After having uncontrollable highs that could be helped only on hospital with an insulin drip, I finally got a pump. An omnipod, at the suggestion of the endocrinologist here. I also got it two whole days earlier than I was supposed to, so that is good.
But… I hate it. I find it super uncomfortable and I move I am aware of it sticking up through my clothing. I find it bulky. Also, why is PDM over $6000??? That just seems wrong. I like that the pod has enabled me to get off of the hospital’s drip, but I literally want to claw my skin off under where the pod is. And I can feel the cannula. Every time I move. Also, my first pod failed within 24 hours, and the second has been just as uncomfortable. I guess I’m wondering if I wouldn’t have been happier waiting and getting an Animas Vibe or Ping or sothing from Medtronic. I only chose the pods because they were available the quickest
Sorry to hear that. If there’s something in particular about it that experienced users might help with, you’re going to have to be more specific. Do you hate pumping or the pod in particular? Pumping is a learning experience, so perhaps you can get better at it or at least more used to it. There’s a world of experience and support here, but you need to let us know what it is you don’t like.
While many people enjoy great success with the Omnipod, like most things, it’s not universal. I was one of those people who could not make Omnipod work for me.
Perhaps you have a skin allergy to the Omnipod adhesive. I’ve read many accounts of people successfully using barriers like a Tegaderm film to reduce or eliminate the allergic reaction. I’ve also read about people spraying Flonase on the site before inserting the Omnipod. You might try using the TuDiabetes search function to find many comments on this topic.
Click on the search icon on the upper right side of your screen and type in a search term like “pump allergies,” to read about others expereince.
How long have you had the Omnipod? Are you still able to return for a full refund?
First of all, give it a few days and just try not to think about it. I can’t remember the pod every feeling bulky or “in the way”, but I might have at first. I hardly ever even think about it now. Often, I have to check which arm it is on (I wear them exclusively on the backs of my arms). Experiment with locations. You’ll find some more comfortable and less noticeable than others. Do not feel confined to your abdomen. If you develop a rash or discomfort, call Omnipod support. There were several lots of pods that had a new adhesive formula that many people reacted to. The company will replace those if you have those lots. Sometimes a site will be near a nerve, which creates itching and/or discomfort. Often that goes away, but if it does not, you might have to remove the pod and replace it. The company likely will send you a replacement in that case as well. As for the price of the PDM, it does seem ridiculous. Hopefully, insurance will cover part of it. Try to be patient, and good luck!
Oh darn, I didn’t know that. I’ve had a couple replaced because of insulin backing up into the little window – clearly a problem with the pods – but I assumed if it was near a nerve or scraping on muscle, that was my tough luck. Too late now, as they usually want serial numbers, but that’s good to know for the future.
I don’t know if this is common, but my first several pods were quite uncomfortable as well. It took me a couple of weeks to hone my insertion technique, and to figure out roughly where the good spots were. (High up on the abdomen close to the ribs – not smart!) In the beginning, too, I was very conscious of its presence, but by now, like @Jim2 says, most of the time I barely know it’s there. Then again, it’s not for everyone, but do give it a chance.
I’m sorry to hear you’re having issues. I am NOT on the pod, but I wear a tubbed insulin pump through Medtronic. My previous pump I wore for 4 years and I just recently upgraded. I want to chime in and say switching to a pump is a big adjustment, period. Do you have a certain amount of time to change your mind and send it back? One thing you could consider doing is trying out different pump brands before you buy it. Something I wish I would have done from the outset. Pumps with tubing have their own issues so don’t fall into that trap that WE ALL fall into, “the grass must be greener on the other side!” I do all the time to be honest- always wondering if another pump or CGM would be better. Also, tubed pump STILL have needles or cannulas that stick into your skin.
Give yourself a week or two and ask yourself if your control is better? If it’s not- maybe it’s not worth the expense and hassle. If you control IS better than maybe figure out what the return policy is on your pump and try out different brands. Get ahold of your local reps for all the different pumps. They can lend you loaner pumps that use water so you can “try it out.” Good luck!
I am really sorry to hear you don’t like the Omnipod, because I love mine. It sounds like you are having a reaction to the adhesive. I did, Insulet sent me a few of their non-acrylic adhesive pods to try - at no charge - and they worked like a charm. They then replaced the pods I had with new ones - approximately 30 pods.
