins without going into DKA. I usually shower and reset/reconnect afterwards all in a 45min period. I bolus 1u prior to keep from going higher.
Another big drawback - all the RESTRICTED body movement with
having this machine attached to me! Going to the bathroom
and changing clothes became an
ordeal, sleeping became uncomfortable because I didn't want
to move to my other
side and accidentally hit some pump buttons, and my shower
times no longer would be relaxing - they had to be rushed
because, you know, there's no freaking insulin going inside
anymore when you take that pump off. Exercise
time is also limited - and I can only imagine what it would
be like for sex,
since I am not in a relationship. But I could just see it:
"Honey, I gotta
take my pump off now. Just a minute. Oh, and let's make
sure this doesn't
last too long, because I will be needing my insulin again
shortly." restricted? hmmm never had that trouble. once the cat pulled my line loose didn't know it till next day when I landed in the ER. Changing clothes? why? disconnect lay pump on the sink.. change an reconnect. 5min should be max. exercise? oh plz.. you reduce your basal and have a light snack prior. sex isn't a problem either. if hubby doesn't want cord hanging from me, I'll shower first and take out the set. um.. and since you're obviously oblivious to exactly how a pump works.. lol sex is a form of exercise.. I usually don't need to bolus prior <g
I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine
attached to me that
needed constant monitoring and attention. thats a shame.. but hey if shots work for ya, more power to ya.. they didn't for me.
There was also the problem with determining the right basal
rate(s). This might have gotten easier with time as my
health care provider and I worked through it, but I was
getting highs at night with a fixed basal rate. My body
does not produce glucose at a fixed rate, obviously. Again,
I missed Lantus.
One injection of that, and I was pretty stable throughout
the day. why wld u have a fixed basal rate? my varies over the night, i'm sure many others do as well that pump. Lantus was my problem. It didn't peak when I needed it at night, I was forced to inject NPH to help with DP. I was tired of 10 injections a day, that didn't help much.
So, to summarize, I felt like a restricted robot. It didn't
make my life easier - I fail to see how a machine that is
attached to you and needs more
attention and set-up time than simple injections is
supposed to make *anyone's*
life easier, let alone the vast majority of people, but
that's how it goes. makes mine a whole HELL of aLOT easier! no more carrying around insulin when i go out to eat. I can test, and punch a button if i'm in need of a correction. I'm sick, I can up or down my basal rate, can't do that with injections.
I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice to
have shots when I
eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be DONE with it. No
hassle with detailed
set-up processes, no awkward machine attached to my body
throughout the day -
ah, much better for me.
-K Srry didn't work for you. But I think the vast majority that pumps finds its about the greatest thing since zero carb sliced bread.. if you gotta be diabetic. I think you didn't give it a chance. But then again, I was told, if you aren't willing, you wont be a good pumper. so prolly best for you anyhow. -- RK - t1 In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and terrorism.
Answers:
RK, (snip)
sex isn't a problem either. if hubby doesn't want cord
hanging from me, I'll
shower first and take out the set. um.. and since you're
obviously oblivious to exactly how a pump works.. lol sex is
a form of exercise.. I usually don't need to bolus
prior <g
Sorry to but in, but this reminded me of my last endo visit. I had been having more 3am hypos than normal, so I was talking to him about lowering my night time Humilin N. He asked me if my husband had been home more than normal. (He knows that my husband travels quite a bit.) I told him that yes, he had been home more often. My doc starts blushing and stammering, and finally asked me if I had been exercising in the evening. I said no, that I exercise during the day. Doc says, no I mean "evening exercise....you know, sex." We figured that might be the issue. So, he suggested that I eat a larger bedtime snack if I thought we may be amorous. If "it" is not planned for, and I don't eat a large bedtime snack, then I am supposed to eat something afterwards. I know this has nothing to do with pumping problems, and I apologize for the side message, but I just had to share this with you. Steph
Answers:
I scanned your post and agree with everything except the "DKA" thing regarding time off the pump. A pumper isn't going to go anywhere NEAR DKA for HOURS off a pump. What's with your comment about 30 minutes? Why put that in their head that 30 minutes is a "cut-off" time? With a basal rate of say 1/2 U per hour, just how much insulin would the average pumper lose in 2 hours of disconnection? 1 unit. Whoopee! If a unit drops you 50 mg/dl, then you'd go up 50 points in 2 hours. Some pumpers might only go up Whoopee, again. Someone like my wife who's on .3 units per hour and a drop ratio of 70 would lose .6 U in two hours for an increase in bg of 42. Again, big wow. dave RK wrote:
"Khendradm" <khendradm~aol.com wrote in message
news:20040110174616.07996.00002636~mb-m16.aol.com...
