posted
Has anyone here been on the IV pump? Where you have to wear it 24/7? How do you deal with that? I hate it? I feel like such a dork wearing the hip pack every where.
-------------------- Love, Merrie Believe in the power of your spirit..for it will carry you through the darkest hours of your life Posts: 261 | From minnesota | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I know it is difficult to get used to having a pump on all the time.
I had two different kinds...the big ones on the pole but was really bedridden with those. Difficulty just getting to the bathroom but they were necessary to administer the meds.
The smaller ones, CAD pump which is what you are talking about is easier to handle. Do you have it connected to a picc line or a central line? I think the central line was easier with the tubing.
I remember sewing cute bags to put the pump in and then added matching material to tie it around my waist. All the patients and drs. loved them. It made it somewhat easier for me.
It is just a pain when you want to bath or shower to disconnect everything and then cover up the picc or port. But so well worth it.
You learn to make it easier to deal with after a while.
Funny..when kids would hear the pump working they couldn't figure out where the noise was coming from then when they did...a million question period. But it was educational to them.
Good luck with your pump and hope the antibotics help you.
Posts: 139 | From nj | Registered: Mar 2005
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
I had the pump for a year and had no problems with it. I never cared or felt like a dork, my health is more important than appearances. You can stuff the pump in your pocket if you have the little medicine balls. Make sure you keep your IV site clean and when you are disconnecting etc. you clean it and keep things sterile.
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posted
Thanks for the responses. I have a huge medicine bag so I can't stuff it in my pocket. Today was a
better day. It is just hard getting used to carring it arround. Escpecially when I have a 2 year old who
is always tugging at the IV line and who I have to carry arround. It just makes things harder. But it will be okay. Hopefully this antibiotic will help.
Thanks
-------------------- Love, Merrie Believe in the power of your spirit..for it will carry you through the darkest hours of your life Posts: 261 | From minnesota | Registered: Sep 2004
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arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
Just wanted to say that you don't necessarily have to use the bag the nursing/infusion company gave you if it's hard to keep on or carry around. I have a pump for daily IV hydration (8 hours a day) and I've bought a few other backpacks, just regular small backpacks, and I can put everything in it and have room for anything else I need for the day if I'm going out so I don't have to have a purse, too.
My favorite backpack, though, is actually a children's hydration backpack. You know, like Camelpaks and the other ones like that that have a reservoir that you fill with water and use for biking or hiking. The one I have is an R.E.I. brand one (you can see it HERE). It works well because there are good pockets for everything I have (mainly the liter of saline and pump) and the tubing can go out through the strap instead of trying to figure out other ways.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that you can play around with it a bit if the pack they gave you doesn't work that well for you. If you want some pictures of how everything goes into that hydration pack, let me know and I'll post a few.
posted
Thanks annie, I knew you had to carry arround a pump also. I am getting used to it now. It has been about a week. I don't know how long I will have this. Hopefuly not to long. Thanks for the picture of the backpack. I may have to get one.
Have a great day!!
-------------------- Love, Merrie Believe in the power of your spirit..for it will carry you through the darkest hours of your life Posts: 261 | From minnesota | Registered: Sep 2004
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