[Diabetes-Talk] A cool triumph.

Fri Jul 7 00:39:03 UTC 2017

Yes, too much to memorize in my old age! By the way, I am only 51! 

   Jamie 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 6, 2017, at 6:31 PM, Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Jamie, that's the place where sometimes I swear I push the okay button twice
> but one of them didn't take. And of course, if you've done something else
> and it hasn't timed out yet, all bets are off. The one that gets me is after
> you rewind the cartridge, then when you load it, it's only one button push,
> not two like most other things.
> Veronica
> 
> 
> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on
> iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
> To learn more, visit:
> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>                 Veronica Elsea, Owner
> Laurel Creek Music Designs
> Santa Cruz, California
> Phone: 831-429-6407
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2017 4:09 PM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Cc: Jamie Gurganus
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] A cool triumph.
> 
> No, it is just user error! I just don't know when the OK button has put me
> in the Home screen or the main menu. From my understanding, I wake it up
> with one push, and then another push takes me to the main menu. But, I am
> not sure if that is the case all of the time.
> 
>    Jamie 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jul 6, 2017, at 5:49 PM, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I haven't experienced those issues with the buttons. Could something 
>> be wrong with your pump?
>> 
>> Bridgit
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2017 1:55 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] A cool triumph.
>> 
>> Well, I started in March and am mostly surviving the change. I'm about 
>> a day away from doing my second battery change so we'll see what 
>> happens there. I do find that my okay button sometimes just doesn't 
>> take or pushes twice when I swear I hit it once. I've also discovered 
>> that when going into the menus, I do kind of have to pause for a 
>> second between button pushes to increase the likelihood that it's 
>> doing what I want. The thing that still gets me sometimes is the 
>> inconsistency of sometimes you push just once and you're in the place 
>> to enter what you want and sometimes having to push twice. That bites 
>> me for some reason if I enter  a high BG reading. As I said, the thing 
>> I dislike the most is the priming process. And I sure hate wasting insulin
> if my battery change doesn't match up with a cartridge change.
>> But Jamie, just pay attention to how you hit that okay button and that 
>> may help straighten out the craziness. But I'm about to buy myself a 
>> small timer that I can set for one minute because I'm getting tired of 
>> waiting and guessing as to when it's timed out and I can start over. 
>> <grin> Veronica
>> 
>> 
>> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now 
>> available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide
> Dog Glee Club.
>> To learn more, visit:
>> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>>                Veronica Elsea, Owner
>> Laurel Creek Music Designs
>> Santa Cruz, California
>> Phone: 831-429-6407
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2017 7:34 AM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>> Cc: Jamie Gurganus
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] A cool triumph.
>> 
>> Bridgit,
>> 
>>    I've been using the Vibe since the end of January, so one would 
>> think I would have it down by now.  I did for a while, and now it is 
>> not doing what I want it to do for some reason.
>> 
>> For the battery change, my trainer said that the date and time will 
>> erase if you take too long to switch batteries.  I've only changed 
>> batteries once, and I did it with my daughter watching me.  It wasn't 
>> hard, but I did have to read through my notes first.
>> 
>> I just don't understand why the cartridge change is being so difficult.
>> Even though this pump frustrates me, my doctor said that it is a much 
>> better pump than my old one.
>> 
>>               Jamie
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2017 3:47 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] A cool triumph.
>> 
>> Jamie and Veronica,
>> 
>> I have the Ping, which is pretty much the same thing. Trust me, 
>> changing the battery and cartridge is easy, and you'll get it, smile. 
>> I usually push the buttons pretty fast, and (knock on wood) have yet 
>> to have a problem in the last 4 years. With practice, it will come easy.
>> 
>> What I have problems with is when I use the temp basal. But this is 
>> more a problem with memory than the pump itself. I forget which 
>> direction comes next and have to refer to my written directions.
>> 
>> A couple of times, my pump needed a new battery and it suspended 
>> itself, which I did not know, so when trying to change it, it wasn't 
>> working because I needed to unsuspend first. I had to get sighted help 
>> for this because I had no clue why my pump was not doing what it 
>> should. But this doesn't always happen when the battery needs changed.
>> 
>> Also, not sure if either of you have experienced this, but after a 
>> battery change, my pump tends to change the time and date, so I often 
>> ask for sighted help to verify the time and date.
>> 
>> Good luck. Sure do miss that Cosmo though, smile.
>> 
>> Bridgit
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2017 6:44 AM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Jamie Gurganus <jamielgurganus at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] A cool triumph.
>> 
>> Veronica,
>> 
>> I am still having similar problems with my Vibe.  I think I have the 
>> sequence down for a cartridge change, and then it alarms me that my 
>> pump is not primed.  Of course it isn't, because I am holding the 
>> almost empty one in my hand and trying to rewind the darn thing!  I 
>> let it time out and try again, but it often alarms me again.  I 
>> finally give in and ask one of my kids for help.  The other day, my son
