The Pump Story: Part II: Insulin Start Appointment

This post should have gone up yesterday, but I was busy tending a sick kiddo.  For my non-diabetic readers: I'll understand if you want to skip this post.  It's about my daughter starting on her insulin pump.  It may seem like too much detail, but I wrote it thinking that I wish I could have read others' starting experiences so I'd know what to expect.  My apologies for the length!

 We made it through the rest of "Saline Week" without too many problems.  Fast forward to this past Tuesday, the 21st... time to start the real stuff, insulin.

  It was one of those harried mornings at home when nothing was going right.  We ran out the door to get to our appointment, and as an afterthought, we threw the entire box of pump supplies in the trunk, just in case.  We get there, and we do need some supplies, so DH prepares to hike back out to the parking garage and get what we need.  (Side note- it strikes us as odd that the pump company/ doctor's office don't supply anything, or at least keep a few on hand, for starting out- we had to use all of our own supplies from our limited stash from home.)  Then, we realized... we didn't bring the INSULIN.   ::smacks forehead::  The entire reason we were there was to put the insulin into the pump.  ::sigh::  So... DH decides to run home and get it.  It should be 20 minutes, home and back.  Embarrassing to be "those" parents, the ones who forgot something so vital to the appointment, but still... it was fixable.

DH ran home, leaving DD and I with the pump trainer sitting around a table in a tiny room.  The woman kept making that "hrrrmmm" sound, which I assume to be a nervous habit, but still, very annoying when you're already having a bad morning and you're stuck in a small room with her.  As we're sitting there, my cell starts ringing.  And ringing.  And notifying me that I have new messages.  Which is lovely and all, but I don't get any reception in there- just sound effects.  So, I'm 99% sure that the State Surveyors have shown up  at work (nursing home) and those calls are mandating me to come in to work, but I'm stuck in the hospital with no car and no cell reception.  So, we sat.  I had apologized about ten times to the trainer.  I'm sure she was probably making notes about how we shouldn't be allowed to take our kid home since we couldn't even remember to bring insulin.  Yikes.

An hour later, DH still wasn't back.   The pump trainer and I had run out of small talk, DD was getting restless, and I was starting to worry.  Knowing that my cell doesn't get reception in there didn't help any.  Finally, DH showed up-- it turns out there had been a major car accident on the way home, and he was stuck in traffic. 

Once he got back, we got down to business.    It wasn't hard to put the insulin in in place of the saline- same process.  Draw up a giant syringe full of insulin, fill the cartridge, prime the pump, and insert.  Once that was in and running, we were pretty much through there.  We packed up, stopped by home, and then dropped DD off at school.  I rushed off to work- the State Surveyors were indeed there.  (It's pretty much the most stressful week of my year, and I had really hoped that it wouldn't coincide with DD's insulin start because I usually wind up working crazy hours.) 

The day for DD was fairly uneventful.  Her numbers were all over the place, though, which meant that she didn't feel too good.  Sky-high, then down, then up again.  She was worn out between the crazy numbers and the stress of the day.  Then we got to that night....

Part III, coming soon!

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The Pump Story: Part I: Saline

DD's pump is like this, but pink.

 

For my non-diabetic readers: I'll understand if you want to skip this post.  It's about my daughter starting on her insulin pump.  It may seem like too much detail, but I wrote it thinking that I wish I could have read others' starting experiences so I'd know what to expect.  My apologies for the length!

So, I know an update about DD and her new insulin pump is long overdue- after all, this thing has been part of our lives for two entire weeks now.   Two weeks.  A CRAZY two weeks.   

We went in on a Tuesday afternoon to meet with the pump trainer.   Now, the lady was nice, but a little annoying.  She ended most of her sentences with this "hrrmmmm" sound.  It seemed to be a nervous habit.  She took us through the basics of pump therapy, the specifics of how DD's pump works, and which buttons do what.  

