Shirley and Ragnar
Member
(Note: I started this post earlier today with some comments about syringes, but now have a serious problem to discuss. So I am changing the original subject line, and putting my new question up here ahead of the syringe discussion.)
Ragnar's behavior has changed drastically during his second bout with diabetes, and his habit of hiding (where I can't find him - NOHOW!) is making his shots irregular and testing almost impossible. I started out with a reasonable 9 AM, 9 PM shot time, but he has thrown it off by hours several times because I couldn't find him - then I would work back 1/2 hour per shot, aiming for 9 AM, 9 PM again. I've only gotten as close as noon and midnight, and after he hid yesterday until his noon shot was at 3:30 PM, we are now at 3:30 AM and PM. I set my clock last night for 3; went to sleep at midnight and woke at 2; gave the shot at 3:30 and didn't get back to sleep. This is our usual routine (tests? forget it!) and I am becoming a wreck.
Ragnar has always been a lap cat - he's wanted to be in direct physical contact with me 24 hours a day if possible! Now he does sleep on my feet or even leaning against my side at night, but hides all day unless he is hungry. Normally, when I was home he would always be on my lap.
This is perfectly reasonable from his point of view: his loving Mommy has transformed into a meanie who sticks him with needles and pokes his ears until they bleed - if he gives her a chance. His response is to NOT give me a chance, and he's winning. Of course I've tried to include as much positive reinforcement as possible, but he's always gotten that - what is new is the poking, and he is having none of it.
I got his 3:30 PM shot in today because he was hungry. Shot; ate; disappeared; haven't seen him since. I would like to do a +6 test to try to find his nadir on 1.5 units, but that's only an hour from now, and I don't expect to see him by then.
Dr. Jen privided a dog-sized carrier to use as a "cage" but I don't have room for it. No matter - if I could get him I could lock him in my bedroom for at least as long as I could keep him in the carrier (and he'd like it much better), but he sneaks off when I'm busy or not looking. So the "cage" was a bust, and I have yet to get him locked in the bedroom. (I am sure he'd learn to anticipate and avoid that, too.)
Can anyone help us? BTW, I live in a house that has a lot of hiding places; eliminating one might be possible with a Herculean effort, but eliminating them all would be impossible.
Blessings!
Shirley and Mr. Where Is He Now?
(Original Message)
My syringes with the 1/2u markings haven't arrived yet from Hocks - I expected them at least by yesterday, so we ran out of syringes and I had to drive to town (15 miles RT) today for more. They couldn't find BD Ultrafine; had another brand that was supposed to be the same, and I only wish I could remember the name of the brand because those syringes were no good! For one thing, the plunger didn't go down to the zero mark - the first unit contained about 1/4 unit of air. Second, they were incredibly dull. I could hardly get the needle into the Lantus, and it was like punching Ragnar's poor little skin with an awl.
I took them back and showed Dr. Jen what was wrong with them so she won't use them again either. (She probably just had a mfgrs. sample.) I can't remember the brand, but they have an orange cap at both ends, and the caps are greatly flared out at both ends. If you see something like this, don't buy it! It's always safe to stay with BD Ultrafine - they are reasonably sharp, and you can always push the plunger down to zero.
Now I hope my Hocks syringes with the 1/2u markings aren't like this. If they are, back to BD and eyeballing the 1/2u.
By the way, Walmart's website did not show Relion insulin syringes as available either online or in stores. Might be discontinued - if you like them and your store still has some, maybe you should stock up.
Blessings!
Ragnar's behavior has changed drastically during his second bout with diabetes, and his habit of hiding (where I can't find him - NOHOW!) is making his shots irregular and testing almost impossible. I started out with a reasonable 9 AM, 9 PM shot time, but he has thrown it off by hours several times because I couldn't find him - then I would work back 1/2 hour per shot, aiming for 9 AM, 9 PM again. I've only gotten as close as noon and midnight, and after he hid yesterday until his noon shot was at 3:30 PM, we are now at 3:30 AM and PM. I set my clock last night for 3; went to sleep at midnight and woke at 2; gave the shot at 3:30 and didn't get back to sleep. This is our usual routine (tests? forget it!) and I am becoming a wreck.
Ragnar has always been a lap cat - he's wanted to be in direct physical contact with me 24 hours a day if possible! Now he does sleep on my feet or even leaning against my side at night, but hides all day unless he is hungry. Normally, when I was home he would always be on my lap.
This is perfectly reasonable from his point of view: his loving Mommy has transformed into a meanie who sticks him with needles and pokes his ears until they bleed - if he gives her a chance. His response is to NOT give me a chance, and he's winning. Of course I've tried to include as much positive reinforcement as possible, but he's always gotten that - what is new is the poking, and he is having none of it.
I got his 3:30 PM shot in today because he was hungry. Shot; ate; disappeared; haven't seen him since. I would like to do a +6 test to try to find his nadir on 1.5 units, but that's only an hour from now, and I don't expect to see him by then.
Dr. Jen privided a dog-sized carrier to use as a "cage" but I don't have room for it. No matter - if I could get him I could lock him in my bedroom for at least as long as I could keep him in the carrier (and he'd like it much better), but he sneaks off when I'm busy or not looking. So the "cage" was a bust, and I have yet to get him locked in the bedroom. (I am sure he'd learn to anticipate and avoid that, too.)
Can anyone help us? BTW, I live in a house that has a lot of hiding places; eliminating one might be possible with a Herculean effort, but eliminating them all would be impossible.
Blessings!
Shirley and Mr. Where Is He Now?
(Original Message)
My syringes with the 1/2u markings haven't arrived yet from Hocks - I expected them at least by yesterday, so we ran out of syringes and I had to drive to town (15 miles RT) today for more. They couldn't find BD Ultrafine; had another brand that was supposed to be the same, and I only wish I could remember the name of the brand because those syringes were no good! For one thing, the plunger didn't go down to the zero mark - the first unit contained about 1/4 unit of air. Second, they were incredibly dull. I could hardly get the needle into the Lantus, and it was like punching Ragnar's poor little skin with an awl.
I took them back and showed Dr. Jen what was wrong with them so she won't use them again either. (She probably just had a mfgrs. sample.) I can't remember the brand, but they have an orange cap at both ends, and the caps are greatly flared out at both ends. If you see something like this, don't buy it! It's always safe to stay with BD Ultrafine - they are reasonably sharp, and you can always push the plunger down to zero.
Now I hope my Hocks syringes with the 1/2u markings aren't like this. If they are, back to BD and eyeballing the 1/2u.
By the way, Walmart's website did not show Relion insulin syringes as available either online or in stores. Might be discontinued - if you like them and your store still has some, maybe you should stock up.
Blessings!
