Nervous

[Maryanne29]

Two weeks to go until I go live with my pump and am starting to feel very nervous about it. I really want to do this and know it will benefit me but after 54 years on injections this is a massive change. I am going to make it work though and guess in a month I'll be wondering what I was worrying about! 😱

 

[Northerner]

I can understand your apprehension Maryanne, it will be quite a change for you! But I am sure you will be fine, and don't forget to call on the lovely people here if you have any questions or concerns 🙂 Good luck!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I think *everyone* has that 😱 WHAT ON EARTH AM I DOING!!!! 😱 moment at some point on the run up to beginning on a pump Maryanne.

Be prepared for a bit of effort in your first few months, and it would not surprise me if you felt a little like being newly diagnosed all over again in the early days - I know I did after only 20 years of MDI.

But hang in there - you will get some good surprises too, and the work you put in will pay off. I believe there is no better, more flexible tool for managing T1D than a pump with a committed and pro-active user.

 

[Flower]

Starting to use a pump is a big change from MDI but a good change.

The day I came home with my first pump

 

[Flower]

Oops pressed the wrong button, the day I came home with my first pump I felt like I needed a minder with me looking out for problems. That was 12 years ago, you adapt really quickly, it was the best thing that has happened to me control wise. Good luck.

 

[trophywench]

Sympathy Maryanne!

Been there, done that, wanted to bin the b thing after 3 to 4 weeks cos NOTHING worked like it did on MDI, only thing that stopped me was the voice in my head, my husband's voice (though that was very unfair of me as he's always supported me!) saying I told you so.

That was NOT going to happen.

Pumper Sue offered me help and lots of other people, including my lovely DSN - but I explained that No - I have to do this myself. But thanks ever so much for offering.

And suddenly after giving myself a right talking to - it all started to come right again! Well, it took about a week or 10 days before it started making more sense and that's because I was actually analysing what my meter was telling me - and working out sensibly how to respond to that with basal tweaks and timings etc - and that's what you have to do. Use your analytical brain more, instead of just your intuitive one.

I have to think like that now when considering people's probs who are on MDI - that's really weird!

You'll get there and it WILL be better! Honest.

 

[ingrid]

Ooooh how nerve-wracking but so exciting!! I'm so pleased for you 🙂

Like others have said, it's a lot of hard work and commitment for the first few weeks, even months, and you keep learning all the time. Because you have such a flexible tool you can adjust and refine all sorts and your control will be much better.

Get a hold of Pumping Insulin by John Walsh, and Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner, if you can before you start (I won't suggest Amazon as I boycott them 😉 but there's Alibris, any independent bookshop or library could order, though I think it's very useful to have your own copies to refer back to).

I love my pump!!! Hope you'll love yours

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Maryanne, you wouldn't be human if you weren't nervous. It's the common problem of fear of the unknown 🙂
You will be fine, if not overwhelmed for a little while.
Any worries then just shout someone will answer your cry for help.
Just keep your sensible hat on and think in a logical manor.
When you go for your set up take pen and paper to scribble things down as you will forget bits by the time you are home. 🙂

Do you have your pump with you now? If so then play with it and get yourself used to the different functions. Less to take in on the live day.

As to feeling strange after 52 years on insulin, I think you will be fine. Even though it was something like 43 years on insulin for me before I pumped I just took to it like a duck to water. It felt strange for a couple of hours, then it was a case of just checking to make sure the pump was still there as just didn't notice it.

 

[Maryanne29]

Thank you all - and it's all turned out well for you so I am optimistic. In reality I can't wait to get started now. I do have a demo pump and I'm practicing with the buttons and as technology doesn't worry me I don't think I'll panic.
But I'm sure I'll be shouting for some advice from all of you as I go along.
Thank you though for all your kind words.

 

[Redkite]

Good luck with it 🙂. I'm sure you'll never want to go back to injections....