Turns out Animas pumps aren’t 100 per cent waterproof after all!
When the alarm went off this morning and I saw the bright light of my pump shining through the duvet, I looked at it, and nearly had a heart attack. The time on it showed 4:35 a.m. I was NOT supposed to be getting up at 4:35 a.m. and poor Mario nearly had his head lopped off for awaking me at such an unearthly hour. But he quickly told me, with maybe a little fear in his eyes, that something must be wrong with my pump because it was in fact 6 a.m. not 4:35 a.m. I started pressing the buttons on the pump and nothing happened. The screens didn’t switch over, I couldn’t check the status reports, I couldn’t do nothing. It was also flashing between a bright and dimmed screen. I knew right then there was a problem and that it likely had to do with the fact the pump was submerged in water last night. Ohhhh the irony.
Just yesterday I read all about fellow blogger Canadian D-gal’s drama with her Medtronic pump after drowning it in the hot tub. Medtronic doesn’t boast about being waterproof like Animas and instantly she knew she’d done wrong. The water marks inside her screen and the non-button action confirmed those concerns. After reading her post, I left a comment telling her that I not-so-secretly secretly wished that Animas wasn’t waterproof so I could get a fancy schmancy new scratch-free pump. Did I mention this was JUST yesterday?
I was on the phone with a techie at Animas before 7 a.m. and after one minute of describing what was going on, they asked me if I’d been in water recently; they knew. I told them I was at the pool yesterday, and then, being the cocky princess I am at such an early hour, I said, “But I thought it was supposed to be waterproof?” The techie assured me that yes it was, but that deep gouges or worn out battery caps or micro tears in the screen could contribute to water seeping in. (See photo above.) She asked if I had a back-up plan to cover me while they courier out a new pump. Uhm, no.
Even though I’ve dreamed of a shiny new pump for months now, when the time came for me to need a shiny new pump, I was in major freak-out mode. I didn’t know what the heck I was supposed to do, a new pump wouldn’t arrive for another day or two, I haven’t taken insulin injections in over a year, and I haven’t had to deal with two types of insulins in just as long. And do you think I actually have a written report of my standard basal dosages throughout the day? No.
Note to self, write that down.
Thankfully the pump isn’t a complete goner, it’s still pumping insulin into me, and it has its moments where it works perfectly fine, so I haven’t had to go into crisis mode just yet. However, it also has moments where it randomly flashes, and beeps and where none of the buttons work. I’m really hoping that when I change my infusion tomorrow, it doesn’t decide to enact one of those moments, because without working buttons, I’m pretty much hooped!
TONIGHT’S COMEBACK RUN (no Garmin)
- 6 p.m. BG before: 9.7
- Temp. basal -30 per cent
- Distance: about 4 km
- Time: 24 minutes
- 7 p.m. BG after: 3.3
I got two words to describe this run: NO PAIN!
Okay maybe one more word: EXCITING!
I didn’t just run though. I also hit the trainer right after dinner. Bring on the duathlon!
TONIGHT’S TRAINER
- 7:30 p.m. BG before: 6.7 (dinner bolus -70 per cent)
- Temp. basal -60 per cent (1 hour)
- Time: 45 minutes
- 8:30 p.m. BG after: 6.0
- Temp. basal +40 per cent (1.5 hour)
What in your life would you feel completely lost without?
Sorry to hear about your pump. I too understand that electronics and water do not really go hand in hand. As far as what I would feel completely lost without, it would have to be an internet connection. I don’t know how long I could survive without it 😉 I am sure that once the withdrawals were over I could manage but I don’t want to find out. For one thing I would not get an evening fix of my Princess of Pavement 😉
I know this is going to sound totally shallow, but my iPhone. When you posted that photo of you broken screen in your blog awhile back I nearly cried! I was glad to see a relatively happy ending to that story 🙂 I’ll be hoping for you that your new pump makes it’s way to you quickly!
As you may have noticed, quite recently I discovered a disturbing reliance on my wheels. By that I mean, specifically, my Jeep. I was okay without Myrtle Mae for six months. But NINE months nearly broke me. Turns out, I’m a control freak after all, only in reverse. I don’t have a passion to control; but I DO have a passion not to be controlled. And I was starting to feel like I was being held hostage by the government!! I sound like one of those conspiracy theorists, yes? 🙂 … But a nastier experience I have never had. Divorce PALES in comparison!! 🙂 The feeling when I slid my Jeep into gear at last and slowly rolled down the road: Liberation!! Jeez, it was sweet 🙂
Hope your first run was half as nice 🙂
I agree with Pete. He would die without his internet connection. Can’t count how many times he has been late for something because he was hooked up to his lifeline and just couldn’t get away. The man could spend all day online if he could. 😀
my meter. hate it when I misplace it. hope your runs stay drama free at least.
OMG Katie, this is bizarre coincidence and in actuality as soon as I started reading your post, I smiled! you’re secret is out!
and I think its HILARIOUS that you, as well as me, have no back-up plan! and we also don’t have any of our settings written down on paper. I really think we both learned valuable lessons eh? maybe buy some syringes and write out the settings dammit!
Can’t wait for new shiny pump. 🙂
Yup that sucks. Although my medtronic isn’t waterproof, we deal with a helpline based in Cali, which is nice kinda cause its 24 hours. Yes, write basals down, as I have had a failure and not known what they were (oops).
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