The cannula issue could be placement, and that is trial and error. I now wear my pods exclusively on the back of my arms and squarely on the hips. Anywhere else is terribly uncomfortable. They do, unfortunately fail from time to time. However, Insulet has been great about replacing them and troubleshooting the problem.
I am about 1.5 months into the pod and have worked through about 15 pods. I pulled 2/15 before the three days due to the sites not working quite right (read high blood sugars with lots of insulin).
I too had issues with cannula discomfort on the first couple, but I have got used to wearing them and hardly notice them at all - in fact right now I have no idea where the pod is
One frustration I have is trying new sites. I have good experience with my abdomen and sides but had two failed sites when I tried an arm and a leg. I am sure I messed up putting both in (both gushed blood when I pulled the pods) and probably hit muscle instead of fat. I just have to get used the fact I will have a few failures trying to get to maximize the number of sites I use.
I wouldn’t be too quick to blame your cannula insertion technique. You can’t easily see the underlying blood capillary network. I do observe a high degree of correlation between painful insertion and hitting a blood vessel. I just don’t think there’s anything one can do to avoid it. It’s a crap shoot.
I palpate the intended site to try and find better spots to aim for. I think it helps but I’ve not done any scientific measurements.
@jim2 - I pinch up but I don’t have a lot of body fat except on my abdomen. I am at still at the learning stage though when it comes to site selection in other places
I get a lot of benefit from the pump over MDI and really like the pods and would not want to go back to MDI at this point.
I use Omnipod. I have also used a pump with tubing. For me, tubeless is much more convenient. Some sites are more comfortable than others. I use thighs and triceps most often. It took me a while to get used to them at night, but now they don’t bother me.
If you paid $6,000 for the PDM, someone ripped you off. One bought 2 without insurance for $500 each. Here, I have to add that, considering the simplicity of the calculations required of the PDM and the poor quality construction (compared to something like a cellphone), even that is too high.
I believe the OmniPod is $6,000 in Canada because pumps are purchased by the government in many provinces and will pay for any available pump as long as the price isn’t above $6,000 or some other arbitrary figure based on the cost of a standard tubed pump. Unfortunately this lets OmniPod get away with charging the same price as the tubed pump companies for their PDM because in most provinces (not all, but mine for example) the government pays and the user never sees a bill. It’s an unfortunate side-effect of a very good government program but is not fair to people in provinces where the provincial governments don’t pay, and a waste of government money where they do pay (though again I think the program is great and all provinces should pay for everyone who needs a pump). I never found the OmniPod worked reliably anywhere other than on my abdomen, and found the advantage of a tubeless pump was lost putting it there since I’d rather have a flat infusion site with a tube than a heavy, bulky pod sticking out of my stomach. That said, lots of people seem to have success with it and I used it for years without too many problems - still more problems than my tubed pump ever gave me though, but glad to hear it works for others!
I don’t wear a pump but I do use a CGM and it caused a rash initially. I now spray Flonase on the area first and the rash not longer appears. Not sure why it works but its worth a try.
… in exchange for a heavier, bulkier pump hanging off one’s belt or bra strap or filling one’s pocket. I guess it’s subjective. The pod weighs 25 grams – less than an ounce. (I’m ignoring the PDM here, because it’s not attached to the body and you don’t always carry it around with you.) That’s about the weight of an AA battery, or two olives, or half a slice of bread, or five credit cards, or two Girl Guide cookies with a corner nibbled off. I wouldn’t consider any of these things “heavy,” but some might. I wouldn’t notice if any of these things was attached to me (except maybe the cookies, which I’d be tempted to nibble on some more), but some might. As for bulky? If something that fits into a dessert spoon and is the same height as one of those Girl Guide cookies is considered “bulky,” okay, the pod is bulky.
It’s without a doubt bulkier and somewhat noticeable under a shirt on your abdomen at times vs. a tubed infusion site which is not; and you’re right, you still have to carry the PDM around one way or another which is bigger than the Medtronic pump. It’s also way more button pushes on the PDM to bolus, though it is more user-friendly. I’ve used both for years, I didn’t just try the Omnipod for a week and give up. I wish it had worked well on my arms as I wanted it too, and if it had I’d still be using it. If the Omnipod works well for you that’s fantastic though, not trying to put it down or anyone who uses it, I loved the concept just personally prefer tubed pumps after my extensive experiences with both.
on the upper right side of your screen and type in a search term like “pump allergies,” to read about others expereince.