Fashionable Pumping
Almost five years ago, I traded in my orange-capped syringes for a beeper-sized machine and some long, plastic tubing. After seventeen years of multiple daily injections, I was finally pumping insulin.
For me, insulin pumping was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my diabetes management. After my skin was tired and scarred from all the injections and after trying to deal with dawn phenomenon issues and some very scary low blood sugars, switching to a pump made sense. I was able to increase my morning basals to combat the dawn phenomenon, and precision dosing helped alleviate many of my hypoglycemic episodes.
And this is all well and good, but after the pump euphoria wore off and it was business as usual, I was left with this machine. What the heck was I supposed to do with this thing every day? How would I wear it to work? To bed? Out to dinner? During intimate moments? To the beach?
Part of insulin pumping is making the pump part of your daily routine, not a hindrance to it. I personally don’t want the pump to be the first thing people notice about me, so I take care to conceal it when I can and I’m creative with infusion set placement. Here’s how I wrangle in my pump:
Infusion sets: While I work out regularly, there’s still plenty of real estate to explore in terms of placing my infusion sets. When I first started pumping, I was told by my diabetes educator to use my abdomen for the infusion sets. And this worked fine for a few months, because I needed to become comfortable with my new hardware and I wanted easy, visual access. After a few months, however, I wanted more flexibility with where I was able to stash my pump, so I opened up the “real estate market.” I currently wear my infusion set on my abdomen, outer thigh, the back of my hip, or on my arm. Different places allow me to hide the pump in different parts of my clothes.
Hiding places: I don’t wear the same style of clothes to work every day, so my pump stashing methods vary from outfit to outfit. Clipping it to the pocket of jeans is an easy out – it only creates a very small bulge. But for more streamlined pants, I have a tendency to hide my pump in my sock. Removing the clip lets me put the smooth side of the pump, button side up, against my shinbone. A tight trouser sock holds the pump in place, and wearing the infusion set on my thigh allows enough leeway to snake the tubing down the length of my leg and into my sock.
For dresses, I’ve used some of the thigh holsters that companies are providing and I have also stuck the pump into the middle section of my bra (between the cups). And for my recent wedding, I had the seamstress create a special pocket just for the pump. A little extra planning goes a long way in keeping the pump hidden when being discreet suits me.
Disclosure: There are plenty of times when my pump is comfortably tucked way, but there are some times when it just doesn’t have anywhere to hide. Like at the beach – whether it’s the infusion set or the pump itself, bathing suit season doesn’t leave much room for a hidden insulin pump. Or during moments of intimacy, where the pump needs to be more accepted than concealed. Being able to tell people about my diabetes, and how the pump plays a part in my management plan, makes concealing this external symptom more a preference than a forced action.
Pumping insulin has been a good choice for me, allowing me to precisely dose insulin and attempt to mimic the actions of a properly working pancreas, but it has been a bit tricky integrating the hardware into my life. Thanks to some sewing talent, patience, and a little creative thinking, I’m able to enjoy insulin pumping without making the pump my signature piece.
Comments
I totally agree about the pump! My two girls ages 3 & 6 are both on the pump. The next thing was how to wear it with all their clothing. They were very picky about what to wear, they stopped wearing dresses and skirts, and started wearing jeans. Because like you said it fits well in the pocket. Well, here I was looking at their pretty clothes in the closet. I came up with an idea that helped a lot. I made them slips to fit under their regular skirts and dresses, as well as skirts that has a hidden pocket to hold the pump securely. What a world of difference! So much that I started a website business.
Posted by: Claire Macchi | October 24, 2008 12:31 PM
When you have changed your pump placement for injection sites, where about do you put the needle in on your thigh and hip? Does it tend to hurt more than the abdomen? I know that the pain of the needle going in a new spot is a little for some people.
Thank you
Posted by: Amber Dennis | October 24, 2008 12:48 PM
I'm still in the new "euphoria" stage as I have only been pumping for a couple of months. I'm glad to read about the different sites you use though because I feel like I'm running out of places on my abdomen. Thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Sharon Cochran | October 24, 2008 02:14 PM
Like you I have found pumping a great improvement and, until recently, usually stashed my pump in my bra in between cups. this summer I discovered a lump in my left breast while doing a regular monthly exam. After numerous tests and an aspiration, all, gratefully indicating NO problem, we figured out it was the pump, day after day, placed in my bra that caused the non-cancerous lumpy problem. So now I'm using other places for the pump, but none so convenient for me. Just a head's up to all my sisters about this little problem that happened to me. Thanks for your post!
