Hello! Quick question from a new Omnipoder. This forum has been amazing in helping me with all my questions, so thanks in advance!
I have a 3-day pod r/x. They come in monthly boxes so that I have exactly enough for 3 days at a time. What happens if you have to take one off early for whatever reason (falls off, low reservoir, etc) and it is NOT due to a pod error? Essentially, user errors only. How is that pod replaced? Do you have to buy a new one to cover the missing day or two that month? I thought about filling some with extra insulin and trying to push through the 8 hour grace period in such instances to "cover" the missing day, but it's so annoying that it beeps every hour during the grace period. Thanks!
I do exactly what you suggest, I try and make it through as much of that 8 hour window as posible.Although my main goal is just not to waste the insulin that is in the pod, potentially having extra pods is a benefit.
I have never had an issue with running out of pods because of how they send refills, although I guess technically it is possible. I have never considered this.
yeah, i push each pod to the maximum time, until it de-activates itself and turns off. I also call Omnipod if I get an occlusion
or a defective pod, and they send a replacement. you send back the bad pod and they study them to help find out problems.
Trying those two things will probably help.
Welcome to the group! I have run very close to the end of my supply, and I just call Insulet and they understand, and will send more overnight if needed. (there will be a charge). IN extreme emergencies, I have found out that the rep in my area will drop by my house with extras at the drop of a hat! (just call Insulet to ask who the rep is in our area…and then call and intorduce yourself. You may already know the person b/c they are also the ones who do the training.) Good luck, and Peace!
If I have a pod that fails for any reason other than user error, I call Insulet and they are very good about sending a replacement. When I first started, they would send the replacement out right away, but now they send it with my next shipment.
My husband’s employer recently changed insurance companies, so it will be interesting to see if the new company will cover durable medical equipment. If not, I’m going to be in a world of ‘hurt’. Sure don’t want to go back to MDI.
Have you tried talking to your doctor to change your r/x saying you change every 2-day that way you will have extra pods in case of a human error or occlusion.
I second this suggestion. Have your doctor modify the prescription.
You shouldn’t have to game the pods through the additional 8 hour expiration grace period, which could be extremely annoying given the pod’s expiration reminder beeps if you are at work or asleep.
I’ve had to request my order be shipped early several times in the 2+ years I’ve been a podder; it’s never been a problem. Insulet says they ask the insurance company if they approve, which I guess they always have.
Have you tried just calling customer service and asking them to send your next shipment early?
My son is getting his omnipod in a few weeks. The provider has already called us and explained that they usually write the order for more than enough pods so if one does fall off or malfunction, you have extras. She said you can also adjust the shipment for the next time if you have extras. Apparently, we will be getting a 90 day supply at a time. Again, this is what I was told will happen, so it’s not my actual experience but it makes sense that they’d give you a few extras for situations that may occur.
When I first started on the pod 2 years ago the initial starter kit came with 4 boxes of pods for the first three months so there were 10 extra pods. That helped with the inevitable problems when first starting and provided a buffer of pods for the following months. I don’t know if they still do that or not.
On some pods you actually gain time when a pod errors after using it for a day or so (Insulet will replace that pod depending on the error). So you get 4+ days from the pod (1+ for the time before the error and 3 for the new).
If you do have a tendency to knock off a lot or get occlusions you can, like others have mentioned, get your doctor to prescribe additional pods.
I actually just got my shipment for the next 90 days and this time they sent 4 boxes instead of the usual 3. I can’t recall this ever happening before, so maybe they do it once a year?
This is the first time this has happened in forever! I had changed my pod last nihgt, and was bolusing for lunch. Pod went into scream mode and wasnt communicating to PDM So there was no excuse/explanation…ie Occlusion. Just Pod error. I just removed the pod, threw it in the freezer (Oto stop the screaming) and put on a new one…which I was surprised I could do b/c I never got a message on the PDM that the old one had died. I then called Insulet and explained, the phone rep said he had never heard of such a thing…but he’d eend a replacement in my next batch. So, they do still replace pods, just all at once. …Like Sayra just got.
I may ask for a revised r/x. I haven’t had a ton of problems with the pods in the last two months (since starting on the pods). One occlusion, which Insulet replaced even though they noted they won’t generally do that, and one low reservoir in the first week, which was my fault for making a bad estimate. Hopefully it won’t be an issue regardless of a diff r/x. We will see! Thanks, everyone!
If you ever go on a pod break, just stay on MDI a few days and get ahead with your pods.
I’m single and go out a lot. If there’s any chance I might get busy with the guy I remove my pod and go on MDI. One time I didn’t and he looked at the pod on my stomach and wtf. The mood was over, no fun that night. : )
I also find this a problem but it is easily solved. I have had 3-4 occlusions in my last three month order. Those add up and I will need more before the normal re-sorder/reship date. I just call Insulet and tell them how many pods I have left and the will ship them out at an appropriate time. I have never been charged for shipments.
I have been told recently that they are no longer replacing pods for occlusions.
I may be one of the few pod users who ALWAYS uses all the insulin in their pod. As such I get my low reservoir alarm with every pod (as well as the expiration alert and then the out of insulin alarm). There is no reason to change the pod when it alarms for low reservoir. That alarm is to make you aware of what insulin you have on you so if you’re going out or whatnot you know to bring supplies to change it. You can actually adjust this alarm up to 50 units of insulin depending on how much advance warning you want. Don’t fear a low reservoir alarm though.
Just one additional suggestion about running low on pods. For those of you on automatic delivery (every 90 days), check the actual delivery dates and whether it really is 90 days. I checked the last six months and came up with delivery dates of 94 days and 96 days. I counted the actual number of days between deliveries. I emailed Insulet about this issue and they suggested I speak directly to their shipping department, which I did. They very quickly agreed that they were in error and agreed to accelerate my next shipment. I don’t know if this is unusual or not, but keep an eye on it.
