I plead ignorance here: many speak of a Pod 'failure' an occlusion, etc. The only 'warning' I've experienced with 4 boxes was 1 stuck key which I just hit again and it worked, a painful pod which I removed after 2 days of painful deliveries, and one 'failure to communicate' and it was resolved by making sure the PDM was touching the Pod. Soooo what is an occlusion, how do you know you have one, and how is it corrected? I am on the new system.
Thanks, Suzanne
An occlusion is simply a blockage, meaning the insulin isn't able to be dispensed through the cannula. It can happen for many different reasons. The Omnipod's sensitivity to a blockage is high, so even the slightest bit will trigger such an alarm. If you're putting the pod on a lean/muscular area it's best to use the "pinch up" method when setting it up, so as to not hit muscle - which might lead to an occlusion.
Also, occlusions aren't considered pod "failures" by Insulet. Those are when the pod malfunctions in some way.
Another variant of an occlusion is if the cannula gets a bend or kink in it, thus preventing insulin from flowing through freely. This can happen if the cannula hits "harder" tissue such as muscle, or maybe under other circumstances.
Either way, the result is the same: insulin isn't delivered properly and so the pod will shut down and sound the most annoying of alarms.
But Insulet will replace the pod (so far they have, at least for me).
Lucky you, they never replace pods for occlusion for me.
Insulet's "policy" is they dont replace pods that die early b/c of occlusions, or any other circumstance where it is considered "user error."
That is why they always (or at least typically) ask what the "error code" was...that will idicate whether it was user error or not.
While they have always asked for an error code, they have never denied me a replacement (back on the old system at least) We will see what happens when I have one with the new system
Same here.
Thanks for the responses: Insulet has speedily replaced ALL of my misbehaving pods with no hassles. They were a problem of severe pain, canula failure to extend and insert, no true 'failures' I guess, but they sent replacements o/n. When I had an issue with Edgepark on coverage after 3 month, they sent me 3 Pods to cover the time needed to sort out the issues. My insurance (Physicians Health Choice-Medicare Advantage) found another supplier and things are going very well now. Edgepark violated their agreement/contract with PHC by having me pay upfront without submitting charges to PHC first and is trying to bill me for charges from March and PHC is investigating them. Never underestimate the ability of companies to try to screw you.
Kind of surprised that Insulet didn't send me a bill for the PDM...hehe
WOW! I have had to start using Edgepark this year for insurance reasons. I had to pay upfront for my Omnipod product as well as the test stripes. Then i get a bill from them in April stating my insurance wouldnt cover the blood stripes and i owed them the differnce that wasnt covered by insurance. I have not been too happy having to use a "middle man", when in the past I dealt with Omnipod directly. Good to know, thanks
What error code did you get with the occlusion. The only error code I've ever seen is the 64 one. Even on the times I suspect it's an occlusion, I still get the 64 code. They've always replaced them, but I generally don't call them in if it happens on the second or third day of wearing the pod.
Sonja: if you need a cheaper source of the freestyle test strips, look on Amazon. I used it when there was confusion on which strips worked, and Onesource had sent me the 'lite'. Amazon offers a relatively cheap price, of $59.99 for 100, plus $4.00 shipping
I recently called Insulet about a couple of recent "screamers" I had. They had me look at the alarm history on the PDM and gave her the numbers listed. I also had an occlusion a few weeks ago. They are replacing the screamers but not the occlusion.