Posted by: Sara My | October 24, 2008 02:44 PM
I agree with you about the placement of the pump. My favorite place is on my bra. Most of the time I wear shirts that are not tucked in, so I can easily reach up and unattach, or attach it very fast. Most of the time, no one even notices. And if they do, they see what I am doing and I just educate them on the spot. I also wear a sensor, so I usually just change which side of my tummy gets both "plugs".
Posted by: Sisi Belcher | October 24, 2008 02:46 PM
Thanks a lot for this blog entry. I have been using a pump since 1999. Recently when I met another long-time pumper who wears his pump clipped on his belt, he asked why I keep mine in my pocket. He told me that I must have issues of denial and embarrassment about being diabetic. I told him something similar to what you wrote- "I don’t want the pump to be the first thing people notice about me" YES! That's the main thing! If you meet new people and have to explain what your pump is in the introductory meeting because it is on your belt, that's what people will remember about you everytime! I want people to remember my personality traits or physical appearence, NOT MY DIABETES! Thanks again, I feel justified in my attitude.
Posted by: DG | October 24, 2008 02:48 PM
I mainly use my bra but not in the middle. I attach it to the straps which is far above the soft tissue.
It is really easy to reach there and works well for me.
Otherwise it causes soreness for me.
I also just attach it to my waste band.
You can also insert the cannula into outer breast tissue. Yes..look on the various pump sites for the best sites.
Posted by: kilty | October 24, 2008 04:01 PM
For those "intimate moments", as well as hot tubs, etc., I simply disconnect. If it's for nookie, I often give myself a quick 0.5 bolus to compensate for the adrenaline rush, and sometimes another 0.5 after I reconnect. I just unhook it and toss it on the floor. My husband hears me disconnect and it's an aphrodisiac for him!
Posted by: Angi | October 24, 2008 04:35 PM
The thigh is a great place for your infusion set and also your sensor (if you use one). I was able put a pocket on a slip, so that my pump doesn't weigh my skirt down. For those of you who don't sew - I cut off the foot to a stocking and used the fusible hem tape which you iron onto the slip. It has lasted for 3 yrs now. Thanks for the great info - I never thought about putting my pump in my sock - can't wait to try it.
Posted by: Heather Wilkinson | October 24, 2008 04:48 PM
My husband is on the pump and we are also finding it to be a great help but he perspires a lot and it keeps coming off. Does anyone have any suggestions???
Posted by: Linda Terry | October 25, 2008 03:34 AM
I wear my pump on a clip clipped to my belt loop. I don't really care if I need to educate the world when they see my pump. I have nothing to hide in fact if I am low I would rather some one know This could say my life quicker then having the paramedics load me up and take me to the hospitol when All I really need was some fast acting carbs and possibly a pump disconnect. I am an upfront straight forward kinda guy willing to help everyone with anything. I like the same in other people.
Why hide it flount it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: D. | October 25, 2008 01:37 PM
I've been on the pump since 2002; one of my solutions was to sew pockets inside the bra cup. I have not had any problems with this. It's also nice when you can find jeans with a watch pocket that is large enough to accomodate the pump.
Posted by: Laveda Fleming | October 25, 2008 07:04 PM
I have been wearing the pump for 10 years often clipped to the waistband of my jeans or in a pocket. I make my own dresses and skirts and add an inside pocket to the side seams with a small hole in the pocket the put the tube through and under the skirt. One day I decided to make a fancy pump pouch out of old blue jeans, beaded fringe and a tapestry ribbon. I wear the ribbon arouund my waist with the pump in the pouch. The pouch hangs off my hip like a pouch from a medival outfit. It's fun to wear.
Posted by: nancy Kent-Berge | October 26, 2008 03:01 PM
My teenage son uses the pump and perspires alot from being so active and we kept having to put new sites in. I asked a nurse and she told us to quit using the alcohol pads with the extra adhesive (sticky) and see if it helps. Something we thought we couldn't live without because we thought it was the only thing helping to keep them on. Turns out it was working against us and we have had alot less problems since. Hope it works for your husband too.
Posted by: Rhonda Mathews | October 31, 2008 01:32 AM
My 11 year old daughter has been pumping two years now. Her favorite way to wear her pump it in a cell phone case clipped to her waist band.
Posted by: Julie | November 3, 2008 10:51 PM