sarainsanfran

Typically, I put in a new infusion site and leave the old site in for a few hours. I rarely have a bad transition. Occasionally, the site will hurt or feel uncomfortable so I replace it with a new one. Even on those occasions, it's immediate so I don't peak from the bad site.

But the last two sites have given me some trouble. I'm rotating like normal, still leaving my old site in for at least two hours, and making sure there isn't any pain. I'm still seeing numbers soar into the 200's without a true cause within several hours of replacing my site. And each time, I've replaced the site on the third high reading and come down within a few hours to a normal range.

I have no idea what has randomly caused this infusion stress since nothing has really changed. Maybe I need to change my site area to a new, untouched area. Unfortunately, I feel like I have no available real estate since the two areas I love to use (my stomach and lower, lower back) are apparently becoming problem sites.

Is this what happens with the pump? Do you use all your sites for so long that all that's left is scar tissue and the remnants of adhesive? Eventually, what do you do?

When I went through my pump training classes before I started on the pump, one woman was just getting back on the pump after taking a 6-month sabbatical to let her body repair so she could have better site absorption. At the time, I thought she was strange and probably abnormal. I was a little alarmed, but figured someone would have told me that sabbaticals are necessary somewhere along the way.

Yet, here I am, wondering...what do I do when I start having issues with my infusion sets? Do I need to take a sabbatical after only one year on the pump? Is my time up?

I suppose I need to push myself to try new site areas like my arms or sides or thighs. Sadly, I have an objection to each one. On my arms, I don't want anyone to see. My sides just scare the heck out of me (hello, vital organs!) even though I know the needle and catheter are not long enough to reach through even a small amount of skin and fat. My thighs are muscular from years of cheerleading so it scares me to put needles and catheters directly into that muscle.

I know I'm making excuses and have valid infusion site areas that have not been touched, but I'm still wondering, what if I can't do it? What if I can't make myself try my arms or thighs? What if my lower back and my stomach can't absorb anymore?

Just, what if...?