I’ve never put a site anywhere other than my stomach.
The good news is, I’m definitely ready to branch out. I just don’t know how. So please, all you alternative-site wearers, let me know where you like! I use a Quick Set, and I have enough fat on my hips, upper / side thighs, and butt to accommodate the canula. I don’t on the top front of my thighs, or the center of the thigh up to my hips..
So please, where exactly do you put your sites? I’d love to know!
Thank you very much!
~A Late Bloomer
In Search Of Balance 
11 comments
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February 23, 2007 at 6:54 am
Drea
I use anywheres I can grab fat….I know that does not sound the most pleasant, but the truth!
I mostly use my stomach like you do – but I also use my lower back, the thigh sides ….. and am going to venture to my arms soon (I did try once and it was fine).
I don’t use the front of my thighs, too much muscle and it kinked my cannula … but that is also after trying only once.
I enjoy the upper outer thigh, but you have to watch you don’t catch when pulling your pants up and down HA! My thigh sites have good absorption and never get irritated!
I hope it helps!!
February 23, 2007 at 7:22 am
Scott K. Johnson
I use the lower back, upper rear end sites quite a bit. They seem to work well for me.
I’ve tried an arm site, and it was Ok – but the logistics of tube management and basketball kind of limit me with that one.
I’ve yet to try a thigh site, but I probably will before too long.
February 23, 2007 at 8:42 am
George
I have used my thighs, lower back, and upper buttocks and they are all great. It is difficult sometimes to get your set in especially the lower back spot but if you do it quickly then you should not have a problem. I have only had one failed attempt when the set got caught inside the plunger thingy.
Good luck!
FYI – I love my thighs the most.
February 23, 2007 at 10:05 am
Kevin
I’m right there with you.
I’ve only used my stomach, too. But, honestly, I’m not all that interested in “branching out.” Not sure why. The only concerns I have with my stomach is that my right side gets a little worse absorption because of all the stabs I gave it while on MDI (I’m a lefty, and preferred jabbing the right side of my abdomen).
But I use a typewriter method of rotating my sites and have had much better consistency with absorption since.
Good luck on trying out the new geography!
February 23, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Bernard Farrell
Back, inside thighs.
The back would be easier if I was a good contortionist. The thighs sound worse than it actually is in practice.
My outer thighs are shot from years of injections. Especially those early years with bovine insulin.
Let us know what you find out.
February 23, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Sara
I am pretty much a stomach user with the Quick-set.
Because of George and Scott I tried to get adventurous and tried a hip/backside site. The first time I did it, it worked out great and the absorption was great. The second time I must have had trouble inserting it because my levels shot up and the cannula was very bent when I took it out. That turned me back into a coward and I am back to my stomach. 🙂
February 24, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Kerri.
I’m a thigh-site sort of lady, all the way. When I first started pumping, I used my abdomen but it always seemed to get in the way of different pants and skirts, depending on where the waistline fell. I used my outer thigh (where I used to do my injections) and I prefer there over anywhere else. It’s less intrusive on the beach, sort of incognito for intimate moments, and only bothers me when I accidentally catch my clothes on it when changing.
Good luck!! 🙂
February 24, 2007 at 1:27 pm
julia
O uses her arms – the meatier parts towards the backs of the arms. She also uses the tops of her thighs. She has yet to try a side thigh site. And once in a while she’ll do a top of the butt site, but she pisses and moans about it. 😀
Her stomach is shot. She gets lousy absorption there and I get annoyed when she does them because she knows she’s supposed to move further off to the sides, but won’t.
February 26, 2007 at 9:02 pm
cassandra
me too. well, i am still on mdi, but for the LONGEST time, i refused to do it anywhere but on my thighs. even though my thighs didn’t have all that much fat at all on them. i just had one bad experience on the stomach, and didnt try it ever again.
until last month. now i only do it in my stomach.
same with fingersticking. i have just 2 fingers that i have stuck to religiously for the past 17 years. the middle and the ring. so, this week, i got the courage to branch out and started doing my index finger. its great to add some real estate for scarring and healing!
February 28, 2007 at 12:02 am
amberthyme
So far I’ve only used Brenna’s stomach three times. It really freaks her out a lot. We use the top and side of her bottom it doesn’t catch on her diaper (I know, not a problem for you but I thought the info might translate to other undergarments)
February 28, 2007 at 11:07 pm
artsweet
I like stomach too, but have found back of the hip/upper butt/outer thigh to work well for me, although sometimes I have to get Pili to put the site in for me (I use silouettes though, without a ‘serter) Only problem with thighs is the getting in and out of pants – I’ve started using IV3000 on thigh sites to keep from catching on them and ripping them out.
Arm mystifies me. Where does the pump go?