I am having issues with the glue that attaches the sensor to the white sticky pad that attaches to my body. I literally get an outline of the glue pattern. I have tried tegaderm but it doesn't seem to help. Any suggestions?
If you prep the site with alcohol give my log entry on the subject a quick read. http://www.ardensday.com/main/2011/11/28/omnipod-rash.html
I agree with Scott. I've noticed that when I prep with alcohol, I get rashes. When I don't, and just put in on right after a shower or just wash with soap and water, I don't get a rash.
There are lots of other possible solutions. One is another adhesive, such as IV3000 or Hypafix, and another is barrier wipes. Google medical adhesives, or skin preps and see what you can find. If you contact the companies, they may send you samples.
I use skin tac wipes they work for me to stop rashes from the glue issue. my samples came from my endo years ago, sometimes your doctor or endo can make a recommendation and give samples to try. Hope this helps and Good luck.
I use BARD wipes to protect my skin, and then Unisolve wipes to take the site off. Seems to work best for me - protection from the adhesive (I'm allergic) and ability to get it all off without taking the skin with it!
I am not impressed with the "post - it pad" adhesive that Dexcom apparently uses.
It does not last and seems to have too much dissolving agent/solvent mixed with the adhesive that body/air quickly grab and cause adhesive pad to dry and fall off too quickly.
I could not find skin tac but found an alternative called skin prep that offers similar benefits and definitely helps extend holding period.
I just called DexCom on a similar issue. I use IV prep wipes before I try to attach the Dexcom sensor system.
I did likewise with my Medtronic CGM. Both companies warned about the potential for the IV Prep Wipe to cause some kind of damage to the Sensor piping going into the skin.
With Medtronic sensors, Medtronic Canulas and insertions, OmniPods and their insertion points, I never received any problems. When I recently received my DexCom, I immediately used the new system.
After 2 or 3 days, boy did it itch. I tried old areas and I tried brand new areas. It really does not like spots where there is old scar tissue from other insertions, but when i tried new virgin spots on my body, I still received itching and reactivity.
1 This could be a change in their adhesive formula that causes reactions in some people.
2 It could be that the DexCom adhesive may work properly without reaction, if you only use an alchohol swab
3 You may need to protect your skin, by putting on an IV 3000 protective bandage "under" the DexCom Sensor.
Maybe this is not the answer you are looking for, but it was good that I saw that someone else had written an "Adhesive Reaction" topic.
Good luck,
Oh yes, and using IV prep or IV 3000 may not be recommended. But, one person recmmd, If you do, leave a small hole in the underlying protective IV3000 bandage so as to not cause any issues with the sensor you are inserting.
tjp
Thanks to everyone who responded - I am just stuck at what to do. I've tried many barriers, I've tried straight up medical tape as a barrier(this seems to work the best but doesn't stay long), I've tried liquid bandaid, and a nasal allergy spray and all three at once! I'm so sensitive the glue bothers me through the barrier.
I am thinking I may just give up!
I've included a picture of the reaction - this is 3.5 weeks old - so you can imagine what it was initially. The camera added a red glow that isn't there - its just the rectangle from the actual sensor holder that is bothersome.
Thanks to everyone for your comments.
Wow - what a picture - what a reaction!
The comments here clearly show the wide range of reactions to the pad and glue.
I must have a tough hide. I prep with alcohol and use Skin Prep.
If I do not, my body - skin literally absorbes in the adhesive off the pad and it falls off.
I even have serious allergies but this glue for me obviously isn't one of them.
Thank you for sharing and advising. Good luck!
Yup -- been there, done that! I asked my dermatologist about it and her advice was" "Just suffer"! I will ask my endo about it on my next visit. She wants me to try the omnipod (I hate the animas) but that has even more adhesive! Oh well. Suffer I must!
Jeff
I actually use the omnipod without any issue - so you might be surprised!
I'm wondering if there is a wound-care nurse specialist at your hospital. They care for patients with ostomies who MUST use an adhesive on their stomas for possibly the rest of their lives, and these nurses would be most familiar with products that the rest of us don't even know about. Just a thought.
I have had a few different pumps. And I have had an assortment of problems. Most recently I was using and still have a Medtronic Revel system which has a combined pump and CGM function. I tried the OmniPod because they had a deal last year where I could get it for almost nothing, and I tried it. I really liked not having that tube connecting my body to the pump. I don't know why, but, it really sold me.
So I had been using the Medtronic pump, without the pump's use, and only using it for it's CGM. I heard about another deal coming up with DexCom early this year and about how it was evolving into a combined DexCom/OmniPod device, and I tried it. And was too busy trying to work the new deal to over research it.
I use hypoallergenic everything when possible. I have sensitive skin to a fault. If I use ordinary hand soap, wash dishes without gloves, or god forbid, use any of the antibacterial or antiseptic soaps, my hands look like I dipped them in acid.
