Waterproofing my Dexcom cgms.......after drowning 2 already. aaaaack...Dex is dead!!

I have been blessed to have been using a Dexcom cgms for close to 4 years now and have religiously had my Dex by my side. Amazingly I have not lost it in all that time and have found it to be a great tool in helping me manage my disease. My most recent A1C was 5.9 woo hoo......and that is because with the pump and the cgms, I can make decisions and get feed back quickly.
In the last 6 months however, I have drowned 2 Receivers and have had to buy new ones because of it..
How.....well, let me paint the picture for you.
Yaaaaawnnnn.....stumble out of bed, clip my Dex to my pajamas.....stumble into the bathrooom, pull up my t shirt.....splash....Dex jumps right into the toilet. Pull it out within 1/10th of a second, and alas it is completely dead. It wont dry out, it just dies. The receiver is not anywhere even close to being water resistant.How did this happen....well, in my sleepy state, I probably got part of my tshirt caught in the clip and when moving my shirt, splash down!!!
It sounds stupid I know, but I am guessing this happens to folks pretty often when you figure the thousands and thousands of folks using them.
After recently spending a bunch of money again to buy a new one, I figured I would plan for the ultimate inevetabilty of my cgms getting wet again.Storms or dropped in puddles, or a sink....what have you.

I looked online for simple solutions....water proof cases and the like....but I couldnt find anything that was small enough, didn't look like a big ole box on my hip, or was inconspicuous.
My solution.....a small Hefty sandwich bag. I wrote "Reward" and my phone number on the back of the unit in case I ever mistakingly lease it some where. I put the cgms in the bag and slide and stuff it all into my cgms case from Descom. It is very simple and cheap, and effective. The cgms is still visible as the bag is clear and functionality is not affected. You do have to take it out to charge it however...but it's not a big deal. And you can replace the bag if you ever think its torn.
You may not even think it is a problem for you, and I didn't for 3.5 years with this never happening to me either. Not me..I said to myself. ..I am extremely careful, I wouldn't ever drop my cgms into water....Yeah right!!!!
I would recommend you do something....Trust me, you dont want to look at that dieing cgms and think Oh man, its over....Dex is dead......

What in the world..........

One of those mornings..... I woke up low, ate a banana bolused for the carbs went to work,had a small muffin bolused, for the next two hours my bloodsugar climbed to 250 as I bolused at least 3 times to overcome it. Sometimes I just shake my head and realize that to my body, today may not be like yesterday and the day before. Even though it seems like it....oh well, finally down to where I should be now as I stay on guard for lows.....

Keep going......Peace, Bob

Sitting in the Doctors office ...a fun poem (I think you will relate)

I ususally go through all these emotions and thoughts everytime I wait for results

So I'm sitting in the dr's office
having just been ushered in
I'm looking round the room
..magazines are pretty slim

Women's Day, People, Glamour...PLLeeeaasse
Wheres Bass world, Business World....
What's a guy supposed to read?

So I'm looking at the charts
on the cold and stoic walls
seeing all the stuff I can contract
Unless my a1c's fall

Neuropathy, heart disease
Renal failute too
Retinopathy, DKA,
just to name a few

Hmm...I think that in the last few months
I've been doing pretty well
I know I could do better
only time will tell....

"Wow, it's really cold in here"
did I say that aloud?
The nurses probably think I'm whacked
...here talking to myself

C'mon baby.... let em be right
let the numbers be in line
I know the math really matters
If I'm to get through life just fine

New sounds from the hallway
the chart slides from the door
the doorknob twists quickly
the moment I've waited for

Why hello Mr Hawkinson
how are you today?
Why I'm fine....thank you doc
...WHAT DO THE NUMBERS SAY?

"Lets take a look---"
....hmmmm lets see how you've been doing
you know your fingersticks are pictures
...your A1c's the movie

Hey hey good news ..A1c's look good
even though youve gained 4 pounds
I think you're gettin the hang of this
after 44 years ---it sounds...

OK I promise to do better
and only eat what I should
I'll exercise and lose some weight
only lettuce and carrots for food

Yeah right, doc says,
You know .....I've been seeing you for years
you have the right attitude
and you've been blessed with health it's clear

...but this disease can be cummulative
damage adds up over time
which is why I always encourage you
to strictly walk the line

I know, I know ....
I should always do my best
but life just seems to happen
sometimes you need a rest

...well take a break when you need to
based on how you feel
but jump back in and get it right
NO SLEEPING AT THE WHEEL!

Ok doc I'll take your advice
Your direction I will heed
Next visit my numbers will be better
I'll be your "Noble Steed"

Okay Mr. H well see ya later
lets see you in 4 months
by then I expect you'll have lost the weight
of course...that's just a hunch

So out I go ... into the world
recalling what she said
4 lbs isnt much and easily lost
....but hey......................Isn't it Lunchtime yet

Anyone else gotta medical wasteland?

I changed my insulin pump site today and my CGMS site and I wound up with a heap of medical stuff to get rid of...I could use my own hospital incinerator :)It is amazing the volume of plastic and "stuff" diabetes management creates.....

Wishing you more.............Peace, Bob

Effects of medications on Continual Glucose Meters

I have been using a Dexcom Continual Glucose Meter for about a year now and have had very good results. It has allowed for very quick feedback on a more real-time basis. It does take some getting used to and there is a learning curve, but i have been very pleased with the results. It is usually very accurate, however there are conditions or medications that can affect the readings.

Recently I have had an upper respiratory infection and that was after a short bout with the flu.
I started taking Tylenol to combat some of the aches and pains associated with this illness.
I soon noticed that my Continual Glucose Meter started giving readings that were very high and did not match what my standard glucose meter was reading.(With a CGM, you must use a standard glucose meter to take readings twice a day that you then connect to your CGM to keep it accurate in it's readings).

After a few days of craziness, I called Dexcom and told them I thought I had meter problems.
The technician asked if I was taking any different medications, and asked if Tylenol was one of them. She noted that this medication will typically skew the numbers and that I should rely on
my standard meter until I was off the Tylenol. She was right! After stopping the Tylenol, I saw my meters were both saying the same thing.
Based on my experience, I highly recommend paying attention to any changes in medication.

Good Luck and Keep going.........Peace Bob

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