(email replies only please)
After getting so many pump recommendations - like how it's
supposed to
make my
life and diabetes control better and easier, and that "99%"
of people (or
some
other immense number) who start it don't want to go back to
injections - I tried it this last week.
Just stopped it today. AWFUL.
Did you try it longer then a week? You cannot get a full
scope of how good a pump is within a weeks time. Took me a
couple months.
If you are on the pump, and it's helped you, then I am glad.
But I am wondering if there are any others for whom the pump
didn't work, because I
feel
like I am in an extreme minority. Here's my story and
(partial) list of complaints.
OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw
two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help
me with the
(astronomical)
amount of info needed to start and continue the pump
routine. I was on it
for
a few days.
Well, I couldn't really find any special benefits with it.
In fact, it
made my
life a tedious HELL. Changing the reservoir and putting in a
new infusion
set
is one of the most monotonous tasks I've ever done in my
life. And this
needed
to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount of little
objects and details
that
needed tending to during the set-up was obnoxious (clip this
piece onto
there,
take this piece off from that one, yadda yadda yadda). There
was also the issue of constantly having to flick air
bubbles, because the reservoirs
are big
and get more air bubbles than a singular shot does. And
what's worse is
that
the entire set-up needs to be done rather quickly, because
when the pump
is
disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking
insulin going
inside
(god, I missed Lantus).
hmm odd, takes me approx, 4 mins to rip an old site out,
setup a new infusion set, swab the area clean, poke the
infusion set in, tape it. prime it and away i go.
you're getting bubbles more likely because you aren't 1.
withdrawling insulin right
2. insulin is cold. ... it has to be room temp to avoid
bubbles.
doesn't need to be done quickly!.. lol my endo told me i can
bolus a bit more if "i" feel the need prior to disconnect.
you should be able to disconnect for a min of 30mins without
going into DKA. I usually shower and reset/reconnect
afterwards all in a 45min period. I bolus 1u prior to keep
from going higher.
Another big drawback - all the RESTRICTED body movement with
having this machine attached to me! Going to the bathroom
and changing clothes became
an
ordeal, sleeping became uncomfortable because I didn't want
to move to my
other
side and accidentally hit some pump buttons, and my shower
times no longer would be relaxing - they had to be rushed
because, you know, there's no freaking insulin going inside
anymore when you take that pump off.
Exercise
time is also limited - and I can only imagine what it would
be like for
sex,
since I am not in a relationship. But I could just see it:
"Honey, I
gotta
take my pump off now. Just a minute. Oh, and let's make
sure this
doesn't
last too long, because I will be needing my insulin again
shortly."
restricted? hmmm never had that trouble. once the cat pulled
my line loose didn't know it till next day when I landed in
the ER. Changing clothes? why? disconnect lay pump on the
sink.. change an reconnect. 5min should be max.
exercise? oh plz.. you reduce your basal and have a light
snack prior.
sex isn't a problem either. if hubby doesn't want cord
hanging from me, I'll shower first and take out the set.
um.. and since you're obviously oblivious to exactly how a
pump works.. lol sex is a form of exercise.. I usually don't
need to bolus prior <g
I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine
attached to me
that
needed constant monitoring and attention.
thats a shame.. but hey if shots work for ya, more power to
ya.. they didn't for me.
There was also the problem with determining the right basal
rate(s). This might have gotten easier with time as my
health care provider and I worked through it, but I was
getting highs at night with a fixed basal rate. My
body
does not produce glucose at a fixed rate, obviously. Again,
I missed
Lantus.
