So I spoke in another thread about how I really like the metal (Contact Detach) sets and could use them very successfully (4 days at a time) for months, then all of a sudden I started having problems with pain and high numbers. This happened twice. I had a very strong conviction that the reason was that, although I rotated the exact spots, I used my abdomen for that whole time and needed to switch body part.
I tried my hips, and had no return of the pain or high numbers but always managed to unstick the set and pull it out. (Dryer skin? I have no sticking problems at all with my stomach). Someone on here mentioned using their arms, and though I thought I would hate it I gave it a try. I loved it! Unlike having it in my stomach, I didn't need to worry about it when I pulled pants on or off or slept on it. And because it's long sleeve weather now it was like it became invisible and unfeelable. But not to my numbers! My numbers were, if anything, better, I even had some lows and had to lower some doses! So cool, huh?
Not exactly. The contact detach has two parts including one that it hooks into and out of which is separate. So I stuck the needle part in my left upper arm and when I went to remove the tape from the other part it was very hard for me to do with one hand. But I finally got it and just decided I'd have to remember to do that ahead of time next time. Then just now I went to take a bath....uh, oh! There is no way at all I could remove the clip in part with one hand. I tried pulling it off to just let it dangle after, but it was still way too far to use my left hand. I have trouble with those darn "press and pull" clips even with two hands. So I had no choice but to pull the whole thing out. Sigh. Ironically I'm currently reading a book about a man with an amputated arm and had been feeling how hard everything must be for him to do!
So anyone use their arm with their contact detach have any suggestions to this mechanically challenged PWD?? I really liked using my arms!
I use my arms all the time—in fact, I'm using my right upper arm now. (Although I left my pump at home today ... but that's another story!) I put the needle lower down on my arm and then put the second patch up near my shoulder. I sometimes find it difficult to detach through clothing, but if I take my top off (like before a shower) it's not hard at all. Maybe try experimenting with putting the second adhesive patch at different places to see which is easier to reach? The nice thing about the Contact Detach is you could put that patch in relatively the same spot, even if the set itself is being rotated on your arm, which is what I do.
Duh! See I told you I was hand-eye challenged! It never even dawned on me to put the patch up near my shoulder so I could use that hand as well! This is why I post things on here! Thanks, Jen. I've currently got the needle back in my arm with bandaids over it so I don't waste a set I just changed yesterday, and the other part just dangling. But now I know I can continue using my arms, at least until Spring!
Since I've stopped using Skin Tac things are MUCH better! The past few sets I haven't had many problems with bleeding, either, so I'm not sure what that was about. Without Skin Tac they get itchy and look a bit irritated when I remove them (and the stickiness isn't good so I have to be careful not to tug on them at all), but at least it's not a rash that lasts for days like with Skin Tac. Overall my control is still WAY better than it was with plastic cannulas, and I will be very curious to see what my A1c is when I get it in two weeks.
It took me many tries and many failures to get it all worked out.
I find that if I stick the part where you clip in so that it's about a palm width down from the top of my shoulder, and more pointing toward the front of me that it's easier to unclip and clip back in. I can see what I'm doing, at least. There have been a couple where I've had to get assistance from the spouse.
And yes, always remove the tape backing before inserting. I did that so many times...
I've also found that I need hypafix to keep the sites in (well, everywhere, but also on my arms) because I flail in my sleep, and sometimes flailing leads to yanking on the tubing too hard. :(
And here I thought I would benefit from your experimenting, Mocha, and do it right the first time. Nope! I forgot just how badly eye-hand challenged I am! So I figured I wanted the needle part higher up and the click-in part below so it can run straight down to my pump which I usually clip on my waist. So I put the needle just below my shoulder and the click-in below that, but still no more than the palm's width you describe. Disaster! The needle part was too close to my shoulder joint so soon as I bent it to get dressed the needle just popped out. In addition the click-in part was still too low for my left hand to bend up to assist in removing it later. I think I have if not short arms definitely short hands. Sigh.
So I just re-read Jen's post and see she said the click in part goes up near the shoulder and the needle part lower. I guess it doesn't really matter if the tube is looping back around. I'll try that now.
I just don't want to run out of sets because as of November 1st my DME is free so I gotta make it last another week! If I screw it up again I'll just take a bath attached and lay the pump on a stool!
"...they get itchy and look a bit irritated when I remove them..."
Unisolve, my friend. No red rash, that lasts days, after ripping off the top layer of your skin. With Unisolve and a few minutes to let it soak the pad, it virtually falls off.
Why bother to disconnect? You have an Animas pump which is guaranteed waterproof. I personally disconnect for a shower but when I asked here several people said that they shower with the pump still attached.
I take very hot baths and I know you are not supposed to go in a hot tub with a pump. But mainly, I've just never had the nerve to do actually submerge my pump; it feels so counter-intuitive! I'm not much of a swimmer, mainly just go into the water to cool down, so when I was at a beach resort this summer I would just disconnect for my brief time in the pool then reattach while I sunbathed.
In the quote above I was referring to the sets without using Skin Tac - and I don't think I need Unisolve as they barely stay in as it is! I hardly have to tug them and they just fall out after two days. (Plus, Unisolve wouldn't help with the itching that starts about 12 hours after insertion.) I think I probably have a mild allergy to the metal needle or the adhesive, but I can live with this type of mild reaction ...
The reactions that were resulting from Skin Tac, however, were much worse and were pretty much just as bad as the reactions I was getting with plastic sets - welts, red, itchy, lasted for days after removal. Plus, anywhere Skin Tac had touched (even if not under the adhesive) made my skin dry and itchy and I felt like it was ruining my skin. I'll probably give Skin Tac another try when I get hold of some Unisolve or a similar Product (I'll probably order whichever one Animas carries), as maybe if I got the Skin Tac off my skin as soon as I was done inserting the set, and used the Unisolve to remove the set, things would be better.
I was nervous submerging my pump for the first time, particularly because I used a Cozmo before Animas and the first time I got that wet (just dunking it in the sink) it killed the pump. So, to reassure myself, I ran the pump under the tap a few times with no problems, and since then I've been swimming many times with it. Once I noticed the cartridge leaking (it was wet after removing it) and then a crack in the pump, and I called Animas and they replaced it no questions asked. As long as it's under warranty, I wouldn't worry about getting it wet. :)
Personally, though, I find it easier to change clothes and such with the pump disconnected. Sometimes I will clip it to my shirt just below my chin while I change my pants and then clip it to my pants while I change my shirt, and this also works fairly well.
That's why I like the 43 inch tubing. I just lay the pump down on the bed or table next to me while I get dressed. It's amazing, isn't it the variations of the techniques we all develop to do...well, just about everything to do with our D!
By the way I got a new doctor last week, not intentionally, the old one left. (I wasn't all that fond of him, so it was ok). The new doctor, who actually is just a PA said "I know you know more than I do about Type 1 Diabetes because you deal with it 24/7." I liked that!
Sorry! I'm also bad at describing. I have the actual infusion set down lower on my arm, and since I just got to change out, it's down far enough that the clip in part could be up on my shoulder. I wrap it around my arm instead and just go one handed. I can't see them on my shoulder, so even with two hands, I have trouble. But if I can see it, I can do it one handed.
Actually I thought your first explanation was very clear... The second one - "wrap it around my arm"?? I don't really understand. But that's ok, there is no way in hell I could do it one handed. I can barely handle that "press the little bar in and then pull" thing with two hands! Yeah, I realized I really can't see it that well on my shoulder either, but it looks like it will work to look in the mirror. Wow, it seemed so simple at first..lol
