Small dilemma!

[jessie]

Hi everyone,

So I'm at work where I keep a NovoRapid Penfill. The cartridge had run out so I took a half used cartridge from my other Penfill which I keep in my handbag and it doesn't work… so I put the cartridge back in the original Penfill and that doesn't work either. Guessing you can't use a half empty cartridge then! Anyone tried it before?

I either eat nothing but cheese today or ask my boss if I can go home to sort it out!

Jessie. x

 

[Jubblyjo1601]

Hi Jessie! What pen do you use?

Jo

x

 

[jessie]

Hi Jo - It's a Novorapid Penfill.

 

[Jubblyjo1601]

I have done this sort of thing before with my Novopen. I insert the cartridge and keep doing 'air shots' (can't think of another phrase to use) until insulin comes out, then I know it will work, and inject myself. I hope that very vague description makes sense and that I got the right end of the stick!

 

[jessie]

Thanks Jo, I've done lots of air shots but will try some more! Keep you posted!

 

[robert72]

I have done this sort of thing before with my Novopen. I insert the cartridge and keep doing 'air shots' (can't think of another phrase to use) until insulin comes out, then I know it will work, and inject myself. I hope that very vague description makes sense and that I got the right end of the stick!

I have done the same with NovoPen Echo - should be OK if you do air shots until the plunger gets down to the rubber stopper in the cartridge.

 

[Jubblyjo1601]

Thanks Jo, I've done lots of air shots but will try some more! Keep you posted!

Good luck! It's just trying to get that plunger towards the cartridge sometimes takes ages! Hope it works, if not a day of cheese is never a bad thing in my books! x

 

[jessie]

Thanks both - it has worked - yaaay! Obvious when you know how Now I can stop panicking and eat a biscuit...

 

[noblehead]

Guessing you can't use a half empty cartridge then!

You should be able to but it depends how long the cartridge has been in your handbag, if it's been several weeks and exposed to heat then the insulin may have deteriorated.

 

[Jubblyjo1601]

Thanks both - it has worked - yaaay! Obvious when you know how Now I can stop panicking and eat a biscuit...

Fab! x

 

[jessie]

You should be able to but it depends how long the cartridge has been in your handbag, if it's been several weeks and exposed to heat then the insulin may have deteriorated.

Its a newish one - I generally have 2 on the go in case I loose one!

 

[noblehead]

Its a newish one - I generally have 2 on the go in case I loose one!

Good, as others have said keep doing the air-shots until the insulin flows through the needle before injecting. Good luck anyway.

 

[BeccyB]

Hi everyone,

So I'm at work where I keep a NovoRapid Penfill. The cartridge had run out so I took a half used cartridge from my other Penfill which I keep in my handbag and it doesn't work… so I put the cartridge back in the original Penfill and that doesn't work either. Guessing you can't use a half empty cartridge then! Anyone tried it before?

I either eat nothing but cheese today or ask my boss if I can go home to sort it out!

Jessie. x

Could you not just inject with it in the original pen to begin with? I don't understand why you needed to move it?

 

[jessie]

Because I keep one in the bathroom at work, and it had run out. I didn't want to use my 'handbag' one in case I left it at work by mistake. Complicated I know but seemed the simplest way, until it didn't work!