New here! Came on board because Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Have been using the Animas Ping and had great results with that, Dexcoms G4 and the Novolog I have used for years....
After about 6 months which went WONDERFUL and gave me the MOST EXCELLENT CONTROL ...I started to have BS rises...Hard red very itch bumps and cough (I am also asthmatic) Some of the red bumps were as large as 4 1/2 inches across these were directly under the "Inset 9mm " insert which has the teflon cannula...
so The Doctor, Myself, and Animas suggested I switch to the Contact™ Detach Infusion Set 8mm ...which I did and soon had the same reaction..took about four days..(after the second change of inserts)...Animas then suggested I have the Physician swap out insulin...All the while I am drinking (exaggeration...but am using) benadryl and inhaling steroids and fast acting inhaler...and using topical cortisone....I have included some images the typical reactions,
So Doc switched to humalog with steel Contact™ Detach Infusion Set 8mm ...symptoms at site minimized over two weeks...and then began to worsen switched to Apidra using Contact™ Detach Infusion Set 8mm and still getting the itchies and bumps...deep and VERY hard bumps that hurt quite a bit...AND LAST A VERY LONG TIME...I STILL HAVE BUMPS LEFT FROM THE Humalog :(..The reactions are no longer visible just palpable (The Doctor felt them last week and told me to call Animas again) AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I am so sad that I might have to quit the pump...Anyone with past experience...advice?
I had similar reaction that I attributed to Novolog insulin. When I switched to Apidra, the red pump bumps did not follow. I believe it's an allergic reaction.
You've now used all three of the rapid acting analog insulins as well as two types of cannulas. Perhaps you should go back onto a multiple daily injection (MDI) regimen and give your body a respite from whatever is irritating it.
Once all the reactions resolve, then perhaps you could try various infusion sets. If you otherwise like pumping, you may be able to find a setup that works for you.
Maybe MDIs will be your best therapy. Many people here achieve excellent control with MDIs and have no desire to use the pump. It would be nice not to have to deal with all the extra supplies and demands that a pump creates.
I am soooooooooooo sorry this happened to you. How frustrating!
I have Animas and use Apidra. The only thing I can tell you is that I have reactions to the ADHESIVE and a milder reaction to the teflon. So, I switched to a steel cannula AND I had my doctor prescribe that I change out my set on the 3rd day - that's all my skin can handle. I've been doing much better since then.
I seem to be allergic to the cannula on infusion sets (I get a large "hive" around the insertion point that "follows" the cannula for angled ones and remains itchy for a day or two after removal) and also the adhesive (gets itchy after 12-24 hours and sometimes has small hives underneath). I change my sites every two days as, especially with the cannula, there's no way I can go for three without them no longer working. I just switched to the Contact Detach sets at my endocrinologist's recommendation, and so far they seem to be working well. I've had a few times where the area under the set got hard as well as itchy the last time I used Contact Detach sets, which I attributed to the needle hitting something like muscle that was irritating my body. This time around I'm using 6 mm needles instead of 8 mm ones, and it seems to be working better (only six days in). My sites still get a bit itchy from the adhesive, but I can put up with that, and so far I haven't had one die on me or become unbearably itchy. When I remove them, they are itchy but there are no hives.
I personally would see an allergist and see if they can hep, since you seem to have already exhausted a lot of the insulins and infusion sets. If it's the insulin, maybe you could try one of the non-analgoue ones such as regular. If it's the infusion sets, maybe putting a barrier between the set and your skin would help.
Hi Jen! Thanks for your reply...My Husband and I were just talking about how tired I am of this struggle! BUT OF COURSE NOT TIRED ENOUGH TO QUIT :)
re: If it's the infusion sets, maybe putting a barrier between the set and your skin would help.
