I've gotten into a new routine with the infusion-set rotation. It's still not perfect -- at times a site will be problematic and I'll have to change it out, sometimes only to change it again a few hours later. But at least there's hope: I can now use both arms, as well as at least one side of the abdomen. Maybe after a while the skin on my abdomen will heal at least somewhat.
The problem, it seems, is not just the sort of damage one gets from years of injections/infusions. My abdomen still has extra blood vessels from pregnancy (yes, two and a half years later), and it's also tougher. Sometimes the infusion-set needle just pushes in the skin like a fingertip would. Who knew that would happen? I've talked with lots of medical and pump-manufacturer personnel, and no one has ever heard of this issue or has any suggestion of how to help. I just love being on the cutting edge of medical knowledge (not!). But I've got enough working sites that I don't have to consider the side of my, ah, nursing body parts, as my nurse-practitioner recently suggested, only half-jokingly.
Meanwhile, I am repeatedly jealous as several extended-family members have children with far greater ease that I experienced (three in the past 6 months!). Strangely, several of them have had trouble nursing - which is supposed to happen to only about 5% of women, according to babycenter.com (a great site for expectant parents and new, or not-so-new, parents - mostly for the reality check that comes from other parents' comments below each article). Now, I know my own acquaintances do not make a statistical sample - and these new moms are perhaps older than what's considered average, although not in our part of the world. But it seems odd; I think there's a conspiracy to make new moms feel bad, just as there seems to be one great big conspiracy about making parents feel bad, no matter what they do with their kids. Nurse your kid for 6 months? You gave up too soon; Bad Mommy. Nurse for more than a year? Whoa, Nature Mom! Potty train before age two? you're a pushy mom. After two - what's wrong with you, and your kid? (Yes, we are in the midst of potty training now.)
A silver lining to having diabetes in all this is, I had a good bit of skepticism about all the parenting advice, right from the get-go. I mean, when "What To Expect..." pushes all fruit for breakfast, and no artificial sweetener, ever, what's a diabetic to do? Fortunately, I've learned that my daughter does well on her own schedule, and her dad and I just have to be her cheering squad. Now if only I didn't have to carry her so much!
Showing posts with label infusion sets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label infusion sets. Show all posts
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Holiday Hurry - Help!
This time of year is like the "burn" phase of a workout. "Okay, you can do it! Just one more rep...and one more!..and one more once..." So, rather than excuse myself for not blogging in a while, I'm going to pat myself on the figurative back (my real back is too sore) that I'm still breathing.
In addition to the end-of-the-year work stuff, and the holiday stuff (and yes, I do all the traditional present-buying and card writing and a little baking), here is my recent to-do list related to diabetes:
1. Place mail-order insulin order - first, ask doctor for new prescription; then get message from pharmacy saying "my order is in process, there's nothing I need to do" (a.k.a., "there's nothing you can do about it!); then wonder which order they mean of the three prescriptions I've ordered recently; then tap my finger on my desk wondering when the "overnight" insulin will arrive, and if, like last time, it will arrive a) overnight and freeze; b) arrive while I'm away for Christmas; b) not arrive at all. At least insulin is available without a prescription at regular pharmacies (for a price), if need be.
2. Figure out where, besides my abdomen, my insulin pump will now deliver insulin, because after 15 years of injections all over my body, but more in my abdomen toward the end, and 10 years of pumping mostly into my abdomen (pregnancy notwithstanding), I've suddenly hit a wall, where I absolutely could not find a place in my abdomen where the needle would go in smoothly (or at all), without excruciating pain, and without stopping delivery in the dramatic, incessantly beeping way that pumps have of getting attention.
3. Realize that the new infusion sets I ordered a couple of months ago, when I started having trouble with my abdomen, have the wrong length catheter - 23 inches instead of 43. Get caught in a "it's not my fault" loop between my pharmacy (which is connected with my insurance) and my doctor's office, with the result that I'm out $90 and have to wait 2 to 3 weeks to get the correct infusion sets - i.e., right during Christmas. Now, you might think, it couldn't possibly be that bad - can't I get these any sooner, say, at a local pharmacy? Nope. I went through this during pregnancy, when I had to try my legs, butt, arms, etc. and needed different types of infusion sets for each site. Regular pharmacies don't carry pump supplies at all. Even the manufacturer can't send supplies any sooner than two weeks. I got four sets directly from my doctor; the nurse said "this will last 12 days, right? I said all going well; but it hardly ever goes well! (see below). Besides, 12 days is not two weeks, even at a normal time of year.
4. Wonder how I might fare if I have to go back to injections over the Christmas week, without any access to my doctor for advice (I'd have access to a doctor, just not my own). It's been 10 years since I've injected (except for occasional short-term regular-insulin shots when my pump goes temporarily out of whack). I think I should contact my doctor now to get advice, just in case.
