Some kind of OCD attempt to impose structure on my post...
Morning all
So much ACTION here!!
First: Tracey, well done! Yay team! Brilliant numbers and wow. The same happened with us. One thing I will say, not to put a damper -- but our team indicated that after the first 24 to 48 hours sometimes things need tweaking much more, because by then all the long-acting is out of your body...so don't worry if things seem to go a little unstable in the next day -- nothing is wrong! 🙂 Such good news though and so pleased for you. Look forward to hearing how things go...
Second: E hasn't come down with anything! He's back at school today. He was droopy yesterday morning, but perked up through the day. He has been doing corrections and on temp basals CONSTANTLY since the weekend...on the other site, it seems that one of the DSNs said that after an event like at the weekend, there can be quite a lot of insulin resistance...My money is on that. The numbers without correction are coming in 12-17 ish, which is WAY higher than usual. So we are correcting and temp basaling...hopefully it will end soon. Either that or something about the whole thing has precipitated a leap in insulin needs, and we just change his basals permanently!
Third: support. Well Lou, thanks for asking. We've been in touch with both our teams, and they have been sympathetic and we've had hyper treatment protocol discussions etc. Neither mentioned any insulin resistance though, which would have helped 😡 !
Fourth: cannula discussions. Both of our teams have heard of this, and both consider it to be fairly rare, though some have more troubles than others. Both said for us to keep going as is for a while, but that if a switch is necessary, this will be obvious. One team I thought was particularly astute: she said that it's perhaps best for E to come to the decision to change things if there are recurrent problems, rather than for us to weigh in there. Obviously if we have problem after problem we'll all act fast, but her wise thoughts were to always allow E independence where possible, trust him to come to decisions about aspects like this, involving change and his body, wherever possible. I thought this was good advice for dealing with a teenager.
Fifth: more cannula. Re the 9mm vs 6mm, heard from only one team so far. She was the 'wait and see' one, as above, and thought it a possibility. She *did* say though that in her experience most older teens and adults switch to silhouettes. They aren't as aesthetically pleasing in that they use up more area, but they stick out less so that makes up for it a bit. They are, however, easier to see whether you've got it right or wrong...
Sixth: more cannula!!! Both teams thought the fridge idea was a bit useless, I'm afraid. Their view was that the difficulties at insertion were about slight shifts in angle from 90 degrees -- this can make the cannula go in slightly askew, which sets up the possibility of a kink. They couldn't see how refrigeration would help with this. On the other email forum too, there seems to be a difference of experience and opinion: many have been using 6mm sets for years with no difficulties. And one person indicated that with quicksets you can get a 'feel' for whether it's in right or not, and that this improves with time... Certainly with that set and E, it hurt him quite a bit when he stood up -- which is very unusual. He's also become quick and casual with it all, and was also trying to work around the side of his tummy more, so MAY not have had it completely flat?
Seventh: we now no longer use the cavilon OR tea tree, often. Somehow it's all worked out, almost like he's become used to it?! He and I both have the same 'allergic to the non-allergenic' plasters as Bev, and this was one of my unspoken fears about the pump -- that it would turn out to be a miserable experience. However this has not been the case. So I would try not to freak out Bev. Give it some time. In hospital he had an ECG -- and was violently allergic to the stickies, coming up in red welts! They were mega-surprised. I'm not though -- when I had my C-section with him, I had horrible blisters from the bandange. They didn't believe me, and were shocked when they took a look 😱. HOWEVER, the tummy is no doubt quite sensitive, so maybe just try the aids (the spray and the wipes?) and keep going for a bit. As I say, we now often as not use nothing.
Eighth: Adrienne, I am so in admiration of your strength and resolve in all this. And it really couldn't get much more important. Thank you so much for doing this work, for persevering, and for looking after those who don't have access to looking after themselves. It is no doubt thankless and shattering at times...But they clearly need you to fight for them. So well done. I'm staggered and gutted for the families who don't have the care we do. Numbers in the 20's. Imagine how absolutely dreadful the kids feel, their quality of life. They must just think that this is how life feels, and how they will feel forever. It's an uphill battle, being that high, so exhausting and emotional. It's heartbreaking, just unforgivable.
Ninth: Mand, Bev and Adrienne, hope those hypos and highs are beginning to sort! Wearing. I feel for you! We have asked E to stay in touch today, feeling on tenterhooks. At school on a temp basal all day. Eek.
Tenth: Lou, you are killing me. A little later, we should start a 'funny pump' thread, like the 'test strips show up in the strangest places' one ages ago...
Eleventh: I am surrounded by work. Damn. Thanks for all your support!
xxoo
That's ok, was on a school trip to the local museum with Rose. Couldn't think at first, had to get it out to look 
