Send some fearless thoughts UPDATE

[orriskitten]

I'm going to my endo today and we will be discussing my getting an insulin pump for my pregnancy. In all likelihood I'll be starting insulin today, just usual 4x/day injections until I get the pump.

I got over most of my needle fears while pregnant with Mel but haven't stuck myself in over a year and i'm nervous! I also will have to adjust to a pump with a squirmy toddler kicking and sliding all over me. Gah!

I know in just a few days it won't phase me, but i'm scared and a big baby lol. Send me some fearless vibes if you've got them!

Update: My doctor was really happy with where my numbers are! My a1c is 5.8 and my thyroid is doing great. He bumped up my dose because I will need it and it can't hurt me (going from 50mcg to 75mcg). I'm starting a single night time insulin shot tonight to help my morning numbers. I get to use a pen rather than syringes this time around and I checked out the needle and that shit is TINY! 4mm. I seriously had a hard time seeing it lol. I can do this!

I'm going to eventually go on a pump and I'm meeting with a diabetes educator this month to figure out which pump I'll use and all the logistics of insulin that I am more in control of. Rather than no flexibility and 1 appointment/week with a bitch of a doctor like my last pg, I am going to be in much more control and my endo is more than happy to discuss with me over the phone.

Thanks for the luck, ladies!

[kandrze1]

Good luck! You'll be okay. I hate needles and I've had the pump for almost ten years now. I have a few tricks I use to not get freaked out when I set the pump up still. 

[orriskitten]

Aug 8, 2013 9:20:16 GMT -5 kandrze1 said:

Good luck! You'll be okay. I hate needles and I've had the pump for almost ten years now. I have a few tricks I use to not get freaked out when I set the pump up still. 

I used the soundtrack to Hair when I started testing and then when I did injections. I would start it on a song I like and each time I did it in less songs, I felt so proud! The first time I think I might have listened to half the soundtrack before I was able to do it lol.

What are your tricks?

[kandrze1]

Aug 8, 2013 9:29:08 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

I used the soundtrack to Hair when I started testing and then when I did injections. I would start it on a song I like and each time I did it in less songs, I felt so proud! The first time I think I might have listened to half the soundtrack before I was able to do it lol.

What are your tricks?

That's a good idea with the songs!

I know that I get myself more worked up about the actual injection than is really necessary so I make myself sit down and take deep breaths before I do anything. I used to use a spring loaded injector, but the spring popping used to make me jump so I insert the site by hand now. This will sound weird, but I grab where I'm inserting and pinch harder than necessary to insert the site to distract myself from the needle. I close my eyes now too, but I know the correct angle to insert at so I'm not sure I would try that until you're more used to it.

It's not as bad as I make it out to be. I just get freaked out about needles in my stomach. Injecting the pump site is so much easier than doing 4 insulin injections a day. Once you get used to it you'll love the pump!

ETA: Don't let my dislike of the spring loaded injector sway you, depending on the site type it might work really well for you!

[formerlyllizzyb]

You can handle this!

[orriskitten]

Aug 8, 2013 9:40:44 GMT -5 kandrze1 said:

Aug 8, 2013 9:29:08 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

I used the soundtrack to Hair when I started testing and then when I did injections. I would start it on a song I like and each time I did it in less songs, I felt so proud! The first time I think I might have listened to half the soundtrack before I was able to do it lol.

What are your tricks?

That's a good idea with the songs!

I know that I get myself more worked up about the actual injection than is really necessary so I make myself sit down and take deep breaths before I do anything. I used to use a spring loaded injector, but the spring popping used to make me jump so I insert the site by hand now. This will sound weird, but I grab where I'm inserting and pinch harder than necessary to insert the site to distract myself from the needle. I close my eyes now too, but I know the correct angle to insert at so I'm not sure I would try that until you're more used to it.

It's not as bad as I make it out to be. I just get freaked out about needles in my stomach. Injecting the pump site is so much easier than doing 4 insulin injections a day. Once you get used to it you'll love the pump!

ETA: Don't let my dislike of the spring loaded injector sway you, depending on the site type it might work really well for you!

I didn't even know there were spring loaded injectors. That was part of why I started with music- using my glucose monitor the lancet is spring loaded and the sound might as well have been a gunshot those first few days lol.

I'm sooooo glad I am starting early in the pregnancy. I've never done stomach injections because by the time I started insulin last pregnancy, Mel was kicking already and I was petrified of her kicking as I was going to do an injection, so it was always on my thigh. It'll be new, but I've been psyching myself up.

I also spent a bunch of time with my T1 niece while in Iceland and watched her do her injections so I've been looking at needles going into skin in preparation.

Have you done any injections/inserted a new one with Emerson awake or around? I'm nervous of having to do it while Mel is around and her curiosity and NEED to touch everything. I'm also nervous about her kicking me in the site or the pump. Any wisdom to share?

[Regina Philange]

Good luck!

[kandrze1]

Aug 8, 2013 10:22:18 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

I didn't even know there were spring loaded injectors. That was part of why I started with music- using my glucose monitor the lancet is spring loaded and the sound might as well have been a gunshot those first few days lol.

I'm sooooo glad I am starting early in the pregnancy. I've never done stomach injections because by the time I started insulin last pregnancy, Mel was kicking already and I was petrified of her kicking as I was going to do an injection, so it was always on my thigh. It'll be new, but I've been psyching myself up.

I also spent a bunch of time with my T1 niece while in Iceland and watched her do her injections so I've been looking at needles going into skin in preparation.

Have you done any injections/inserted a new one with Emerson awake or around? I'm nervous of having to do it while Mel is around and her curiosity and NEED to touch everything. I'm also nervous about her kicking me in the site or the pump. Any wisdom to share?

I was really nervous about injecting in my stomach when I was pregnant too, but I just moved back toward the part of the stomach above the hip. You can inject the site for the pump in your thigh so if you're comfortable with that, that's a plus.

When I was pregnant my endo switched me to a site that was a little different than what I normally use. It's shorter and has a tiny needle, that barely even hurts. I tried it when I was pregnant and I liked it. Pumps have come a long way since I started using one. There are different options for sites so if you aren't comfortable with something bring it up to your endo, they might have a better solution for you.

With Emerson I try to change my site when she's distracted. If you get everything together first, the actual injection will just take a few seconds. I keep my pump in my pocket and tuck the tube into my pants. The only times I've had the site pulled out were because I didn't tuck the tube in my pocket and it got caught on something random. Emerson doesn't really notice my pump, but she always wants to play with my test kit so I just do my best to keep it away. I always tell her medicine is not a toy, but she obviously doesn't get that yet. Emerson's kicked me where I have my site before and it honestly doesn't hurt me anymore than a normal kick would. Once you do the initial injection the site shouldn't be sore for you.

Best advice I have is to talk with a pump educator at your endo's office. They are really great and really know their stuff! Once you get set up on the pump it will be nice to have!

[skiesthelimit]

Good luck!

[carawestt]

Good luck!