New box and still troubles

[luvmytwins02]

I know I need to just stick with this, but I am really frustrated! After 3 bad sensors the first round Minimed sent me a new box. I put on a new sensor today and after the first calibration (about 1/2 hour later) I got a bad sensor alarm!!!! GGGRRRRR!!:confused:

So, I did a start new sensor, I just calibrated before she went to bed and haven't checked it since. I told her mom was going to give it one more try tomorrow and if we still have trouble, we were going to take a long break!

I just really wanted it on for this week, as most nightly activites are cancelled due to the holiday and I have her home with me all week. It would be a PERFECT time to get some good BG information!

I am just praying I can get one to work!

Also tried the Tegaderm tape and it still stuck to her like glue. We used a skin prep first, but I have no idea how I am going to get this off of her!

[EmmasMom]

I don't know all the details of the problems you've been having, but just FYI if you ever get a "bad sensor" alarm you will have to disconnect it completely before you re-start it. Other wise it will continue to have problems and will never work.

You may already know that, but just in case you didn't...:)

Where are you putting the sensors? Are you warming them up for an hour? Only using alcohol under them? Making sure you get a good first cal and that they are well taped down?

There's bound to be a solution, I hope!!!

Hang in there!:cwds:

[luvmytwins02]

I just talked with my minimed local rep. She said to turn off the sensor overnight, that maybe Hannah needs more time in the wetting period. To try turing it back on in the AM and see if that works. Since we are getting the same kinds of errors each time (bad sensor, Cal error, lost sensor). She said maybe it isn't wetting enough.

Anyone else have to let it "wet" overnight before you can really start?

Just curious!

[bkfkmc]

I have had a couple that I had to wait for them to get wet enough, but I didn't receive a bad sensor message with either one. I didn't get the green light to flash when I connected if the sensor wasn't getting enough fluid. I have received a bad sensor message in the beginning and was able to get it up and running.

[Mama2H]

What is your insertion method? What exactly are you doing before, during, and after insertion? Where are you putting it? Also, if you do not get the green flashing light after you hook it up remove it and inspect the prongs to be sure there is nothing in the way. I remember someone having this issue a while back and ended up figureing out there was a small piece of plastic blocking the connectors.

[luvmytwins02]

I use a non stinging skin prep, wait til it is dry, and then insert the sensor. I then wait 5 minutes before hooking up the device. I also check for the green light....this time it did take more like 20 seconds before it lit up. Then I tape down the sensor with medical tape to hold it down, and then put the tegaderm over it.

[Mama2H]

Have you tried different locations? Where are you putting the sensor?

[Lindy]

I just talked with my minimed local rep. She said to turn off the sensor overnight, that maybe Hannah needs more time in the wetting period. To try turing it back on in the AM and see if that works. Since we are getting the same kinds of errors each time (bad sensor, Cal error, lost sensor). She said maybe it isn't wetting enough.

Anyone else have to let it "wet" overnight before you can really start?

Just curious!

OK - this sounds oh so familiar to me. Just to clarify - this is with a new sensor right?? Day one?? This summer we had trouble with some sensors - that on a new sensor day - it would NOT take a calibration. We would get the calibration error alarm, bad sensor, lost sensor... and, I would just keep hitting start - new sensor, enter a calibration when it would ask - and would follow these alarms for approx. 6 hrs when eventually it would work. The sensor from there on out would work fine - and the whole WET issue was bogus! It was the SENSORS!!

Demand a new box of sensors - keep them in the fridge! Warm one up for approx. one hour before insertion (just take it out of the fridge) - and go thru the process -hopefully it will be smoother.

We did not like the tegaderm - and have gone to using the IV3000 which for us works much better and is soooo much easier to take off. We have to use unisolve to clean up the transmitter and any other tape residue left behind.

Good Luck! Hang in there!

[luvmytwins02]

We are using her butt for the sensor sites.
I have found that the tegaderm and IV3000 both stick to her about the same. I've just got to find something different!

Our local rep is coming at 9:30 tomorrow morning to meet and talk with us. She will test the transmitter for me to see if it is that.

Thanks!

[Rachel]

I use a non stinging skin prep, wait til it is dry, and then insert the sensor. I then wait 5 minutes before hooking up the device. I also check for the green light....this time it did take more like 20 seconds before it lit up. Then I tape down the sensor with medical tape to hold it down, and then put the tegaderm over it.

Sorry to hear it is such a struggle. Sounds like you are doing all that we do - and it usually works well for us. The one thing I noticed though is that you are using a skin prep - all the directions say to use only alcohol, not other skin prep solution. Could that be the issue?

I hope the meeting with the rep goes well!

[Lindy]

Our local rep is coming at 9:30 tomorrow morning to meet and talk with us. She will test the transmitter for me to see if it is that.



OOHHH - my brain gets foggy sometimes. But, yes - this summer when we kept getting our error messages (calibration error - new sensor etc...) - we finally tried a new transmitter and our problems went away... we have also had to replace our monitor which lasted just shy of 6mths... these things should last for at least a year, wouldn't you think????!!!!!

[luvmytwins02]

I only used the skin prep with the sensor I put on yesterday. The other two times I didn't put it on.

I'm so curious to see what the rep says tomorrow. I am praying hard that the one we put on tomorrow works!

[EmmasMom]

Hopefully the rep can help. I know it's got to be so frustrating!

The wetting issue is a possibility, especially if she is very lean. It seems that we have much better results and a stronger ISIG when the sensor can go pretty deep, but not close to muscle. It can be a challenge to find a great spot on a kid! (Luckily Emma's still got some baby fat!!) We had one sensor that went in way too shallow and it never would keep a good ISIG, which meant constant cal errors. I turned it off overnight and reconnected the next day it was much better.

If the next sensor doesn't work I'd demand a new transmitter and sensors! After this much trouble somethings wrong!