Well, I've had Lucky now since May 6th.
I've gotten used to his little quirks. Like the fact that he is sometimes noisier than my Medtronic pump was and sometimes quieter. I can actually hear him deliver little basal drips of insulin when I'm sitting at my desk. It's kinda cool because it is comforting to hear him working away, keeping me alive.
Other times I expect the boop-beep-boop noises that my old pump makes and Lucky just sits silently waiting for me to tell him what to do. Like when I'm changing my site and I rewind the pump so it's ready to take a new cartridge of insulin. After all the whirring noises are finished, I expect to hear boop-beep-boop but I hear nothing.
Being someone who dislikes loud noises of any kind, I'm grateful for the little things like peace and quiet.
On the other hand, I had gotten used to Medtronic's double warning system when my pump was running out of insulin. It would boop-beep-boop when I was down to 20 units and again when I was down to 10.
Lucky plays Fur Elise (which I still haven't learned to recognize as a warning sound and usually glance around looking for the source of the music) when I'm down to 20 units. There is only a single warning. On Monday afternoon, I got the warning. I acknowledged it and went about my business. I had dinner. I had a bedtime snack. I took a little bolus during the night to correct my 8.7. On Tuesday morning I woke up, went for my 30 minute run/walk, made breakfast, showered and dressed. As I was hooking back up again I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to change my pump. I look and saw that I was down to 2 units. Oops. That was close.
I'm also adjusting to having 100 less units of insulin in my pump. Which means I can only go about 4 1/2 days now instead of 6 between site changes. It's actually less annoying than I thought it would be but I am still finding myself surprised when I get the 'it's time to change your pump soon' warning. Already?!?
Lucky's sidekick glucometer is pretty cool and I often remote bolus with it even when Lucky is sitting right out in the open on my belt. That being said, I switched back to my Verio metre to use up some of the test strips I had bought for it and am finding that I don't miss the remote bolus feature at all when it's not an option. So I guess I can take it or leave it.
The bestest difference, hands down, that Lucky has made is at the pool. I knew that would be the case but I'm still so thrilled every time I get ready for my swim and I clip my pump to my suit rather than unhook it. It makes everything so much easier and for that reason alone I am grateful I made the switch to Animas.
Showing posts with label Medtronic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medtronic. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Today's the Day
It's Monday, May 6th.
At 4:30pm today, I'm going to be disconnecting from my Medtronic pump and launching a new pumping chapter with my new Aminas.
I'm excited.
My new pump has been sitting patiently in my closet since it arrived last week. Patiently waiting for my pump training session. Once that is complete, I'll be good to go.
I've watched the training videos. I've installed the batteries, set the date and time and played with all the buttons. I've learned that if I enter my basal rates into a pump with no insulin, it sets off alarms bells. I quickly learned how to clear my basal rates. I entered all of my bolus calculations into my new meter, I paired my new meter to my new pump and discovered that the pump settings override the meter settings so they all disappeared.
I've got my basal and bolus settings from my current pump written down. I know my insulin sensitivity factor and my target BG range. They are all ready to be input into my new pump once I put some insulin in there.
I'm excited.
To be honest, I don't expect much to change on a day by day, moment by moment basis with my new pump. I'll still clip it to my belt every morning, enter my BG and bolus for meals. The colour will be different and the beeping noises will be different but it won't change much in my daily life.
But I do expect some days and some moments to be very different thanks to my new pump.
I have high hopes for my early morning swims. I expect a bit of a learning curve but hope to figure out how to avoid the consistent post-swim highs I experience.
I have higher hopes for triathlons days and I can't wait to test out a basal profile for race days that includes the swim.
And I have really high hopes for my goal of swimming longer open water distances. I have no idea what I'm going to need to do with my basal rates when I try to swim 5k and even build up to 10k but I am so excited now that I have an option to even be able to try.
I also can't wait to be out running and get caught in a rain storm. Because, for the first time in 4 1/2 years, it won't matter if I return home dripping wet.
Finally, now that I can remote bolus, I have another goal for this summer. Find a sundress that I like and wear it. I don't think I've worn a sundress since I was a little girl but I really like the idea of going out for Sunday brunch or a Friday night dinner being able to dress up in something other than capris. I like the idea of hiding my pump under my clothes and not having to dig it out to bolus.