What I have worked with that did not effect me in the past. Hypoallergenic bandages are ok. The IV3000 1-Hand by smith&nephew are ok. The sensors and their corresponding adhesives tape from Medtronic are ok. The medtronic canulas with their corresponding adhesives are ok. The OmniPods with their corresponding adhesives and tape are ok.
The DexCom Sensor adhesive, starts to itch like crazy after 2 days. I thought I had to man-up or cowboy-up and just give it more time or try different places, and the result was always the same, or worse.
I remembered that some people had talked about putting an IV3000 on themselves before putting on their equipment. I thought it was a little extreme at that time, but this morning, I gave it a second thought.
I prepped a site. I made a small hole on the IV3000, so that no adhesive would touch my skin. With really good light and great reading glasses, I put the DexCom inserter right where I had made the little hole on the IV3000. (fold into fourths and snip the little tip of the corner, see picture.) I inserted.
As I have said, I do not have a problem with the adhesive on the IV3000. My thinking is, if thisstays stable, I should be ok for 7 days without rash or reaction (see photo).
I also made a picture of the final product where you can see the inserted sensor with the "barrier" in back of it, protecting my skin. I think this will work, and I will touch base to this site in a few days.
Food for thought.
A reason for hope.
Take Care.
Tom
3158-creatingthebarrier.jpg (615 KB) 3159-protectivebarrierandDexComsensorinserted.jpg (426 KB)
All I can say about that skin reaction is EEEEEK!!! But I'm glad you found a solution. When I first started pumping, and turned out to be allergic to Tegaderm (before IV3000 came out, and when you HAD to cover the infusion site with something), I used to use Hypafix in much the same manner -- cutting out a corner of the thing folded in fourths. Hypafix on the bottom, then the set, and then the Tegaderm on top, without touching my skin in any way.
Nowadays, I'm using IV3000, and so far, so good. I hope I don't become allergic to it later! :-)
I too have been having reactions and the sensors trying to fall off. My reactions have a severe rash associated with them. When you remove the pad, the rash is raw and weeping. I just met with the Dexcom educator and she gave me some ideas. She stated that she had one woman that nothing she did would stop the reaction until she used the Hipaclens. Evidently, it kills off unwanted bacteria far better than regular alcohol wipes.
For the itching:
She said to wash the area with Hipaclens. Be sure to wash a 6" radius and to dry perfectly before applying the sensor.
Alternatively, if it is just slightly bothersome, use Benadryl spray after washing the area and drying. Let the spray dry completely then apply the sensor. You can also apply the spray to the outside of the white sensor pad later in the week if it is bothering you. Just be sure to protect the transmitter and canula area.
For sticking issues:
Use IV-Prep wipes. These wipes have a sticky type alcohol solution. After it is dry, it is tacky and grips the white sensor pad. Be sure to rub the IV-Prep in a donut fashion, leaving the center free of tack for the canula and sensor section free and clear.
I plan on trying these methods on my next change out.
Good luck everyone!
Does anyone have red whelps come up from the sensor thing that goes in your skin? I been having that and now I have scars. I am also on the pod and it does not do that to me? I dont want to stop using it because I depend on it so much.
Yes! See my response above. It might help.
I responded to this group almost a month ago for the same issue and how I was successfully resolving it. And I can not find that response.
You need a skin barrier between the adhesive from the DexCom and your skin.
Here is part of what I wrote last month;
The DexCom Sensor adhesive, starts to itch like crazy after 2 days. I thought I had to man-up or cowboy-up and just give it more time or try different places, and the result was always the same, or worse.
I remembered that some people had talked about putting an IV3000 1-hand bandage on themselves before putting on their equipment. I thought it was a little extreme at that time, but this morning, I gave it a second thought.
I prepped a site. I made a small hole on the IV3000, so that no adhesive would touch my skin. With really good light and great reading glasses, I put the DexCom inserter right where I had made the little hole on the IV3000. (fold into fourths and snip the little tip of the corner, see picture.) I inserted.
I have now done this for several weeks and have only had 1 slight reaction. That reaction came after 5 days and I simply switched out that sensor, again using this barrier technique.
I hope this helps and please let me know if it does. I will check later on to see if this got posted.
Good luck and Good skin,
Tom
I have also been on the phone with DexCom about this, and it appears as though their corporate support group have heard about this.
It would help if people would put calls into their corporate general support line. If you have to terminate using a sensor because of a reaction, many times they will send you a replacement for that sensor.
If they receive a larger number of calls, however, there will be motivation for them to take a second look at their formula for their adhesive.
I have asked for adhesive formula and got a polite distractor and if the representitive can get it he will email it to me. But, I am sensing that that request hit like a bug on a windshield on the highway.
We need more calls to corporate support lines. And if that fails, some calls to the FDA. Change is required.
And I feel for everyone's position in this.
Good luck and this too can be resolved,
Tom