Monday, February 9, 2009

It's a bleeder......


Boy, I tell ya.... I go away for a weekend and get baptized with fire--um, blood--when I get back!!

As I pulled away from the retreat center I called hubby to let him know we are on our way. Sarah answered the phone and said her Dad was in the bathroom....sick!! A lot was going through my head at the time, but I couldn't get enough info to find out how sick he was. I called back about 15 minutes later to find out it's a migraine....it ends up being the worst he's ever had. Poor guy. I ended up managing the household from the car on the way back.

J.J. was low and needed a correction, but also wanted to go outside to play. We've been seeing way too many lows lately....I've adjusted some, but not nearly enough...I'll have to evaluate the numbers again.

The evening was fairly uneventful.....we stayed in the basement watching TV so hubby could rest in a dark quiet bedroom.

This morning, however...very interesting. I needed to change J.J.'s site because....well.....Jason doesn't do it much. I sent J.J. off to the tub to soak it off as usual. But just as I was sitting down to eat my oatmeal I hear a frantic call for Maaaaaa--Muuuuuhhhh!! I went running in to find blood streaming down J.J.'s leg.... already turning the bath water pink. I quickly grabbed some toilet paper and applied pressure.

And applied pressure......

And applied pressure......

The toilet paper soaked through fairly quickly so I had one of my girls grab a paper towel. After what seemed like an eternity, the blood stopped flowing. Thankfully when we first got the pump I had done a little forum and blog reading to catch me up to speed on removing sites. I came across a few "bleeder" stories at that time, so I knew what to do....and not to panic.

It happens sometimes.....not much we can do.

However, it really freaked J.J. out. He asked me not to leave him alone while he took a bath. He was afraid it would start bleeding again. My scientific mommy brain took over and I explained in great detail-- to my 5 year old son-- the concept of coagulation. Hee-hee!! I then grabbed my oatmeal and milk and ate my breakfast sitting on the toilet seat.

When I was sitting there I examined the site he just took out.....the cannula was larger....I could tell. I grabbed another site from the tub he had taken out (who knows when) and compared the two. Yep, definitely a longer cannula. I then got out my metric ruler....again scientific mommy brain...and yep a whole millimeter longer!! Now, laugh if you want, but to a tiny behind a mm is a big deal.

I'm not sure the extra mm helped contribute the the exorbitant amount of blood flowing from my son's behind, but I'm stumped as to why it would be so much longer. I double checked my supply again......it says 6mm, not 9mm.....but maybe the cannula "grew" a whole mm while he was pulling it out??? Who knows??? I'll give up that scientific evaluation....but it is odd to be so much longer.

When J.J. came out of the tub he said he didn't want to wear the pump any longer. He wanted to go back to shots. I asked "Why?" He said it was because he didn't like the needle poke. So again I ask him if he prefers 6 needle pokes a day or just one every 2-3 days. He still said he prefers the shots. This is a routine conversation for us. He definitely doesn't like site changes....but we matter-of-factly have to do them.....and once they are done he goes on with his life for 2-3 more days!

As I was getting him ready to wear a pump case today a small piece from his Medtronic clip broke...very frustrating.....but that's how our life is going on this blessed Monday after a nice weekend.

I'm rolling with the punches. What's a little blood? Or a little broken piece? Or a migraine.....well, I felt absolutely horrible about the migraine....I don't think I've ever heard my husband throw up before so I was in tears....so I'm sure he won't say the migraine was all that "small"......but it is "just" a migraine! All manageable blips on the radar.

5 comments:

Scott K. Johnson said...

Major suckage!

I hope that your hubby is feeling better, and that your little guy didn't get too freaked out about the blood.

The first time my daughter had a nosebleed she was traumatized. Something about little kiddos seeing their blood (in large quantities) I think just does it for them!

Jill said...

Yikes! How scary :( Hope he's doing better. Poor hubby! Migraines are terrible. At least "Super Mom" was able to come to the rescue!! Hopefully things are back to normal for you :)

Anonymous said...

Oh your poor husband. Migraines suck!!! Poor J.J. :( Tristan also told us that he wanted to go back on shot numerous time during site changes... but you got to stick it out! :)

Molly said...

I hate the "bloody ones." They happen infrequently, so you're never prepared for them. Seems like when I've had them, the t.p. is low and the kleenex box is empty.
I've only had one migraine, and it was years ago... but gave me insight into what it's like for people who have them regularly. They are horrible.
Hopefully JJ's forgotten about the bleeding...

Anonymous said...

Perfect timing...almost. I am posting a vlog today that talks about these bleeders, which are commonly referred to as gushers. My message - What the doctor won't tell you.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. The video should be up by 10 AM EST.

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