So my pump failed yesterday. At around 6:30 am. Battery dead alarm blaring wildly. I got up, took a look at the blank screen, remembered I'd changed the battery just one day prior, and called Smiths. The clinician promised to send a new pump, a new battery cover and a spare battery cover. Excellent. Just 24 hours of blech without my semi-pancreas. No big deal, right? Yeah, not so much.
I called the doc's office, ordered up some Lantus and gave my first injection - 19 units. The 24 hours following were an up and down rollercoaster of neverending "fun."
Arriving at my office this morning, I was presented a box from Smiths. With a battery cap in it. Just one f-ing battery cap. I kid you not. It was noted on the packing slip that the other battery cap AND my pump were on "Back Order." Way to call the customer and let them know - right? So, I call Smiths. They put me through to another clinician who explains that yes, the black pump is on back order, but that the issue might have been just the battery cap and that I should try using the one they sent. OK, I say. And I try it. And it seems to work... So they cancel the order for the new pump... Even though I express that I'd be more comfortable keeping it in there... Whatever.
Fast Forward to 2:30 pm - in a constituent meeting - with a low bloodsugar that I've had to ask for some juice to treat. And the blaring alarm begins. You have to be f-ing kidding me, right? But this is no joke. Pump has failed again. I unscrew the battery cap to stop the noise, finish my juice and carry on with the meeting. When it breaks, I use my cell phone to call Smiths from my boss' car. (Did I mention my boss was in the above mentioned meeting - great...) When I explain to the clinician what's happened, she points out repeatedly that I have cancelled the order. I point out repeatedly that I know the order was cancelled, in spite of the fact that I would have prefered to keep it in and that it doesn't negate the fact that the pump is now broken. Again. And that I need this pump to live. I got a bit fired up... It wasn't pretty. In the end, I will likely receive a blue Cozmo pump tomorrow AM - if they don't decide to just send another battery cap.
I gave another shot of Lantus this afternoon... And I was so reminded of both Kerri and Shannon's recent posts about how much it sucks to have to do the shots thing. Really, it bites ass. And I don't like it one bit.
Also - I had a dentist appointment tonight. Which ended up not happening. Thank you to whatever tooth-gods are watching out for me for that little bit of mercy.
Oi. Happy Birthday to me.
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13 comments:
Wow. That's awful. I'm so sorry that happened. Here's to a new pump that won't break!
What a sucky birthday present. :(
I hope you end the day better!
sucky is right!
watch yourself going back and forth b/w lantus and pumping. Lantus can sometimes last longer than you'd think, resulting in some tough lows when you reconnect.
I hope Smith's isn't losing their customer service edge!
Dood. Not a cool birthday present. Not even a little.
I hope tomorrow is better and that you get a pump instead of a battery cap.
People bitch about Minimed, but from what I've read around the OC, Animas doesn't seem to be all that great.
That pump cap problem was EXACTLY the problem we had and we insisted on getting another pump because we didn't trust that it was just the cap. They were fine with sending us a new pump.
Your problem proved us right!
We had this happen on a Friday, which sucked for Bren because the order wasn't able to be shipped until Monday.
Note to Kassie: We had good customer service. SomeONE happened to screw up. They should make it a policy that no matter what part of the pump is the cause of the problem, a WHOLE new pump should be sent.
Cozmo pump has more upgrades than Animas at the moment, and small reservoir a problem for adults, AND I'm not so sure of the mechanical reliability of Animas (seems like lots of pump failures resulting in lots of refurbished pumps being sent out over and over again), but looks like Smith could take a few lessons from Animas pump support personnel. Pump support responds in under ten minutes (usually five) day or night. And are always extremely helpful. Always willing to send out loaner or new (refurbished) pumps and pumps usually arrive the next business day. Unless Animas upgrades keep up with the competition, don't know if we will purchase again. But I would like to take their pump support personnel with me when/if she switches to another pump. All and all, as a first-time pumper, I feel we were fortunate to have Animas personnel responding to our every need.
Yeah, I'd prefer not to debate...
I've had great customer service with Cozmo - always - yesterday, I obviously dealt with a couple of bad eggs...
And although yesterday was a suck day - today's a new one... :)
Hopefully, a new pump will await me at the office...
Man - would hope you would get more than a battery cap for your birthday! Hang in there - once the new pump comes everything will be back to normal.
Happy Belated Birthday!
I had something similar happen once. When I was in France, my meter broke the day before my 18th birthday. We were in Versaille, so it was impossible to fix the meter that day. It wasn't until the next day (my 18th birthday) that I was able to schlep around Paris looking for a pharmacy that sold an American-brand meter. Trying to explain this to Parisian pharmacists was not fun! When I finally did test, my blood sugar was mid-300s. Ick.
Totally sympathize with diabetes ruining a perfectly good day.
Ugh, sorry about your pump.
But, happy birthday anyway. Just put on the new shoes. Maybe that'll help you feel better. (You did get the shoes, right?)
Wingman - I know it'll get better. But not today. I really do hate being on shots.
Allison - Indeed, pump malfunctions can ruin a perfect day... Sorry about your 18th - bogus.
Penny - The shoes helped last night - a little. I'll admit to putting them on. But today (the day after this post, still no pump) no help from the shoes... :(
A pump failure is the absolute worst!
I had almost forgotten how to do it the old way, but shots DO suck.
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