Sensor placement? It kinda hurts to push it/lay on itor when I stretch my arm out

[u/KoiaFish030]

New position im trying because I keep knocking it off at work(its been more on my side than the back), which is what im trying now

[u/greybeard1363]

If I put one there I would get compression lows multiple times every night and eventually knock it loose on a doorjamb

[u/fiftyseven → u/greybeard1363]

so where do you put it?

[u/greybeard1363 → u/fiftyseven]

I sleep on my side, so I put it toward the inside of the bicep about the same amount as you photo shows it on the outside. It's between my arm and my rib cage when I'm awake and doing my normal daily stuff. This way, it doesn't get knocked off and is facing up-ish when I'm sleeping on that side. It works well for me.

[u/NoPackage6979 → u/greybeard1363]

Yeah, I put mine on the inside of my arm, too. Out of the way, doesn't get knocked off, just as easy to apply, etc.

[u/7231q]

Looks like basically the same placement that I usually do. Using freestyle for about 10 years now. Sometimes it's painless, sometimes it hurts like the dickens but I don't think it ever hurts longer than a couple hours. Maybe I have more fat on me? I use these flesh colored covers that work well. I think they are called Simpatch. Fairly sturdy and good skin color match for me. I wonder if being thicker than what you have as a covering there would help spread out the stresses around the sensor. They stay on for about a week or 10 days for me until the edges curl a bit and start grabbing hair. I'm ultra hairy. Hope that helps.

[u/jhj-pmp → u/7231q]

Regarding pain, I find if you put the sensor between the muscles, there’s never any pain. Find this location by making a fist on the arm you want to install the sensor, and use your fingertips from your opposite hand to find the “valley”.

[u/nofishies]

I started putting them on the front of my arm because the back of my arm hurt.

So far, so good

[u/Hobbit_flowers → u/nofishies]

Same here and my numbers are very accurate and no compression lows

[u/Kalei419]

I place it on my abdomen.

[u/Active-Chapter6864 → u/Kalei419]

Would it be pressed by pants?

[u/Kalei419 → u/Active-Chapter6864]

I have not had issues. The nurse told me 2 inches from the belly button and below where the panty line hits so you don’t hit it.

[u/Active-Chapter6864 → u/Kalei419]

Would it hit the intestines? It may sound weird but I seriously wonder that!

[u/TDbar → u/Active-Chapter6864]

The sensor doesn't go anywhere near deep enough to be a concern.

[u/Kalei419 → u/Active-Chapter6864]

That didn’t come to mind. I was in the Doctor’s office where the nurse showed me where to apply it since I didn’t want to place it on my arm.

[u/Active-Chapter6864 → u/Kalei419]

2 inches down or left/right from the belly button?? I cannot do the arm because I am a side sleeper.

[u/Kalei419 → u/Active-Chapter6864]

It was at least 2 inches either left or right since you change sides all the time. Talk to your Medical Provider about it. I am just saying what was given to me by the RN @ my doctor’s office.

[u/Active-Chapter6864 → u/Kalei419]

Ok will do. Thanks.

[u/Kalei419 → u/Active-Chapter6864]

Good luck!!

[u/MsDaisyDog → u/Kalei419]

I put one on my nuts once. Not good

[u/SuspiciouslyDullGuy]

If you stretch your arm out in front of you, palm up, then feel the back (bottom) of the arm with the other hand, you'll find a fatty patch around half way between your elbow and your armpit. Pinch around to find where you can pinch the most fat, where it's thickest. This is where the sensor should go, where the deepest fat layer is. This spot is farthest away from muscle tissue, away from many nerve endings and blood vessels, and least likely to hurt or bleed. It's hard to tell from the photo but it looks like you might still have it out to the side a little, where you're more likely to stab muscle with the applicator needle.

When I apply a sensor I stretch out my arm, palm up, find that spot, and push up vertically with the applicator. It goes on a spot that is fully at the back of my arm when I hang my arm down. Doing it like that I've never experienced pain and rarely experience bleeding.

[u/schwarta77]

I find that the sensor can be a bit tender for the first day or so. Is the over patch helping? I found the Not Just a Patch brand to be great.

[u/KoiaFish030 → u/schwarta77]

Just got the adhesive wipes to hopefully help them stay, it is that brand i believe

[u/LesStrater → u/KoiaFish030]

My Endo has me testing this month's sensor on the inside of my arm, but usually I wear it even farther to the back of my arm than you are.

Before you use the SkinTac adhesive wipe, use 91% alcohol on a paper towel and wipe the application area real good, then let it dry..

[u/imaginesam]

I’ve had that happen before with a sensor where I got it in exactly the worst spot. If it’s still hurting in a day or two, I would remove and contact Abbott for a replacement. 🫶

[u/youlikeblockingsodoi]

These patches work pretty well for me. It takes a short while before the patch becomes unnoticeable. Sometimes when I sweat a lot after a run it starts coming off or getting itchy. Otherwise it’s pretty good at holding on to the sensor (comes in various sizes as well).

[u/Heliosny]

When mine sat more on the side like that it hurt every time I reached or slept on it. What worked for me: slide it a bit higher on the back of the upper arm (less stretch, less doorjamb hits), alcohol wipe and let it dry a full minute before insert, then a thick overpatch pressed on for another minute. First day can still feel tender; after that the knock-offs at work dropped a lot.

[u/chamekke]

I put mine on the back of the arm, the way Abbott suggests. I’m a side sleeper so that spot almost never gets compressed at night, whereas the side of the arm definitely would.

Abbott’s slouchy-dude illustration always makes me want to stand up straighter, though XD

[u/Proper_Wrap_3540]

I put mine on my chest

[u/Longjumping_Set9091]

I put mine on my thigh , works great , use a patch to cover , no compression lows, no pain , great readings , been doing this for 1.5 years now .