Scared to death

[Cindy L]

Cindy, you've got a good start on the spreadsheet. Now all we need you to do is start filling in some of the gaps in info like some night cycle tests as Chris mentioned. Please always do pre-shot tests and any time it's possible, try to get a test in somewhere between +5 and +8 hours (do a different time each day). I know you have some readings mid cycle but many are missing pre-shot data to see how much effect the insulin is having. Lantus is dosed based on the lowest readings at a dose but you need those pre-shot numbers too in order to determine if he is bouncing from a dose change (normal), bouncing from too much insulin or needs more. I'd also hold a dose for at least 3 days and possibly 5 to see how it's working. Some cats adjust to new doses quicker than others. And dose adjustments are best done at 0.25u or at most 0.5u at a time.

You were considering lowering the dose and I noticed there is no dose marked in for the night cycles since the 1st of May. Did you give him insulin and if so, what dose? As you get a little more data, it will become clearer what is happening with Lucky.

hi there, well, to be honest I really didn't know or understand how I was to be checking him. At first I thought once a day was fine. As that's when the vet tested him, the mid point between shots. I'm trying to sort it all out, remember everything, and do the best I can for Lucky. Its very confusing, as I have one vet telling me to feed every 12 hours, another saying feed when you want. One Vet says increase by .5 units, and one increased by an entire unit! My mind feels like its in a whirlwind!! I'm not making excuses simply trying to learn as much as I can and try my best with the info I'm receiving, which is conflicting. On another note, I'm not returning to the vet I visited for the second opinion. The one that wants me to increase by .5 every time I test and he's over 216. However, I did decrease his insulin last night to 3.5, as he wasn't acting himself the past few days. Probably wasn't the correct thing to do, but I will keep him on the 3.5 now for a while, vet says 2 weeks? and see how his numbers look. He actually looks better today, but I'm driving myself crazy, is that because he was getting 4u and that's what he needs, and I didn't give it time?? ugh, and to answer your question, yes I did dose, I have never missed, I think I was simply tired last night and overlooked, I tried to fill in more today. I'm trying hard not to throw in the towel, and I appreciate all the help from you all here on the forum. I seriously don't know what I would be doing now at this point in time, but I'm praying there's light now at the end of the tunnel with all the help we are receiving here. Thanks!!

 

[Cindy L]

Cindy, you can set up your own schedule.....whatever works for you. Because we live all over the planet we only deal with pre-shot and +X hours post shot in terms of times. If you usually give insulin at 9:30 then you can test at 9:15, feed Lucky and then shoot or you can do what I do which is test at what would be your 9:25, put the food down and shoot while Lucky is eating. All you need to do is make sure your pre-shot is at least 2 hours post any meals or snacks. Getting a test at +3 is usually a good indicator of how the cycle is going to be...active the +3 will be down from pre-shot and you may need to set an alarm to get another test in to keep kitty safe, flat or inactive cycle the +3 post shot is usually the same or up and you can go enjoy your ZZZZZs. You need to find a schedule that works for you so that you aren't sleep deprived waiting to test Lucky but can get the tests in that will provide you the most critical data. In my mind, knowing my kitty is safe through the night is the best way to insure I can get a good night's sleep.[/QUOTE
OK, will try to get some numbers after the night time shot also. I test, feed, shoot, and never test 2 hours after a meal. Got it! I'm thinking some vets need to be more informed, not hand folks (me) a few sheets of paper and send me on my way. wow, thanks again!

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Cindy, take a deep deep breathe. This is all hard to wrap your head around in the beginning but you can do it. The first step is for you to convince yourself you can do it and of that I have no doubt! Let's do this with baby steps! You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. You have all the support you need here!
Leave Lucky at 3.5 u for now, keep updating your spreadsheet as you get tests and give shots and find a schedule you can work with comfortably. Then, we will look at the data and decide what the next steps are. Don't second guess yourself. You know when Lucky is not acting himself. The vet doesn't. Neither do we. We can guide you and offer suggestions based on our experience and the data and information re: how Lucky is acting to help you look after Lucky in the safest way possible. For what it's worth, I think you made a good decision to lower the dose. The question now is, does it need to be lowered more and more data will allow us to help to make that decision.

