Thursday, April 13, 2006

You Know Why?

Chicken Thigh.

I am more aware of my pump site today than I have been in the entire time I've worn a pump. The connector sits on my thigh, a white island in the sea of peachy skin that is my thigh. It doesn't hurt -- in fact, there's no discomfort whatsoever -- but it's more *there* than is usual.



I have always been a stomach and butt girl when it's come to my diabetes. For years, I insisted on giving my shots in those two areas -- and those two areas alone. My mother begged, pleaded, and bribed me into trying my arms and legs and hips, but when I did use them, it was infrequently and always very trying. I would work myself into a frenzy worrying about how much it might hurt, how the bruises might look, how much more the insulin might sting. So, naturally, when I got my pump, I returned to the areas that were most comfortable and over the past several years my poor stomach and butt have become a field of red dots that never seem to go away.

Then Julia posted this about her daughter and the need to try a new site. I guess it is both an advantage and a disadvantage to have one's own trials with diabetes, and one's own fears and worries about trying new things around the disease, posted on the internet. An advantage because you must realize that you're not alone when you read about your own misgivings in someone else's words. A disadvantage, because, if you're anything like me, you feel more compelled to take action when someone points out that the problem that you've been fooling yourself into thinking is really no problem at all is an issue that you must address.

Last night, I put my very first pump site into my thigh. I will admit that I worked myself into the usual frenzy, worrying about hitting something and hurting myself and stinging insulin -- and worrying about all the pump issues accompanying this new site -- Am I going to pull it out? Will this pose a problem getting dressed? Am I going to drop my pump in the toilet when I try to go to the bathroom? What about the gym?

My mind raced as I pressed the needle against my thigh and took a good deep breath. I was shocked at the lack of discomfort -- at the absence of pain as I pushed the needle through and secured the connector to my skin. And there was no extra insulin sting when I filled the cannula and when I gave my first bolus through the site. I slept through the night without pulling the site free and have successfully maneuvered the bathroom process without any floating pump issues.

Goofy as this probably sounds, I felt more proud of myself (related to my diabetes) today than I have in quite a long time. Once again, I muscled through anxiety and fear and I came out ahead of this disease.

I surprised myself... You know why?



Chicken Thigh.

14 comments:

Erica said...

LOL I'm glad you were the experimenter! I've been contemplating this since the more I use my stomach, the more I'm afraid I'm going to poke through my uterus or something...

so the absorption has been good too? It is so engrained in my head that the stomach is the 'best' I feel like anywhere else will make me have 300's or something!

Nicole P said...

My bloodsugars since the site went in:

11:30 pm (last night): 127
7:30 am: 86
10:00 am: 144
12:00 pm: 114
2:00 pm: 113
3:25 pm (just now): 121...

Absorption seems excellent with this site... Yippee!! You should give it a try ;).

Shannon said...

Nicole, excellent on the experiment and the numbers!! Maybe we'll give it a go with Brendon when we're feeling brave.

We had a hard time inserting in his stomach some time ago...now it's a piece of cake.

Next we'll try chicken thigh :)

Nicole P said...

Thanks, Shannon. I'm actually really excited about this... I'm feeling sort of goofy because of how excited I am.

Brendan should give the chicken thigh a shot... (har har)

Scott K. Johnson said...

Yay!

I've felt the need to try new sites too - haven't tried my thighs yet, but recently ventured to the gluteus maximus (did I spell "butt" right?).

Like you say, it feels like such a big accomplishment and makes you excited!

And by the way - I got a good little chuckle out of the chicken thigh bit! :-)

Nicole P said...

You spelled butt right -- and congrats on your butt site. God... If you weren't diabetic I could never say that.

Har har har.

floreksa said...

You might have just inspired me to try another site location. Haven't strayed from my stomach since I started pumping 6 yrs ago. LOL

Nicole P said...

Today's numbers have been even better. The site is growing on me...

Kerri. said...

I'm so glad you tried the (chicken) thigh site! I've been using my thighs almost exclusively for the last 18 months or so and I'm much happier with the site on my leg than on my stomach. I never noticed any absorption issues, either.

Way to take the thigh by the horns... er ... you know.

Nicole P said...

Thigh by the horns... Hee hee hee...

My slightly drunken mind is finding Kerri even more amusing than usual.

Major Bedhead said...

Right, I'm making Olivia read this entry. She finally did the back of her arm, rather that the side. That's her idea of moving her site.

Nicole P said...

Good for Olivia! That is a move in the right direction for sure. Tell her the thighs are actually very comfortable -- I think I'm on a new kick... Strictly stomach girl -- no more!

I have discovered I need to be very careful with my exercise when I'm in the thigh though -- I had a couple of big dips last week related to exercise in spite of proper preparation.

J said...

This is great I know when I have tryed my thigh I have the quick set and it falls off how did you get it to stay on ?

Nicole P said...

I use the Cozmo Comfort sets -- the tape on those babies is super strong. I did have one site that came loose and pulled off -- I have just been paying very careful attention when I'm dressing/undressing, going to the ladies room, etc... I'll have to take another look at the set you're talking about -- I might have some suggestions.