ooh, boy, it’s on the way!
I just got a call from MiniMed that my pump will arrive Thursday –
that’s WAY sooner than I expected, and I’d figured on starting in
mid-August. But they said I could do a saline start Thursday
afternoon…then add insulin the week of the 19th (when my husband and
son get back from vacation).
Talk about excited and nervous!
Laurie, not quite believing it yet
www.authorspotlights.com/campbell
July 13th, 2004 at 4:10 am
GRRRREEEAAAATTT!
Jan
] ooh, boy, it’s on the way!
July 13th, 2004 at 9:32 am
Don’t be nervous Laurie there’s nothing to it.
fp
July 13th, 2004 at 3:52 pm
Sorry I haven’t posted to this group and let you know I got my 508 last
Thurs. I love it, this is my fourth pump.
What I really like is the remote control and the vibrating.
Had a little trouble at first then got my son to help me program it, he can
do things like that. I could of programed it, but could not see the screen.
So he helped me program it for vibrating and it is great. Haven’t gotten
into the square wave thing yet (can only teach an old dog so many new
tricks at a time).
Does anyone else use the vibrator, how long do you batteries generally last
using it?
I found out Fri they are going to remove my cataracts on both eyes. Hoping
my vision will be where it was last fall and if so I can see the screen
with light and my glasses.
Gail
July 14th, 2004 at 1:47 am
getting rid of those cataracts will help immensely, Gail. Good luck
fp
July 14th, 2004 at 8:50 pm
What did you upgrade from?
I am on my third pump, the 507, and wondering if the added features are worth
upgrading now, or waiting for the next model?
David
July 15th, 2004 at 4:56 am
I *heard* a 511 in is the making.
Jan
July 15th, 2004 at 2:36 pm
In *other* news… I’m one step closer to getting my
It’s
pump! Saw the doc that I needed to see yesterday to
get a refferal to the pump clinic, but the next set of
classes isn’t until July/August so I’m looking at two
months at best. Oh well, I’ve been diabetic over 8
years, I think I’ll last another 8 weeks!
unclear WHEN exactly I’ll get hooked up… I should
know more in the next couple weeks though…
-Sara
July 16th, 2004 at 5:01 pm
Thanks fp, I am counting on it.
Gail
July 17th, 2004 at 1:09 am
David,
I upgraded from a 506 and really needed to, I had been on it for over six
years.
Gail
July 17th, 2004 at 9:17 am
Me too, Frank, and like I said this was not my first. The four months of
insurance red tape was ridiculous. I had been on a pump for 18 yrs. They
(the insurance co.) wanted six months of bgs test….why?
Gail
July 17th, 2004 at 9:57 pm
Gail,
Did you end up supplying the ins. co. with what they wanted, or was 18 years
on a pump sufficient?
Jan
July 18th, 2004 at 9:40 am
I didn’t have six months since I throw my test away after see the dr each
time. MM called and had my dr write a letter on necessity of pump. Can you
believe that.
Gail
August 2nd, 2004 at 1:46 am
Sorry I haven’t posted to this group and let you know I got my 508 last
Thurs. I love it, this is my fourth pump.
What I really like is the remote control and the vibrating.
Had a little trouble at first then got my son to help me program it, he can
do things like that. I could of programed it, but could not see the screen.
So he helped me program it for vibrating and it is great. Haven’t gotten
into the square wave thing yet (can only teach an old dog so many new
tricks at a time).
Does anyone else use the vibrator, how long do you batteries generally last
using it?
I found out Fri they are going to remove my cataracts on both eyes. Hoping
my vision will be where it was last fall and if so I can see the screen
with light and my glasses.
Gail
August 2nd, 2004 at 11:50 am
How old is your pump?
Jan
August 2nd, 2004 at 8:03 pm
<< How do all of you afford to get pump after pump? Sorry if this is too
forward. Does your insurance cover it each time? I would love to have the
newest model! >>
HEY IM GLAD YOU ASKED THAT I WAS WONDERING THE SAME THING!!! CHRISSY
August 3rd, 2004 at 2:10 am
I’ve not even had it for a year. Does the insurance cover it?
re:
How old is your pump?
Jan
August 4th, 2004 at 4:30 am
I agree that upgrading is the best deal, but it can be expensive.
