Stomach area bleeding with sensor......ugh!!

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Permalink Reply by Angi on May 4, 2009 at 10:27am

It's normal to have a little blood whenever you inject the sensor. It goes pretty deep and there will always be a drop or two. But here's a new development: my endo is with the Mayo Clinic, and she just told me last week that Minimed asked her to alert her patients to go back to the 45-60-degree angle rather than 60-90 degrees. So that should help it not penetrate so deeply.

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Permalink Reply by Linda on May 4, 2009 at 11:09am

Ok....I'll ease up a little on the angle. I thought my trainer had advised me to go at more of an angle but I bled so much that it was kinda scary and uncomfortable. I wonder if it will also be prone to stay in more secure at less of an angle instead of a 90? I'll try it and see. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Mark on May 5, 2009 at 4:05am

Hi Linda. I have had a couple of "gushers" also. I would mark the site as "no woman's zone", but I have a hard enough time getting dates anyway! The last bleeder left a good size lump for a couple of weeks. I am a little lumpy anyway. I have been using CGMS for four months without significant problems. Since you have been sucessful the first 45 days, I wouldn't change your procedure, other than maybe going a bit more shallow. As far as popping out, I would guess the sensor was not all the way in to begin with. Good luck and congratulations.

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Permalink Reply by Linda on May 5, 2009 at 7:03am

Hi Mark,
Yes it was a "gusher" but I guess I'll have to get used to that on occasion. But I do have to say that things sure have come along since the 50's and 60's haven't they? I think I'll just stay away from the front of the tummy area and keep it more to the side and hip. Don't want to place it on my thigh - that seems like it would be very uncomfortable but I'm still learning so we'll see how it goes from here. Thanks for your help.

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Permalink Reply by Donna Heun on June 28, 2009 at 8:26am

I haven't used my abdomen but when I train people how to use the sensor, most of them choose the abdomen and so far there hasn't been much bleeding except maybe for a couple drops that stops with just a little pressure. I was using my lower bumm area for the last 1 1/2 years but the last few months I haven't been getting very good accuracy. So I finally got brave and switched areas to the "love handle" area and it worked much better accuracy wise but I was too near my waistline and so waist bands bothered it. I decided to try the back of my arma dn it bled a lot last night. Finally got to bed and it was fine but then must have bumped it and it bled quite a bit this morning. Cleaned it up and retaped because so far despite all the blood, it does seem to be working. Pretty scary though. Any suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by Linda on June 29, 2009 at 6:43am

Hi Donna,
I'm fairly new at this but I have been having lots of success just above the waist line on the side and around toward the back as far as I can reach. I wear everything that sits on the hips (pants and skirts) so that it doesn't interfere with the sensor. I find that I usually bleed the more towards the center of my tummy that I go so I start nearer to the side. When I do have a "gusher or serious bleed" it is never accurate so I just avoid the area altogether. Good luck to you.

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Permalink Reply by Donna Heun on June 29, 2009 at 8:36pm

Thank you Linda, I really appreciate your suggestions. I wear everything at the waist but will try that area again just a little lower or higher because it did work well. Today, my sensor readings are within just a few mg/dl of my BGs so the back of the arm is working even though it bled a lot. I will probably try that again to see if maybe next time I don't get the bleeding. Thanks again.

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