Hello all! I changed from the medtronics Enlite to the Dexcom G4 Platinum CGM a week ago. I have been getting the ??? error very frequently with my first sensor. I am thinking that the sensor is not happy where I placed it in my arm, and that I will need to remove it and place a new sensor. Any other suggestions before I go that route?
Details:
I placed the senor 3 days ago. I decided to try putting it on my right arm, which is a first for me. Everything went fine the first day. I did notice that at night I would get the ??? error at some point. My theory is that there is a position while I sleep that affects the sensor in some way. Today the sensor was very erratic. I got the ??? error three times during the day, and it would take the receiver 2 hours to go back to normal. At 7pm I got the ??? error again. I turned off the sensor and on again to force a recalibration. 3o minutes into the calibration I got the ??? error again.
Looks to me that something is wrong with the sensor (location?) and I will need to discard it.
Any other ideas for me to try? Or recommendations to avoid this ??? error?
That's a drag, Gus. I use only the outside of my biceps (both sides) and I have no ??? overnight, or any other time really, other than when a sensor gets long in the tooth (post-two weeks or more). It may be a bad placement, but if you pull this one off, I would put one on in the same basic location to see what happens next. Do call Dexcom to see if they'll cover this one with the multiple ??? for you. You may not want to mention it is on your arm, however...
i had ??? a lot on my first sensor on the first few days. it turned out the trasmitter was completely clicked in. do you remember hearing 2 clicks when you pushed down on the plastic inserter? even if you're not sure, you can either reattach the plastic transmitter pusher, or just push down on the back (larger side) of the transmitter to see if it clicks again. not sure if i'm describing this in a way for your to understand, but hopefully you can check it and figure it out. good luck!
Hi Gayle, Yes, I did check everything was in place when I put it on, and it looks like it is. Just in case I just pressed the back of the transimitter one more time and turned the sensor off and on again. we will see what happens.
thanks!
Hi Michael, By outside of your biceps you mean both sides of your arms but not the back (triceps), right? Man, I had to inhale deeply to put the sensor on my triceps, I probably would have to inhale twice to put it on my biceps. I will try maybe with the next one.
I would definitely call Dexcom if this continues. I'm only on my second sensor and have never gotten to ???. I can't imagine the placement is too off unless you ended up hitting a muscle or something. Dexcom is pretty good about replacing sensors within the 7 day time frame I hear so I would definitely get a call. They have always been awesome about helping me!
> hitting a muscle This may be the case, as I am skinny and usually men don't have much fat in the arms. I will call Dexcom tomorrow, and also try with a new sensor.
Thanks!
I would get the "???" for 2-3 hours after showering. Was wearing the sensor horizontally on my abs and water would get into the sensor's Transmitter Cradle. Now, I wear the sensor vertically on my upper arm or upper leg, with the little 'Shoe'-like toe box at the top. No more "???" at all.
Here's my arm site. I don't have anyone to help put it WAAAAYYYYYY in back, but this works well for me anyway.photo of dex-in-arm I wish I could just upload a pic, but I've put the link to my album instead.
I just got the G4 and am on my first sensor. No ??? Yet. But I placed my sensor on my upper thigh with some luck. Does not interfere with cycling so far.
hi Gus, sorry to hear you are having trouble with your fist sensor, I am fairly new as well to the CGM in general. I am not seasoned so someone else may have a solution but I do know that when I get ??? prior to the 7 days (happened once)it is usually the sensor that is bad and I call it in and they replace it for you. once I get the ??? it does not at least for me go back to normal long enough to make it worth it.
G, when you mentioned you are thin that is my issue and my only location for placement is my upper stomach. Not so horrible as it sounds to put in and very visible for placement. I agree with ??? hitting muscle or even bone had that when in my arm upon first insert by Dexcom rep. she then suggested my stomach since of my thin nature. All has worked great since. Dexcom is extremely supportive they will help you through do not think twice to ask for replacements.
The Dexcom reads "interstitial fluids" and muscles just don't have enough of this fluid. Just make sure you use a spot that tends to have more fat tissue. If I remember correctly Dexcom only recommends around around the abdomen for this very reason.
Thanks all for your responses. I finally removed the sensor. The filament was bent 45 degrees 4 millimeters from the top. So my theory is, because I have almost no fat in my arms and worked out muscles (good for triathlon, bad for sensors :-) ), probably during sleep I compressed the sensor against the muscle and it twisted.
I have to say that the only reason I put the sensor on my triceps is because I had read and seen pics of other triathletes (pro triathletes, and even skinnier than me) using them there. I guess it wont work for me in that location.
Now, someone mentioned issues with water. Although the specs state the sensor is water resistant up to 8 feet, I now recall that the ??? errors may have started after my first swim with it.
Now I have put a new sensor on the side of my belly, and so far so good. I was hoping that the Dexcom, as it has a filament that is I think 1 millimeter shorter than the Enlite, was going to let me wear it on other places other than my belly or butt. But it looks like that wont be the case. I will keep trying.
I'm glad you started this thread, Gus.. I just put a sensor in my triceps area this morning, and all I'm getting is ??? It's my second sensor. The first didn't make it to a week living on my belly. I'm guessing that's because my climbing harness knocked it at some point, although I can't say I recall that happening. I thought an arm site would be out of the way of a potential climbing harness interaction, but so far it's looking like a poor decision.
I had wondered if it's the muscle versus fat thing. I'd never call myself skinny, but I've not got much pinchable flesh on my arms. That said, there does seem to be photos of skinny people with arm CGM sensors. Anyway, this thread is making me think I'm going to have to rethink sensor sites. Maybe I'll have to rock that baby on my groove thang. ;)
Hey all, I've had my G4 for a month or two now and I am having some issues with this sensor. I get frequently ??? periods lasting up to 3.5 hours, I think I've only had 1 or 2 total before this sensor. I am in the middle of one such sensor gap right now. I didn't clean the transmitter or my stomach with alcohol last time, could that be the issue? Does anyone know if removing the transmitter to try cleaning it will reset the current sensor or if I can just pop it back in?