My first two pumps were covered by insurance, but now I am supping at the
Medicare trough, so no more coverage. Also, no coverage for infusion sets,
insulin, and any other medication. But, test strips are, but it takes a
specific letter from the MD to get enough to make it worth while. In may
case, the MD authorized 250/month, and these are fully covered by Medicare
and the Medicare supplemental insurance.
So, if I decide up upgrade in the future, I will get a sizable trade in
discount from Minimed, but the cost still will be $3000 or more.
David
August 5th, 2004 at 12:19 am
David,
Medicare does cover the pump now, go to the Mini Med site and it tells
about medicare.
gd
August 5th, 2004 at 1:01 pm
Thanks! That’s news to me….
August 5th, 2004 at 9:07 pm
Is this the one for T-2’s and is disposable??
August 6th, 2004 at 5:16 am
I checked the Minimed site, and found that there are severe restrictions on
Medicare coverage for the pump.
First, you must be type I, and you have to have ’severe swings’ in Bg, what
ever that means. How is this defined? I would define any type I as
probably having severe swings, regardless of medication., but also one could
have reasonable control using multiple injections as well as the pump. So
what is the big deal with ’severe swings"? Politicians mucking around
with things they know nothing about, I fear.
Also, there is no coverage for infusion sets or insulin, which is a major
cost. One could use up to 100 infusions sets/year, which depending on the
set, can be a considerable sum. In my case, I use bent needles, which are
the least expensive, and easiest to use, from my perspective.
So more work is needed!
August 7th, 2004 at 1:47 pm
I have read the detailed statement of Senator Susan Collins on the
Introduction of the Medicare Insulin Pump Coverage Act of 1999, and find
this a bit disingenuous.
She clearly is setting the legislation to be in support of a constituent,
not for the benefit of type I diabetics, or diabetics in general. The
individual involved claims that control is impossible without the pump; I
find this hard to believe. If one counts carbs, uses multiple injections
of R and then adjusts basal rates properly with two injections of NPH or
Lente, I don’t see much difference in the pump and the standard treatment.
I am sure the pump does better, but to claim that control is impossible
without it strikes me as self serving.
Did this act actually pass? It is not clear from the site that it did;
only the introduction by Sen. Collins is offered. I may have missed
something elsewhere, though.
David
August 7th, 2004 at 5:20 pm
I don’t know how much medicare will pay on a MM, but I do know their site
tells about it and if my insurance had not paid for all mine, they were
going to bill medicare. I have insurance through my husband, but am
disabled, so I also have medicare.
Gail
August 9th, 2004 at 4:01 pm
Multiple injections doesn’t cover Dawn Syndrome unless you want to get up in
the middle of the night every night. Also, I had post-exercise lows because
of my Lente "amping up" with my vigorous exercise sessions. The pump has
eliminated both, which were "lowering the quality of life" or some ridiculous
"buzz phrase" being used by the factions fighting for Medicare coverage.
There are several criteria, not just wide swings and I believe any one of
those criteria being met and certified by doctors’ recommendation would
satisfy Medicare. Kaiser, my HMO, is very up on the legislation and follows
whatever Medicare is doing, so when I moved from California to Ohio and lost
my durable medical equipment coverage, Kaiser was willing to keep me on and
pays for all my supplies because they paid for the original pump and feel
that they should always provide at least what Medicare provides to their
members. Kaiser gets a lot of bad press, but they have been ABSOLUTELY
FANTASTIC for me–it just takes some dedication and cooperation on my part
and they will do everything they can to help me keep myself in control and
healthy.
Janet
August 9th, 2004 at 10:41 pm
I agree with everything you say, but that does not change my basic
complaint.
The legislation is based on the idea that you cannot survive without the
pump for those with ‘extreme fluctuations’ of Bg’s. It is certainly more
difficult to handle diabetes with multiple injections (sure you have to get
up in the middle if the night), but why should legislation be created for
just a minor percentage of the diabetes population, and perhaps a small
group that don’t have the diligence to do what is necessary with what is
available to them?
What is needed is a broad approach to the problem, not to rifle shoot for a
few complaining constituents, made to a singe politician.
David
August 17th, 2004 at 5:37 pm
David:
Medicare just approved the pumps, so I would suggest you check the medical
criteria which is very strict with them. Since you are already on the pump,
it may take some wheeling and dealing, but you may be able to succeed…Give
it a try. Joan:)