 

[Cindy L]

You don't know how good your message makes me feel! One day at a time right? Bless you all for the time and concern, you put in here helping people.

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Cindy,

You don't know how good your message makes me feel! One day at a time right?

Saoirse and myself went through a hellish time recently. I was frightened, exhausted and utterly overwhelmed and one of our members, Shane (@granadilla), shared with me a little saying she had when it was tough going with her kitty, Marshmallow; it helped me to keep going through the roughest of times and I'd like to pass it on to you now. Even if one day at a time seems too much try thinking of yourself and Lucky stepping forward together, a little bit at a time:

One foot; one paw.




Mogs
.

 

[Cindy L]

Hi Cindy,



Saoirse and myself went through a hellish time recently. I was frightened, exhausted and utterly overwhelmed and one of our members, Shane (@granadilla), shared with me a little saying she had when it was tough going with her kitty, Marshmallow; it helped me to keep going through the roughest of times and I'd like to pass it on to you now. Even if one day at a time seems too much try thinking of yourself and Lucky stepping forward together, a little bit at a time:

One foot; one paw.




Mogs
.

Thank you! Great words of wisdom, we will proceed together, my buddy and I. I will be with him through it all.

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Cindy,

Very good to hear from you! Hope you're feeling a little bit better now - and not so alone with everything.

I've just had a gander at Lucky's spreadsheet and I'm tagging @Chris & China to ask whether she might also have a look to see whether she might have some helpful suggestions for you on the Lantus side of things.


Mogs
.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Hi Cindy!!

Could you please try to get at least a "before bed" test on the PM cycle? You don't necessarily have to stay up all night...just grab a quick test before you go to bed (or if you're like most of us and have to get up in the middle of the night to visit the "facilities", maybe you could grab a test then?)

Most cats go lower at night and without getting at least that one test in on the PM cycle, you could miss some really important information on what might be going on with Lucky

Also, I don't know your daytime schedule, but if you can, it'd help to get some tests in at different times on the AM cycle.

Think of the spreadsheet like it's a puzzle....if the only pieces you have filled in are along the edges or down the middle, it's really hard to tell what the picture is....but if you have pieces sprinkled throughout, the picture becomes a lot clearer!

 

[Critter Mom]

@Chris & China -

Thanks for popping in, Chris.


Mogs
.

 

[Cindy L]

Hi there, he looks like he's still staying pretty high. I'm going to throw this in the mix, the vet phoned that the glucose in his urine is still 1000. I'm not sure what exactly that means, and if its going to make me crazy with worry, I may not want to know, but I need to know what to do to get it lower. do you think it's time to increase the Lantus yet? and do you think hes bouncing? as he's never really been lower than 250 (to my knowledge) in all this time, and that was only a couple of times. Yes I will get a reading tonight. Look for it in the morning!
Other thoughts, hes not drinking to excess, but still peeing large puddles. He's ravenous, his feedings at shot time consist of an entire can of fancy feast, he would eat 2 if I offered. the snack at 330 pm, is 1/4 can of Fancy feast. too much? too little? should he be eating more in between shots instead of only once?
sorry for all the questions, again, Vet did not advise on feeding at all, and this is the schedule the "second opinion" vet gave me. want to make sure this is correct, as I was doing so much wrong in the beginning.
thank you!! have a good nihgt ladies!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Without seeing a few more mid-cycle tests (Or consistent PM "before bed" tests) it's really hard to know if it's time to increase yet or not

Hopefully you'll be able to get that test in tonight (and if at all possible, maybe a test somewhere between +5 and +7 on the AM cycle?)

Lantus dosing is based on how LOW it takes them, not the pre-shot numbers, so it really is important to get those tests when you can. I know we seem to harp on it a lot, but it's truly the only way to know what the best advice to give you is.

