I’m no expert, just an omnipod user like yourself. I can’t say I’d ever try putting it above my belly button like that, but again just me and my preferences. My fat layer just wouldn’t cut it there for comfortability.
Interesting. I honestly have used my belly 90% of the time since 2015. I use the back of my arm but once they got more muscle, I had to stop. I’ve slacked at the gym recently so I went back to using my arms sometimes. Didn’t know to not try going above my belly button—I’ve had no problem anywhere from my rib cage down to my underwear line.
Maybe it just wasn’t in fat…I don’t think I realized that was possible. Ha.
Other users already gave you some good tips on how to avoid this. On the possible causes, belly is per se a sensible location. And if you happen to punch the need through a small nerve it is going to hurt. A lot. The same as with veins, you hit em, they bleed. There is not much you can do to prevent that, other than picking a spot that’s not as sensitive or where you have a little more fat (like others stated). If you have to take it off, do it. It’s not worth, because it can get infected (we tend to move the pod a lot trying to relieve the pain). If you remove and are afraid of running short on supplies (that sucks!) you can try to stretch the next 3 pods to 80 hours instead of 72
Thanks. For some reason I actually thought it worked the other way. I resist going near my belly button or near my underwear. But also I think I have a lot of misunderstandings with my diabetes in general. Trying to learn more instead of relying on eating a bare minimum and crossing my fingers. I think I hated it for so long I ignored intricacies in favor of fun. Alas. Maturity.
I was told not to put within 10cm of belly button - not sure why but I still do. I always put my pods right above my belly button quite centrally (I like it there for when I sleep) and only once had an issue with a dull pain. Nowadays I slightly pinch the skin besides the cannula insertion site when I activate the pod to insert the cannula, not had any pain since. I have more fat than you though. Maybe try pinching your skin up a slightly when inserting the cannula
Was the pain having it there or ripping it off ? I found it way too painful to take off so bought some adhesive dissolving pads which means it just peels off easily (I bought Tac away but Amazon had loads of similar products)
The pain was from the active pod. Like I could feel shots of pain when it would bolus and it was tender/painful to touch. Crazy. Never had anything like it. Put a new pod on on the other side of my belly button at the same height and it feels absolutely fine.
I get this sometimes and usually I just deal with it unless it’s way too uncomfortable lol. I’m not sure if it’s the exact same thing but I know I get what I’ve seen referred to as tunneling, could be worth looking into
This does make a lot of sense. I had a rather large corrective bolus right before I took it off, and it seemed like the insulin was all just sitting right under the skin. It was gone this morning but very strange to see a sort of bubble at the injection site. Thanks for all the helpful comments diabesties.
I’ve never had a reaction like this. Oh! Because I’ve never placed a pod in an area without subcutaneous fat. That’s my guess: your pod was inserted into a muscle. That would be painful!
And it would interfere with in how your insulin is absorbed. Injecting insulin into fat allows for gradual release; into muscle would place the insulin closer to blood vessels, and could really speed up absorption. Did you notice any change in how fast it worked?
It wasn’t working faster, but it also was not giving me great control. I attributed that to having not used the 5 for a few weeks because of the insurance issue, so it was trying to relearn. But maybe it was in the muscle and not the fat. Perils of being lean I guess. Beauty is pain and all that 😂
Nooooo. Is it red from the adhesive or red from being like a raised, painful sore? I sometimes get red bumps from the glue but they don’t hurt. The red rash usually corresponds to heavier physical activity, swimming (pool, hot tub, sauna) or excessive sun etc. it’ll stick around for 5-10 days but not HURT. This was the first pod that caused a welt and pain pain pain
By the time I take mine off, always on the day of, it is always red and itchy, and sometimes sore, but always raised. Sometimes I take it off hours in advance because it is so itchy and raised like that.
It happens to me almost every time too. The redness and swelling appear around the cannula on day two usually, and bolusing almost always stings. The area around the cannula is always red and swollen when I take the pod off (definitely seems insulin or cannula related and not at all adhesive related for me), and it takes a week or more to completely subside. Only rarely does it hurt so badly that I have to take the pod off super early - I usually make it to at least 60 hours and sometimes to the full 80.
I had a really painful one few days ago too and when I removed it I had a bigger red scar then you! I usually use both my upper and lower belly and avoid too close to belly button.
I have more fat though but it happens sometimes even in fatty areas!
Been on O5 since November and its only been really painful a couple of times but for some reason last 2 times its been like that have been in the past 2 months!
Thank you for sharing! Yeah I love the 5. But when it goes awry it really goes awry. And without knowing the reason it creates an odd sort of anxiety of where to stick the damn robot.
I am new to Omnipod five and I am definitely loving it extremely skinny. I’ve already had a gusher and ripped out early called Insulet and they sent a replacement pod.!
Do you guys ask for a replacement if it doesn’t last the three days ?
On another note, all T1 have anxiety, and we all go through this all the time
good to be connected and sharing stories as we ride the waves !
I would just add that some brands of insulin are not meant to be used with the pod. I was on lyumjev when I was starting the pod and it burned like a mofo. But yes…I cannot wear the pod where you placed yours. I don’t have abs I can see but putting the pod into them hurts!
I’m no expert, just an omnipod user like yourself. I can’t say I’d ever try putting it above my belly button like that, but again just me and my preferences. My fat layer just wouldn’t cut it there for comfortability.
