Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by hanalin2 on August 22, 2012 at 12:53pm

OMG I completely feel your frustration! I called minimed MULTIPLE TIMES (20+) and each time was like this is TOTALLY unacceptable. Multiple pump replacements (see below) all failing within less than a month, for different errors each time. They don't take me seriously. I wish the FDA would do something even though I'm not much a fan of FDA. Unfortunately, I doubt insurance would care to pay for a different company's pump before warranty, but I don't know for sure...but I definitely agree with you on it SHOULD be allowed since this is our lives we are talking here! For minimed to suggest you buy a backup pump for THEIR multiple faulty pumps??? Really? They should be GIVING you an extra pump since they are so faulty. Ugggh thats just my rant Im done :-) This was my experience just to let you know you are not the only one, which is what I thought, too:

OK so I use MiniMed since there aren't a lot of options out there and it's the main one...used it for quite a while and their software is the only one my doc uses. Plus integration of the CGM system. I also can only use metal sets so OmniPod is out. HOWEVER...

I got this Paradigm pump less than 2 years ago. It malfunctioned on me when I had just biked 10 miles and was taking a ferry to a middle of nowhere island. Completely stopped working, NO buttons would do anything it was just frozen...long story short screwed my entire week and had to take a ride from a complete stranger.

So I get a replacement 3 days later (malfunction happened on weekend). That of course screwed me too. The replacement pump started getting motor errors left and right beginning the first week. So I got THAT one replaced. Now THIS one I have worn for ONE DAY and it gave me an error A33 which is an immediate "we gotta replace that pump NOW" error according to minimed. So I'm waiting on a fourth pump tomorrow! All within a month!?

Is this just me or the universe laughing at my coincidences, or is minimed really going downhill? Of course they say on the phone that they have TONS of people who've had pumps for years with no problems. I'm like OK, great for THEM, but what about those who dont? Am I the only one with multiple issues? Also had to have 2 of their CGMs replaced for malfunction...Curious to know if this is more widespread than just me.

Permalink Reply by Sweetpee on September 24, 2012 at 3:02am

I am so sorry you're having those problems! I was the 300th person nation on a pump back in 1980, the Auto Syringe beta program and I've NEVER had pump problems until I got on this friggin' Revel pump. I hope they get you something that works! I've got an appointment this Wed with my internist to get a referral to a diabetologist who can help me off Medtronic onto a more reliable system. Good luck.

Permalink Reply by Keef on April 12, 2012 at 1:14pm

I was very interested in reading these messages....I too have a Revel 723, my first pump. I started using this machine about 4 months ago and to date have had no problems like those reported here whatsoever. I also use the Medtronic CGMS, the connectivity between the two is sometimes flaky and I lose signal or get weak signal messages, but other than that the apperatus is working as normal.

Permalink Reply by Duarte on April 12, 2012 at 1:42pm

The signal lost pr weak signal problem only occur pn Guardian and revel pumps in the Veo pumps that dont occur .
Probably that means this is a software problem on that alredy is fixed in the new generation of pumps "Veo".

Permalink Reply by alwaystempted on April 12, 2012 at 1:46pm

Ha... The good ol CGM... I've definitely gotten better with having it operate more accurately. In the beginning I had a lot of issues with the signal getting lost. I think my issue was water getting through the tagaderm. I now buy better ones and have a lot less issues. Do you get signal problems if your pump is near your cell phone?

Permalink Reply by Keef on April 16, 2012 at 5:39am

You know, that's a good quetion...and one I hadn't even considered before. I need to check signal problems when near to my cell phone, as sometimes the signal was weak for no apparent reasone.

Permalink Reply by musicman88 on September 7, 2012 at 2:43pm

I too was having issues with connectivity with the CGM, and discovered that if I wear my pump on the same side as the transmitter the issue went away. Appartently it can't read through my body. I didn't think I was that heavy, go figure.

Permalink Reply by Scott E on April 12, 2012 at 6:45pm

I'm on my second (523, the smaller-reservoir-sized cousin of the 723). The first one had an awkward sound when set to vibrate, and when a crack finally became visible (I'm sure it was there all along), they replaced it. The second one works fine, though the motor sounds a bit louder when rewinding and I hear distinct clicking during a bolus which I haven't heard before.

If you read Wil's blog at http://lifeafterdx.blogspot.com/, he's been having lots of Motor Errors with his Medtronic pumps (and their replacements). The discussion has been ongoing for some time.

Permalink Reply by Tom Goffe on April 16, 2012 at 5:59am

My only problem was that on my first one the "alarm" sound was inaudible unless in a totally sound free environment. I used "vibrate" as an alternative but even catching that was hit or miss. I contacted Minimed and they sent a replacement - it was in my hands within 17 hours (incredible). The replacement pump was somewhat louder but still essentially inaudible unless in a quiet situation. I've asked others to tell me if theycould hear it and they also agreed that it was quite soft.

From what I've been able to learn, the alarm sound comes from deep within the pump. I was all ready to go on a rant about design issues and to offer my unqualified advice on what they should do better until I began to gather some understanding about the engineering involved.

One tool that addresses this issue that Minimed has introduced is the mySentry. It is designed to alert a parent when their child's continuous glucose monitor shows an impending low overnight. It could also be a useful device for people like me who have trouble hearing alarms, however the $3000.00 price tag is prohibitive - especially for folks like me who do not have top flight insurance. I'm still trying to find a workaround that will alert me to alarms overnight and ideally something that is small and portable that I can carry with me.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on April 16, 2012 at 5:58pm

No issues with my 723. HAve had it almost 2 years now.

Permalink Reply by Nell on April 21, 2012 at 5:54pm

I have issues with my 723 but they probably don't qualify as problems. First, the beep noise sounds like the proverbial "wounded duck." It sounds 'sick.' Second, I only want one single alarm for the reservoir going low, at 5 units. I set it for that and yet I get at least three annoying multiple beeps for low reservoir warnings.
If only animus would make a 300 unit pump. I do not understand why they insist on serving only diabetics with lower insulin needs.

Permalink Reply by MossDog on April 27, 2012 at 4:36pm

Becauses developing and getting it through the FDA costs large sums of $$$$$. With every "upgrade" of Animas pumps to date it was only small changes so they did not have to do near so much FDA buisness. Even changing the reservoirs would likely take much research etc. Not to mention everything else that would need to change internally. I would imagine it is part of their buisness plan though as Type 2's on an insulin pump is not such a rare occurance any more.

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