> said that I was in the status menu.
>> Go figure!  I am hesitant to change my cartridge or battery if no one 
>> sighted is around for assistance.  Every once in a while, I succeed on 
>> my own.  It frustrates me to no end, because I independently managed 
>> my Spirit pump for 18 years.  And, it never fails that I do it 
>> correctly when my daughter watches me to see what I am doing wrong!  I 
>> do know that I have to push the buttons slowly, so I'm wondering if I 
>> just push it too fast at times and end  up somewhere lost in menu land.
>> 
>> Your husband is quite a genious to figure out that jig.  He should 
>> market it!  I don't seem to have issues with my tubing catching the 
>> tape.  It is my undies!
>> 
>> Also, I've been meaning to tell you that my niece goes to UC Santa Cruz.
>> When we were together last month for my dad's funeral, I showed her your
>> picture.  She has seen you on campus.    Small world!  
>> 
>> Glad to hear that I am not the only one frustrated with the Vibe.  
>> But, it was the best choice for a pump in my opinion.
>> 
>>               Jamie
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Monday, July 03, 2017 10:18 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
>> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] A cool triumph.
>> 
>> Hi everyone.
>> First, a little update on my life with various bits of diabetes gear. 
>> The Dexcom G5: I'm doing better with the tape, although once in awhile 
>> I wrinkle it in a spot or two. Here's what does get me though. I wear 
>> my pump around my waist on the left side of my body. This means that 
>> when the cannula is in the right side of my abdomen and the Dexcom 
>> sensor is in the left, the pump tubing tends to rub on the Dexcom tape 
>> and can pull up on the edges. So I've been using this tape called 
>> Mepore. We do have to cut a hole in it so it will go over the 
>> transmitter. Then you pull the backing off, place it on top of the Dexcom
> tape and then pull the paper off of the front.
>> It works quite well but boy has it been a source of drama for me. My 
>> hubby made a template to use when cutting the hole in the tape. But 
>> when I'd pull the backing off, the tape was so extremely thin and 
>> often in the act of trying to line it up, I'd goof and accidentally cover
> an edge of the sensor.
>> Well, after watching enough of my drama, <grin>, my hubby has now made 
>> me the coolest, cutest little jig. I take the tape and place it on 
>> this jig with the backing facing up. I peel off the backing, flip the 
>> little jig over and it fits right over the whole transmitter and lands the
> tape perfectly.
>> I'm sure he has just probably added hours to my life. <laughing!> Boy 
>> am I a happy girl right now. Guess I owe him dinner or something.
>> 
>> As or the Animas Vibe, I'm doing okay with it although I'm not in love
> here.
>> Sometimes on my pump, the okay button doesn't take. A few times I 
>> thought I was entering a manual BG reading and surprise! I suspended 
>> my pump. At least that beeps so I can then fix it and start over. I 
>> still don't quite have confidence in the battery changing routine 
>> since I've only done it once but I'm going to do it again this week 
>> before heading off to guide dog class so we'll see. Cartridge changing 
>> is getting better but wow! Here's what gets me. Every once in awhile 
>> it comes up with the alarm right as I'm starting to go into the 
>> cartridge menu and then I forget who wins so I have to just wait it 
>> out. Then there's priming. I'm getting to kind of know the sound when 
>> holding down the button to prime and figuring out when to let go. The 
>> trouble is that there's such a lag between when I let go and when 
>> insulin actually comes out that I can feel, that if I wait till I feel 
>> insulin on my finger, I've lost a bunch of insulin. For a pump that 
>> claims to hold 200 units of insulin, by the time I prime a 25-inch 
>> tubing, the most I've had left is 176 units. With 31-inch I've been 
>> down as low as 161 units. Good thing I can read that home screen 
>> because I never know the pattern to determine how long it will last. 
>> Sometimes I prime a bit, stop and wait a few seconds, up-arrow and 
>> prime again, hope it doesn't time out and then repeat the steps till I 
>> know it's primed. Boy do I miss my Cozmo. And the first time I had to 
>> change the battery, it gave me no warning. I was traveling and 
>> wouldn't you know it! I had filled a new cartridge the day before. So 
>> I lost a bunch more insulin. What a dumb design. But for the most 
>> part, as long as I move slowly when pressing buttons, I do what I 
>> intended to do. And yes, my hubby did build the first draft of a stand 
>> to help line up the pump and the iPhone for more consistant readings 
>> by the KNFB reader, but the lighting still has to be just right. So 
>> even if it takes a couple of tries, I'm grateful to be able to read that
> screen because it has really saved me. Too bad it can't read the battery
> level. Although it's not that accurate or helpful as mine said two bars on
> the day it died.
>> 
>> But boy, for those of you who use the Dexcom, I sure wish I could show 
>> you this cute little gadget. Anyway, just thought I'd share the
> celebration.
>> Veronica
>> 
>> 
>> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now 
>> available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide
> Dog Glee Club.
>> To learn more, visit:
>> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>>                Veronica Elsea, Owner
>> Laurel Creek Music Designs
>> Santa Cruz, California
>> Phone: 831-429-6407
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> 
>> 
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>> 
>> 
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>> 
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>> laurel
>> creekmusic.com
>> 
>> 
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>> 
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> 
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> 
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