Spare pens a necessity!!

[pippaandben]

Had a nasty shock over the weekend when I lost my pens. I am on holiday caravanning and went to a show Saturday night where you have small tables. Injected for a packet of nibbles. When we came to leave couldn't find car keys and turfed everything out of my bag - OH went to see if they were in the bar - found keys at bottom of bag - OH not best pleased so I rushed out. Only when we got home did I discover no pens. Rang theatre no-one there. Panic stations. Knew ( I thought) that I did not have spare pens with me and dreaded dealing with the receptionist yet again here - it took one whole week from registering to cllecting insulin prescription. Luckily had really good pharmacy who ordered in what I wanted so it would be saved and ready for meic who had losyt pens and needed basal.
Rang 111 - Cut through all questions by saying insulin dependant diabetic who neede basal at least for that night and next morning. Immediate response to get GP to ring back to let me know when and where to collect spare pen(s) which would be in an hour. Went to sort out diabetic bag for prescription so could tell them exactly what I needed - and what did I find right at the bottom - my spare pens!!!
Rang back 111 to tell them and they couldn't have been nicer and they re-iterated several times that any time I needed help and advice to call them even at 3am if hypo!

It seems my brain works properly even when I don't know it! Really brought home to me the seriousness of my condition and it was a huge wake-up call.
The moral is - have spare pens whenever away from home - you never know what disasters can happen

 

[Northerner]

Oh my, what an experience! 😱 Glad to hear you got everything sorted, and good to know that NHS 111 were actually very helpful! 🙂 I always get a bit panicky if away from home whether I've remembered everything - a bit like you feel when you wonder 'did I lock the doors/close the windows/turn the gas off' 😱

Don't do it again! 😉

 

[Amberzak]

Oh wow. Glad they were helpful.

I've never had spare pens. I only have the ones I got. Should I ask for spare pens.

 

[Sally71]

Probably a good idea to ask for spares, just in case anything goes wrong with the ones you have! On a pump you always have back up pens so I don't see why not on MDI either, it only takes one to break or mysteriously disappear and you'd be in trouble...

 

[Northerner]

Oh wow. Glad they were helpful.

I've never had spare pens. I only have the ones I got. Should I ask for spare pens.

Yes, you should have spares as they can break and you don't want to be left not being able to inject as often the pens are not stocked at the pharmacies so may take a couple of days to come through. I just requested them to be added to my prescription, but you might find it easier to ask your DSN or GP directly. 🙂

 

[KookyCat]

I'm going to take this thread to my Doctor next week, they see no reason why I need another pen or why a half unit pen is useful...or why you might have to test more than four times, or why 100 needles isn't enough for a month. I'm taking ipad, calculator and a PowerPoint presentation so I can enlighten them. I'm starting with "what is diabetes" just so I'm sure we're talking about the same condition, followed by "Basic Maths for Medical Professionals"

 

[Austin Mini]

I asked my DSN for spare pens and was given a prescription for two new pens. Before going on holiday I contacted my glucometer manufacturer (Abbott) and asked for a spare battery as we were off to Greek Island and they sent me a new battery and a spare glucometer! I never go away without a spare pen left in the hotel safe.

 

[AJLang]

I had my humalog pen break once - fortunately I had a spare because I couldn't get a new one immediately - needed a prescription from the GP and then the pharmacy had to order it in. If I didn't have a spare I would have had major problems.