Then she watched as I put the new infusion set in DD's belly.  Insertion was quick and easy, and DD didn't feel a thing, thanks to the numbing cream.  Once DD was all hooked up, we left the hospital, and took DD home for the evening.  That night we had some issues figuring out how to wear the pump (which belt? which pack? over or under clothes?) but otherwise it was fine.

The next morning was not so pretty. DD managed to rip out the first infusion set within a few minutes of waking-- caught it on something as she was washing in the shower.   My poor girl was shaken and upset and hating the pump at that point.  Nothing like figuring out your first all-on-you-own infusion set insertion at 7am with a crying child and a sleep-deprived brain.  But, we made it, and even got her to school just as the bell rang.  I met with the nurse for the district and the clinic lady for our building, and  really, I couldn't tell them a whole lot at that point- I'd only pushed the buttons to get her through two meals by then!   They were very nice, though, and we all basically decided that we were smarter than the pump and we would get through this.  Ha!  

About an hour after I left, I got a call.... DD had ripped out the second infusion set of the day when she went to the restroom.  ::sigh::  So much for this being easy.  I went back to school and put a third set in.  This time, we secured it with bandage tape.  It didn't look pretty, but it held.  I walked her down to her music class, which unfortunately has glass windows AND faces her brother's preschool room... where I had to stand and wait for him to be dismissed.  The entire time DD is giving me puppy dog eyes and mouthing "I hate this thing".   I pretty much felt like the meanest mom in the world right then.  Before I left I gave her a wink and a thumbs up sign, and she returned a shaky smile and an "ok" hand motion, so I figured things were looking up.

The rest of "saline week" was pretty much the same, although thankfully, she didn't rip out any more sites.   Some uncomfortable sites... some learning what different alarms mean... nothing too exciting.  Sometimes DD said she hated the pump, and sometimes she was interested in it and having fun trying on her new packs/ belts.  Meanwhile, we were still giving her injections 4-6 times daily, the same as always.  

Tune in tomorrow to find out how our switch to insulin went!

This post may contain sponsored reviews or affiliate links.  You can read my policy here. I always provide my honest opinions.

Menu Plan Monday 9/27

• MONDAY: sauteed chicken tenders, mushrooms, & onions; alfredo noodles, broccoli
• TUESDAY: *new recipe* baked ham steaks, macaroni & cheese, peas
• WEDNESDAY: hot wings (chicken nuggets for kids), homemade potato wedges (sprinkled with ranch dressing mix), salad
• THURSDAY: crockpot cube steak, mashed potatoes, green beans
• FRIDAY: homemade pizza
• SATURDAY:  eating out or ?

Diabetes Meme

As a D-mom, I've been enjoying reading this meme around the DOC (Diabetes Online Community).  I notice that there's a theme in the moms who blog-- we all feel that the D-care is ours, regardless of how great our husbands/ other family members are.   I'm pretty sure mom-guilt comes along with any child's diagnosis.  :(

What type of diabetes do you have:  My 7 year-old daughter has Type I.

When were you diagnosed:  September 19, 2008.  Our 2-year D-versary is coming up this week.

What's your current blood sugar:  She was 213 at breakfast.  

What kind of meter do you use:  One Touch Ultra and several One Touch Minis.  We have a mini one at school, a backup in her backpack, another backup in the car, and one by her bed. 

How many times a day do you test your blood sugar:  We test DD between 4 and 8 times daily.  Breakfast, lunch, supper, bedtime- always.   Any other time she feels high/low, any time she wants more than a 15 carb snack, any time she's been playing sports.... you get the idea.

What's a "high" number for you: Lately we are seeing 300+ several times per week.  :(  We start pumping this week, though, and I pray that the pump will really help us get better control of those crazy numbers.

What do you consider "low":   The traditional "under 80".  I don't stress about anything in the 60's or 70's, but we do treat, as once she's under 80, she seems to drop quickly.

What's your favorite low blood sugar reaction treater:  Juice or glucose tabs.  

