Gang, I’ve ordered my Animas Ping, and am just now learning about all the red-tape, delays, etc. How frustrating.
After it’s approved by Blue Shield (which takes a few days), Animas then receives the go-ahead to ship. After it’s shipped (which takes a few days), they then put me in a queue for a trainer. After a trainer is assigned to me (which takes a few days), I then wait a week or so for a call. We then make a future appt. for my first training.
So the bottom line is this: my pump will arrive on my doorstep, and I’ll have to wait another week or two before I can even use it!
about the same. and after i had the pump in my hands and had the training, i had to wear it for a few days with saline and then take a test from the trainer before i could put insulin in it.
best of luck!
Not quite that bad. I was told to call for the Trainer after I received the pump. I received it and called. I can’t remember if the number I was given was the trainer herself or someone who then had the trainer call me. But either way it was only a day later the trainer and I spoke and we made an appointment for a couple days after that at a time good for us both at my house.
I was also put on saline for a few days and then the trainer came back for my second session with insulin. I was actually still waiting for my insulin vials (I’d used pens) so the delay was fine and in hindsight for a first pump I really appreciated the time spent on saline to get to learn the pump without worrying about actual insulin. I didn’t have to take any kind of tests. I felt like the trainer and the Clinical Manager who was her supervisor respected my degree of knowledge and preference for working on my own. I turned down the phone followup asking only for a number to call if I had a question/problem. The Clinical Manager called me the first night to see how I was doing and that was it. It was perfect for me. They also, prior to this not only contacted the insurance for me (and got approval in a couple days) but hand delivered the form to my doctor’s office since he didn’t respond to their fax and wrote in a starting basal based on what I had told them (my doctor has no clue and just let’s me self manage).
Thanks for the feedback, Zoe. I’m hoping that it will go quickly with me as well. My CDE has suggested that I probably don’t need a saline trial since I’ve already tested the pump for several days. Also, she’ll be giving me training in addition to Animas. But guess what? Just my luck that my endo will be on vacation when my pump arrives. Geesh!
I’m not a good one to ask on this - it took nearly six months from when I decided to get the pump to actually get it, and I paid for it out of pocket (and there weren’t any delays on that front).
Well i didnt have to do saline or even when i had my 1st pump a medtronic i didnt have to do saline either i have a CDE that works with my endo and once i did my training with the pump i was put into Animas BG Management program it is about a month and im supposed to be dismissed on Friday they might enroll you in it to help you tweak your pump to the levels you need or they might not, it can be a pain but i feel it helped a bit though its very tedious and aggravating and you can choose not to do it but not sure if your levels will be as good as they could be if you use it, my numbers have improved a little though i still get some highs and lows though not quite like before.
I just tweak my own numbers, Jan. I couldn’t imagine having to call someone everytime I wanted to do a change. It’s all about trial and error and I’m not sure what an endo could add other than to nod their head to what I was doing, or try and put me on their own timetable which I would refuse anyway…lol. But I think everyone is different in how much they want professional input. Pumping Insulin by John Walsh is my bible!
yea i had alot of people tell me about that book but i would rather test and try then follow what a book says in my opinon life experience beats a books experience and i couldnt remember my basal since i was last on a pump and i had problems with hypos lately on mdi so i couldnt just start on my own.
The days of waiting seemed like years while they were happening, but in hindsight, it really wasn’t that bad. I was really proactive in making sure to contact my trainer and doctor to get everything set up. I used the time in between my pump arriving and the start of my saline trial to play around with every feature possible, so training was a breeze once I got to that part. I think the biggest challenge is just adjusting to a new “normal”. I feel like I grieve a little for whatever my previous “normal” routine was every time I go through a major change (diagnosis, pump, distance running w/ pump, etc.).
Mine wasn’t like that, but my endo has a couple of diabetes educators on staff. They were the ones that trained me on my pump as well as my dexcom. Sorry you’re having so much trouble. I don’t think I could have waited once my pump was in my hands. Good luck.
I don’t “follow what the book says”, Andrew. I do what works for me by trial and error. But the book is a great reference so that I am not “reinventing the wheel”. I prefer having a book to refer to at times since I don’t work at all with a doctor or educator (other than my two sessions of pump training)
Sounds about right. I was told on a Wed. that it would be shipped out and I had it at my doorstep on Friday. They told me the rep would be contacting me within 10 days to set up an appointment on how to use it. I actually had an app for my dexcom so when I told my diabetes educator that I actually had the pump at home she looked at me like Huh?? why didnt I set up the app to do both, I explained that they said the rep would contact me. She then contacted the rep right then and there. My diabetes educator told the rep she would train me. So my advice to use is to contact your Diabetes Center and see if they can help you with the pump (might be quicker this way). Good Luck!
It took me two months to have my first pump approved. I opted to be trained by a CDE but she was not a good one, and left town without her cell phone leaving me all alone as a new pumper. Didnt need saline, and I havent met anyone around here who does that.
Anyway, that first pump was a Minimed, and they did not offer training with one of their people (or if they did, it was a long wait). When I got my first Animas, and later a Cozmo I had excellent training right off the bat. Cozmo gave me something like three hours with a local CDE. We frankly spent more time talking on issues than going over the pump training. Animas gave me excellent training and the best CDE I ever had. Not anymore, now they do not train people on new pumps (only new pumpers, I assume).
As for adjusting things, as a new pumper I absolutely let them help me figure things out. I also did that when I switched from MM to Animas, as the pumps deliver differently. Once you have the hang of it, then you will be making your own adjustments, sometimes once or twice a year or more.
Hope your training arrives quickly!
You all are so helpful. It was nice to come back to these great replies.
Really interesting to hear your experience with multiple companies, Laura!
My CDE is not affiliated with any of the pumps. She’s part of a local medical clinic. So Animas won’t be providing me with a CDE. They will, however, assign me one of their local trainers, which is what will take so long. I’m hoping that in meantime, my CDE can step in and start training me so I don’t have to wait. Will check with her tomorrow and make sure she feels comfortable doing so.
(Just my luck that my endo is leaving tomorrow on a 3-week vacation! Geesh.)
Jan, yes, I pretty much have done everything except the Omnipod.
Ten years, and six different pumps.
Now I dont have the funds to pay when my warranty is up. This time I guess I am stuck with the same pump for as long as it lasts!
And the idea of having training from your CDE is so good. I hope you can work that out right away!
Happy pumping!
I feel like you’re not understanding what I’m saying, Andrew. You listen to your doctor don’t you? Well I don’t use a doctor, I read books and listen to people on here. Then I “take what I need and leave the rest”. I’m probably one of the most “life experience” people you’ll meet. I tweak all my own numbers, I’ve started Symlin on my own. I do things my own way and it works for me. YMMV.
Yea i understand that i was saying i would much rather rely on myself then what a book has to say because i believe me knowing myself would be alot more accurate then what a book would know ( this is my own opinion).