It's not my biggest goal but it's probably my craziest.
At 4:30pm today, I'm going to be disconnecting from my Medtronic pump and launching a new pumping chapter with my new Aminas.
I'm excited.
My new pump has been sitting patiently in my closet since it arrived last week. Patiently waiting for my pump training session. Once that is complete, I'll be good to go.
I've watched the training videos. I've installed the batteries, set the date and time and played with all the buttons. I've learned that if I enter my basal rates into a pump with no insulin, it sets off alarms bells. I quickly learned how to clear my basal rates. I entered all of my bolus calculations into my new meter, I paired my new meter to my new pump and discovered that the pump settings override the meter settings so they all disappeared.
I've got my basal and bolus settings from my current pump written down. I know my insulin sensitivity factor and my target BG range. They are all ready to be input into my new pump once I put some insulin in there.
I'm excited.
To be honest, I don't expect much to change on a day by day, moment by moment basis with my new pump. I'll still clip it to my belt every morning, enter my BG and bolus for meals. The colour will be different and the beeping noises will be different but it won't change much in my daily life.
But I do expect some days and some moments to be very different thanks to my new pump.
I have high hopes for my early morning swims. I expect a bit of a learning curve but hope to figure out how to avoid the consistent post-swim highs I experience.
I have higher hopes for triathlons days and I can't wait to test out a basal profile for race days that includes the swim.
And I have really high hopes for my goal of swimming longer open water distances. I have no idea what I'm going to need to do with my basal rates when I try to swim 5k and even build up to 10k but I am so excited now that I have an option to even be able to try.
I also can't wait to be out running and get caught in a rain storm. Because, for the first time in 4 1/2 years, it won't matter if I return home dripping wet.
Finally, now that I can remote bolus, I have another goal for this summer. Find a sundress that I like and wear it. I don't think I've worn a sundress since I was a little girl but I really like the idea of going out for Sunday brunch or a Friday night dinner being able to dress up in something other than capris. I like the idea of hiding my pump under my clothes and not having to dig it out to bolus.
It's not my biggest goal but it's probably my craziest.
Friday, April 26, 2013
I learned...
Things I learned this week.
1. I learned that communication, no matter how hard or awkward it is at the time, it better than no communication. As you know, I decided to go with Animas for my new pump. Talking to them was easy and fun. Talking to Medtronic was not but I did it anyway. I could have just disappeared from their radar, quietly mailed back my pump in a few weeks and gone about my business.
I chose the high road and emailed the local Medtronic rep to tell her about my choice. She called me. I saw her number on my call display and agonized for a few seconds about whether or not to answer. I answered. I told her why I made my choice and she was wonderfully supportive about it. No hard feelings and she's even willing to keep my name on her list of presenters in case she organizes a panel discussion and can include me. It might never happen but, still, I'm glad we chatted.
2. I learned that a decision made that is immediately followed by a feeling of relief is probably the right decision. I made two decisions this week. One was about my pump. I signed on for five years and felt immediate relief. The other was about whether or not I want to take University courses to upgrade in order to apply for a Masters. A decision to do this would have meant me starting classes next week and being in school part-time for five years. I decided, for a variety of reasons, that this is not a good idea and felt immediate relief.
3. That being said, no decision, no matter how positive, happens without regret. I will miss my Medtronic pump. And I am sad that I won't be adding Masters student to my list of pursuits (at least for now).
4. I learned that homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are really tasty. So is homemade curried celery soup.
5. I learned that I follow baking recipes to the letter. I use cooking recipes as guidelines and scribble all over them so I remember the changes I made for next time.
6. I learned that people make the weirdest cakes for baby showers. Check this out if you need a laugh.
7. I learned, again, that diabetes is crazy. Like possessed. I swam on Wednesday like I always do. I hopped in the pool with a blood sugar of 5.8 AND I bolused 0.3 units just to keep me in line. I left the pool to discover that I was 14.4 instead of my usual 7.0. I changed my site, bolused for breakfast, waited 20 minutes and was 18.9. I bolused again (the full amount for a second time), waited 20 minutes and was 16. It took an hour for it to drop low enough to eat and then it shot right back up again to 18.
