Comments on: Pre-pump

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Tue, 04 Nov 2003 02:05:11 +0000

Well, his original endo has left the group to work for a drug
company, so in July we’ll go see the replacement. This is all at
Children’s Mercy here in KC, and they seem to have almost a monopoly
on most pediatric specialities here. I work in a hospital, and had
tried to get one of our endos to take him, but they won’t until he’s
I think it was 12. That’s 2 more years. Anyway, I’m going to try to
get this replacement endo to justify the waiting or let us get away
with not doing it. He is currently still on the 2 shots a day of
Novolog and NPH. I really want to get him on the pump (he’s
definately what they used to call a “brittle” diabetic) and he really
needs this. I just went over his numbers last night for the last 7
days, and at all 4 times he checks each day, he has been from 70’s to
300’s with the same shots, same activity, same diet, etc. He is also
asthmatic, so most of the winter he runs high. His numbers are never
consistently high or low for more than 2 days, so everytime I get

ready to change his shots, his numbers suddenly become normal or go
the opposite direction. Anyway, you just confirmed my feelings that
this is too long to wait. Thanks!
Melissa

By: flo_7

flo_7 — Sun, 02 Nov 2003 14:05:24 +0000

Melissa - that does seem ridiculous. I assume that your son is already on
injections right? The endo should be able to figure out what his needs would be
on the pump. I know my endo wants to talk to me about a pump at our next
meeting (I’m not interested) and I don’t think she would make me do more shots
for any period of time. maybe you need a second opinion (as much of a pain as
that is)
Kimberly

By: dawna_15

dawna_15 — Sat, 01 Nov 2003 17:17:29 +0000

Melissa,
Is there any way you could switch Dr.’s to one that will put your son on the pump right away? We were going to Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY where they have a Pediatrics Endocrinology dept. and they were against getting kids on the pump, I don’t know why but I switched Dr.’s to a endocrinology group in Albany (we’re going there today), and the dr.’s are great, very knowledgeable and they got us on the pump fairly quickly. I had to go thru 5 hours of instruction on it first but it was done right at my home with Bryan and when the pump rep and the Dr. thought we could handle it on our own, we were able to do it. We were supposed to start on the saline solution too but I only did that for one day and wanted to quit so we did, so when he started on the pump we had the pump rep come to our house and stay with us for a few hours after Bryan was on. IT worked out great and we haven’t had any problems!
Benita

I spoke to my son’s endo office, and wanted to see if this is what
you all had to go through to get on the pump. The first thing is that
they make them go on Multiple Daily injections for 4-6 months! This
seems excessive to me. Then after you get your pump you use it with
saline for a week, then go to the hosp overnight to det the basals. I
get all of it except the 4-6 months. That just seems really long to
me, I could understand 4-6 weeks. Plus, these are kids, I would think
having to take so many shots per day might deter alot of them from
getting the pump. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
Melissa