Pump Site- Kayleigh's Interview

When we went to the Pump Class last Thursday night, our CDE gave us the option to have a site put in to see how it feels. I knew that I wanted to get one done since I will probably be the one doing Kacey's sites and I knew Frankie wanted to have one done but I never in a million years would have thought that Kayleigh would volunteer to have one done. She is VERY afraid of needles (just look at her face in the pic below) but this was something that she wanted to do and we didn't push on her. Now for my interview with her.....

Me: Kayleigh, you chose to wear a pump site so you could feel what it would be like for your sister to wear it. Was the site insertion as painful as you thought it would be?

Kayleigh: Actually no it wasnt. I am really scared of needles and the only thing I felt was a little tingle when the needle was being removed.

Me: Did you find the site uncomfortable to wear?

Kayleigh: In a way it was sort of uncomfortable because I was attached to it.

Me: You wore your pump site to school with the tubing tucked into your pocket. Did your friends notice? Were you more aware that it was there? Did you feel self conscious about it?

Kayleigh: My friends didn't notice until I showed them. I had gym that day and we have to change in the locker room. One girl looked at me weird and asked me what it was? When I told her what it was she really didn't understand what I was talking about. I was aware that it was there because I was afraid I would snag it and pull it out during school. I wasn't self conscious about it because no one knew I had it on unless I showed them. I did get alot of questions from the friends that I showed and was happy to answer them.

Me: You were only able to wear your pump site for 24 hours. What happened?
Kayleigh: The first night I got it, my arm snagged the tubing and it began to bleed a little. As the hours went on, it got more tender and hurt. The blood went further down the tubing and it worried us so I took it out.
Me: Was it painful coming out?
Kayleigh: I thought it would be but I soaked it with alcohol and it came right off like a bandaid.
Me: Did the area around where you had the site hurt after taking it out?
Kayleigh: No it was just a little tender and I think that was because it was snagged.
Kayleigh's pump site after 24 hours.... Is this normal?

Me: Do you have more respect for what your sister will have to go through every day?
Kayleigh: Yes, even though it will only be one stick every 3 days, I wish she didn't have to go through all of that. If I could take it from her I would. She's been so brave over the last 6 months and I'm proud of her.

Conclusion: This was definately an eye opener for Kayleigh and I'm glad she took part in it. I did have a question about the site though. If you snag your site like that, do you have to pull it out and do another one? I was thinking that since insulin would be flowing through a real one, then you wouldn't get the blood backup like that. Would you? I think having patients, parents, siblings, and anyone else involved in the care of a child with diabetes should have to wear a site. This has definately given us an inside glimpse into just a SMALL portion of what Kacey goes though.

My interview tomorrow :)