By lunch, I was fine and have been ever since. Crazytown.
8. I learned that I can indeed master the super tough Bending Crank Arms cycling workout. It's rated a 9.5/10 for difficulty (which I only noticed on my fourth time doing it thank goodness). I now finish the workout feeling energized instead of wanting to die and I no longer walk around for two days afterwards with aching muscles. Only took four times.
9. I learned that it's really hard to describe things in words sometimes. I was writing a basic iPad user manual for work and couldn't believe how hard it was to describe all the different gestures we use when using an iPad (like pinching two fingers together to shrink a page). Try it for yourself. Do a specific gesture with your hands and then try to figure out how to describe in words what you did. Hard.
10. I learned that it is really nice to sit after work with a glass of wine and chat with a good friend, or with my parents, or with Doug. This week I had the chance to do all three and each conversation was stimulating, hilarious and wonderful.
1. I learned that communication, no matter how hard or awkward it is at the time, it better than no communication. As you know, I decided to go with Animas for my new pump. Talking to them was easy and fun. Talking to Medtronic was not but I did it anyway. I could have just disappeared from their radar, quietly mailed back my pump in a few weeks and gone about my business.
I chose the high road and emailed the local Medtronic rep to tell her about my choice. She called me. I saw her number on my call display and agonized for a few seconds about whether or not to answer. I answered. I told her why I made my choice and she was wonderfully supportive about it. No hard feelings and she's even willing to keep my name on her list of presenters in case she organizes a panel discussion and can include me. It might never happen but, still, I'm glad we chatted.
2. I learned that a decision made that is immediately followed by a feeling of relief is probably the right decision. I made two decisions this week. One was about my pump. I signed on for five years and felt immediate relief. The other was about whether or not I want to take University courses to upgrade in order to apply for a Masters. A decision to do this would have meant me starting classes next week and being in school part-time for five years. I decided, for a variety of reasons, that this is not a good idea and felt immediate relief.
3. That being said, no decision, no matter how positive, happens without regret. I will miss my Medtronic pump. And I am sad that I won't be adding Masters student to my list of pursuits (at least for now).
4. I learned that homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are really tasty. So is homemade curried celery soup.
5. I learned that I follow baking recipes to the letter. I use cooking recipes as guidelines and scribble all over them so I remember the changes I made for next time.
6. I learned that people make the weirdest cakes for baby showers. Check this out if you need a laugh.
7. I learned, again, that diabetes is crazy. Like possessed. I swam on Wednesday like I always do. I hopped in the pool with a blood sugar of 5.8 AND I bolused 0.3 units just to keep me in line. I left the pool to discover that I was 14.4 instead of my usual 7.0. I changed my site, bolused for breakfast, waited 20 minutes and was 18.9. I bolused again (the full amount for a second time), waited 20 minutes and was 16. It took an hour for it to drop low enough to eat and then it shot right back up again to 18.
By lunch, I was fine and have been ever since. Crazytown.
8. I learned that I can indeed master the super tough Bending Crank Arms cycling workout. It's rated a 9.5/10 for difficulty (which I only noticed on my fourth time doing it thank goodness). I now finish the workout feeling energized instead of wanting to die and I no longer walk around for two days afterwards with aching muscles. Only took four times.
9. I learned that it's really hard to describe things in words sometimes. I was writing a basic iPad user manual for work and couldn't believe how hard it was to describe all the different gestures we use when using an iPad (like pinching two fingers together to shrink a page). Try it for yourself. Do a specific gesture with your hands and then try to figure out how to describe in words what you did. Hard.
10. I learned that it is really nice to sit after work with a glass of wine and chat with a good friend, or with my parents, or with Doug. This week I had the chance to do all three and each conversation was stimulating, hilarious and wonderful.
Friday, April 19, 2013
The Cycle Continues
Well, it's Friday today. Again.
Some things are so reliable aren't they?
Like Fridays arriving every 7 days.
And weekends flying by at the speed of light.
And Monday's lasting twice as long as Saturdays.
Winter giving way to spring.
The sun rising in the East.
