After 3 months of various testing and laparoscopic biopsies, I’ve been diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer and will be having a complete hysterectomy and also having my omentum removed. For those of you who have no idea what an omentum is (neither did I before 3 months ago) it’s a layer of fatty and peritoneal tissue that covers and protects all your abdominal organs. You can live without one, thankfully, but because the cancer first showed up in the omentum, it needs to be removed, which means that the surgery cannot be laparascopic. It’s going to be open abdominal surgery.
So, here’s my question: I’m going to have a LOT of scar tissue in my entire abdominal area, which is where I usually put my pump sites. I know I can use my upper thighs for sites, but do any of you use other sites I haven’t thought of? Can no longer twist far enough due to back problems to enable me to use the upper butt area. I use the back of my arms for my CGM, but I can’t think of how to use the same areas for sites while not ruining them for using the CGM. Any thoughts?
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. You could take a pump break and try MDI while you’re healing - the beauty of it is, you can inject all over your arms, legs, and torso with one hand (no twisting needed). I only ever put my pump sites in my abdomen, but back on MDI I’ve been happy to be able to rotate more.
Thanks for the info. When I used to do MDI, I used the fronts of my thighs, but not really the side. So if I can use the side, that’ll give me twice as many sites.
And, yeah, I’m sorry I need to go through this, especially surgery. But I beat 3rd stage cancer of a different kind 25 years ago and, heck, I do not need 25 years more this time. I’ll be thrilled if I get another good five years. Thanks for your thoughts, Luis.
Thanks, Allison, but the last thing I want to do is go back on MDI. I really didn’t have great control then, and I love the control I get with the pump and CGM, with A1c’s consistently around 6.1. On MDI I rarely got below 6.5, which wasn’t bad, but I was also frequently closer to 7.0 or above. I’ve already got some kidney issues, and definitely don’t want anything that would worsen the situtation. But I do think Luis’ advice will give me enough sites for good rotation, which as you pointed out, is a key issue.
@Ruth As with others, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this too, but seems you have a good attitude toward it (though I’m sure there are times…). As to your question, it sounds like you’re using pods vice tubed pump. I use pods as well and have used the thigh (front and slightly inside) as well as the inside of arms (spaced roughly inbetween the bicep and tricep area. Both have the benefits of some protection (depends on your activity level), relatively easy reach, and seemingly protection from compression (depends on your regular sleep position). I tend to follow a pattern of pod round side up then round side down, so each site doesn’t get used but about every 12 or 24 days (can be stretched a bit by using the grace period depending on your how you approach/use grace periods. BTW, if you haven’t done so already, please ensure your surgeon(s), anesthetist, nurses, and hospital know of your T1/T2 status, insulin dependency, pump and CGM use, and share/get approval of your plan of how/if they’ll be allowed/used while in the hospital! You may want to look up Joanne Milo’s (just search her name, should come up with LnL, TD100, and her personal websites) recommendations on how to approach a hospital stay/surgery, she has definite ideas and downloadable recommended formats you can modify so they’re right for you and submission to all involved. Hope this is helpful and wish you the best with your surgery! Also beaware, some surgeons use “standard” post surgery guidance to hospital nurses, if you’re on a pump/CGM, you may need to ensure these are modified to fit your needs!