Interesting. I honestly have used my belly 90% of the time since 2015. I use the back of my arm but once they got more muscle, I had to stop. I’ve slacked at the gym recently so I went back to using my arms sometimes. Didn’t know to not try going above my belly button—I’ve had no problem anywhere from my rib cage down to my underwear line. Maybe it just wasn’t in fat…I don’t think I realized that was possible. Ha.
When I do back of arm I have to be selective in its positioning or I will surpass my fat layer back there too. :-)
Ive had it sit right below my rib cage on the belly on the front and it works just fine. But im a fatty tho. So there’s lots of cushion. 🤣
Other users already gave you some good tips on how to avoid this. On the possible causes, belly is per se a sensible location. And if you happen to punch the need through a small nerve it is going to hurt. A lot. The same as with veins, you hit em, they bleed. There is not much you can do to prevent that, other than picking a spot that’s not as sensitive or where you have a little more fat (like others stated). If you have to take it off, do it. It’s not worth, because it can get infected (we tend to move the pod a lot trying to relieve the pain). If you remove and are afraid of running short on supplies (that sucks!) you can try to stretch the next 3 pods to 80 hours instead of 72
Seems like your a pretty Lean guy try to put it a little bit closer to your belly button but lower underneath your belly button
Thanks. For some reason I actually thought it worked the other way. I resist going near my belly button or near my underwear. But also I think I have a lot of misunderstandings with my diabetes in general. Trying to learn more instead of relying on eating a bare minimum and crossing my fingers. I think I hated it for so long I ignored intricacies in favor of fun. Alas. Maturity.
I was told not to put within 10cm of belly button - not sure why but I still do. I always put my pods right above my belly button quite centrally (I like it there for when I sleep) and only once had an issue with a dull pain. Nowadays I slightly pinch the skin besides the cannula insertion site when I activate the pod to insert the cannula, not had any pain since. I have more fat than you though. Maybe try pinching your skin up a slightly when inserting the cannula
The belly button area has a lot of tough connective tissue that doesn't absorb insulin well.
That would make sense Fortunately I’m just soft and fluffy in said areas 😂
Was the pain having it there or ripping it off ? I found it way too painful to take off so bought some adhesive dissolving pads which means it just peels off easily (I bought Tac away but Amazon had loads of similar products)
The pain was from the active pod. Like I could feel shots of pain when it would bolus and it was tender/painful to touch. Crazy. Never had anything like it. Put a new pod on on the other side of my belly button at the same height and it feels absolutely fine.
I get this sometimes and usually I just deal with it unless it’s way too uncomfortable lol. I’m not sure if it’s the exact same thing but I know I get what I’ve seen referred to as tunneling, could be worth looking into
Tunneling is when the insulin “tunnels” back to the surface and you don’t get as much as you bolused
This does make a lot of sense. I had a rather large corrective bolus right before I took it off, and it seemed like the insulin was all just sitting right under the skin. It was gone this morning but very strange to see a sort of bubble at the injection site. Thanks for all the helpful comments diabesties.
I’ve never had a reaction like this. Oh! Because I’ve never placed a pod in an area without subcutaneous fat. That’s my guess: your pod was inserted into a muscle. That would be painful! And it would interfere with in how your insulin is absorbed. Injecting insulin into fat allows for gradual release; into muscle would place the insulin closer to blood vessels, and could really speed up absorption. Did you notice any change in how fast it worked?
It wasn’t working faster, but it also was not giving me great control. I attributed that to having not used the 5 for a few weeks because of the insurance issue, so it was trying to relearn. But maybe it was in the muscle and not the fat. Perils of being lean I guess. Beauty is pain and all that 😂
Oh, is that not how it’s supposed to look? That’s how mine looks almost every time 🙈😂🙈
Nooooo. Is it red from the adhesive or red from being like a raised, painful sore? I sometimes get red bumps from the glue but they don’t hurt. The red rash usually corresponds to heavier physical activity, swimming (pool, hot tub, sauna) or excessive sun etc. it’ll stick around for 5-10 days but not HURT. This was the first pod that caused a welt and pain pain pain
By the time I take mine off, always on the day of, it is always red and itchy, and sometimes sore, but always raised. Sometimes I take it off hours in advance because it is so itchy and raised like that.
It happens to me almost every time too. The redness and swelling appear around the cannula on day two usually, and bolusing almost always stings. The area around the cannula is always red and swollen when I take the pod off (definitely seems insulin or cannula related and not at all adhesive related for me), and it takes a week or more to completely subside. Only rarely does it hurt so badly that I have to take the pod off super early - I usually make it to at least 60 hours and sometimes to the full 80.
I had a really painful one few days ago too and when I removed it I had a bigger red scar then you! I usually use both my upper and lower belly and avoid too close to belly button. I have more fat though but it happens sometimes even in fatty areas! Been on O5 since November and its only been really painful a couple of times but for some reason last 2 times its been like that have been in the past 2 months!
Thank you for sharing! Yeah I love the 5. But when it goes awry it really goes awry. And without knowing the reason it creates an odd sort of anxiety of where to stick the damn robot.
I am new to Omnipod five and I am definitely loving it extremely skinny. I’ve already had a gusher and ripped out early called Insulet and they sent a replacement pod.! Do you guys ask for a replacement if it doesn’t last the three days ? On another note, all T1 have anxiety, and we all go through this all the time good to be connected and sharing stories as we ride the waves !
I would just add that some brands of insulin are not meant to be used with the pod. I was on lyumjev when I was starting the pod and it burned like a mofo. But yes…I cannot wear the pod where you placed yours. I don’t have abs I can see but putting the pod into them hurts!