Insulin pump site changes.
Not my best segue ever but it's kind of a nice image.
I have spent this week going back and forth between desperately wanting to stick with my Medtronic pump to desperately wanting a waterproof pump, to seriously considering making the leap to Animas, to hating the idea of Omnipod to loving the idea of Omnipod.
I'm sitting on the couch typing this. I have my freshly refilled Medtronic pump attached to the waistband of my comfy pants. I have my fake Omnipod pod attached to my lower back.
I'm remembering the doubt and the hopes I felt five years ago when I was first making the switch from needles to the pump. I'm feeling different doubts and hopes this time around but the intensity is the same. Can I live with the size of the pods? Can I live with changing my pump every three days? Can I live with another five years of tubes and clipping the pump to my belt? Can I really leave consider leaving my beloved Medtronic?
Right now, my thinking is that Omnipod is my favourite option with Animas at a close second. Medtronic is third, mostly because of the waterproof issue but partly because I like the idea of no tubes.
Once I know about my insurance options for Omnipod, I will know whether I'm deciding between three options or two (Animas and Medtronic). In the meantime, I have one more question to ask. Medtronic told me last year at the Global Heroes weekend that they had a waterproof pump coming out and that it would be in Canada. I will be emailing the lady who told me that to find out when. If it's in the next few months, Medtronic is back in the game. If it's not until 2014, I don't think I want to spend another triathlon season untethered nor do I want to spend another 9 months of thrice weekly swimming sessions untethered.
Fridays arrive every 7 days.
Mondays arrive much too quickly.
Spring follows winter.
And every five years, I agonize about insulin pumps.
Everything is right in the world.
Some things are so reliable aren't they?
Like Fridays arriving every 7 days.
And weekends flying by at the speed of light.
And Monday's lasting twice as long as Saturdays.
Winter giving way to spring.
The sun rising in the East.
Insulin pump site changes.
Not my best segue ever but it's kind of a nice image.
I have spent this week going back and forth between desperately wanting to stick with my Medtronic pump to desperately wanting a waterproof pump, to seriously considering making the leap to Animas, to hating the idea of Omnipod to loving the idea of Omnipod.
I'm sitting on the couch typing this. I have my freshly refilled Medtronic pump attached to the waistband of my comfy pants. I have my fake Omnipod pod attached to my lower back.
I'm remembering the doubt and the hopes I felt five years ago when I was first making the switch from needles to the pump. I'm feeling different doubts and hopes this time around but the intensity is the same. Can I live with the size of the pods? Can I live with changing my pump every three days? Can I live with another five years of tubes and clipping the pump to my belt? Can I really leave consider leaving my beloved Medtronic?
Right now, my thinking is that Omnipod is my favourite option with Animas at a close second. Medtronic is third, mostly because of the waterproof issue but partly because I like the idea of no tubes.
Once I know about my insurance options for Omnipod, I will know whether I'm deciding between three options or two (Animas and Medtronic). In the meantime, I have one more question to ask. Medtronic told me last year at the Global Heroes weekend that they had a waterproof pump coming out and that it would be in Canada. I will be emailing the lady who told me that to find out when. If it's in the next few months, Medtronic is back in the game. If it's not until 2014, I don't think I want to spend another triathlon season untethered nor do I want to spend another 9 months of thrice weekly swimming sessions untethered.
Fridays arrive every 7 days.
Mondays arrive much too quickly.
Spring follows winter.
And every five years, I agonize about insulin pumps.
Everything is right in the world.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Animas Update
Monday night, I had a date with Animas.
In order to decide which pump I want to go with I've set up an appointment with Animas and one with Omnipod (on April 16th). I also spoke with the local Medtronic rep over the phone to ask about new features that I should be aware of.
On Monday night I got to play with my first Animas pump.
I won't lie - I was impressed. And intrigued.
The most appealing point of Animas has always been the waterproof factor. I spend too much time in the water every week for it not to be appealing. I asked all my questions about how waterproof is waterproof and was convinced that I could indeed wear it during swim sessions as well as races without a worry. The only thing I would need to do is replace a tiny yellow rubber ring that makes the battery compartment waterproof - probably every 6 months. They cost $30.