Describe your dream endo:  I think we just switched to her.  Available by email and answers personally, very proactive and progressive.  :)

What's your biggest diabetes achievement:  I think every time DD does whatever her friends are doing without worrying about Diabetes it's an achievement- we want her to live life as normally as possible.  Personally, I'd pick the first slumber party she went to this summer-- it was nerve wracking, but good for both of us!

What's your biggest diabetes-related fear:  That she will have another crazy low in the middle of the night and not wake up.  Honestly, I pray about this every night.  One bad night many months ago has scared me silly.   I'm anxiously awaiting the CGM (hopefully about two months after the pump) with the low alarm.

Who's on your support team:  My husband, parents, sisters, other family, and a few friends.

Do you think there will be a cure in your lifetime:  I honestly don't know.  I'm generally optimistic, but, with such varied areas of research and all, I think I'm just afraid to get my hopes up.

What is a "cure" to you:  Some way to kick-start her bad pancreas and make it start doing what it's supposed to be doing.

The most annoying thing people say to you about your diabetes is:  Did she eat a lot of candy?

What is the most common misconception about diabetes:  That diet cause it.  It makes me mad and also insults me that people actually believe that I fed my child such a poor diet that she now has to have numerous shots and finger sticks daily, especially since I have worked hard to make sure my kids eat well.  Argh!!   

If you could say one thing to your her pancreas, what would it be:  Ummm.... it would not be family-friendly, so I won't say.  ;)

Feel free to swipe this meme.... it's been going around the DOC!  

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September 11th

Thanks to Mandi for the great graphic!

Menu Plan- Tuesday I-need-a-plan edition

Tonight's crazy rush reminded me that I NEED to do a menu plan.  So, a day late, but better than not at all, here's this week's plan.

• MONDAY:  steak fajitas (cheap clearance steak marinated in my favorite fajita marinade) with peppers & onions, along with our favorite layered Mexican dip & chips
• TUESDAY:  Tonight I was a short order cook, LOL!   The kids had frozen pizza dinners.  I had some sauted chicken tenders over leftover mashed potatoes.  DH got a chicken sandwich. THIS is what happens when I unexpectedly have to work late and don't have a menu planned!
• WEDNESDAY: my birthday= eating out  :)
• THURSDAY: kielbasa, julienne potatoes, peas
• FRIDAY: crockpot chicken tacos (chicken tenders cooked with taco seasoning and salsa) & all the fixings, applesauce
• SATURDAY: homemade pizza, tossed salad

Check out more menus or share your own at Menu Plan Monday!

This post may contain sponsored reviews or affiliate links.  You can read my policy here. I always provide my honest opinions.

Just Call Me Bill

My life looks calm.  Looks normal.  It's not.  I feel very much like Bill the Cat these days: my brain is fried, which pretty much limits my responses to major life events to muttering "Ack" and "Pbbbthhh" and slinking off to do whatever it is that needs done.

(Side note: Bloom County remains my all-time favorite comic!)

Recent brain-cell stealing events:

• 44 gallon fish tank sprung a leak in a bottom seam & couldn't be fixed. New tank, new supplies, big bills, and fish living in a Rubbermaid box for three nights.  Pbbbbbttthhh!
• DD's insulin pump arrived in the mail last week.  This amazing piece of technology will soon be attached to my child, keeping her alive, 24/7.  We have SO much to learn.  Ack!
• Stuff going on at work.  Friends leaving.  Stress levels at an all-time high.  New regulations and paperwork and deadlines piling up.  Pbbbbbbttthhhh!
• A nagging feeling that maybe it's time to make a career change, yet no clue what/ how.  Ack!
• My annual eye exam uncovered a problem involving four follow-up visits so far.  I feel like one of my elderly residents as I organize my numerous vials of eye drops and complain about blurry vision.  Pbbbbbbtttthhhh!

See?  All these things have just sucked the life right out of me lately.  These things really  deserve much deeper responses, but I'm tapped out.  So.... thhhhppppptttt!

This post may contain sponsored reviews or affiliate links.  You can read my policy here. 
I always provide my honest opinions.