Infusion site

jamie_lee80

Hello All! I've been pumping for about a year and a half now. A few months ago I decided to change up my infusion sites to give my stomach a break. I have been using my upper hip, butt area but I have a major problem. I keep ripping them out when I pull my pants down. My thumbs just somehow lock around the tubing and it pulls out. Then I have to start fresh with a new infusion set, which is a waste. Any help with this?

T1DCarnivoreRunner

Have you considered tucking in additional slack and then taping the tubing somewhere to have an additional contact point... then when you rip it away, it will rip away the tubing taped somewhere and not the actual infusion set.

tycoon460

You could also try IV 3000 infusion set tape. I use that from time to time before I have an intense workout and my infusion set is close to the muscle group I will be working.

abatonfan

I second midwesterner85's idea to create an additional contact point with the tubing. You could also use skin tac or very strong bandage tape to tape down the site (I found Nexcare flexible clear first aid tape to be pretty strong). I need to do this on the back of my arms, especially when sleeping causes the infusion set's adhesive to peel off

jamie_lee80

Thanks for the suggestions- i use the sure t infusion set so there is already another contact point. Maybe i can get medtronic to send me a longer tubing to try that out. I'll have to pick up some tape in the meantime. I havent tried my arms or legs yet.

T1DCarnivoreRunner

The strongest adhesive I've found is Mastisol.

How are you pulling out both before noticing? Is there no slack between the 2?

jamie_lee80

Unfotunately im not pulling out the first site, i'm only actually pulling out the second site that has the steel needle in it. In theory I should be able to stick it back in, but there is no stickiness left in the adhesive part so I can't

T1DCarnivoreRunner

Are you catching the tubing between the anchor and the cannula?

okulyd

I use my back as my main infusion site. I used to use butt but had the same issue of always ripping them out. I find that if I use my back above where my pants hit that I don't rip it out. The only issue is its hard to insert without help. Its easy if you use the mio because the inserter is built in and it goes in straight so you just put it where you want it and press the button. Its not so easy with the sure-T or the silhouette...

jamie_lee80

@‌midwesterner85 yes, that's where its catching. @Okulyd, I'm going to have to try to move it and see if that helps any. I gave up last week and have been putting it in my stomach again

T1DCarnivoreRunner

You might consider arm (if you have long enough tubing to thread it up through your shirt) or thigh. I've put it in my thigh and had problems with crimping, bent cannula, or it just fell out when I stood up (and it was painful). But then started using upper thigh... basically adjacent to the pelvic area. Any lower and I have those problems again. I'm not sure if being in front would help any, but thought I would throw that out as an idea.