I use the same tips as you mentioned above, the cold insulin is a problem for sure… Figured that one out a long time ago lol
So UPDATE TIME
I got a call today from a customer care manager, so she said. I asked her if she was calling me to congratulate me on breaking the record. Lol. She had zero sense of humor though and didn’t even crack a smile when I continued and asked her what my prize was. She proceeded to repeat everything that I had told them the night before. I told her yes, I know that, I was there. She then said that if I filled the pods even slightly beyond 200 units that they are likely to error. What?? Why package it with a syringe to fill it that takes more?? She didn’t ave a good answer but just kept repeating her canned answer. That I must have been overfilling them.
Way to go insulet, blame me instead of admitting that the entire batch had problems.
I got off the phone with her even more upset than the night before. Her attitude really stunk and the entire experience has really changed my opinion about the omnipod.
That's absolutely ridiculous. Are they having you ship the entire box of pods back to them for evaluation ? I had one occlude and they sent me a return kit to send it back to them. Granted it was only 1 pod, NOT an entire box plus 1. How long have you been using the pod system ? And yes that attitude would definitely sour me on the whole experience.
When I filled my pod yesterday I took a close look at the syringe. There is an absolute max that you can't go past. So the "customer care manager" is full of crap. The syringe is designed specifically not to allow overfilling.
I agree that that attitude would aggravate me (this is how over 50% of my interactions with Dexcom are - I cannot STAND contacting anyone there!). However, I was aware that the pods only hold 200 units. That's one of the reasons that tubed-pump users say they wouldn't switch over. So if you were filling them more, that could be the cause of the issue. However, you should have been trained on that and shame on the trainer for not making that clear! Hope you get it all resolved quickly and easily and don't have to deal with that manager again :)
Being a 'newbie' I really studied the handbook and postings here and did all I could to avoid problems and so far (3 boxes) no problems. I am a T2 and use concentrated insulin called Humulin-R 500 so I only fill to the minimum, when I change,(at 79.5 hours of use). I lose 10-20 units and I'd love to reclaim some of that but practicing on used pods isn't getting me an appreciable amount. The 'overfill' theory may be valid, try filling it 'less than Max' and see if that 'proves' the theory. The fact that at least one pod failed from another box (batch) could help with the analysis. Systems analysis requires eliminating all the variables to prove the results and causes of failure (temp, no air bubbles, closeness when priming, good luck. I have found Insulet most helpful and they sent me 3 pods o/n when I had insurance disputes with Edgepark.
I have been an omnipod customer for almost 3 years now. I loved it… Until this. I was a huge supporter and promoter of the system. I was always willing to talk about it with fellow Diabetics and had nothing but good things to say about it. That has all changed now.
Yes, they are asking me to send all 11 pods back. I’m pissed about the failures, I’m pissed about the insulin waste, but most of all I’m pissed because I have lost my trust in the system.
I’m on vacation now as I type this, I brought 15 spare pods and 3 bottles of insulin as backup, all for a three day trip! Ridiculous
That was exactly what I asked her actually. The canned answer I got was, the pods are designed to hold 200 units, max. The extra space in the syringe is there to accommodate for air bubbles only. The pods should NEVER be filled with more than 200 units or pod errors are very likely to occur.
Wtf?. Since when? I’ve filled my pods exactly the same way since day 1. The same way my omnipod instructor showed me to. And never had errors like this.
It seems as if their entire staff are in a pissed off mood right now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Their management has totally dropped the ball on this whole new release thing. This has pissed off the consumers, and they are rightfully taking it out on the reps when they call in for "support". There are serious issues with their website, you can't even post on them, there are serious issues with the various shipping companies that they use as well. One of the reps from the shipping site could not explain to me why I could not order test strips to fit the damned meter of the machine they just shipped to me.
I know I sincerely wish that my Doctor had discussed my options on what pump to use, I likely would have gone with Minimed, as I was one of the original crew that helped test/design their version 2, prior to the paradigm system.
I THOUGHT that these Pod systems would save insulin, but they have a hardwired 80 hour limit then they turn themselves off. Thus, if you don't use the insulin in the pod you are throwing it away, just like you would with any of the tubed systems.
