I am a huge fan of rotation of sites. I mean, it was drilled into me when I was diagnosed that rotation was everything! My parents and I were given little charts of the body with patterns to follow to make sure we rotated.
After 20+ years of injections (5 a day before I switched to pump), I switched to a pump. Again, was drilled about rotation. If I didn’t, major absorption issues. And I am very happy to say, all that stressing the importance, has paid off. After 30+ years of pumping, I have no bad spots.
But I am always looking for new spots. I have started using my flabby underarms with great success. And of my coworkers has started using her breasts. And yes, I cringed at first but than was like, maybe?
So I emailed my endo to ask his viewpoint. My biggest issue personally is that I have very lumpy, dense breasts and have gone through the biopsy issues a few times and it is always calcification. He did say that some of his patients do use this site but he felt it might not be a good site for me with my medical history.
So I am probably not going to but wondering if others have go results with this site and is there any other off the wall site that might open up new options.
Because insulin can function like a growth hormone, I would never take the chance of injecting insulin into my breast tissue.
I placed an infusion set and sensor in the fatty area at the top of my breast/toward underarm before I had surgery. This kept them far away from any surgical field. It worked fine. I haven’t used them since, though.
I have not tried areas other than abdomen, but would consider side/hip area. With the self contained auto inserter, seems like this would be easy to do, near where back pocket is.
I use inner thighs and arms for dexcom.
Yeah, I know this is probably off my list of possible sites & after watching both my Mom and Grandmother do the breast cancer battle, I do want to go down that road. I am on an every 6 month mammogram check in. Just keeping an eye on those lumpy, questionable areas.
But like I said new site are a necessary thing when you have been pumping this long. I know I am rotating well but always open to new possibilities.
I use abdomen, upper & lower, buttocks and hips, thighs, inner and outer, arms under and upper. I think the only place would be calf but then I get into the length of the tubing. Now everything is 23 inches unlike my much missed 32 I think it was. Not sure if the tube would make it from calf to waist band.
New sites are always on my radar but thinking breast will be a no go for me. But I guess not out of the possibilities for other without my medical history.
I go all around my hips and sides of my butt. As long as I’m not sitting directly on it. I overused my abdomen and I rested it a long time. I can use my abdomen again but I rarely do. All the scar tissue is gone though. After about a year. 3 months using compression tee shirts helped.
Yes to this. I’m a guy, and started using chest/pecs about a year ago and am very happy with stable absorption and comfort. (Using pods.)
Two spots you haven’t mentioned: above abdomen over lower ribs (I tried once, wasn’t comfortable, but others have no discomfort) and on the back, between neck and shoulder (not somewhere I’ve tried yet).
No, I will never use my breasts. Too sensitive and I have similar issues with cysts to you but no biopsies, I was followed with spot magnification at some point. I use my sides/ hip areas and stomach. I probably don’t rotate enough but so far things are OK most of the time.
I have a lot of problems with pain from insets, when I had put them on my back I had really severe pain once so I don’t do that anymore.
I have the tubing also to deal with and it needs to be close to my waist. I wear everything on a pump belt case. It is difficult enough with it there.
I use the side of my chest under the bra band area it works great and I can’t usually feel it. I don’t think I could tolerate the set being on my breast.
Can you tell me a little more about the type of compression clothing that helped you heal your abdomen? I’ve been injecting/pumping over 40 years now and have always rotated, but I’m getting more and more areas all over my body that I can barely use anymore. Tyvm
I used ones I found on Amazon. I had a few diff brands.
If you usually wear large, go for medium and if medium go small.
The constant pressure some how allows the scars to heal.
I wore them every day for 3 months except when sleeping.
Thanks Timothy. Appreciate it! 