One injection of that, and I was pretty stable throughout
the day.
why wld u have a fixed basal rate? my varies over the night,
i'm sure many others do as well that pump. Lantus was my
problem. It didn't peak when I needed it at night, I was
forced to inject NPH to help with DP. I was tired of 10
injections a day, that didn't help much.
So, to summarize, I felt like a restricted robot. It didn't
make my life easier - I fail to see how a machine that is
attached to you and needs
more
attention and set-up time than simple injections is
supposed to make
*anyone's*
life easier, let alone the vast majority of people, but
that's how it
goes.
makes mine a whole HELL of aLOT easier! no more carrying
around insulin when i go out to eat. I can test, and punch a
button if i'm in need of a correction. I'm sick, I can up or
down my basal rate, can't do that with injections.
I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice to
have shots
when I
eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be DONE with it. No
hassle with
detailed
set-up processes, no awkward machine attached to my body
throughout the
day -
ah, much better for me.
-K
Srry didn't work for you. But I think the vast majority
that pumps finds its about the greatest thing since zero
carb sliced bread.. if you gotta be diabetic. I think you
didn't give it a chance. But then again, I was told, if you
aren't willing, you wont be a good pumper. so prolly best
for you anyhow.
Answers:
My first pump was made by MiniMed. What pump are you using now? I have just started the process of getting one. I will be getting on of the minimed pumps, assuming I get the insurance approval. I am very excited about getting the pump.
Answers:
some text got deleted as I was editing this paragraph. It should read, "Some pumpers might only go up 1/2 of that, due to on-board insulin and activity. As a matter of fact, they might drop a bit in those 2 hours. I've done that zillions of times. Whoopee, again." Bay Area Dave wrote: Some
pumpers might only go up Whoopee, again. Someone like my
wife who's on .3 units per hour and a drop ratio of 70 would
lose .6 U in two hours
Answers:
No sympathy here. I agree that pumpimg is hard work, but if you can figure out the internet you can figure a pump out also. Lots of finger sticking but 1 "shot" every 3 days is better than 4-5 a day. I've heard there are older people who have difficulty learning a new routine, but if only I could get back all the times I had with LOWs. I wouldn't give mine up for anything.
Answers:
khendradm~aol.com (Khendradm) wrote in message news:<20040110174616.07996.00002636~mb-m16.aol.com...
I tried it this last week. Just stopped it today. AWFUL. ...
I feel like I am in an extreme minority. Here's my story and
(partial) list of complaints.
OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw
two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help
me with the (astronomical)amount of info needed to start and
continue the pump routine. I was on it for a few days. Well,
I couldn't really find any special benefits with it. In
fact, it made my life a tedious HELL. If you didn't care for it, then don't use it, but I would give it a fair chance. I wrote some other comments to someone who was gung-ho for the pump. My own feelings are mixed. There seems to be good and bad sides to it, but the more I read, the more it seems, to me, that pump users are of a particular mindset that is largely a result of good salesmanship on the part of the pump companies. Can't say as I blame the pump makers. Afterall, it is a $7,000.00 product, so, it stands to reason that they want to leave their customers happy, or they will be back with that get-yer-money-bak guarantee. It sounds like a good product to sell because one is approached by a customer who wants to buy, and the price and supplies are high. Their only job is to prevent buyer's remorse. Apparently, they failed with you. I wonder if a pump-salesman needs any special medical training, in regard to a degree, or are they nothing more than a glorified car-salesman? (I realize that they get training from the pump company, and a fancy title.) Certainly, the companies put a lot of effort into trying to find qualified customers,(that is, qualified by their standards), so that they have a low number of buy-backs from dissatisfied customers. It is an interesting product to sell because the customer often does not care about the price, as the cost is covered by medical insurance. That, more than anything, makes it rather unique. I think that you are in a minority, because somehow, you slipped by their list of qualifiers. If this item was really available to all who could use it, without discrimination, I suspect that there would be far more dissatisfied customers. But they have a great game-plan. They weed you out if you won't play by their rules, dissension not allowed. Somehow, you slipped by ! I do think that watching their video and reading "the (astronomical)amount of info needed to start and continue the pump routine," doesn't amount to a hell of a lot of effort on your part. That is what I would consider to be the barest minimum. But, I would think that even with that, you should have had some idea of what you were getting into, before you started. You sound as if you were rather surprised by the experience. I also thought that a potential pump user had to wear the thing with a saline solution, to learn about it before starting on insulin. Didn't you know about all the effort that would be involved? I do criticize the manufacturers for suggesting that pumps make life easier, and allow one to be more "normal" in their daily routine. That's sales hype. There is nothing normal about wearing an infusion set in you stomach all the time, or having a box to carry around that is tied to a line for the insulin. In terms of convenience, shots are much easier. In terms of better control, the pump seems to win out, but is that due to apathy and a lack of extra effort from those using injections? For them, the pump may be the incentive that they need to make that extra effort. As most pump suppliers seem to offer 30-day free trials, and you have hardly given it a fair chance with only a few days use, why not keep it for at least 25 days? The sales people will probably bend over backwards to keep from having it returned. They may offer extra supplies or improved items to make it work easier. Might as well see what you can get, and whether it really makes a difference. You must have decided to try it because you knew there was room for improvement in your control. Give yourself a chance, now that you've got it.