Gawd, and our FDA is systematically killing off most of us anyway, but their decisions are NOT based on facts or history of diabetics etc, but solely based on OPINIONS of the uneducated and uniformed. Heck, just like our so called homeland security that fails to stop folks getting on a plane with guns, yet can do a full body search of a 80+ year old woman and then claim that she was somehow noticed and likely a bomb suspect. The FDA continuously forces Americans to wait an additional 10-15 years of further testing on health answers that have already proven effective in Europe.
Shoot, didn't mean to start a rant, sorry.
I am on pod failure #7 and have tried all the tricks, different sites, now bottles of insulin. I cann't get a pod to work. 5 were the same box, now I am in another box. Omnipod sent me a new (old version) fo the PDM but now I wonder if it's just me? I do know how to place a pod on correctly and my doc has suggested areas that have been working. Not sure what to do at this point. Any suggestions?
Just opened a new box of new pods...failure number 1 I think i'll wait to see if i get more before I call them in. This fail occured about 1/2 way through the priming process. The pod STOPPED clicking, and sure enough...a few min later there was a pod error.
One thing that is kind of nice about failures on the new system, is that the PDM has the pod ID and lot number on the alarm screen for easier reference to the rep when you call them in. I hated reading the small numbers on the side of the old pods.
Sorry about your pod failure, but that is funny what you said about the PDM having the pod ID and lot number. When I called on one that had occluded the rep asked me for the lot number and ID and he said the lot number would be found in the error message screen, but the pod ID number is only found on each individual pod. I told him I had thrown it out and he said in the future if you have a failure, save the pod.
Further proof that insulet doesn't have a clue when it came to this transition. A friend told me that he called the other day, and the rep told him the new system isn't even out...when I have it in my hands...haha
But at the same time I have had fantastic support from them every single time I call. They have answered my questions and taken care of my problem pods without any issues at all. And they answer the phone quickly unlike Dexcom which can take forever. Granted I would say the pump not delivering insulin properly or some other problem would certainly be a bit more endangering than a wonky sensor but I do like the prompt response.
I average 3 or 4 on EVERY change. My previous best was 6.
Until I found this site it felt like I was the only one. Thankfully I am not! I was beginning to think I was at fault =)
It's not you, but it may be even a tiny bit past the 200 unit mark can lead to a priming error. I read on here another post about this exact same issue and that was the case. Since I only use 125 units per pod I have avoided the priming error stuff, but have had 2 occlusions since starting the system in late May so no one is immune to pod problems. But at the same time it certainly beats the MDI I was doing before and they replaced the 2 pods that occluded with no argument.
he is probably further down the transition list.
This is a new experience for me: unable to use two pods (in sucession) as the canula never extended. This was following my OUCH pod which, although painful, functioned perfectly. The next pod didn't deliver enough insulin, yet the storage level decreased. when I changed the Pod the next two primed OK, but no canula extended so had to discard them. As usual, Insulet CS was helpful but no analysis revealed the problem. They sent out two replacement pods. The next pod was no problem filling, priming, applying, but it took a full day to regain control of my lovely levels, instead of 90-140 I was over 200!. I was about to inject when it lowered to 150 and has behaved ever since. I was able to retrieve some insulin from the 1st failed pod but lost it in the second pod as I was fed up. The lot and batch numbers were different for all. Confused isn't the word for it..
Well, so far, I have been really lucky I guess. No actual failed pods, but I have had 3 that were VERY painful inserting, and 1 that continued to cause pain for more than 24 hours before the pain died down, so total of 4 bad experiences but no true failures yet. Of course, I just rang the bell, so my next pod change will likely be a failure from what everyone else is experiencing.
As far as having extra supplies on hand, I would have to pay cash for them as my insurance will only cover 30 days at a time, with NO overlap of more than 3 days... so one pod change. If my last pod is bad, I am out of luck until next delivery etc. I hope I never actually start experiencing bad pods because I am positive that my insurance will be giving me hassles on getting replacements.
See the discussion under 'OUCH' it appears that pain is just bad joss. I have prime insertion spots (subcutaneous fat) and still hit a bad one. Good luck in the future. :)