I have had such great comments under my original post regarding the Duopa pump which as many of you know is a gel formulation of carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension infused directly into the small intestine. Since then, I have gained more information on various Parkie’s personal experiences and even had a dear friend who recently had pump attached. When I asked her if she was feeling that Duopa was working to control her medication fluctuations, she responded, “Awesome Sauce!” The only complaint that she voiced was on the heavy weight of the pump itself and the lack of options available to wear it. She wanted functional yet fashionable packs to carry the device.
Well just today, I met with a representative from Abbvie and got the scoop on the latest options for carry the Duopa pump…super cool! Still not impressed? If you’re a new or existing patient, you get your first pack for free! Just contact Abbvie’s DuoConnect at 844-386-4968 to place your order.
Here is some of the latest gear:
The Hip Pack:
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- Men’s Hip Pack
The Lightweight Vest:
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- Women’s Lightweight Vest
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- Men’s Lightweight Vest
Snug Vest:
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- Women’s Snug Vest
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- Men’s Snug Vest
Chest Pack:
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- Women’s Chest Pack
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- Men’s Chest Pack
Cross-Body Pack:
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- Women’s Cross-Body Pack
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- Men’s Cross-Body Pack
For more information about these products Click here or to get your free pack contact Abbvie’s DuoConnect at 844-386-4968 to place your order. Enjoy!
PLEASE PLEASE MAKE A ,SMALLER PUMP! i LOVE MY PUMP BUT iT IS BULKY AND IT HURTS MY BACK! i HAVE SEEN PUMPS THAT DIABETICS HAVE AND THEY ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN YOURS.i AM GRATEFUL BUT LONG FOR A MUCH MORE COMPACT VERSION.
GLORIA
I hear you Gloria! We need better technologies!
DOES ANYONETTHAVE A PRICE LIST?
My mom is scheduled for GJ tube placement on January 5, 2023 and begin titrating her Duopa dose on 1/10. Are there any new thoughts or comments since you first wrote this in 2016? She’s very health with no other illness. She wants to get out and go but her freezing makes it difficult. That’s why she made the decision to give this a try. It’s also reversible but they need it to stay in place for 6 months.
Hello Julie,
That’s great that your mom is getting on track with Duopa. The only feedback I have recieved is that it takes a while to get to know how to the dopamine will affect your Parkinson’s sympotms. You have to be patient while they are titrating it until they find the correct dose for your Mom. Also, I have heard the pump itself is bulky and awkward to wear. Hope this helps! Keep us posted on your experience.
I have been wearing this pump for years, it’s a bit bulky, but once you get used to it it’s very good as far as keeping you on a steady Duopa drug level. I can’t imagine gobbling pills still everyday. BUT the pump itself is a pain in the ars! The buttons are hard to depress when you are an off period, plus the flushing, plus plan on having the tubing replaced periodically if you are active like me. Don’t hesitate to call me at +1 571-762-9145 or 1mezmo1@gmail.com. I can give you a wealth of information. OBT they are coming out with a much better system than this thing. The FDA* as not approved the system yet but it will be subcutaneous so the digestive track will be completely avoided, Yea!
Hello David,
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I too am looking forward to what the future holds with the subcutaneous device. Fingers crossed!
Careful with the stashbandz we had the pump fall out and caused tubes to separate and trauma to stoma.
Not all band’s fault but can happen to a busy PWP.
This happened to me.I was bending over and I heard a pop.
Has anyone had a problem with the pump causing right si lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury by pressing on the inguinal ligamemt? This could, perhaps, be prevented by finding a vest to position the pump away from the inguinal ligament.
hi joe,
i don’t know if this will reach you or not. this e-mail is over a year old. i am liking the duopa treatment. however, as i have worn the hip packet now for over a year, the weight of the pump is becoming a big problem. i have tried the loose vest which helps relieve
the fanny pack pain, but does not work very well with other issues.
it sounds like what you described here is a problem that could get worse if i continue having the weight of the fanny pack where
it is located. make sense?
i definitely want to continue with the duopa treatment, but the weight is a great concern…seeking ideas…
since others have complained about the weight, how come the company does not fix the problem and offer a smaller pump?
I’ve been using runners waist bands – stashbandz is one brand – that have at least one 6-7 inch zippered pocket, some brands have two – to carry my duopa pump. I had several problems with the options that that the duopa company supplied. I needed something that would hold the pump closer to my body. Also, I can’t be the only person with PD who has a broken body thermostat so wearing a vest, or any extra layer of clothing is not an option for me. A duopa rep suggested trying to put the pump in a sports bra, but that was incredibly uncomfortable as well.
Judith, it’s a bummer they just don’t have better options for carrying the pump… sounds like you have to get creative.
I just got the pump hooked up this week and the nurse recommended Stashbandz to hold the pump. I ordered it on Amazon and I love it! The price is good too!
https://www.stashbandz.com/products/medical-device-belts
Mekea, thanks for the information! Awesome !
Is it possible to put tube feeds through the PEG tube, while still using the J tube for Duopa administration?
Hi James, I am not sure about your question… but here is the link to find out more information. Hope it helps! https://www.duopa.com
How about a waterproof vest for those of us yearning to partake of water sports, such as kayaking, swimming, canoeing, or waterboarding – -while waring our pumps.
Great question! I never thought about waterproof vests.
For those of us that carry the Duopa pump every day, wearing the same color vest all the time gets boring. I wish you would come out with vests in several different colors and patterns. The left front pocket is a good place for your phone,, but it might need to be bigger for some of the newer models. See ScotteVest (https://www.scottevest.com/?)(gclid=CNjJ6oWskdQCFd22wAodoCgCjQ) for other examples of vests that carry hidden stuff.