Today was the day of all Psych outs!
I've been inserting infusion sets for almost 4 years now and I'm just now to the point where I can push the button without any hesitation. For every painful insertion, it takes me another 4-5 months to get myself the point to just "do it." You'd think I would just get used to it. Now that I'm there with the infusion set, the CGM sensor has taken its place.
If you've read about my frustrations with the CGM, I've decided to try inserting the sensor in a new location with a suggestion from Scully at Canadian D-gal. Thanks Scully for the advice, but I was completely terrified to try inserting the sensor anywhere but my abdomen. So, today was the day I decided to try the thigh- she said she had better results from the thigh- so I figured I would have nothing to lose.
So, I'm standing with all my crap out ready to just stick it in the thigh- no biggie right? But then, I started psyching myself out. My Hubby was laying on the bed trying to be all supportive as I began asking him these questions...my psych out begins!
"Do you think this is going to hurt?"- as if he as ANY idea- I was just looking for him to say "of course not!"
"What's the worst thing that could happen...it could hurt right?"
"I can deal with pain for 2 minutes- afterall, in an hour I'll forget about it."
All these things I kept staying as I stood there with the sen-serter handy on the thigh- but I couldn't pull the trigger.
Psych out continues...
"Do you think this is the right spot? This is considered my thigh right?"
"Are you sure this is my thigh?"
"Can you count to 3 for me...then I'll push the button...actually..can you push the button for me?"
"There are people in the world who go through a lot more pain than this right?" (as I thought about my co-worker who just donated a kidney)
"Just do it, just do it, just do it (as I'm breathing like I'm in labor)."
The Hubby was really really supportive- but I continued to psych myself out- to the point where I put the sen-serter down several times.
But then..I took a deep breath...AND
IT DIDN'T HURT!
So I say..."that was NOT bad at all!"
So far, I'm really really happy with the sensor on the thigh, so hopefully I'll get better results...and if I don't...oh well! Thanks Skully for the suggestion- I now know that it doesn't really hurt that bad, so hopefully next time it will take me less than 20 minutes to push the button!
Isn't it ridiculous what we say to ourselves? Anybody else do this or say crazy things?
The thigh is a great place for me. I actually stopped using my stomach after two weeks of trying. I found it really irritated my skin and was more tender there. Since then, I have only used my thighs. It works great there. I normally get 7 days and great results- very close to meter. It is a little freaky putting it in there - is there enough fat...and definitely there is but I always think, will i hit bone??? Anyways, good luck with your new spot.
ReplyDeleteYup, it always takes me a while to work up the courage to push that button. Then I wonder why I was such a baby. :) I use my lower back most of the time for my CGM, but I'm looking to branch out. My tummy doesn't usually give me very good readings, and like Lindsay it tends to be more sensitive. What part of your thigh are you using? I certainly have plenty of real-estate there!!
ReplyDeleteI used the outside- kinda of where my hand would rest if I stood up straight. Surprisingly- I didn't really feel anything at all and I've been really satisfied with the location all day. Skully also mentioned using her lower back, however, I'm not very flexible and need to figure out a way to get it back there! If you try your thigh- let me know how it goes :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried my thigh. I tried my lower back but the Dexcom inserter doesn't have a button, just a plunger you use to push the needle in. And twisting around to hold the inserter, push in the plunger and then finagle the sensor free of the inserter was CHALLENGE to say the least.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been "psyched out" in years. But your post mad eme smile because when I first was diagnosed (as a little kid) I HATED needles and was a HUGE chicken. Just pushing the button for my finger pricker was a 5-minute ordeal as I slowly pushed it down and then jumped when the lancet finally fired. And as far as shots, forget about it. They took forever and I was sweaty and shaky the whole time.
Nowadays I will occasionally jump when the inserter for my pump site fires, but it's because that sucker is LOUD and it always surprises me! :-)
YAY for you! I'm so happy to hear you tried it and its working well for you. I'll admit I was a tad bit psyched out but I'm a weird one, in that I love sticking these things into me. It wasn't fear that was psyching me out but excitement at a new found freedom! the abdomen takes a beating and I find more than anything everything moves a lot there which means stuff doesn't stick long. congrats again, I'm very excited for you!
ReplyDeleteI still have to take deep breaths when I insert my pump site - no idea why, I almost never even feel it. It's all mental, haha! Glad you found a site that works well for you.
ReplyDeleteI use my thigh. I wore my CGMS on my stomach twice. I hated it. Since then, I've alwaysed used my thighs and the thought of putting that thing in my stomach freaks me out.
ReplyDeleteAs for the psych out on the insertion...I still freak out for both. And I've been pumping for 4 1/2 yrs and doing CGMS for 2 1/2 yrs. :P I hesitate less on the pump, but the CGMS is still freaky.