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Diabetic Connect Member Brenda Kruse

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CGMS--ouch!! :(

by Brenda Kruse
May 23, 2009 10:22 PM
17 Replies
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Hey, all, I need some input on the CGMS. I tried it last month and it truly felt like I was trying to put an IV needle (only MUCH bigger) in my side. Once it was in I was ok, but I actually got sick to my stomach from the pain. Now, I don't have the nerve to try again. Does anyone have any tips on how to cut the pain down? Just looking at the needle makes me--oh, you don't want to know! :) Blessings on this Memorial Weekend. May we ever remember and pray for our men & women who fight to keep us free!

Tags: cgms, glucose monitoring, devices

From Replies
Diabetic Connect Member kdroberts
kdroberts
kdroberts replied May 24, 2009 4:50 PM 

I guess if you really have a problem then you could ask your doctor about an anesthetic spray or cream. It may be OK to numb the area of insertion, wipe away the cream/spray and then insert. The reason you should check with a doctor is because I don't know what effect the cream/spray would be on the CGMS calibration.

Brenda Kruse replied May 25, 2009 1:21 AM 

Great suggestion! I had wondered about something like that. I'll find out next week. In the meantime, that expensive little unit is just sitting in my cupboard, and the money really could have gone other places. :) Oh, well! Thanks for your input! Be blessed, my friend! Brenda

Debe Pendice replied May 26, 2009 4:21 AM 

I used that spray before I had my needles put in when getting diakysis. It did help a little.........Debe
Diabetic Connect Member Anngelia
Anngelia
Anngelia replied May 25, 2009 10:42 PM 

Have you tried using ice on the spot? I've never tried it but I've heard it suggested many times.
Diabetic Connect Member Deleted User
Deleted User
Deleted User replied May 26, 2009 3:24 AM 

I used the sensor for probably about a week or so, but found I was a bad bleeder with it. I'm with you though, that introducer needle was mighty intimidating, and needles don't bother me. I gave up on the sensor, and Medtronic wouldn't take back the 3 boxes of sensors, so now I'm stuck with the things, and I had to pay for em. Kinda sucks, but oh well.

Diabetic Connect Member Lanore
Lanore
Lanore replied May 26, 2009 10:47 AM 

Ok..What is CGMS?? If it has anything to do with the insulin pump, I'm not going there. Lanore

Dietbeeties replied May 26, 2009 12:01 PM 

Yeah, I don't know that those letters stand for either..would like to know now though.

kdroberts replied May 26, 2009 12:31 PM 

Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. It doesn't really measure glucose but it will give an approximation to what your blood sugar is all the time, 24/7.

Lanore replied May 26, 2009 5:43 PM 

Ok Thanks KD.

DanaLisa replied August 13, 2009 1:32 PM 

Continuous Glucose Monitoring System...

Diabetic Connect Member blondie0824
blondie0824
blondie0824 replied June 12, 2009 6:37 PM 

Hi Brenda,

I just got my CGMS and have my training on Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes and if there is any advice I can offer to help you once I've gotten mine in! I hope it isn't terribly painful!
Diabetic Connect Member blondie0824
blondie0824
blondie0824 replied June 14, 2009 11:18 PM 

Hi there,

I'm so sorry that you struggled so much with the CGMS. I just put my first one in today and wanted to share my experience. I have to admit, seeing the needle was SCARY, especially compared to my QuickSet 6mm needle. It took me a moment to summon the guts to push the button, but I didn't have any pain. What I did have was a bizarre feeling. Immediately I was a little queasy. This was accompanied by a feeling at the site that I can only describe as a sort of repeating muscle spasm. My trainer advised me to tilt the inserter so that it was angled up just a little bit so that the needle would go in a little deeper. I'm not sure whether that made a difference in the comfort or not... Is it possible that perhaps you weren't trained properly, or you've hit a couple of bad spots? Have you contacted Minimed to talk to a specialist about your difficulties. I'm sure that if I'd had your experiences I wouldn't continue either. I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. Please feel free to message me. I'm obviously no expert, but I'd like to do whatever I can to help you. This is such an amazing tool and I wish you could use it. Take care and best of luck to you!

Amber

Brenda Kruse replied July 4, 2009 5:03 PM 

Hey, Amber, thanks for the advice. The size of that needle is QUITE intimidating, huh?! I haven't gotten up the nerve to try it again yet, but I need to or it's a horrendous waste of money. :( I got quite queasy when I put mine in, also, but I didn't have the spasm thing. I agree with you that part of my problem was in the training. I'll see my Dr. on 7/27 and investigate further. Thanks for everyone's input! Have a blessed Independence Day! I'm focusing today on thanking God that I was born in the US and have had so many freedoms my entire life. Most people in our world are not as blessed! Even with 47+ years of T1 diabetes, I have so much to be thankful for and my friends on here I number among my blessings! :)

blondie0824 replied July 4, 2009 8:36 PM 

You're welcome Brenda! I hope that your doctor has some helpful hints so you can get back into using the sensor. Today was frustrating for me because I put in a new sensor and it just kept bleeding and it hurt so finally I had to just remove it and put in a new one. It sure is tough to do that when each sensor costs $7! But, what can you do? I'm also going to be grateful to be an American today and always and I'm so thankful that we have such amazing technology available to us. I just got my blood drawn for my A1c yesterday and I can't wait to see what it was. Please take care and I hope it all works out!

Amber
Diabetic Connect Member Nan H.
Nan H.
Nan H. replied July 18, 2009 12:41 AM 

First, let me say that I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who gets nervous/queasy when I use the CGMS. I've been using it a year and a half now, and it takes me a few minutes to be able to push the button to put it in. I also find that the insertion angle is very important on it. It makes me sick to my stomach every time it goes in, but it passes in a minute or so (I wait until it does to take the needle out).

One thing I always use is the transmitter adhesive patches from Minimed. They are complicated, and if you're not careful they prevent the needle from going in all the way when you use the inserter, but it makes the pain less. I find it makes the wearing more comfortable, as well.

Here's another thing; when my husband is in town on Sunday (I change once a week), I have him put the sensor in my lower back (really, it's the upper area of my butt, about half way between my spine and my hip). This is an area that Minimed says you can use. I did it for the first time because I was having rotation problems with my site (hard to get them 3 inches from each other when they are both on the same side of my body), but when he did it, I didn't have the same problems. I can't see it coming, and I barely feel it going in or the needle coming out. I have less problems with it causing pain when I wear it, as well. I can take it out from there by myself, but can't get it in there myself.

Good luck with it. I will tell you though that using it has moved my A1c from 10.5 to 6.4 in 3 months of continuous use. The alarms make a huge difference for me, and Iove it.
Hope that helps!

Brenda Kruse replied September 5, 2009 9:59 PM 

I'm so sorry I didn't respond to you sooner, but I've been offline a while. Your suggestions are awesome. My husband is always willing to help with any of my care, so when he gets home later today I'm gong to try to be brave and see if he'll put it back there for me!! Thank you so much for your input. It's really, really helpful! Blessings to You! Brenda

at the beach replied October 1, 2009 3:22 AM 

Brenda,

Curious about how it is going with CMGS? I have been considering getting one, but am unsure if I can handle another insertion site, wish it was a combo with infusion set! Do you think it is worth the money?