4/23 - Miss Meows AMPS 304, +8 184, PMPS 355, +2 362

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missMeows

missMeows

Member Since 2015
Good morning!

Yesterday

Looks like her AMPS is going down each day. That should be a good thing :)

Now that she has been eating wet food only, her nose is getting a permanent brown spot on it. It's almost as if she smooshes her face in her bowl and just snorts it up. She LOVES her wet food.

Bonus pic of me telling her to wash her nose ;)

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Awwww.....how adorable!!

I think you could probably go up to 1.75 tonight on her dose too

Just FYI....on the PM cycle on 4/21 when she dropped from 291 to 222 in 2 hours, that would have been a good night to try to get at least one more test in....a lot of times when there's that kind of drop at +2, they may be continuing to drop pretty significantly
 
Oh wow, thanks for the info! A few questions for you then...

If I up her dose tonight, what are the things I should look for in the upcoming days? I won't be able to do a +2 tomorrow in the AM, do you think that is still safe to do? Or should I wait until the weekend when I can test more often? We are also taking her to the future in-laws with us this weekend, while I will be able to test and monitor her there, would her numbers be too wonky to be accurate?

Also, what would we usually consider a big drop between tests? I was under the impression that since she was still in the 200s that we'd be ok. Am I looking for drops greater than 50?

Thanks again!
 
missMeows said:
If I up her dose tonight, what are the things I should look for in the upcoming days? I won't be able to do a +2 tomorrow in the AM, do you think that is still safe to do? Or should I wait until the weekend when I can test more often?
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"Usually" the first cycle or two isn't going to be a lot different because you have to let the depot fill a little more before you'll see the real effect of that dose, but ECID so if you'd be more comfortable, you could wait and increase tomorrow night so you'd be home Fri night through the weekend to test.

missMeows said:
We are also taking her to the future in-laws with us this weekend, while I will be able to test and monitor her there, would her numbers be too wonky to be accurate?
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Most cats will have higher numbers when they're in stressful situations, but some actually go lower! (China's one of these unusual kitties that drops under stress) so there's really no way to know until you do it, but ANY tests will add to the data, so wonky or not, any test you get will help fill in the puzzle that is Gabrielle. Just make sure you put something in the "Remarks" that tells what's going on so if the numbers are really wonky, people will know why

missMeows said:
Also, what would we usually consider a big drop between tests? I was under the impression that since she was still in the 200s that we'd be ok. Am I looking for drops greater than 50?
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In most cats, we have something I'll call "The +2 rule" that seems to be pretty accurate

If the +2 is about the same as the Preshot, it's probably going to be a more "typical" cycle....a gradual drop to nadir and then a gradual increase to the next PS

If the +2 is lower than the PS, that's your sign that it might be a more active cycle, so any drop of more than a few points can be your "hint" that you should plan on getting more tests in later in the cycle

If the +2 is higher than the PS, usually that's signaling they're starting a bounce, and those are the cycles where you can usually take a pokey break.

She dropped from 291 to 222 in 2 hours...that's a drop of 69 points....more than 20%! That's a pretty significant drop, so it would have been a good night to plan on getting at least a +4 in to see if she was continuing to drop quickly or had leveled off
 
Thank you for all of that info! From what you explained, I think I will do the increase tomorrow night. Lately I've been having rough nights sleeping because I get so nervous about her as it is. I'd like to be around to test just in case :)

Chris & China said:
In most cats, we have something I'll call "The +2 rule" that seems to be pretty accurate
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I also really really appreciate you noticing this and letting me know before it's too late. I feel like a bad kitty momma for not doing this sooner, but I'll be sure to follow your advice and keepa a better eye out with her +2s. You're the best!
 
No reason to feel like a bad momma!! None of us knew what we were doing when we were thrown into this dance....we just have to learn it one step at a time!

You'll get there...and soon you'll be telling some other new momma that you did it, and they can too!
 
Hi @Chris & China!

Another question for you. I was re-reading about "bounces" and it seems to be suggested to wait until kitties stop bouncing before increasing the dose. BUT reading TR protocol, it says that dose increases factor in Nadirs only. I'm feeling like there is conflicting advice here. I was wondering if you could help me understand why one would go with the increase idea (supporting TR rules) and not the bouncing guidelines. Does TR protocol override the other information?

Chris & China said:
You'll get there...and soon you'll be telling some other new momma that you did it, and they can too!
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I hope I get there soon :)
 
In a perfect world, where kitties read the TR rules and abide by them, we'd all go strictly by the book BUT....those darn cats just refuse to read the protocol!!

Dose adjustments are made based on the nadir (how low it takes them) but if they're bouncing at the time, you wouldn't want to base the dose on the "bouncing" number because then you'd think you should raise the dose since the numbers are high

Does that make sense?

There are times when you might increase during a bounce, but only after getting lots of experienced eyes looking at your numbers. If you increase during a bounce and during that same cycle they decide to "break the bounce" and come tumbling back down, you've just added extra insulin on top of the "breaking bounce" and that can lead to an exciting cycle
 
It does make sense to base the dose on the nadir, yes. However, does a bounce only occur at a +2 or can the nadir be affected by the bounce?

Oooorrr... Maybe it doesn't matter? A bounce is always higher, so if it affects the nadir, we wouldn't be over dosing anyway?
 
No, a bounce can show up anytime....just when the +2 is a lot higher than the PS, it can be the first indication that a bounce is starting.

If your cat were to drop into the 40's at +5, they may be in the 400's by +8....all depends on how bouncy your kitty is! But if you were (for example) giving 1U and that dropped her into the 40's, even though she may be in the 400's later, you wouldn't want to increase...You'd decrease and wait for the bounce to clear and see if she was still getting good numbers then
 
I think I am understanding you. Thanks for bearing with me :) You said previously:
Chris & China said:
There are times when you might increase during a bounce, but only after getting lots of experienced eyes looking at your numbers.
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So I just keep watching her nadirs for now and use the added help of your eyes and other experienced users to help guide me through potentially increasing during her bounce. Which I would be doing tomorrow night.
 
Most of us will just let the bounce clear and won't increase...they can take up to 3 days to clear...it really depends on the situation and the individual cat.

The reason for the bounce comes into play too...which is why it's best to have a few of the people here look over her spreadsheet before making any dose changes

Right now since we don't know IF she went lower on that 4/21 cycle (and her numbers don't really look like a bounce), I'd go with the increase tomorrow night and hopefully that'll get her attention!!

Work that juice Gabrielle!!
 
No thanks necessary, but I'll take the hug!!

When we first came here, others took me under their wing and taught me what I needed to know to do the best for my China...just like someone took them when they were new! We're all just paying it forward!
 
Very cute pic of miss Meows.:cat:
Chris has given you very good advice. Also, she explained the +2 rule very well. Now I think I know what to look for on the SS. in order to know when a bounce might be starting.
A big thank you, Chris:)
 
We'll get the hang of this soon Paula, and before you know it we'll be able to celebrate our own OTJ days!!! :)
 
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