i am using Humalog 75/25 mix. The first pen I used the black rewinder thingy (not sure what its called) wouldn't work correctly. I had to use my syringe to get the insulin out. I fixed that pen by winding up a number and pushing to get it to work right. I used my second pen for a few days now and it wont push the insulin out. I never had this happen before! I am not sure what I should do now. I'm worried that the other pens will be defective. Should I call the drug store I got them at? should I call Lily? Thanks
I’ve had that happen to me, and what I ended up doing was forcing the dial to turn and i would make it go back and forth several times to wear down the teeth inside of it a bit, then it stoped working all together and i put a cap on it and dialed in about 10 and slamed it plunger side down on a counter top. It worked fine after that. Yeah I lost 10 units, but that was better than losing the whole pen. I would try that, and if it works great,then if you find another like that then call the RX, Lilly wont do anything but refer you back to them anyways.
They’ll send you a new one, a coupon, or a refund.
Lets see if we can find a schematic (blueprint/plan) of the pen and its named parts, what THEY call it anyway.
Worst case for now, continue with your syringe withdrawl method, until its solved.
================ Explain a little more the problem you were having exactly. Are you leaving the tip on and then reusing it, or a new tip every time? It was dispensing insulin just peachy for a couple days, you put on a new tip, POOF…no more insulin from the pen for you?
If that’s the case, I’d check to make sure the screw on tip punctured the seal of the insulin vial of the pen.
Only way to do that is to screw it on again then dial up a single unit or two. Depress the plunger. Once insulin comes out of the needle then the seal between the screw on tip and the pen-vial has been established. Until then its not.
If you’ve withdrawn a couple units via syringe in the mean time make certain you get the pressure platform touching the “plunger” itself, identical to the proceedure we all use with the first tip on the brand new pen (ie dial up a couple units until it touches again)
Help explain with a few more words whats happening… guaranteed someone here can help!
Stuart
the pen needle is screwed on right. It just the plunger thingy wont work correctly as its stuck or something. I am getting frustrated and hating MDI more every day.
I Would return them right away to the drugstore! I would demand replacements at no charge. I Believe its the stores responsiblity to make sure there products are working correctly that they sell.I Would have called them as soon as I noticed the first pen was defective. I’m lucky my drug store would give me a replacement right away. Then the store deals with the manufacture or supplier. I personally think this is the quickest way to reslove your problem! I’d contact them right away! Its Far too expensive to just ignore, the defective pens! You should have done it right away with the first pen as soon as you realized it was defective. I’d tell the drugstore as soon as possible so they can get your replacement to you sooner . Sometimes this happens with pens .I use pens too .good luck too you. Remember, that the pens are far too expensive too ignore this! The drug store will provide faster service for your exchange!
Bummer. Yet another reason I prefer the more durable re-usable cartridge pens to the cheaper, plastic, throw-away pens. (sigh) But that’s progress, eh?
Regarding your description of your problem its not clear whether the problem is in the dial/plunger mechanism Or at the other end where no insulin is being pushed out despite pressure being applied by the plunger.
> I fixed that pen by winding up a number and pushing to get it to work right.
> I used my second pen for a few days now and it wont push the insulin out.
> I never had this happen before!
So it sounds like you’ve used similar pens successfully in the past. And you are now experiencing problems with just these two pens? I might suggest holding the pen vertical (cartridge on top), taping it a few times and making sure there is no air pocket in the cartridge. Dial up a few units and do a test shot. If the plunger is going in (and up) but nothing is coming out dial up a larger quantity of units and do another test shot. Keep doing this until you get insulin shooting out of the pen. If the dialer/plunger mechanism is not advancing at all and it feels like you are just pressurizing the insulin in the cartridge re-check the other end to confirm the needle is good, seated properly and insulin can come out.
I agree with the other posts. I would return the pens immediately to the pharmacy where you got them. And I wouldn’t hesitate to call Lily and work through this with customer support. I’m sure they would prefer replacing the pens than have you mash it hard on the table in order to get the plunger working. That just sounds like too big a hammer for something that is supposed to work with some accuracy. I also wouldn’t hesitate to take the pens down to a local pharmacy that specializes in diabetes supplies and ask for their help. This raises another interesting topic. Some pharmacies specialize in diabetes supplies, support and education. They tend to be much more expert in all things IDDM related and they tend to be more willing to help. I think it is a good idea to find such a pharmacy in your town and get to know them. Even if you don’t buy all your meds and supplies there do go in occasionally just to pick up some assorted stuff and get to know them so you feel more comfortable going there when you really do need their help. I get most of my stuff cheaper thru mail-order supply but I try to support this pharmacy whenever I can because they provide value-added service.
Id call Lilly, then if they don’t want the physical pens back ( they sometimes will)… or will exchange/replace them then take them back to the pharmacy… Most pharmacies are very good about this… Others are not… I actually had a bad case of pen needles at one point… (every needle caused a bleed, and they didnt slide in right…BD sent me a coupon but my pharmacy couldnt process it the way BD does the coupons, so they just pulled a box off the shelf… Benifit of being a regular customer…(since BD wanted the box of needles back, including the bum ones (in a metal tin can)
the problem is my normal drug store didnt have any so i had to go to another location which my boyfriend had to drive me to as I dont drive! I wont get to that location until thursday. I’m already having issues with my state’s drug stores not carrying the supplies.
I did explain in another comment what is going on. The plunger part is the part that wont work. My insurance will not let me do mail order. I have managed care medicaid. Its already hard enough to get supplies through them already without the proper paperwork.
I cant get to the drug store until Thursday the latest.
I tried your suggestion and it works perfectly fine. I only lost 10 units total (which would’ve of been when priming the pen) so overall, the pen works again for me to use it.
I did get the first pen to work. Didnt think it would happen with the 2nd one! But glad I got it working again. I’ll be excited the day I start pumping and have the pens as backups or whatever they suggest to use for backups
