Category: Blog

I got another alarm code when I rewound my pump last night.  Got the first on the 18th.  The customer service rep said they usually replaced when the patient got the third.  I was on hold for 2 minutes though.  That does bother me.

An Ohio bakery shut down in October is bustling again, with 60 eager employees who had expected a Christmas on the unemployment rolls.

Shuttered bakery reopens, rehires workers – CNN.com

Such a NICE story!  I grew up on Archway cookies and near an Archway cookie facility — not sure if it was a bakery or not, but Archway cookies and their company was a really good thing when I was a kid.  I even remember that they were frequent sponsors of youth events.

I was sad to see them gone, and equally glad to see that they have come back in a good way.

I’ve talked with the Minimed Rep and the Animas Rep.

I’m more than likely to go with Animas. I would like to try out the Minimed CGMS before I make a decision, but I doubt they will go for that.  The local rep wasn’t interested in having me try it, anyway.  I will say that if the Minimed CGMS worked, I would good with them.  But I’m not committing 4 years and over $6000 in insurance money to that cause without actually going through a full cycle. 

I don’t like that the Ping only comes in silver.  I want a black Ping.

I love the Ping though.  It works nicely, user interface is much better than the one on the pump.

Besides I know Animas customer service and they have better infusion sets.  I don’t like any of the choices that come with the Minimed and yes, I’ve tried them all.

I would like to try Cosmo, but haven’t heard from them.  I suppose I need to call their main office, rather than leaving a message with the local reps.

Both pump reps were good.

I woke up this morning and had three units in my insulin pump.  Perfect timing for a set change.

Before I got dressed, I rewound my pump. Went and got dressed, got new cartridge and infusion set.  Got back to the pump and it basically had a message that I had a catastrophic error and that the pump wanted me to phone home.  It also said to take the battery out and put it back in.

So I did the battery thing and phoned Animas.  I picked up the phone at 8:01 eastern time and got their answering service.  ARGH!  It was business hours.  That always bothers me.  I will give that tech support called back within two minutes but it is morning stress I don’t need.

My pump warranty expires in February.  I’ll need to get a new pump then.  I’ve loved my Animas pumps but since Johnson and Johnson bought them, customer service has deteriorated.

Most of the time I’ve had issues when I wanted the pump replaced because I couldn’t hear it or feel it.  However, the last time that happened, I got no problem at all, but two days after I got the new pump, I had a recall notice so Animas had to replace the pump anyway.

I love the idea of the new Ping, but would like to touch it and feel it before I have my insurance company lay out the money.  I’ve sent an email to Animas stating that, but haven’t heard back from them.

While I’ve always thought badly of Medtronics for good reason, I’m interested in looking at their CGMS.  If they could get the CGMS covered AND if it worked, I would go for.  That’s the two issues I have with the Dexcom, my body throws their sensors off my skin or the sensor just stops working.  Plus Dexcom hasn’t appeared to be helpful in getting CGMS covered.

I also want to look at the Cosmo pump though I think they are out of network.  The last time I talked with Cosmo, my former CDE was one of their reps, but her email is bouncing.

One of the projects I’d like to complete over the break is to pick my next pump since I have to wear it 24/7 over the next 4 years. 

Friday is my birthday and it is also the last school day before break.

Husband and I are going out tomorrow night as my favorite restaurant will probably be quieter on Thursday and we both like quiet restaurants.  It’s a Brazilian barbeque run by a bullfighter.  I can’t figure out why they have stayed in business as I have never seen it even half full, but I’m hoping it is on Friday nights.  They have Happy Hour then, but it didn’t look open last Friday when I got my dog pictures.

Brazilian barbeque is very diabetic friendly and the part I really like about it is that that wait on you hand and foot.  They do have a salad/side dish buffet, and I usually get a huge plate of veggies and cheese.  Then I like to alternate veggies with meat.  The only carbs I really eat there are their bread, which comes in really small cheese rolls, the banana, cooked and coated with cinnamon and the pineapple.  I love the pineapple.  They roast a whole pineapple and slice the cooked, caramelized slices at the table. 

We’re on a new schedule for the second year, and it is VERY odd.  We used to finish first semester before the break, and now we go on break for two weeks, have 4 days back and then give exams.  To make matters even worse, my lab has to be torn down on Thursday and be installed on Friday.

Then we have exams.  Those days are half days for the kids, which is going to give me lots of time to play with the new computers and organize the lab. 

And I’m spending the break trying to recharge, get squared away on exercise and relax.  Hopefully the weather will be warmer as I cannot sleep well when it is this cold.

First, I really hate the weight I am carrying right now.  Some days, like today, it is down right painful.

Second, I did something that is helping the first part.  I watch “What not to wear”, and one of their most important lessons is “dress the body you have know”.  I have been doing that and it makes a huge difference in how I feel.  It came to home on Saturday when I ended up wearing a bra too small AND a skirt too small.

It is taking longer than I hope to reverse the dehydration and starvation thing, but for the most part I do feel a bit better.

I’m impressed.  They treated it like a real appointment!  And it went much better than the first.  Well, the dietician part of the first appointment was good.

I have lost 1/2 pound since the last visit.  Considering that I was gaining weight at rate of about 5 pounds a month, this is a GOOD thing.  Besides, I’m still working on the water thing.

So I have 5 appointments to go before I have to make a decision, and I wouldn’t mind continuing seeing her if I decide not to go the surgery around.

Thus I am still exploring and haven’t made a commitment.

And the water arrived in my classroom this morning.  We’ll see how these two cases go, but I only managed to get in one diet coke today and one sport cap of water.

Remember last week, when I decided the reason I wasn't drinking enough water at school is because I didn't have any already there and I couldn't figure out how to get it there?

Well, I asked Ozarka to deliver it.

They said they would, today, between 8:00 and 12:00.  I went down to check on that and some other things and found my water in the main office.  Seems they can't send him up and the custodians have to deliver it.

They haven't.

Oh, and they turned the elevator off for the fire drill and didn't turn it back on.  <snarl>

Can't win for losing some days.

I have spent the last two days getting water through me and I feel better than I did as a result.

if I can just keep this up.

I am really glad to lurk on the lapband board because I am realizing that Symlin is acting a lot like their fills andthey teaching me how to deal with it. before I was accepting that I was feling like crap and didn’t know why. they are teaching me that I can control it.

Which need to be my motto now – control things rather then let them control me. and use my clicker training jnowledge to let people think they are controlling me.

I’ve learned something.  I need more fluids.

I did really well Thanksgiving week.  Eating was under control, reflux was good, etc. 

I was HORRIBLE this week.  Everything out of control.

Biggest difference?  I was careful to keep fluids going all Thanksgiving week, but didn’t do well this week, so I’m gong to concentrate on that next week.