Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TrueTheory on March 27, 2012 at 3:39pm

Just ordered mine. I've been using Tagaderm because I have a nurse friend who gave me some to try out. I have been just using the normal adhesive with the sensor until day 5/7 when it very first starts peeling. Then washing, chloriprep, and tagaderm. Does anyone else do something similar with the flexifix, or do you all adhere it right off the bat when you put the sensor in?

Cheers.

Permalink Reply by Brett on November 27, 2011 at 12:28pm

Smith & Nephew OpSite Flexifix Transparent Film is a transparent, waterproof fixation for dressings. The film is highly conformable and extensible to increase patient comfort due to its shape and its unique acrylic adhesive. I put two trimmed strips down first and stick the adhesive pad to the Flexifix tape instead of the skin - I've gotten a lot of mileage out of the sensors by doing this. You can reapply the tape whenever needed after that, placing it around the adhesive pad edges to keep it tacked down. I've never put it over the top of the sensor. You can find it on Amazon for varying prices. I don't surf or hot tub so your mileage may vary. I will warn you though, it starts to look pretty ugly by day 14.

Permalink Reply by Sandy Palmer on November 29, 2011 at 6:47am

How do you guys get it to stay on the sensor adhesive tape? I can stick it over but after a shower it separates from the original tape. I end up having to retape it daily.

Permalink Reply by jrtpup on March 27, 2012 at 4:21pm

+1. The stuff stays on through anything. I've had it last well over 2 weeks.

Permalink Reply by dxclancy on November 30, 2011 at 5:18pm

You probably know this, but it bares mentioning.

I have always put my new dexcom on directly after a shower. The one time I didn't (morning shower but put it on in the evening) the edges began to peel up at about day two, which is *much* sooner than my normal experience, and i could barely get it to stay on a week.

In general, even when going to the beach/swimming every day, I get minimal to no edge coming up in the first week.

So, if you don't already do this, i would recommend only putting it in directly after a shower, once you're dry, and see if that helps.

Permalink Reply by Mark Oldham on December 5, 2011 at 10:09pm

I find that I can get about twice as many days out of the adhesive by first scrubbing the skin well with alcohol. Letting it dry fully. Then putting on a good layer of Skin Tac and letting that dry thoroughly. Mine spends a good hour a day wet between the pool, hot tub and shower. In the hot tub, it is under water for 20 minutes to an hour in 104 degree water. Before SkinTac it would be falling off on the sixth day. With SkinTac, I get 10-13 days typically. I pat it dry with a towel when I get out of the water, pressing any part that has start to come up back down to the skin. I find that covering it (Tagaderm etc) tend to hold the moisture in and cause the adhesive to break down faster. Your skin is different and your mileage will vary. Try different things until you find what works for you. You should be able to get at least 10 days if you clean the oil off the skin first and dry it out with a good scrub of alcohol (don't just wipe, scrub).

Permalink Reply by Leslie on December 6, 2011 at 9:10am

I'm pretty new to this but so far I have found the best way to keep the sensor on is to use bard barrier wipes before I stick it on initially (but I leave a large square of skin without so that the sensor itself isn't going through the barrier wipe). Then I use some of the wipe to seal the edges of the adhesive to the skin. After a few days if it starts to peel up I use another bard wipe around the sensor adhesive on my skin and place four strips of optiflex tape on the adhesive but not on top of the transmitter because I think it pulls on the tape when moving around. I have very sensitive skin so I can't use the optiflex tape without the bard wipe or I get a rash and it drives me nuts. I exercise quite a bit and this method seems to make the adhesive last the longest. It is definitely about experimenting.

Permalink Reply by jims on December 21, 2011 at 9:15am

I am glad I am not only guy struggling with this useless adhesive, grease issues on the dexcom sensor.

Today on the 7th day, my sensor on my arm simply fell right off as the adhesive pad absolutely no stickyness.

In fact the backup tape I used beacuse it was pealing off snagged my shirt and unit dropped off.

This is not first time for this and in past I have seen some foreign substance appearing to acerbate the problem causing sensor to release prematurely..

The other compounding issue is that I was up till monday in a high humidity near the ocean in Camarillo and had to go to the high desert of 395 - Bishop of very low humidity. In a day flat the pad seem to go super dry and peal up and off.

Either some knucklehead has decided we all nead post-it pad quick release adhesive or maybe just dilute the adhesive with solvent to spin out to save money.

Either way, this is not acceptable. Anybody else having same/similar problems. please advise

Permalink Reply by dino on January 25, 2012 at 10:46am

I need to go shopping for some of this stuff, my sensor literally fell off by body during hot yoga this morning. Thanks for all the advice, wish me luck.

Permalink Reply by jims on January 30, 2012 at 8:31am

i went looking for skin tac but all i could find was skin-prep by smith & nephew in liquid and wipes advertising same capabilities.

on next sensor i will try and see what results.

Permalink Reply by jrtpup on January 30, 2012 at 9:03am

I actually like skin prep better than skin tac. Hope it works for you.

Permalink Reply by jims on January 31, 2012 at 8:03am

thank you for heads up.

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