Posted: Thu 20 Jan 2011 @ 14:22 by

I had just finished typing problems I have experienced since April \'10 when we just had a power cut - all lost so I\'ll try again!
First - Delivery problem
Only two weeks with the pump and I was at Castle Howard for lunch when the pump beeped and vibrated, telling me there was \'no delivery\'. When I got home I called the Medtronic helpline and because it was after six I talked to someone in America!  She talked me through checking the pump was working by disconnecting and looking for drops and decided I must have, that morning at a set change, got the cannula against tissue so that the insulin could not flow. On doing another set change all was well but I must admit, as a novice, to being in a bit of a panic.
Second - Cup/set failure
As I was supplied with only one cup, I thought they were infallible! After six months mine started to catch the sticky tape in it as I pressed the white clips to launch the cannula in me. The consequence was that the cannula was not in properly or I had to extract the trapped bit and stick it properly myself. I would recommend new users to order a spare cup when they get their first bulk order. In training we weren\'t warned anything could go wrong with the cup.
I have had the cannula come out of a set as I pulled the central blue needle protector out. This has meant the whole thing was wasted. Also I have had the blue clip over the needle section come out with the needle - all stuck in the cup as I took it off. Bit unexpected! I appreciate the set change is a bit fiddly, but I am certainly not ham-fisted and take care and time when changing sets. Has anyone else had issues?
Finally - a nice one - beeps make you friends
I was approached while at a restaurant by a lady who asked if I ever had problems with set site infections? ! She had heard me beeping and recognised the noise! (She had been a pump user for 2 years.) Needless to say, it now vibrates!
Gill

Report this post

Posted: Wed 26 Jan 2011 @ 18:46 by

Hi Gill,
I think that these are all problems that pump users encounter from time to time, nothing to do with you being a \"novice\" it sounds as if you are doing all you can to get things right.
With regards to the tape sticking to the cup, I have spoken to Medtronic and they told me that they recently altered the size of the sticky disc, so now it sticks to the cup, they are apparently \"working on a solution\"...very helpful! One thing that may help is if you pull the bottom of the cup rather than push the sticky pad down. If you place your finger over the blue needle protector as you are unsticking the pads, this keeps it steady and helps to prevent any stretch which means at the other end it should not stick upon insertion. From a no delivery point of view, it can be quite distressing... try to carry a spare line and an inserter with you for dire emergencies, but I find in most instances if you go to fixed prime and put 15-20 units through the pump this usually sorts out the problem, more often than not it is and extra air bubble that didn\'t pass through on first prime.
Just to finish by saying that I have been on a pump since 2001 (I got mine whilst living in Australia) and still get things wrong and have problems. It is a big adjustment and you need to allow yourself the time to de-program yourself from the security of syringes etc and allow this magic machine to do it for you. But do remember that you are still in charge and once you find the balance it really does make a difference to your life. Vic x

Report this post

Posted: Mon 23 May 2011 @ 15:35 by

I use Steret antiseptic swabs on the blue inside part of the cup after swabbing my skin, it cleans any residual stickiness and enables the cup to \'click\' cleanly and not \'catch\' the adhesive circular tab.

Report this post