? Fearless: AMPS=228 +2(327) +3(443)

[fearlessmom]

Could this be a continuation of the same bounce (the 5th cycle) off the green Fearless saw on 5/30 PM? Or a new bounce off the 140 from last night? I didn't test after +6 last night because his PM nadir is typically +5.

If this is the same bounce, why the spike this morning? It's really bad when bounces come so frequently that you can't tell where one ends and another begins.

 

[Gill & George]

I think this is likely a new bounce.

Remember a fast drop can trigger a bounce and he did drop 180pts in 5 hours last night, so... that could have triggered a drop in itself. But I also think that its entirely possible that he dipped his toe in the lagoon last night too. I don't think he was done dropping by +5, and that red you are seeing now makes me feel it's likely he did.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I agree with Gill.

The only suggestion I might make is that you saw a approximate 100 point drop by +2 last evening. Typically, your +2 should be around the same number as your pre-shot test. You did great by getting a +6. What the PM cycles tells me, at least, is that you may have wanted to give Fearless a small LC snack when you saw the drop at +2. This may have softened the drop a bit, encouraged some good surfing in blue numbers, and may have likewise softened the bounce.

FWIW, bouncing is normal. The bounces are incredibly frustrating for us but they are a normal part of the process.

 

[fearlessmom]

you may have wanted to give Fearless a small LC snack when you saw the drop at +2.

I did feed at +2 last night. And +1 and +3. I'm following the suggestion made by someone here about front-loading food.

I don't think he was done dropping by +5, and that red you are seeing now makes me feel it's likely he did.

It was +6, and his PM nadir has never been past +6 before. If he did drop lower last night, it kinda defeats the purpose of testing so much to get more data, doesn't it? I mean, if you can't rely on the data, what do you rely on?

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

I did feed at +2 last night. And +1 and +3. I'm following the suggestion made by someone here about front-loading food.

That suggestion would have been from me. However, one suggestion does not exclude another to feed to soften a drop. It helps if we think of circumstances like this as learning experiences. Note that it'll take more than feeding some LC when you see such a big drop between shot time and +2. Try feeding a couple teaspoons of MC next time you see the same thing happening. Experiment to find the best solution for Fearless.

It was +6, and his PM nadir has never been past +6 before. If he did drop lower last night, it kinda defeats the purpose of testing so much to get more data, doesn't it? I mean, if you can't rely on the data, what do you rely on?

I get what you're saying, but things can change... and those changes aren't always consistent. Since we can't test 24/7, sometimes the best we can do is look back to see what might have happened.

 

[fearlessmom]

He could have gone lower, sure. But even if he didn't he could have bounced off the 140. He's bounced off higher blues than that (e.g., 5/23). As far as the 78pt drop @ +2, he's dropped more than that at night (e.g., 5/25) and still surfed the next day. And isn't the point to get him to the greens and have him stay there? I was happy to keep him in the yellows and blues, but that won't get him to where we want him to be, right?

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

And isn't the point to get him to the greens and have him stay there?

Yes.
However, if you see something happening that you think you can avoid by changing course a little, why not? I'm terrible with analogies, but let me try. I'm driving to work. I look down the road and see traffic has come to a standstill. I don't want to be late for work so I turn off and proceed to find another route so I won't be late. I still get to work. I just took another way to get there.

I was happy to keep him in the yellows and blues, but that won't get him to where we want him to be, right?

Correct.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

I too think it's more likely a new bounce from the fast drops last night between test.

Experimenting with higher carb food with fast drops like that is a good idea. The bouncing is definitely frustrating.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

You might want to look at Gabby's SS. Gabby was a diving diva and could bounce with the best of them. She also generally had an early nadir. I front loaded her cycle with food and tested early. I did what I could to keep her from earning reductions. This allowed her to get used to spending more time in normal BG numbers. If you (literally) page through her SS, you'll see there were times that this strategy worked very well. There were also times when her numbers became more challenging and I'd be hard pressed to tell you why. As best I can make sense of it is that insulin is a hormone. The body utilizes hormones differently than other drugs. Things like activity or stress can have an effect on BG levels and this isn't the case with drugs like antibiotics. Managing your cat's FD is a dance. As much as we'd like to be the one leading, the reality is that it's our cats who are in the lead. We have to follow.

