I love my pod and the freedom from tubing, BUT - I'm really getting tired of the bruising. I have a new pod (changed yesterday morning) on my inner thigh - I can see a bruise already! It's out about 1/2 inch from the nose of the pod, and where the cannula is inserted, it's very red. But, my numbers are good, so I'm hesitant to waste the pod to change it. The backs of my arms bruise, but I like the spot. It's frustrating. I've always bruised easily, so maybe I'll just have to live with this. Not sure if it's enough to go back to tubing or not. But I'm going to end up looking like a battered wife...
Hi Putertech...
I have been using the OmniPod system now for nearly a year and a half and have NEVER had any type of bruising with the pod. When was your last CBC blood test done? You might want to talk to your doctor about the bruising as that does not sound like a normal event, especially if it keeps occurring.
I had blood work done in December - everything came back good. I guess I never thought to ask the doc about bruising. My mom and her mom were the same way, unfortunately. I would bruise from my infusion sets from my Ping sometimes, but not as big a one. The ones on my arms come out in the shape of the pod. I think my arm ones bruise as I'm taking the pod off. I'm picking up some Uni-Solve today, so hopefully that'll take care of that problem. I think my leg one's going to be a doozy, though...ha. I take vitamins, but am wondering if I'm still lacking in something.
my son definitey bruised more on his legs, nowhere elso really, inner thigh, you are brave, it is probably more site related as long as your numbers are good, i'd keep it on for now, good luck... there are pros and cons with all therapies i guess.. best wishes, amy
Ok, this thigh bruise is getting ugly - and there's blood under the tape/adhesive. But my numbers are still good. I don't like changing it out in the evening - much better in the morning after a shower. Since there is blood showing, is it a bad thing to keep it in?
Well, I hardly ever bruise and the pod has caused bruising on me occasionally. Mine are on sites where I end up putting a lot of bodyweight. I'll get a nice purple and red spot in the shape of the front end of the pod.
Haven't figured out a way to avoid that type of bruising without avoiding the entire site.
Found this online: "Certain dietary supplements, such as fish oil and ginkgo, also can increase your bruising risk due to a blood-thinning effect."
I take fish oil.....hmmmmm....maybe I should stop for a while and see what happens. I did replace the pod - the bruise was getting gnarly!
probably a good decision, if you had blood in the cannula you could of been brewing a partial occlusion if not a full occlusion over night not a good situation to get into, hope the next one is better! amy
Yeah, I didn't want to be woken up in the middle of the night with alarms. I'm not a happy camper when I'm woken up...ha!
Wouldn't tubed pumps bruise even worse? Since with tubed pumps the cannulas are manually inserted, it seems like it would hurt and bruise even more. Is that true?
When I used my Animas pump with tubing, the infusion set was not set manually but had a quick release insertion set. I never bruised with that set either. I think, after reading all the responses, that there are some people that do bruise a bit easier than others. I still feel that it would be prudent to let your doctor know about the bruising and the blood in the set or under the tape. It sounds as if the SED rate or clotting factor might be off - thus the question about the last CBC panel the doctor had ordered.
FWIW, here's my last CBC:
WBC: 5.1
RBC: 4.14
Hemoglobin: 13.8
Hematocrit: 40.1
Platelets: 208