Changing the reservoir and putting in a new infusion set is
one of the most monotonous tasks I've ever done in my life. So, what's the problem?
And this needed to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount
of little objects and details that needed tending to during
the set-up was obnoxious (clip this piece onto there, take
this piece off from that one, yadda yadda yadda). Are you learning disabled? Or, just a chronic complainer? You're complaining about doing something once every 2 or 3 days, but if you take shots, it is 3 or more times each day ! I have voiced a lot of negative comments in response to some of the posts about the greatness of pumps, but I gotta tell ya, you're complaints do not seem justified. You should have known about all of this before you started using the pump. And, I'm not a pump user !
...issue of constantly having to flick air bubbles... Get real !
...needs to be done rather quickly, because when the pump is
disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking
insulin going inside (god, I missed Lantus). Lantus is the last thing you should be missing ! Having no freaking insulin for a short while doesn't make a damn bit of difference. Don't you ask questions from the pump salespeople/instructors? I would think that any pump user should also have syringes and their fast-acting insulin available anyway, in case of pump failure. For longer periods of time, if needed, you could probably get by on Regular insulin. And, before insulin, people lingered for anywhere from weeks to years before dying. I think you'll be safe for five or ten minutes, or even an hour, without the pump connected. Just don't eat anything. Other comments you made:
...RESTRICTED body movement... Going to the bathroom and
changing clothes... ...shower times...had to be rushed... Sounds to me like you have been grossly under-trained. I think you should complain about not having had these items answered before you got the pump. I also think you are making a big-deal out of items that can be worked out without too much trouble.
...sleeping became uncomfortable because I didn't want to
move to my other side and accidentally hit some pump
buttons,... I think you are worrying about nothing. Your are flat-out wrong, or you have got the worst pump on the market. I am not aware of any current ones without buttons that can be locked to prevent accidental boluses. I think with most, you have to go through more than one step to get any change in insulin. Why don't you know this? It is beginning to sound as if you didn't read "the (astronomical)amount of info needed to start."
I can only imagine what it would be like for sex, since I am
not in a relationship... ...gotta take my pump off
now...let's make sure this doesn't last too long, because I
will be needing my insulin again shortly." Well, ya got a point there. You won't be able to keep doing it continuously for hours & hours like the rest of us. Actually, you would be amazed at how understanding the right female will be, so that you can leave the pump on and still have sex. Although, I do agree that it could be bothersome. You also won't die if you remove it for a reasonable period of time. You might even find it a useful item to use if you want to get a pretty young thing to feel sorry for you and offer some sympathy sex, not that I find that appropriate, but it has been known to happen. The foreplay, making-out etc., can take place with the pump being worn, and you may just decide to leave it on.
I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine
attached to me that needed constant monitoring and
attention. That has to do with your mindset in regard to deciding to wear a pump. Sounds like someone did not do a good job of talking to you about it, before you got it. As for constant monitoring and attention, if you were not doing that when on shots, then you could not have been under good control. Either way, good control takes an effort. The pump does not necessarily make it easier. The advantage is that it can make good control better, but that might take even more effort than shots !