 

[fearlessmom]

Things like activity or stress can have an effect on BG levels

I don't think either of these are at play here. Unless Fearless has some unresolved issues I'm not privy to or is doing laps around the house when I'm not looking, his stress and exercise levels remain pretty constant. He's a mild-mannered cat who doesn't fight (too much) against his new routine. More often than not you'll find him in a sunny spot on the floor or in his favorite cardboard box, snoozing away.

 

[Gill & George]

It was +6, and his PM nadir has never been past +6 before. If he did drop lower last night, it kinda defeats the purpose of testing so much to get more data, doesn't it? I mean, if you can't rely on the data, what do you rely on?

George usually nadirs at +6, but he also swung the occasional curve ball and nadired early +2 or even as late as amps one morning, giving me a 52
Usually, for him when his nadir was 'off' he was having a bounce breaking cycle, or he was getting serious about a reduction.

For fearless last night sure looked like him clearing a bounce, he may have continued dropping or that +6 was his nadir, we can only speculate.



If it were me, and just because I'm the curious sort, faced with a similar situation I'd be tempted to get one more test in, if i was desperate for bed I'd hold out for 30min perhaps at least that would tell you if he was done with dropping, or go get some shut eye and set alarm for an hours or two. He might just surprise you.

ETA btw after a quick look I can see nadirs of +9, and +8, not too long ago.

 

[Tanya and Ducia]

Unless Fearless has some unresolved issues I'm not privy to or is doing laps around the house when I'm not looking, his stress and exercise levels remain pretty constant.

LOL!
My cat's number go lower if I play/exercise with her at around +2 - +4 . I have noticed on several occasions that she lowered further after energetic play. It doesn't work every day but often enough to be noticed/recorded. And she would not play when in Pink, not at all.

 

[fearlessmom]

If it were me, and just because I'm the curious sort, faced with a similar situation I'd be tempted to get one more test in,

Typically I do that, but based on the fact that I expected the bounce to last another cycle and that he's never dropped lower after +6, I took a chance to give his little ears a break. Serves me right for following the data instead of anticipating that "anything can happen."

ETA btw after a quick look I can see nadirs of +9, and +8, not too long ago.

I was speaking of PM nadirs.

 

[fearlessmom]

Just reread my last reply ... sorry if it came across as curt. You'd think a former editor would choose her words more carefully.

I do appreciate the wisdom of your experience. I'm just frustrated. I'm trying very hard to do all I can ... and every day I seem to fall short.

 

[Gill & George]

was speaking of PM nadirs

Respectfully I think there is the possibility that he has continued to drop in at least a couple of cycles, nadirYour past +6. I'll post on the morning about those, nearly 1am here and in bed with tablet, it's awkward to pull up the info for you.

It's plain to see that you haven't caught any later nadirs, but there again in the last month there are only 4 tests after +6, so it is conceivable that you may have missed him going lower.

I'm not critisising, just want you to be open to the possibility of later nadirs, as others have said their are no absolutes when dealing with FD

 

[Gill & George]

Just reread my last reply ... sorry if it came across as curt. You'd think a former editor would choose her words more carefully.

I do appreciate the wisdom of your experience. I'm just frustrated. I'm trying very hard to do all I can ... and every day I seem to fall short.

I didn't read it as curt.
I can relate to the frustration.
Equally I hope you don't find my post antagonistic, its not intended that way.

Now I must really hit the sack, I will get back to you tomorrow on those other cycles.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Unless Fearless has some unresolved issues

It could be some past life stuff, LOL.

Seriously, please try not to take his cycles personally. You have done a wonderful job taking good care of him. Things will start to click. It just takes some time.

He does sound like quite a cool calm and collected kitty.

 

[fearlessmom]

He does sound like quite a cool calm and collected kitty.

He's been so good thruout all of this, I feel even worse about not doing better for him. If any of my cats had to get this, though, I guess I'm fortunate that it was Fearless. He earned his name by not being afraid of anything. He comes right up to strangers who visit and never runs and hides, no matter how many times he gets poked. If it were one of his siblings, I'd be spending half my time playing hide and seek with them! And don't get me started on how many hands I'd need to hold them down for tests and shots. Sure hope neither Squeaky (you can guess how he got his name) nor Paulie are genetically predisposed (if there is such a thing). Neither show any symptoms, but I'm thinking I should test them, just to be sure.