tuesday's the day.. i go to the Dr. at 9AM and i leave 3 hours later with my pump, im really nervous. and im extremely scared this is going to be something i really don't like.
any advice?
If I could wave a magic wand, I would want anyone who is doing what you are doing to be excited.
I have some basic suggestions, things that will at least prevent major incidents and perhaps put your mind at ease as you adjust to a pump:
check often
give your pump a name: my pump's name is Hal.
Personalize the pump as much as you can. Give special names to boluses, etc. It helps you learn about the pump easier, and it's fun to mess around with the software (I hope they give you software with your pump...I have software and an IR port that I had to pay out of pocket for, but it was worth it! and it wasn't that expensive, either).
Good luck, by the way. A pump is a wonderful thing; it has its challenges, and it will probably annoy you from time to time, but remember how you feel when your levels are controlled, and remember that anything is possible for the better.
I hope your life improves by leaps and bounds with the pump. Give it a chance to work--pump therapy seems to need to be adjusted a great deal at first, and be open with your medical team about how you really, truly feel about everything that you are experiencing. They can't help you otherwise.
Congratulations, too! Keep us posted on how it goes with the pump.
Hey you are lucky and be happy you are getting a pump. I will be stuck with needles til i die. I have no insurance. So im damned on that end. I wish i could have a pump. Dont be nervous. Be happy that you will live that much longer and have to worry about your diabetes a little less.
What you're going through is totally normal.
I was incredibly nervous going into my pump setup day. I walked into that office thinking I was doing perfect on shots and that I should just tell them I change my mind. And I was 13.
Even when I put that 1st infusion set in I totally regretted the decision to go on the pump.
9 years later I can't tell you how not big of a deal the pump is. It just seems like a really big deal before you get used to it. After a week you'll completely forget you have it on. Sure it'll take some time to work out the kinks, but once you get settled in all the fear will wash away.
And, honestly, it's really easy to take a break for a while and go back to shots if you're not diggin' it. No big deal. You'll be fine. Good luck!
My experience with the pump is absolutely good, although i had problems the fist time i used it.
The bigger advantage is that you only press buttons to bo your bolus or blood sugar corrections thus you avoid pinching for example 6 or 8 times per day, also you will have a much better control of your diabetes and better HBA1c results, thus a safer life for the next years.
During the first days/ weeks, It' s very important that you check often your blood sugar in order to avoid hypoglycemias, especially now that basal rates might need adjustments. Be carefull on the morning BS results. If they are low, thus near 50-60-70, contact your physician and let him know.
Finally, check often each time you change the infusion set, thus after half an hour, one hour etc. There is always the risk of a bad fittting of the set. Just be careful!
Good luck Vivian!
Hi Liz
I was 15 when I got my first pump and I was so excited and nervous at the same time. It was something I really wanted to do and had been looking forward to for months but as the day drew closer I began to freak. I had got to wear the pump for a few days with just saline in it so I knew what it was going to be like but I was still scared that I was going to do something to it, or worse it would do something horrible to me. Within a day or two all these feelings disappeared though because once I finally got my pump my life became a lot easier. My sugars were better, my A1c was better, and I worried less.
The only advise that I can think of is to remain calm and try the pump out. If you do not like it you can always go back to injections. Use whatever is most comfortable to you.
Wolf...sometimes, if you have a doctor who'll work on your side, you can volunteer to be a "tester" for a product such as a pump. That's something I was thinking about doing in order to at least get a try at a CGM...a newer model. I hope you have better fortune in the future with medical coverage.
The best advice I can give to you is breathe... Be as open-minded and positive as possible. Having good energy doesn't hurt, it actually returns more positivity to you. Lastly, it'll be okay, either way, it'll be alright. :)