Blog

  • Replacement pump and “resolutions”

    I got my third alarm at rewind.  Just called Animas and they are shipping a new pump on Tuesday — may arrive at the same time Alfred Thompson does — UPS usually comes by 2nd or 3rd period, put probably won't "install" until I get home as I have to transfer settings.

    Yes, have a plan in mind if it does go bad — the customer service rep said to keep one in mind.  Will probably have to get more syringes but I do have some, and would probably have endo phone in a pen insulin order — I figure on doing multiple injections if it goes completely out – waking up once or twice in the night to correct.  <sigh>  Haven't ever had to do that but I hate long acting insulin.

    Had a bad food time yesterday evening.  I still think it is related to drinking water which I still am not good at.  I also need to just eat what I am craving as fighting it seems to make it worse.

    Still walking on the treadmill.  I'm up to 15 minutes in two sessions or 20 minutes in three.  I'm trying to get it to 20 minutes in two but I'm feeling a lot of pain partway into the walk. 

    And tomorrow starts the week from hell — the new lab install….

  • More pump shopping and improvements

    Cozmo called me back already.  It seems they are in network now.  So right now, Animas and Cozmore are tied.  Money isn't an issue, coverage is the same.

    One thing in Animas's favor is that I know their tech support, I am comfortable with the Inset infusion set and I like the idea of the Ping, however, I'm not hearing good things on Ping (love to hear from Ping users). Their technology is newer and screen is easier to read.

    Cozmore's user interface is better, and so is their computer interface.  Their customer support reputation is good.

    If Medtronics CGMS were covered and if it worked well, I would go with it.  I have requested a trial of it, so we'll see if that happens.  I really doubt the CGMS will be covered, but then Cozmore surprised me that they were in network.

    Still leaning towards Animas with a big maybe on the Cozmore.

    Diet Gourmet is back.  Have had two of their meals but don't have carb counts yet.  Have an email out to the home office about that.  Will probably be guessing a lot for the next 5 weeks.

    Still walking daily, and slowly improving time, but had to do it in three sets yesterday.

  • Pump Shopping

    Met with the final pump sales rep today — the Cozmo. I also heard back from Medtronics — going with the pump alone is going to cost around $200, so I need to find out that information from Animas and Cosmo.

    I also want to wear the Medtronics CGMS system before I finally decide on it.  There are features on the Animas I like better (the Ping — and I have some questions on that), and there are features on the Cosmo I like better, but I am afraid out of pocket costs are going to be higher.

    I do think that the Medtronics is the "worst" pump for me — they don't slice the insulin as fine as Animas and Cozmo do.  Animas does some slicing finer, and Cozmo does other finer. 

    I like the size and feel of the Animas the best — I have been wearing it for 4 years, so I would.  I also think concealing it will be even easier IF the Ping system works.

    Any one reading this have any feedback on the Ping?

  • Continuing Improvements

    Though my weight is still going up.  Tomorrow is the first day of Diet Gourmet, I ordered an extra lunch and plan to pick up in the morning.

    Also going to meet with the Cosmo rep tomorrow so that will be another one of my goals finished. 

    I'm slowly walking more each day — goal is to get to 20 minutes straight and I am far from them, but it does get better by a minute or so each day — up to 12 minutes yesterday.

    Water still isn't going well,but calorie distribution is better.  Next week will definately be interesting.

  • New Years Resolution – Day 5

    Today is a good day, the scale showed the exact same amount as it did yesterday and I have a scale that weighs in tenths.

    Yesterday actually was a good day, though I probably didn't help the starvation mode much as I only ate one meal before 5:00 pm but it was a pretty good sized one.  It was disappointing however, I want to Saltgrass, the side order was horrible and the wait staff rushed me.  Sorry, but I wanted a nice leisurely lunch.  I suppose if I want to do that, it's back to the Brazilian restaurant.  It's actually cheaper, service is much better and so is the food.

    I went shopping yesterday.  I've only gone shopping a few times during break — mostly for Zune accessories (hard to fine), and clothing.  That meant I did a lot of walking.  I got the supplies I need for the new computer lab at Walmart, hit Best Buy and Fry's and bought nothing.  Tried Lane Bryant and found nothing.  I did finally get me an after Christmas present — I get paid for the teacher tech thing so I bought myself a tech toy.

    The good news is that the inescapable urge to eat in the evenings is subsiding.  It's not completely gone but working on it.

    Still need to work on drinking water — I am so bad at that it isn't funny. 

    And I might have fixed the CPAP problem.  I don't think it is the size of the mask so much as how it is fitted and I am tweaking it.  It stayed on most of the night last night.  I also need to work on getting back to a regular schedule since I've got 5 days before I go back to work.

    Happy New Year's everyone!

  • New Years Resolution – Day 3

    No, I am not going to update every day.  That would not be fun for any of us.

    So yesterday I managed to do okay on water but could hav done better.  Got on the treadmill for several short sessions.  Eating wasn't bad, but could have been better in the evening.

    Today has not been good on water.  I keep NOT drinking when I am thirsty.  Weird.  But did get on the treadmill for two slightly longer sessions then yesterday.  Food has been good so far.

    Diet Gourmet will be back on Friday, counting days!

  • New York Start – Day 1

    I’ve done better on water today but I don’t think I’m there yet.

    I got on the treadmill, did 8 minutes, which isn’t much but more than I have been doing.  Food wasn’t too bad — finished the last of my 2008 Diet Gourmet food and ready for our first 2009 pick up on Friday.

    Did go grocery shopping and picked up some stuff I can survive on.  Chili fixings, potatoes and steak.  Not the most balanced but a start.  And I already have breakfast food.

  • Starting my New Year early

    It seems more logical to start the new year today, rather than to wait until the middle of the week.  I've actually been trying to get things going again for weeks, but haven't been that successful.

    The dietician I have been seeing identified my first and supposedly easiest problem to deal with as not drinking enough water.

    So I just stopped for a few minutes, got some water as I realized once again I was without, extremely thirsty and doing nothing about it.   Also stopped and changed my water order — we get Ozarka delivered — so I wouldn't run out.

    In other words, I am STILL not drinking enough water.  And I am still working on it. 

  • Merry Christmas – Video Greetings

    You Tube at my audio so I reloaded.


  • Got another Alarm

    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.