Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim on April 4, 2008 at 7:49am

What site are you using? Do you have enough fat in that area for a smooth insertion? Are you having pain at insertion? It really sounds like an issue with your insertion site.

Permalink Reply by Heather FItzGeorge on April 4, 2008 at 12:38pm

lol oh yes plenty of fat (I'm not being modest, my body fat was once 13, not its in the 30's...so really no modesty here) I do work out though so sometimes I wonder if the friction is an issue.

I use
hip
(low) back, like the love handle area
arm

Most of the time its pretty smooth, I always tense up a little bit though.

Permalink Reply by Jim on April 4, 2008 at 1:24pm

I've never had a cannula issue, except for losing a pod playing basketball, so I don't know what to tell you. I'd try calling the support line, and maybe sending one back for them to look at. There's definitely something wrong. Could the cannula be pulling out during exercise?

Permalink Reply by Heather FItzGeorge on April 4, 2008 at 1:28pm

No, its not that it gets pulled out, the problem is that it gets kinked in my subcutaneous tissue. Yeah I'll definitely try giving them a call. How long have you had your omnipod?

Permalink Reply by B Mantak on April 8, 2008 at 5:15am

Hey there
I've experienced this when I've had the pod on a site that I kept hitting. For example, I like to wear it low on my belly but it also hits the kitchen sink when I do dishes. Another instance, when I've worn it on my upper bottom, I've slept on it too much and it has kinked. When I notice my sugars going up I check that and usually change the pod to a new location. That's annoying and expensive but I'd rather see the good sugars. Also, get a heavy duty adhesive wipe. Even if the pod is a little bit loose it can kink. Good luck and feel better!

Permalink Reply by Heather FItzGeorge on April 8, 2008 at 5:24pm

Thanks so much! Yes, I've noticed that the pod its self can get loose from the adhesive, and when that happens there's a big difference. Have you ever had an entire bad box of pods? That just happened to me where every single pod in one box I had had something terribly wrong with it. Where do you get your adhesive wipes? I used them when I first went on my minimed pump years ago and haven't been able to find them since. Thank you much for all your help and for taking the time to write!

Permalink Reply by B Mantak on April 10, 2008 at 3:07pm

You know what, yes, I've experienced the whole box thing. Well, maybe 1 or 2 were good. I was on the phone all the time with Insulet when that was going on. Frustrating doesn't even cover that week! I am using a wipe called "skin tac" right now. I am running a lot these days and this helps keep it on my skin better than the IV preps.
I get these from my medical supply place but I bet your local pharmacy has something like it. I'm not sure if I'm suppose to be using an adhesive remover but I haven't yet. Probably a good idea now that I think about it! Good luck-let us know how you're doing!!

Permalink Reply by Janet on April 11, 2008 at 10:25pm

Hi Heather. Sorry to hear you're having problems. Are you pinching up skin before the cannula goes in? (Before the pod starts making that clicking noise that makes you tense up.) When you remove the pod, are you pulling the cannula out at the same angle that it went in? If so, the only thing I can recommend is trying alternate sites to see what works for you.

Permalink Reply by Carly on April 14, 2008 at 11:00am

Are you supposed to pinch the site as it's inserting? I've never done this or heard of it for the Pod.

Permalink Reply by Jimmy Stockton on April 25, 2008 at 9:57am

Hi Heather

Most every time I have inserted a cannula, OmniPod or not, if the pain didn't go away within 30 seconds or so I knew I had a bad site. Either the cannula was inserted incorrectly or it was in a bad spot in the subcutaneous tissue. And if I lightly tapped on top of the Pod, or site with tubing, and there was any amount of pain, I knew something was wrong and I replace it. I have experienced the adhesive issue but only after bumping up against something. I am using the IV preps once again for the hot summer months but am curious about the skin tac.

I hope you figure out and correct your issue.

Jimmy

Permalink Reply by Heather FItzGeorge on May 17, 2008 at 5:03pm

Great tip! I'm most certainly going to try the tapping thing! I'm off of the omni pod for now because I'm vacationing in Montana, but as soon as I get back, if I ever question it (other than the tell-tale pain) I'll tap on it. Thanks!