Infusion/pod adhesives -- please advise

[akrickard]

Well, we had our clinic appointment today. Before I even mentioned the pump, Ginny's endo looked at her numbers and said it was definitely time to move to MDI (currently on a.m. novolog/nph, p.m. novolog alone). I told her about how stressed Ginny still gets about injections, how we have already pretty much figured out carb ratios/correction factors with her p.m. injection, and said we'd like to go directly to the pump. The wonderful woman gave me no problems and we are on our way.

I told her we are pretty much set on the omnipod and why (no tubing is a big factor for us) and she said her only issue with the pod is that it tends to "fall off" a lot and you end up wasting pods.

I'm wondering if anyone here uses an extra adhesive for the pod or any infusion, and if so, then what. The other side of that would be, what do you use to get it off? I won't be able to check back here until tomorrow evening, so please don't think I don't care what you have to say. I really appreciate any input anybody is willing to give. Thanks in advance.

[vettechmomof2]

IN the summertime when sweat is an issue we use skin tac.
My daughter showers immedietly before changing to moisten the adhesive up. Sometimes we will use detachol to remove and sometimes baby oil.
In the winter when sweat is not as much of an issue we do not use extra adhesive.
We love the omnipod.
Good luck,
Allene

[Kirsten]

We use mastisol. It's important to let the mastisol dry before applying the pod. It's also very important that the adhesive patch go on completely flat with no wrinkles. For added security we add a rainbow shaped piece of tegaderm over the catheter end of the pod. We NEVER have pods come off, but there is a bit of a learning curve to get the placement right.

We remove the pods after a warm, soapy bath, but there are solvents on the market. We use Detachol.

GL!

Kirsten

[Jodi]

The omnipod came with IVPrep and Uni-Solve wipes and both work just fine for us. They are expensive though and not covered by our insurance. The pharmacy has been ordering them for us......boxes of packets of 50 are about $14.00
The IVPrep has some sort of adhesive in it and like I said, Sarahs pods stay on just fine. The Uni-solve we use when we need to.....but baby oil works well too to get the pods off.
Good luck - you will love omnipod!!!

[CC'sMom]

We love the OmniPod too. I wouldn't say that the pods fall off a lot, but it does happen. Sweat for us was the cause. We quit using IV Prep and use Mastisol (super sticky) or Skin Tac. Take it off with Unisolve. And on really hot days, my daughter put a little solid deodorant around the pod and that helped too.

[rmccully2000]

We have just gone through 30 pods and we haven't had one fall off yet. We use skin-tac (and alcohol to remove) during swimming/sweaty summer. I was never able to get the IV prep that comes with it to work. So I just use the skin-tac after insertion.

I do apply extra support when we put pods on the backside of the arm. We have had issues with the adhesive coming loose here, but not totally off. So we put either bandaids or flexiflix over the pod for better stability.

We have had a couple of crimps that required an early pod change.

Mason loves his Omnipod and I'm thrilled we fought for it and won :) No tubing is really fantastic and the automatic insertion is even better!

Best of luck.
Becky, Mom to Mason, 7 Dexcom, Omnipod

[akrickard]

Thanks so much for all of the advice. Before things get started, I'll take a run over to the pharmacy and grab some of these things just in case we need them. Better safe than sorry -- I'd prefer her initial pod experience to be extremely positive!

[Momof4gr8kids]

Our local pharmacy did not carry IV prep. In fact I had it on my list and couldn't find it anywhere. I'd call your endo and ask her if she has some samples of IV prep if you guys are doing a trial, and can't find them. Then order the IV prep and start working on the pharmacy to carry them when you order the pump.

[mischloss]

I have found something really great for keeping the infusion set in like FOREVER!! It is IV3000 and comes in a box of about 50 or 100. Can't remember right now. Very expensive so you better have insurance to cover it. It think the last invoice said $175!!! But boy do they work. They are like a very think layer of "skin" that you peel off of one end and then stick to the dry skin. Then I pop the infusion set right on top of it. That sucker stays like no body's business! I just ordered my second box. I still also can use the ivprep or skin prep underneath it before I put the skin or bandaid on for the IV3000. I do it mostly as an antibacterial for the skin wipes but not really needed. Just make sure the skin is dry before putting the IV3000 on.

[akrickard]

Thank you all so much!