I didn't think I would care much about the ability to remote bolus (since my pump is always accessible on my belt) and it seemed pretty gimmicky to me...until I tried it. It was pretty neat to see how I could check my blood sugar and then dial up my carbs into the glucometer. Hit go and the pump vibrates and delivers the insulin. I can see doing that just to save a few seconds of having to enter my blood sugar into the pump.
That being said, the glucometer is pretty bulky compared to the Verio IQ I use every day and it's several times the size of my One Touch Mini that I take on races and long runs.
The menus on the pump are different than Medtronic's but they are pretty intuitive and I was whipping through them in no time. The language Animas uses is different but all the features that I use now are available with Animas too.
The biggest difference in the every day use of the pump was the extra step when bolusing. On my Medtronic, I enter my BG and the carbs. A screen appears that tells me the recommended bolus and it breaks it down into the bolus for the food I'm about to eat plus any correction bolus to deal with high or low blood sugar. It also shows insulin on board from any recent boluses. Animas does that too. The difference is that Medtronic shows their recommended bolus and, if I agree, I hit one button and the bolus begins. With Animas, it shows the recommended bolus amount and then I have to manually enter that amount and then hit a button to confirm. An extra few seconds but, after getting used to the speedy Medtronic way, it seems a little cumbersome. Not a deal breaker to be sure but a little annoying.
The infusion sets are pretty much identical. The size of the pump is pretty comparable. The only other issue I have is that the size of the reservoir is 200ml. My Medtronic reservoir is 300ml. I use between 45-55 units most days so I go from 5-6 days between set changes. With Animas, I would only be able to go 4-5 days between set changes. Not a huge difference but, at $20 a set change, it adds up over time.
Pros:
- WATERPROOF!!
- remote bolus
Cons:
- extra step before each bolus
- smaller reservoir
Problem: I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. I was expecting to think "well, it's fine and all but I really want to stick with my Medtronic". Now I'm not so sure.
Omnipod is next. Let's see what they have to say shall we?
In order to decide which pump I want to go with I've set up an appointment with Animas and one with Omnipod (on April 16th). I also spoke with the local Medtronic rep over the phone to ask about new features that I should be aware of.
On Monday night I got to play with my first Animas pump.
I won't lie - I was impressed. And intrigued.
The most appealing point of Animas has always been the waterproof factor. I spend too much time in the water every week for it not to be appealing. I asked all my questions about how waterproof is waterproof and was convinced that I could indeed wear it during swim sessions as well as races without a worry. The only thing I would need to do is replace a tiny yellow rubber ring that makes the battery compartment waterproof - probably every 6 months. They cost $30.
I didn't think I would care much about the ability to remote bolus (since my pump is always accessible on my belt) and it seemed pretty gimmicky to me...until I tried it. It was pretty neat to see how I could check my blood sugar and then dial up my carbs into the glucometer. Hit go and the pump vibrates and delivers the insulin. I can see doing that just to save a few seconds of having to enter my blood sugar into the pump.
That being said, the glucometer is pretty bulky compared to the Verio IQ I use every day and it's several times the size of my One Touch Mini that I take on races and long runs.
The menus on the pump are different than Medtronic's but they are pretty intuitive and I was whipping through them in no time. The language Animas uses is different but all the features that I use now are available with Animas too.
The biggest difference in the every day use of the pump was the extra step when bolusing. On my Medtronic, I enter my BG and the carbs. A screen appears that tells me the recommended bolus and it breaks it down into the bolus for the food I'm about to eat plus any correction bolus to deal with high or low blood sugar. It also shows insulin on board from any recent boluses. Animas does that too. The difference is that Medtronic shows their recommended bolus and, if I agree, I hit one button and the bolus begins. With Animas, it shows the recommended bolus amount and then I have to manually enter that amount and then hit a button to confirm. An extra few seconds but, after getting used to the speedy Medtronic way, it seems a little cumbersome. Not a deal breaker to be sure but a little annoying.
The infusion sets are pretty much identical. The size of the pump is pretty comparable. The only other issue I have is that the size of the reservoir is 200ml. My Medtronic reservoir is 300ml. I use between 45-55 units most days so I go from 5-6 days between set changes. With Animas, I would only be able to go 4-5 days between set changes. Not a huge difference but, at $20 a set change, it adds up over time.