I was wondering which barrier you use if you use one...I reacted to the Barrier that Animas sent. It was such a terrible reaction I had blisters and loss of skin... These adhesives seem fine...The adhesive and site for the CGM has no redness and no problem whatsoever..The problems seem definitely under the skin and do seem to begin after 18 or so hours worsening by 24 and then by 48 I'm done
But I am willing to keep investigating everything and every angle methodically. Blessings
Thank you Cheri, This morning, I changed the steel inset after about 20 hours the itching and pain had just begun...ahh the relief!..but oh the expense...So hoping to get a better answer :)
the old site does hurt but I avoided a hard bump and a rash by listening to the pain first.
Hi Linda Thank you for this excellent advice. Actually this is the conclusion for the next step from the Doctor. I am out of syringes and getting a Rx from his office id :(
what a staff :(
I have a hypothesis that as long as the huge large knots / bumps remain, that some of the older insulins are remaining also, and thus some leftover reaction...
My only worry to this was Lantus for Basal is almost completely ineffective..The Dr actually suggested leaving the pump and steel inset in using basal Apidra..and Bolus with Apidra Injections...
The slow method of elimination with me as the guinea pig isn't fun...but I cant quit. Thank you Diane
Hi Terry Thank you for this excellent advice. Actually this is the conclusion for the next step from the Doctor. I am out of syringes and getting a Rx from his office id :(
what a staff :(
I have a hypothesis that as long as the huge large knots / bumps remain, that some of the older insulins are remaining also, and thus some leftover reaction...
My only worry to this was Lantus for Basal is almost completely ineffective..The Dr actually suggested leaving the pump and steel inset in using basal Apidra..and Bolus with Apidra Injections...
The slow method of elimination with me as the guinea pig isn't fun...but I cant quit. Thank you Diane
Scott Benner, dad of T1 Amber, posted a note, maybe a blog post, maybe a few months ago, about having easier sites by not using alcohol, just washing w/ soap and water. It might be useful to try that and see if it helps. Maybe not though. Those look pretty itchy. I haven't had that particular problem.
Matters not now...as it IS currently seen on home page, however to enter in the category of "blog" it would entail a mere cut and paste. Then at the top of THAT page, next to "add", there is "option". You would click on that, it would drop said options...and you would click once more on "feature". VOILA!
THANK YOU SCOTT I actually wondered if some of this might be from alcohol...not all because its under the skin...but ANYTHING to cut down on the trouble :)
You know - something I was musing about awhile back - on the Dexcom sensors - they have an adhesive that NEVER irritates and NEVER comes lose. So my question is - why oh why can't any infusion sets use the same kind of adhesive? They all seem to use adhesive that irritates sensitive skin.
Last night The damn thing (infusion set) hurt so bad I woke up...waited an hour, and finally swapped it out....Lovely mess underneath, but the hard bump under the needle was just beginning. So...Adhesive, Cannula, or insulin or which combination? I still cant be exactly sure...
But Dexcom Platinum Sensor and their adhesive...perfect
Our skin is protected from bacterial infection by - well - living in symbiosis with forms of bacteria that are benefitial for us. They live in every niche possible making it hard for rogue bacteria to conquer their territory. However some of these strains of bacteria might just be benefitial on the outside of our skin. It is pure speculation but possibly you live in symbiosis with some of the questionable types. With the permanent connection of the catheter poking through your skin they might find new territory under your skin they are not supposed to. I do not know if something can be done in such a situation but I can hardly imagine a solution - despite of giving up the pump. So hopefully it is just the disinfectant.
Holger, This has also crossed my mind. I am tending more toward autoimmune and allergy instead of bacterial as I have had several CBCs and the white count is only slightly elevated and the differential is not telling enough. The best way for a diagnosis is to have testing in the middle of an intense episode...I may use a local ER next time and be a little pushy with my own list of blood work. I do have several autoimmune disorders, Hashimotos, asthma, and Late onset Adrenal Hyperplasia...So I must keep carefully investigating...today I am at work and the site is so painful by BGs ar over 200..and I need to get home!
