Monday, April 25, 2011

Arm sensor fail

After riding out my sensor for about 9-10 days and once it refused to find the sensor any more, I decided it was time for the ARM SITE. I asked my boyfriend last night if he would help me because I couldn't do the whole thing one handed and he agreed. I explained to him what I was doing as I prepped the inserter, and then I handed it to him and tried to explain his part. I'm not very good at explaining how to do things, so it wasn't going so smoothly on my end, but then he decided to just go for it. It stung a little more than usual and then proceeded to bleed. A lot. I had a sneaky suspicion it wouldn't do well with that much blood in the beginning, but I decided to wait it out and see. After 15-20 min., I had him connect the transmitter and then put the tape on. I have to admit, it was kind of fun to see someone else do it. He thought the needle was huge, btw! I actually don't think it looks that scary anymore, but I agree it does look big at first. And intimidating. And like it hurts.

Well, all night, I was VERY aware of the sensor. I could feel it every time I moved my arm and it also kind of hurt. I was looking in the mirror when he did it and I am the one who told him where to insert it, but I'm thinking it wasn't quite in the right spot since it bled so much and hurt. I'm used to having it in the fatty part of my stomach and not even knowing it's there! Before I went to bed, I glanced at it and thought it was even coming out a little, which makes sense since I move and bend my arm a lot more than I do my stomach or thigh. This is the part I don't understand...how does it stay in your arm so well? How are you not aware of it with every movement? The first couple readings were right on with my meter, but in the middle of the night, the sensor was weak and lost. I decided to take it out, and my boyfriend was nice enough to clean off the dried blood. I was a little grossed out, but he seemed to handle it fine! I'm looking at it for the first time just now and saw this lovely little bruise. I told my boyfriend not to feel bad and that it probably wasn't in the best spot. Any suggestions from the DOC on how to do arm sites? Best areas? Bad areas? For now it's back on my stomach...


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4 comments:

  1. SandyApril 25, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    My husband hasn't tried the arm, nut if he lays on the side of his stomach at night and the pump isn't close enough, it will lose the sensor. Maybe that is what happened to your arm... Maybe try the thigh? That would be the next place for him if he doesn't want to use his stomach...congrats to your boyfriend! That is so great that he is there for you and he is trying to help. I bet it made you feel good too to know he would help you even if it grossed him out a little with the big needle. :)

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  2. ValerieApril 25, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    Yeah, it seems to lose the sensor a lot, especially after a few days. I actually tried the thigh before I tried the arm and it seemed to work pretty well. And yes, it did make me feel good that he was willing to help me out! :)

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  3. meanderingsApril 25, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Thanks for your comment. Sandy would have liked you a lot...

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  4. DeniseApril 25, 2011 at 11:10 PM

    What a sweet boyfriend!
    We sometimes do the arm with my son (he's 6) He has very little fat so we have to really pull up when we insert it. We actually get pretty good readings with the arm but since he is so active, it doesn't stay stuck for long. I can't imagine what it would be like to feel it everytime you move.

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