5. Curse thoroughly (and hope my daughter doesn't hear) as I try to get one of the four precious 43-in infusion sets into my arm, using a device that's really made for use with two hands (duh!). Then try to keep it in as I place Tegaderm on the tiny sides of the infusion set so it doesn't pull out (with one hand, remember). With the first new infusion set a few days ago (a Quickset for the Minimed paradigm pump, for any diabetic pumpers out there), I didn't get the needle in right and got the "no delivery" beep from my pump, and had to redo it. With the second set, I got it in, only to realize the Tegaderm was downstairs; when I put my shirt sleeve ever so gently over my arm, the infusion set plumb fell out! One more time (late for work and daughter yelling for me, of course). At least I can use the infusion needles from the 23-in catheter sets, so I still have two 43-in sets left. I want to call the pump manufacturer and tell them these sets need improvement, but it won't help me for now. Oh, and I already tried my legs and "hip" - no good at either site, with either my usual Silhouette) or Quickset infusion set. Also, my daughter keeps grabbing my arm right at the infusion site as I pick her up, which is painful and also risks pulling it out. I'm just biding my time til I can start using the abdomen again!
6. I do want to praise all the helpful folks along the way in sending my Christmas presents: The online retailers who provide free, fast shipping and actually deliver! The mail room folks at work who let us send personal packages; even the USPS and UPS folks who've figured out to put their mailing labels on top of tape, so you can quickly remove it and put your own label on a box. All these little things really, really matter to a diabetic working mom who's about had it by the time I even get to the point of dealing with presents.
In addition to the end-of-the-year work stuff, and the holiday stuff (and yes, I do all the traditional present-buying and card writing and a little baking), here is my recent to-do list related to diabetes:
1. Place mail-order insulin order - first, ask doctor for new prescription; then get message from pharmacy saying "my order is in process, there's nothing I need to do" (a.k.a., "there's nothing you can do about it!); then wonder which order they mean of the three prescriptions I've ordered recently; then tap my finger on my desk wondering when the "overnight" insulin will arrive, and if, like last time, it will arrive a) overnight and freeze; b) arrive while I'm away for Christmas; b) not arrive at all. At least insulin is available without a prescription at regular pharmacies (for a price), if need be.
2. Figure out where, besides my abdomen, my insulin pump will now deliver insulin, because after 15 years of injections all over my body, but more in my abdomen toward the end, and 10 years of pumping mostly into my abdomen (pregnancy notwithstanding), I've suddenly hit a wall, where I absolutely could not find a place in my abdomen where the needle would go in smoothly (or at all), without excruciating pain, and without stopping delivery in the dramatic, incessantly beeping way that pumps have of getting attention.
3. Realize that the new infusion sets I ordered a couple of months ago, when I started having trouble with my abdomen, have the wrong length catheter - 23 inches instead of 43. Get caught in a "it's not my fault" loop between my pharmacy (which is connected with my insurance) and my doctor's office, with the result that I'm out $90 and have to wait 2 to 3 weeks to get the correct infusion sets - i.e., right during Christmas. Now, you might think, it couldn't possibly be that bad - can't I get these any sooner, say, at a local pharmacy? Nope. I went through this during pregnancy, when I had to try my legs, butt, arms, etc. and needed different types of infusion sets for each site. Regular pharmacies don't carry pump supplies at all. Even the manufacturer can't send supplies any sooner than two weeks. I got four sets directly from my doctor; the nurse said "this will last 12 days, right? I said all going well; but it hardly ever goes well! (see below). Besides, 12 days is not two weeks, even at a normal time of year.
4. Wonder how I might fare if I have to go back to injections over the Christmas week, without any access to my doctor for advice (I'd have access to a doctor, just not my own). It's been 10 years since I've injected (except for occasional short-term regular-insulin shots when my pump goes temporarily out of whack). I think I should contact my doctor now to get advice, just in case.
5. Curse thoroughly (and hope my daughter doesn't hear) as I try to get one of the four precious 43-in infusion sets into my arm, using a device that's really made for use with two hands (duh!). Then try to keep it in as I place Tegaderm on the tiny sides of the infusion set so it doesn't pull out (with one hand, remember). With the first new infusion set a few days ago (a Quickset for the Minimed paradigm pump, for any diabetic pumpers out there), I didn't get the needle in right and got the "no delivery" beep from my pump, and had to redo it. With the second set, I got it in, only to realize the Tegaderm was downstairs; when I put my shirt sleeve ever so gently over my arm, the infusion set plumb fell out! One more time (late for work and daughter yelling for me, of course). At least I can use the infusion needles from the 23-in catheter sets, so I still have two 43-in sets left. I want to call the pump manufacturer and tell them these sets need improvement, but it won't help me for now. Oh, and I already tried my legs and "hip" - no good at either site, with either my usual Silhouette) or Quickset infusion set. Also, my daughter keeps grabbing my arm right at the infusion site as I pick her up, which is painful and also risks pulling it out. I'm just biding my time til I can start using the abdomen again!
6. I do want to praise all the helpful folks along the way in sending my Christmas presents: The online retailers who provide free, fast shipping and actually deliver! The mail room folks at work who let us send personal packages; even the USPS and UPS folks who've figured out to put their mailing labels on top of tape, so you can quickly remove it and put your own label on a box. All these little things really, really matter to a diabetic working mom who's about had it by the time I even get to the point of dealing with presents.
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