Pros:
- WATERPROOF!!
- remote bolus
Cons:
- extra step before each bolus
- smaller reservoir
Problem: I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. I was expecting to think "well, it's fine and all but I really want to stick with my Medtronic". Now I'm not so sure.
Omnipod is next. Let's see what they have to say shall we?
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Calling in the Troops
I don't tend to put much stock in Murphy's Law but, holy hannah, if he does exist, he has one nasty sense of humour.
So, remember how I opted out of the Medtronic loaner pump program for my trip and, instead, decided that I would bring emergency back up Lantus (long-acting insulin) in the off chance that things took a turn?
Well, things took a turn.
On Sunday, after our lovely bike ride, I checked my blood sugar and entered the lunch carb details into my pump.
At least I tried to anyway.
I hit the bolus button - no problem. I hit the up arrow button and nothing happened. I tried again. Nothing. I tried other buttons. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
My bff blue pump wasn't working. At all. It beeped 'button error' which (apparently) means that a button was held down for over three minutes (which it wasn't) and then started alternating between alarm sirens and vibrations every minute or so.
I injected insulin for my lunch and tried not to freak out. I was leaving for Israel in less than 24-hours and it was a Sunday.
I dug out all of my Medtronic info and went through the troubleshooting section. No luck. I called the 1-800 hotline and, after hitting 1 and 2 a few times, received a message that the Canada department was not able to take my call. I was transferred to the US and put immediately on hold.
For 45 minutes.
After 10 minutes, I switched to speaker phone and emailed Sherri from the Niagara Diabetes Centre to explain my situation. I hated doing that on a Sunday afternoon but didn't feel like I had much choice. I could hear a very loud tick tick tick in my head. She went into action and gave me a list of suggestions of who to call and what to do.
During that time, I had also googled the US Medtronic number and called that on my cell phone, hoping to speak to someone while my other phone was on hold.
My cell phone picked up first and, as soon as I explained my situation, I was put on hold. For about 15 minutes. Now I had two phones on hold each playing the same elevator music but each at a different point in the song. Sherri emailed me telling me to call the local Medtronic rep but I was out of phones and loathe to hang up either of the ones I had in use.
Finally, I spoke to someone on my cell. I explained the situation and they walked me through a few troubleshooting options. No luck. They checked my warrantee and, as luck would have it, it expired in January of this year. (In Canada we receive funding for a new pump every five years but the warrantees last for four. That last year, as I have learned, is a bit of a crapshoot). I had no option of getting a brand new pump. I was told I was going to get a loaner pump for a maximum of 90 days (kinda like the loaner pump I decided not to get for my trip). They said that they would transfer me to the Canadian branch who would ensure delivery by Monday.
"I'm leaving on Monday morning for Israel" I said.
"Oh, well, you'll have to speak to them to see what they can do" was the reply before I was transferred.
A lovely gentleman with a French-Canadian accent came on the line and explained the loaner pump program. I would be given a pump for 90 days and would have to return mine to Medtronic. I would be contacted by a Medtronic rep next week to figure out a plan for getting me a new pump. I would have to return my loaner pump within 90 days or my account would be charged $4,995.
Sign me up! Just please please please get it to me by Monday morning. He said he would contact their delivery company and call me back.
He did, within minutes, and announced my pump would be delivered by 5:30pm on Sunday.
Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.
I emailed Sherri back to tell her the news and to ask if anyone from the Diabetes Centre could call me first thing on Monday with my pump settings. I (honest to goodness) was going to write them all down on Sunday afternoon so that I had them while I was away. My pump had other plans and died before I was able to. I had a good enough idea of what they were that I could wing them until Monday morning and Sherri confirmed that Kate would call be at 8:30am with the current ones I had given them at my last appointment in February.
1:00pm - pump began emitting wailing noises
1:30pm - called Medtronic
2:15pm - spoke to someone at Medtronic
2:45pm - received confirmation that loaner pump would arrive at 5:30pm
4:15pm - loaner pump arrived at my door
4:30pm - all hooked up and ready to go
Well Mr Murphy - nice try. You put a wrench in my Sunday afternoon plans but with two phones, some helpful friends and a fabulous customer support line at Medtronic, I was able to foil your plans and head off on vacation all hooked up.
