Well, next week should be interesting. My continuous glucose monitor, a Freestyle libre 2, is being discontinued in September in favor of the 3 Plus. So, per the email recommendation, I've had my provider change the prescription. I now have the new one waiting when this one runs out next Tuesday. And honestly, I'm really hoping for improved performance.

The 3+ has a 15-day wear, a range of 33 feet Bluetooth, better alarm control, and can work with insulin pumps. (which, thank the gods, I do NOT have) And it's smaller. But my 2 has shown a marked tendency to be easily affected by several things that cause it to give off false lows when I'm laying down at night or for a nap. Accidental compression, excessive sweat without hydration, it hates I had an electric blanket on, etc. I don't wear it on the side I sleep on, but I've found myself sleeping on my back more often to humor it and that actually is quite uncomfortable for me. It's gotten to the point where I had to turn off my phone to keep it from giving me false low alarms every hour and a half or so. And I know they were false because they were compared to a blood stick, which I also broke down and bought. I still have a LOT of difficulty actually sticking myself, which was the point of the CGM in the first place.

It's all education, I know, learning about what works for me. But when you have fibromyalgia's sleep problems to start with... I was close to throwing that phone through a wall to get it to shut up! I did some reading and apparently I'm not the only one with false low issues. Maybe that's why they're discontinuing it. *shrug* We shall see. If the 3+ really isn't any better, I'll go to the Dexcom which my brother wears and literally never does that. I'm hoping not, it's a bit more expensive.

Now, patches. As you saw in a previous post, I also have these patches/bandages that are popular to hold it on. Does one last the full 14 days? No, they're full of shit about that. But it lasts about a week, which isn't horrible. I would say if someone also exercises a lot or showers a lot more because of that, it's not going to last even that long. I tried going without and the CGM's own adhesive was wearing off a little around day 5. So they do help hold it on. To be fair, it's been unseasonably warm lately even for here, so sweat has been an issue. But given I live in a desert and it's barely spring, I have to find an adequate solution. The Libre, unlike the Dexcom, does NOT come with an alcohol wipe with each applicator, which feel a bit... cheap. Like, Dexcom apparently does. You couldn't put one little alcohol wipe in with it when I'm supposed to use one? I have them, but that's not the point. Even my Ozempic comes with one wipe for each injection.

Ah well. That's my rant. Otherwise, I've just been writing and have submitted some more poetry to journals. Fingers crossed for acceptance! Peace and hugs to everyone in these trying times.