The high glucose in his urine just means that he's still above renal threshold...His kidneys can't handle all the glucose so it gets dumped into the urine.

I'd also like to invite you over to the Lantus Forum. Everyone there uses Lantus or Levemir so you'll get the most experienced eyes advising you and Lucky! Each day we start a new thread with the date/cats name and the AMPS number in the subject line. As the day goes on, if you get other tests in, you "edit" the subject line and add them (If you look in the lantus forum, you'll see how we do this)

In the body of the post you'd first put the link to the previous post (so it's easy for people to quickly go back and see what's been going on for the last few days) and then ask any questions as well as just let us know how Lucky is doing in general.

I hope to see you there!!

 

[Cindy L]

Good Morning ladies!
Well I'm having a bad morning. Luckys amps was 442 today. I started feeding him a little more than usual. He was on this "diet". I'm going to try to explain it better.
Below is the following schedule had had been on for a few weeks:

900 to 930 am~~ test, eats 1 can Fancy feast pate (can be any variety) always cleans his plate, plus cleans up anything any of the other 3 leave
930 am~~shot 3.5 U
330 pm~~test most days, snack...eats 1/4 can of FF
900 to 930 pm~~test, eats 1 can of FF
930 pm~~shot 3.5U
random times after midnight, snack...eats 1/4 can of FF

Lately I was wondering about that feeding schedule as he seems ravenous, I kept wondering if it was good to let him go so long without food, that's a 6 hour period with nothing. So I asked around, and I decided to add another snack in the middle of the night, because we can't seem to get much sleep around here these days. Since doing that, Luckys numbers have been in the red zone. The BG after midnight was pre 2nd snack and 4+ after shot and was 416.
I don't know what to do, the vet says go to 4 units, I'm still wondering if this is too much? when he was tested in March, he was 300, the insulin increased and I feel like for the average his numbers increased.

I'm almost in that panic mode again, wondering what in the heck do I do, I favored a bit below the 3.5 line this morning.
I wonder if I can keep doing this???
Thanks for listening.

 

[Marlena]

Oh Cindy,
how terribly stressful this is for you.
I was like that at the beginning and I thought I was going insane!
Some cats are slow and difficult to regulate but you will get there with help of wonderful people on L/L forum.
Looke at my Rocky's SS - terrible for a long time and I didn't know what was going on.
Suddenly he started giving me better numbers and now he is well regulated.
L/L forum has a lot of experienced people, just stay calm and follow the advice, you will get there.
Wishing you best luck
Hugs from Marlena & Rocky

 

[Cindy L]

Oh Cindy,
how terribly stressful this is for you.
I was like that at the beginning and I thought I was going insane!
Some cats are slow and difficult to regulate but you will get there with help of wonderful people on L/L forum.
Looke at my Rocky's SS - terrible for a long time and I didn't know what was going on.
Suddenly he started giving me better numbers and now he is well regulated.
L/L forum has a lot of experienced people, just stay calm and follow the advice, you will get there.
Wishing you best luck
Hugs from Marlena & Rocky

Thank so much!! I hope we are as fortunate as you and Rocky! I will check out his spread sheet. I think what I need most is a feeding schedule that is helpful to him. I must be wreaking havoc on his pancreas. I, like you, feel like I'm going insane, we have a few decent days, then this. Again thank you for your kind words and encouragement!

 

[Cindy L]

In the body of the post you'd first put the link to the previous post (so it's easy for people to quickly go back and see what's been going on for the last few days) and then ask any questions as well as just let us know how Lucky is doing in general.

Hey chris, I figured out how to edit the subject line, but I don't know how to add the link from my first post there in the lantus forum. LMk when you have time. thank you!!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I don't know how to add the link from my first post there in the lantus forum

"Copy" the link from the address bar (like where you put "www.yahoo.com") when you're looking at your prior days post

Go to a new post and click on the little icon along the top that looks like a paper clip (or a single link of a chain) and a new box will pop up. "Paste" the link in that box and hit "insert"