So, Im currently using Minimed’s Silhouette Paradigm and usually use the IV3000 dressing to cover the site while I shower. The thing is I shower for maybe 15min then am done and the IV3000 is taken off and tossed. These things average run 50.00 for a box of 100. Its like my showers cost me .50c a day! =^)
At any rate, my question is are a lot of folks using dressing on their sites for bathing? Is there anything reccmmended other than IV3000?
Thanks for any feedback and wish you all tight control.
I dont even cover mine. I use Skin Tac (Box of 50 is like $10) before you insert, and there is no need to cover. The stuff is like gorilla glue for skin. Its not coming off unless you make it come off on purpose.
I second that for my son. Skin Tac has been a life savor for him. We actually rub the Skin Tac over the infusion set. If he is going to a waterpark or possibly will be away and can’t risk having the site come out… Then we use tegaderm … but the Skin Tac works great !!!
Am I the only one who doesn’t do anything at all?
Nope I used to do the same thing (just alcohol to clean the site) but with sweat and activity it was hard to keep the sites in place so i started using IV Prep. That was good but still had a few issues. So next i tried Skin Tac, and its been good since then.
I use skin prep when I insert and that’s it. I’ve not had a problem with swimming, sweating, showering, etc…
I also use the silhouette. I don’t cover it at all. I usually prep with alcohol, sometimes IV prep. But, the site is pretty sticky on its own!
thanks for all the feedback. I used to use quick sets and IV prep and that worked fine to keep the set well sticky. Trying IV prep with the Silhouette did work at all and i had a number of sets come loose after getting them wet.
So, as I see it there is 2 new options to try:
Skin Tac
OPSITE Flexifix
just one question, how is the Skin Tac removed? Oh, make that two questions, are these bother quick to apply and remove?
Thanks all!
Skin Tac is just IV prep on steroids. It doesnt really require a removal solution, but they do also make Tac Away which is used to help remove the stickiness. I never use it though.
I don’t do anything at all either.
The infusion set sticks fine to me and lasts through 3 days of showering without a problem. I also don’t use the little plastic cover. The infusion sets are sealed well enough that water won’t go pouring into you.
Different people have different skin types, but I would try doing nothing first, then see if you need the various skin products available to help it stick.
I found that IV Prep made my skin really dry and gave a worse stick that just without it. For years I used nothing, but my doctor convinced me to start spraying with alcohol before insertion, which is what I do now.
Does the alcohol reduce the stickiness? I just wonder, because I live in South Texas. Basicly you walk outside and break a sweat. If I didnt have the IV Preps or Skin Tac my sets would fall off after a day (Thats the issue i was having anyways) But Medtronic was cool, and sent me replacement sets along with my Skin Tac order.
When I removed the quicksets I used with IV Prep, I would use an alcohol swab to remove any extra sticky. It worked well for that, but having not used the skin tac, Im not sure how much more “glue” there will be. It should help though.
What I would do is just run the swab over the set prior to removal. That would take care of it. Then if there was any extra glue, I would run it over that as well.
