Within my first week on the Vyalev pump, I have already tested (and proven) the strength of the component parts of the Vyalev pump system. Y’see, the tube that runs from the pump to the canoodler on the belly is long, to facilitate the human body squirming. So, when the pump and cannula are close together, you are likely to have excess tube writhing around.

A couple of days ago, I had some of this excess tubing hanging out of the top of my pants, on my left side. My dog, Bear (pictured above) was sleeping just outside the bathroom, since part of his job is apparently to disrupt household traffic. As I took a LONG step to get over him and into the bathroom, a loop of my tube got hung up on the doorknob. Now, had I foreseen this, I would have thought for certain that one of three things would have happened. One: An end of the tube (at either the cannula or the pump) would have popped off. Two: The cannula would have been ripped from my flesh. Three: The pump would have been yanked from its holster and crashed onto the hard tile floor.

But none of those things happened. All components of the system held firm, yanking me to a stop (happily, I managed to stay on my feet). And I mean it YANKED! 200 pounds of blubber, guts, and baldness were brought to an instant halt by a skinny little tube. I have to wonder now what they’re putting in the adhesive that holds the cannula in place; I absolutely could not believe the cannula didn’t get ripped offa me – not even loosened!

In other news, the process for the daily refilling of the pump still seems like a bit of an ordeal, but I’m getting more comfortable with it each day.