For my first post...

[TexasGirl]

I just registered here and thought I'd do as the page says and say hello.

I came here trying to find info on pumps. I have been on an Animas R1000 since 2002 and it crapped out on me last Sunday. The warranty ran out in April and I didn't realize it. I'm on a loaner right now (and, yes, Animas customer service does rock). I'm looking for user remarks regarding my choices available. I'm looking at the Animas 1250, the Minimed Paradigm, and the Cozmo. I'm sure this is a topic that has been well-discussed here already so I'm going to keep reading previous threads. Anything you want to say again is greatly appreciated.

By the way, my newest piece of advice for pumpers is don't go past your warranty period. Upgrade as soon as you can. With this loaner, I am dosing the same as I have been but I keep going low. My assumption is that my old pump was already starting to slow down. That being said, I love Animas and will probably go with them again. I just want to check out my options.

Thanks!

[Funnygrl]

(and, yes, Animas customer service does rock).

...

That being said, I love Animas and will probably go with them again.


Looks like you answered your own question. It seems like Animas has treated you well, and you are happy with them, so i say go with them again. All the pumps really are similar feature wise, if you are comfortable with Animas, no reason to change.

[Cyborg]

Welcome aboard. :wavey:

I like my 1250...

[am1977]

Hello and welcome :)- Good luck with your decision :wink:

[dgrilli]

Yes, Welcome aboard. I'm an Animas 1250 user and have no other experience with any other. I do like mine. It has let me see BG's that previously were unabtainable.

I'm using the Unomedical Comfort Shorts. I do not know if these are better or worse than others. I also use Novolog in the pump.

Since I'm located in Pennsylvania and the Company is Also you would think that you would get the best of service. I've been using the pump since 7-24-2006 although my Insurance bought and paid for the pump back in June of 2006.

My Display light quit working and I called the Animas Pump number on the pump and they next day shipped me another and walked me through the transferring the programming with ease.

I do have a gripe that the EZ Manager software manager is compatible only with the Palm Handheld Software but the main program is run on Win XP Desktop. ( The Palm Handheld OS is like using a Black and White Televison with Tin Foil on the Rabit Ears) Yes Antiquated. Johnson and Johnson are you paying attention!

The Software has 8 different reports that are generated from your pump when downloaded with an IR dongle. This software then generates the results and I'm able save the reports and send to my Animas Pump Rep. She likes the Reports so she can make changes from viewing the charts.

[JediSkipdogg]

I highly recommend the Animas 1250. I too was on the 1000 for a bit and upgraded to the 1200 (the 1250 wasn't out yet-although only minor software differences with the pump) and I love it. The key question and disadvantage (not sure why Animas did this) is the 1200/1250 only has a 186 unit cartridge. So, if you used the full 300 units from the 1000 in 3 days, then you may have a problem with the 1200/1250. That's the only major downfall from the 1000 to the 1200/1250. Other than that it's the same functions with more bells and whistles. And I don't have to convince you on their customer support...so...make good luck in making your choice.

Can I ask you how they handled your pump out of warranty? Are they giving you the loaner for free or how are they charging you? Did they mention fixing your pump at all and how much it would be? I'm curious, I've always wondered what the costs are these days for out of warranty pump replacements.

[poodlebone]

I can't help you make your decision. I am using a Minimed Paradigm 715, my first pump. I've had it for over a year now and I'm happy with it. Some things I wish it did differently and some things I know my pump can do that the others can't. If it was time for me to get another pump right now I would definitely be choosing between another Minimed or the Animas.

You might also want to check out the Insulin Pumpers site:
http://www.insulin-pumpers.org/
But, if you ask the same question there you'll get two types of answers - people telling you to try all available pumps and make your own decision; and people recommending whatever pump they happen to be using while bashing the other pumps. So an Animas user will recommend that and complain how awful Minimed is. A Minimed user will say how great his pump is and laugh at the Cozmo etc.

[MJM]

You are very welcome Texas girl. It sounds as though you like your Animas so perhaps you should stick to it. I've only ever used the Minimed Paradigm so I couldn't really give practical advise on which pump is best. Hope you find the answer.

[Keezheekoni]

Hi and welcome to the board! I don't have any advice for you since I'm still going through the "process" to get a pump out of my doctor's office...grr!

Glad to have you here! :D

[TexasGirl]

Thank you for the warm welcome, everyone.

Jedi,

Background: I got my pump in May of 2002. Somehow I wasn't paying attention to when I got it and I thought I had another year til I could upgrade. I just realized it a few weeks ago but I was planning to wait a few more months to decide what to do next. (I work full-time and I'm in school so I was waiting for a break to do some research.) But last weekend, I got an occlusion on Friday morning that took me almost an hour to clear. Then on Sunday I got another one that I worked on for two hours before I finally called the company.

I had/have two options. I can extend my warranty once for another year for $500 and they could get me a refurbished replacement by Tuesday. Or I could get a new one but it would take a few days to get it all done so I could take a loaner, which is also a refurnished version of mine, and have it by Tuesday. I could also take the loaner and think about it for a few days, which is what I did. If I extended the warranty and then decided to get a new one within some short time frame (I don't remember what exactly) the $500 would be applied toward the cost of the new one.

So for now I'm on the loaner and I just found out that Animas is in-network with my insurance so I think I'm going to stay with them. It took me a few days to decide if I wanted to mess with the loaner, but when I did, it arrived the next day. I had a big Labor Day weekend so I'm really glad I decided to put it on and not mess with shots every 4 hours.

Hope that answers your question.

[JasonJayhawk]

TexasGirl, shots every 4 hours?? Couldn't you have gotten a new basal insulin like Lantus or Levemir in you to avoid ketoacidosis? Sounds dangerous!

It's a wise decision to "reward" the company that treats you well. They deserved your business!

[JediSkipdogg]

Texas, thanks for explaining that to me. I'm curious what the other pump companies would do in that situation.

TexasGirl, shots every 4 hours?? Couldn't you have gotten a new basal insulin like Lantus or Levemir in you to avoid ketoacidosis? Sounds dangerous!

The problem is one would have to have a basal insulin. If they don't have one on hand, they have to attempt to get a prescription. And during the weekend, that can be an extreme pain on occasion, without it costing one a fortune to just go to the ER and get one. Then you still have the problem of hoping your humalog to lantus is a 1:1 ratio and that you don't have a screwy basal pattern like me (mine more than doubles from 3 am to 9 pm.) So for some, like me, a shot every 4 hours is easier (or I just call my bro up and swipe a bottle of his lantus, lol.)