Pod Error....again!

We love the Omnipod and the Dexcom. It has help Mr. R tremendously with this T1D. He could eat at anytime he so wish and oh the freedom that it gives him is wonderful. Last week he was able to go out without me since his uncle knows how to operate the PDM to bolus insulin after he ate.

We love the technology...when its working. It seems like every third pod would gave us a pod failure or error message after less than 24 hours of putting it on him. It is frustrating since we wasted so much insulin!!!! Insulet has been pretty understanding in sending us the replacement pod but its getting annoying when we have to change it before the 3 days is up.

I had to change a pod last night only after 11 hours of putting new one on him. Another pod error! It was screaming 3 minutes before we have to leave to piano class too. I changed the pod so fast it should have been recorded in the World Guinness Record!

Mr. R has been pumping or a podder since 05/16/2011. We (Mr. R and I) were required to attend 2 days worth of training and another one and a half day training for the Dexcom. Mr. M (hubby) was not able to attend due to his work schedule. The endocrinologist insisted that Mr. M has to attend but I had to tell her that I am the one that does EVERYTHING for Mr. R so it will not be a big deal. While we are on the pod issue - let me tell you this story.

When we decided to start Mr. R on the pump, I did a lot of research, Internet, books, talk to other bloggers, other parents with T1D and bla...bla... After a lengthy discussion with Mr. M and Mr. R, we decided to go with Omnipod for the reason listed below:

• Tubeless
• He doesn't have to carry the PDM with him (one less thing for him to forget to take everywhere he goes) The PDM goes with me in my purse. I wish I can do the same with the Dexcom but Mr. R will have to be glued to my side 24/7/365!
• customer service - excellent
• he can swim, spar during tae kwan do, run around with his brothers, tumble, camping, hiking, shower and more without taking it off and putting it back.

Mr. R is SUPER clumsy! He could walk on an even surface and tripped and fall. The other day he was standing right beside a wall when he suddenly fall. No wind, no brothers to trip him just suddenly fall! Did I also mentioned he is forgetful? I do not know how many times I have to ask him where he last left his Dexcom receiver. He will put it down to take shower and he forget to put it back on. Next, everybody in the house is on the holy mission to find the missing Dexcom!

I can't possibly put a traditional pump on him. It will not work with him. So, our final decision was to go with Omnipod, even with all the pod failures. But we are happy with it! I'm sure we will get through this bad batch of pods and it will all be better, right???? hahahaha. Now, I'm sure the other traditional pumps is as good or even better than the Omnipod since Omnipod is a fairly new product. The traditional pump might work for other children but I know it will not work for Mr. R.

Mr. M and I agreed it will be the omnipod or no pump until he is bigger and can take care of himself better. I can't wait for the newer pod to come out. Supposedly it is 40% smaller than the existing pump. We will also look at the SOLO pump once its out. Heard about it and everyone keep guessing about the date it will be launched but so far nothing yet.

We had to go through so many hoops and loops to get the endocrinologist to go on board with us through the Omnipod journey. After so many weeks if not months of discussing, pleading and finally standing firm on our decision, the doctors and nurses at BDC agreed to let Mr. R go on trial pod. We went on deactivated pod for 3 days, than saline start for a week and after we took the classes, quizzes and the whole 9 yards of everything Mr. R start his first pod filled with insulin.

Don't get me wrong, Mr. R's endocrinologist and nurse (Ms. Graciela) are the best doctor-nurse team at the BDC. They gave valid argument in regards to Omnipod:

• Mr. R do not have enough real estate to carry both the pod and the Dexcom - we currently have 8 sites of which we rotate both the pod and the Dexcom
• Mr. R is pretty lean - we pinched up his skin
• too many pod failures - hahaha we have this issue!

Alas, what else can we do for a super clumsy and forgetful kid??? Omnipod it is. At least for now...

Below are some picture of Mr. N and Mr. R prior to T1D.

At Disney World - Spring 2008
 (worry free trip, no insulin, no frio pack no BG meter and strips).

2007 Pumpkin patch

DisneyLand Spring 2006 - Sleeping on mommy

2007 Halloween Boo at the Zoo - When eating so much candy and sugar is not a big deal except daddy made him brush his teeth twice!



He can eat cake and frosting all he wants.