... I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice
to have shots when I eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be
DONE with it. No hassle with detailed set-up processes, no
awkward machine attached to my body throughout the day - ah,
much better for me. -K You sound like future problems waiting to happen. If you don't test frequently, before & after meals, at least long enough to see how you are doing, then you are just fooling yourself. And what about this imagined fear from no insulin when the pump is disconnected? After the fast-acting insulin is used up, there is no insulin for more food. One shot of Lantus before bed is not going to do it. I think you have got a lot of needed diabetes education ahead of you. Maybe the pump wouldn't have worked for you, but to have quit after only a few days is not even giving yourself a chance to learn all about it. You should have made a commitment for at least 25 days, if you had a 30-day free trial. If you can still get it back, do so, and give it a real try. There are no shortcuts for good diabetes control.
Answers:
khendradm~aol.com (Khendradm) wrote in message news:<20040110174616.07996.00002636~mb-m16.aol.com...
I tried it this last week. Just stopped it today. AWFUL. ...
I feel like I am in an extreme minority. Here's my story and
(partial) list of complaints.
OK. I saw the introductory video (as instructed), and I saw
two pump specialists who tried the best they could to help
me with the (astronomical)amount of info needed to start and
continue the pump routine. I was on it for a few days. Well,
I couldn't really find any special benefits with it. In
fact, it made my life a tedious HELL. If you didn't care for it, then don't use it, but I would give it a fair chance. I wrote some other comments to someone who was gung-ho for the pump. My own feelings are mixed. There seems to be good and bad sides to it, but the more I read, the more it seems, to me, that pump users are of a particular mindset that is largely a result of good salesmanship on the part of the pump companies. Can't say as I blame the pump makers. Afterall, it is a $7,000.00 product, so, it stands to reason that they want to leave their customers happy, or they will be back with that get-yer-money-bak guarantee. It sounds like a good product to sell because one is approached by a customer who wants to buy, and the price and supplies are high. Their only job is to prevent buyer's remorse. Apparently, they failed with you. I wonder if a pump-salesman needs any special medical training, in regard to a degree, or are they nothing more than a glorified car-salesman? (I realize that they get training from the pump company, and a fancy title.) Certainly, the companies put a lot of effort into trying to find qualified customers,(that is, qualified by their standards), so that they have a low number of buy-backs from dissatisfied customers. It is an interesting product to sell because the customer often does not care about the price, as the cost is covered by medical insurance. That, more than anything, makes it rather unique. I think that you are in a minority, because somehow, you slipped by their list of qualifiers. If this item was really available to all who could use it, without discrimination, I suspect that there would be far more dissatisfied customers. But they have a great game-plan. They weed you out if you won't play by their rules, dissension not allowed. Somehow, you slipped by ! I do think that watching their video and reading "the (astronomical)amount of info needed to start and continue the pump routine," doesn't amount to a hell of a lot of effort on your part. That is what I would consider to be the barest minimum. But, I would think that even with that, you should have had some idea of what you were getting into, before you started. You sound as if you were rather surprised by the experience. I also thought that a potential pump user had to wear the thing with a saline solution, to learn about it before starting on insulin. Didn't you know about all the effort that would be involved? I do criticize the manufacturers for suggesting that pumps make life easier, and allow one to be more "normal" in their daily routine. That's sales hype. There is nothing normal about wearing an infusion set in you stomach all the time, or having a box to carry around that is tied to a line for the insulin. In terms of convenience, shots are much easier. In terms of better control, the pump seems to win out, but is that due to apathy and a lack of extra effort from those using injections? For them, the pump may be the incentive that they need to make that extra effort. As most pump suppliers seem to offer 30-day free trials, and you have hardly given it a fair chance with only a few days use, why not keep it for at least 25 days? The sales people will probably bend over backwards to keep from having it returned. They may offer extra supplies or improved items to make it work easier. Might as well see what you can get, and whether it really makes a difference. You must have decided to try it because you knew there was room for improvement in your control. Give yourself a chance, now that you've got it.
