What was this patch?
May 10, 2018 7:29 AM Subscribe
A woman on my bus had an inorganic patch thing on her arm. What was it?
This...thing was, like, a next-level smoking patch. It wasn't flat or discreet--it was big and 3D. I only got a glimpse for a few seconds, but I'll describe it as best I can.
The patch thing itself was a rectangular container. Perhaps 1.5" wide and 2" long, but coming down to a tapered point off the bottom kind of like the shape of a urinal. (It's possible the tapered point was shaped to fit some kind of coupler, but I didn't get a close enough look.) I would estimate this container was about 1/3 to 1/2 inch deep, so definitely not some low-profile thing.
It was white, and appeared to be made of plastic thin enough to be a bit translucent. It looked like there were colorful balls of things inside the container that looked blue and pink.
I am aware of the chemo patch and while it sort of looked like this in size and approximate design, it also definitely did not look like this.
She had it placed on the tricep area of her left arm.
As this woman was very young (mid 20s) and dressed super primly this patch didn't immediately suggest medical device to me, so my interest was piqued.
This...thing was, like, a next-level smoking patch. It wasn't flat or discreet--it was big and 3D. I only got a glimpse for a few seconds, but I'll describe it as best I can.
The patch thing itself was a rectangular container. Perhaps 1.5" wide and 2" long, but coming down to a tapered point off the bottom kind of like the shape of a urinal. (It's possible the tapered point was shaped to fit some kind of coupler, but I didn't get a close enough look.) I would estimate this container was about 1/3 to 1/2 inch deep, so definitely not some low-profile thing.
It was white, and appeared to be made of plastic thin enough to be a bit translucent. It looked like there were colorful balls of things inside the container that looked blue and pink.
I am aware of the chemo patch and while it sort of looked like this in size and approximate design, it also definitely did not look like this.
She had it placed on the tricep area of her left arm.
As this woman was very young (mid 20s) and dressed super primly this patch didn't immediately suggest medical device to me, so my interest was piqued.
Response by poster: Ooh, an insulin pump seems very likely, but none of the images on google look quite right. The tapered end was on the bottom and was much more exaggerated, coming to something almost like a spigot in shape.
posted by phunniemee at 7:38 AM on May 10, 2018
posted by phunniemee at 7:38 AM on May 10, 2018
The placement on her body is exactly where a wireless insulin pump would go, FWIW.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:56 AM on May 10, 2018
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:56 AM on May 10, 2018
Was it this, maybe? This drug is given to women going through chemo for breast cancer to counteract some of the side effects. Many more young, healthy-looking women than you'd think are going through treatment for breast cancer.
posted by something something at 8:10 AM on May 10, 2018
posted by something something at 8:10 AM on May 10, 2018
There are newer insulin pumps now that come with continuous glucose monitor. There are several different brands so it might not look exactly like that, but the concept is the same.
posted by Bistyfrass at 8:36 AM on May 10, 2018
posted by Bistyfrass at 8:36 AM on May 10, 2018
Freestyle Libre, perhaps? A continuous glucose monitor, as mentioned above, which sounds like it might fit the description.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 10:22 AM on May 10, 2018
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 10:22 AM on May 10, 2018
Based on your description it sounds like a Neulasta OnPro
posted by codex99 at 2:19 PM on May 10, 2018
posted by codex99 at 2:19 PM on May 10, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by French Fry at 7:34 AM on May 10, 2018 [2 favorites]