So, remember how I opted out of the Medtronic loaner pump program for my trip and, instead, decided that I would bring emergency back up Lantus (long-acting insulin) in the off chance that things took a turn?
Well, things took a turn.
On Sunday, after our lovely bike ride, I checked my blood sugar and entered the lunch carb details into my pump.
At least I tried to anyway.
I hit the bolus button - no problem. I hit the up arrow button and nothing happened. I tried again. Nothing. I tried other buttons. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
My bff blue pump wasn't working. At all. It beeped 'button error' which (apparently) means that a button was held down for over three minutes (which it wasn't) and then started alternating between alarm sirens and vibrations every minute or so.
I injected insulin for my lunch and tried not to freak out. I was leaving for Israel in less than 24-hours and it was a Sunday.
I dug out all of my Medtronic info and went through the troubleshooting section. No luck. I called the 1-800 hotline and, after hitting 1 and 2 a few times, received a message that the Canada department was not able to take my call. I was transferred to the US and put immediately on hold.
For 45 minutes.
After 10 minutes, I switched to speaker phone and emailed Sherri from the Niagara Diabetes Centre to explain my situation. I hated doing that on a Sunday afternoon but didn't feel like I had much choice. I could hear a very loud tick tick tick in my head. She went into action and gave me a list of suggestions of who to call and what to do.
During that time, I had also googled the US Medtronic number and called that on my cell phone, hoping to speak to someone while my other phone was on hold.
My cell phone picked up first and, as soon as I explained my situation, I was put on hold. For about 15 minutes. Now I had two phones on hold each playing the same elevator music but each at a different point in the song. Sherri emailed me telling me to call the local Medtronic rep but I was out of phones and loathe to hang up either of the ones I had in use.
Finally, I spoke to someone on my cell. I explained the situation and they walked me through a few troubleshooting options. No luck. They checked my warrantee and, as luck would have it, it expired in January of this year. (In Canada we receive funding for a new pump every five years but the warrantees last for four. That last year, as I have learned, is a bit of a crapshoot). I had no option of getting a brand new pump. I was told I was going to get a loaner pump for a maximum of 90 days (kinda like the loaner pump I decided not to get for my trip). They said that they would transfer me to the Canadian branch who would ensure delivery by Monday.
"I'm leaving on Monday morning for Israel" I said.
"Oh, well, you'll have to speak to them to see what they can do" was the reply before I was transferred.
A lovely gentleman with a French-Canadian accent came on the line and explained the loaner pump program. I would be given a pump for 90 days and would have to return mine to Medtronic. I would be contacted by a Medtronic rep next week to figure out a plan for getting me a new pump. I would have to return my loaner pump within 90 days or my account would be charged $4,995.
Sign me up! Just please please please get it to me by Monday morning. He said he would contact their delivery company and call me back.
He did, within minutes, and announced my pump would be delivered by 5:30pm on Sunday.
Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.
I emailed Sherri back to tell her the news and to ask if anyone from the Diabetes Centre could call me first thing on Monday with my pump settings. I (honest to goodness) was going to write them all down on Sunday afternoon so that I had them while I was away. My pump had other plans and died before I was able to. I had a good enough idea of what they were that I could wing them until Monday morning and Sherri confirmed that Kate would call be at 8:30am with the current ones I had given them at my last appointment in February.
1:00pm - pump began emitting wailing noises
1:30pm - called Medtronic
2:15pm - spoke to someone at Medtronic
2:45pm - received confirmation that loaner pump would arrive at 5:30pm
4:15pm - loaner pump arrived at my door
4:30pm - all hooked up and ready to go
Well Mr Murphy - nice try. You put a wrench in my Sunday afternoon plans but with two phones, some helpful friends and a fabulous customer support line at Medtronic, I was able to foil your plans and head off on vacation all hooked up.
I will miss this little guy. He and I have gone on all sorts of adventures together and I'm sure he would have loved Israel. Thank for the memories my friend...
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