Changing the reservoir and putting in a new infusion set is
one of the most monotonous tasks I've ever done in my life. So, what's the problem?
And this needed to be done every 2-3 days! The sheer amount
of little objects and details that needed tending to during
the set-up was obnoxious (clip this piece onto there, take
this piece off from that one, yadda yadda yadda). Are you learning disabled? Or, just a chronic complainer? You're complaining about doing something once every 2 or 3 days, but if you take shots, it is 3 or more times each day ! I have voiced a lot of negative comments in response to some of the posts about the greatness of pumps, but I gotta tell ya, you're complaints do not seem justified. You should have known about all of this before you started using the pump. And, I'm not a pump user !
...issue of constantly having to flick air bubbles... Get real !
...needs to be done rather quickly, because when the pump is
disconnected from you, you have absolutely no freaking
insulin going inside (god, I missed Lantus). Lantus is the last thing you should be missing ! Having no freaking insulin for a short while doesn't make a damn bit of difference. Don't you ask questions from the pump salespeople/instructors? I would think that any pump user should also have syringes and their fast-acting insulin available anyway, in case of pump failure. For longer periods of time, if needed, you could probably get by on Regular insulin. And, before insulin, people lingered for anywhere from weeks to years before dying. I think you'll be safe for five or ten minutes, or even an hour, without the pump connected. Just don't eat anything. Other comments you made:
...RESTRICTED body movement... Going to the bathroom and
changing clothes... ...shower times...had to be rushed... Sounds to me like you have been grossly under-trained. I think you should complain about not having had these items answered before you got the pump. I also think you are making a big-deal out of items that can be worked out without too much trouble.
...sleeping became uncomfortable because I didn't want to
move to my other side and accidentally hit some pump
buttons,... I think you are worrying about nothing. Your are flat-out wrong, or you have got the worst pump on the market. I am not aware of any current ones without buttons that can be locked to prevent accidental boluses. I think with most, you have to go through more than one step to get any change in insulin. Why don't you know this? It is beginning to sound as if you didn't read "the (astronomical)amount of info needed to start."
I can only imagine what it would be like for sex, since I am
not in a relationship... ...gotta take my pump off
now...let's make sure this doesn't last too long, because I
will be needing my insulin again shortly." Well, ya got a point there. You won't be able to keep doing it continuously for hours & hours like the rest of us. Actually, you would be amazed at how understanding the right female will be, so that you can leave the pump on and still have sex. Although, I do agree that it could be bothersome. You also won't die if you remove it for a reasonable period of time. You might even find it a useful item to use if you want to get a pretty young thing to feel sorry for you and offer some sympathy sex, not that I find that appropriate, but it has been known to happen. The foreplay, making-out etc., can take place with the pump being worn, and you may just decide to leave it on.
I felt like a machine. Maybe it's because I had a machine
attached to me that needed constant monitoring and
attention. That has to do with your mindset in regard to deciding to wear a pump. Sounds like someone did not do a good job of talking to you about it, before you got it. As for constant monitoring and attention, if you were not doing that when on shots, then you could not have been under good control. Either way, good control takes an effort. The pump does not necessarily make it easier. The advantage is that it can make good control better, but that might take even more effort than shots !
... I am glad to resume my old routine of injections. So nice
to have shots when I eat, and my Lantus before bed, and be
DONE with it. No hassle with detailed set-up processes, no
awkward machine attached to my body throughout the day - ah,
much better for me. -K You sound like future problems waiting to happen. If you don't test frequently, before & after meals, at least long enough to see how you are doing, then you are just fooling yourself. And what about this imagined fear from no insulin when the pump is disconnected? After the fast-acting insulin is used up, there is no insulin for more food. One shot of Lantus before bed is not going to do it. I think you have got a lot of needed diabetes education ahead of you. Maybe the pump wouldn't have worked for you, but to have quit after only a few days is not even giving yourself a chance to learn all about it. You should have made a commitment for at least 25 days, if you had a 30-day free trial. If you can still get it back, do so, and give it a real try. There are no shortcuts for good diabetes control.
Diabetes With People