Pump training and school - advice please?

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ageez

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Hello everyone! Our six year old son now has a date for his pump start. I am very nervous and excited about this. Nervous because I am generally worried about getting it all up and running for him and because I am frightened that it will be painful and difficult to do set changes etc. I am obviously excited, because I hope that it will give him a better quality of life.

Anyway, I was wondering how involved school has to be in the initial set up? Our son has a 1:1 TA at school, and I am not sure whether she has to be invited to the saline and insulin starts, or whether school staff generally have training separately from the family? What have other parents done? The school doesn't have a clue and they are taking their lead from us, but what do we know?!

I would appreciate any of your experiences, please.

Thanks!🙂
 
Sorry, cant help as have no experience myself. Have you asked your DSN/clinic what they suggest? They prob have a 'usual' approach.
 
Hiya,
if your son's TA would like to go along then go for it.
Two heads are better than one 🙂
Life is very confusing to start with so any extra input is always welcome.
As his TA is dealing with your son for most of the day then it's only sensible she goes along as well.

Set changes every 2 or 3 days are fab compared to jabs 4 times a day. Changes are not painful but if there are any issues then purchase some numbing cream from the chemist. If the cannulas have self serters I think personaly it's the noise that causes the problem as it's a loud click so the child and or adult thinks that loud noise means ouch 😡 (which it doesn't)

Have you invested in the book pumping insulin by John Walsh? If not then please do so. It's known as the pumpers Bible and worth it's weight in gold.

Quality of life is a wow factor once up and running.
So good luck and happy pumping.
 
After a couple of weeks you will wonder what all the worries where for. Nothing perfect but i think its the best so far ! Good luck 🙂
 
LOL at your angst with the set changes, but I do completely understand. It takes adults utterly ages to do the first one, mine took me half an hour with lots of sweating and shaking etc a year ago, now as everyone tells you - it's 90 secs on your way out of the door.

If you don't make a fuss - he won't. I thoroughly recommend you practice first on YOU with a spare cannula. You can't re-use em and they cost a few ??? each so you can't really do that too many times, but I think it would set your mind at rest at what you are doing to your child.

I was utterly convinced it would hurt, but eventually gritted my teeth and went for it. Very noisy (and separate) inserter with mine, I'd shot that off a few times without a cannula loaded to get used to it, but I still went Oooh! involuntarily as it fired - and of course no pain whatsoever! Huge sigh of relief. Nice. LOL

Be warned upfront though that the needles on the cannulas do actually LOOK longer and more beefy than pen needles. That's because firstly, the needle goes through the bit of the cannula that stays inside you and sticks out the other end of it so the pointy bit is exposed (that makes sense when you think about it) and of course then the cannula surrounding the needle makes the needle look wider than just a needle. But once the thing is in and the sticky on the outside is stuck down, you completely withdraw the needle out of your skin. You cannot put it back so once you start to withdraw it, don't change your mind as you will perforate the cannula (rendering it useless) and it would probably be quite painful.

Good luck !
 
Good news!

I know it's a bit different, as Carol is older and has to self care at school, but...

After Carol started to pump, her DSN and I went into school to see the school nurse and gave her a bit of a lesson. By all means, if the TA wants to accompany you even better. Otherwise you can just teach her yourself or get the DSN to come to school with you.

I inserted a cannula in my tummy too. I was really scared, but it didn't hurt at all. Carol was terrified too, but at the saline pump start it only took her about 5 minutes before she managed to squeeze the cannula inserter. She has the Animas pump with the "inset 2" cannula (this cannula is like the "mio" too) Which pump is he getting?
 
Monica said:
Good news!

I know it's a bit different, as Carol is older and has to self care at school, but...

After Carol started to pump, her DSN and I went into school to see the school nurse and gave her a bit of a lesson. By all means, if the TA wants to accompany you even better. Otherwise you can just teach her yourself or get the DSN to come to school with you.

I inserted a cannula in my tummy too. I was really scared, but it didn't hurt at all. Carol was terrified too, but at the saline pump start it only took her about 5 minutes before she managed to squeeze the cannula inserter. She has the Animas pump with the "inset 2" cannula (this cannula is like the "mio" too) Which pump is he getting?
Click to expand...
Hi, yes it is good news and it is a comfort to hear that it doesn't really hurt!

Joseph will have the Accu chek Combo. I know there are different cannulas etc, but I have no idea what the differences are between them and which he is likely to have! There is a lot to learn.
 
OOh same pump as me!

Some of em - the ones with the straight (90 degree cannulas) you use the inserter and others - the angled ones - you have to do by hand. I've no idea which are considered best for kiddies.
 
trophywench said:
OOh same pump as me!

Some of em - the ones with the straight (90 degree cannulas) you use the inserter and others - the angled ones - you have to do by hand. I've no idea which are considered best for kiddies.
Click to expand...

There are 6,8 and 9mm straight cannulas as well. (Tethlon or steel) I use a steel 8mm and all I do is push it straight in it's no different than having an injection.
Any set with a luer look with fit on the combo cartridge so a wide choice 🙂
 
Hi Ageez, I like the suggestions thus far. I would add..........If using angled sets, after inserting new set, make sure the cannula goes into skin and hasn't skimmed the surface - not penetrating the skin. Had this happen once, noticed right away and placed new set.
 
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