The Switch to Prozinc, Part 3

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Sometimes they do throw out the random odd lows that are lower than they'd typically have on a dose, too. :confused: Freya has done it before, because apparently, she has to be difficult in nearly every way. :rolleyes: @Rachel may be on to something about the slightest of reductions just to see what he does, assuming you can be there to monitor. I just know that personally, I can look back at times and see where I reduced too much too soon and ended up off track. It's hard not to though, because by nature I'm so cautious. But that's a tricky one, and it may come down to what you think is best for your guy. Sticky cats are hard!
 
That was a stressful cycle, but oh so nice to see him get some greens again! I think Blair and Rachel and Kris all gave you some good advice to keep the dose strong despite the cycle today. If he had two in a row, or even two within a couple of days of each other I think that would indicate he needs a reduction, but so far his pattern seems to be one dramatic cycle and then the high-and-stickies.
 
Part of me wishes you could have gone with 2.1U or stuck with 2.2U tonight, I know it's only a tiny difference :rolleyes:. *My thinking behind this* Past few times he's hit green, he bounces either with a higher number or a flat cycle. Kind of like what Djamila and Blair described. If he holds his usual pattern tonight and it happens again, at least think about holding the dose for next cycle :bookworm::smuggrin:. You monitor very well so you'd catch him if he changed course ;)
 
Keeping Timmy from going into the limes yesterday wiped me out a bit. I do know that I should have given 2.1 units last night, but 2.2 would have been okay too. Ugh. Anyway I gave 2.2 units this morning. His numbers are just hanging out today though. I guess it's to be expected, but still. :banghead:
 
Kris & Teasel said:
It's all good learning, Susan. :)
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I take one step forward and two steps back. Getting good data though, and building my confidence. So that's something good. I know how to steer, but it's always in the back of my mind, what if I can't. That's where the good notes (I have them in great detail in his notebook) and data building comes in. I don't have enough data on dosing those lower yellow numbers yet, so I always err on the side of overly cautious and it always comes back to bite me. It is such a learning process for me. :)
 
Susan and Timmy said:
I take one step forward and two steps back. Getting good data though, and building my confidence. So that's something good. I know how to steer, but it's always in the back of my mind, what if I can't. That's where the good notes (I have them in great detail in his notebook) and data building comes in. I don't have enough data on dosing those lower yellow numbers yet, so I always err on the side of overly cautious and it always comes back to bite me. It is such a learning process for me. :)
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It is for ALL of us, Susan. I've been fighting to keep Teasel away from the brink this AM.
 
It's good data! That way, next time, we will feel more comfortable keeping the dose the same instead of decreasing. :)
 
This past week has been an extremely challenging one. We have had and are still having a family situation. It is getting better, but has definitely taken a toll. Timmy's numbers during all of this have been incredibly worrisome. I have reduced the dose as needed. I cannot monitor consistently like I have in the past right now. I have had some help, off and on with testing this week, thank goodness, but it is not a consistent answer. He drove me to tears last night with going so low at +3, so I steered some with food to keep him from going too low, and of course, he is ultra high this morning. I really need to find a dose for him that isn't pushing the envelope and causing me to have steer to keep him from getting into lime greens. That dose is a mystery because almost every dose given pushes him too far down. It is just trial and error right now to keep him safe. Im overwhelmed at the moment and venting a little helps.
 
I feel for you, Susan. I went through this with Teasel on ProZinc and also on Lantus. He's improved in that regard on Lantus, most of it quite recently. You have that option if your boy is just too bouncy on ProZinc. Even Steph has noted an improvement with Chuck who's the trickiest cat here. This is stressful at the best of times but so much worse when other things in life weigh on us.

Have a look at Teasel's SS to see if it offers you any hope. :bighug:
 
Susan, I'm so sorry to hear that your family is having a tough time right now. Please know that it's okay to lower the dose a bit if that's what you need to do to take care of yourself and your family. We can only handle just so much stress at once! And it is always okay to come here and vent or ask for a little word of encouragement. We all need that, and sometimes it can be helpful to just be reminded hat you are not alone in managing him, but have a community here that understands the stress and uncertainty.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Vent away, Susan!
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The silver lining for you, I think that 1.8U could be THE dose :smuggrin:.
 
Nice blues today, Susan! :) It looks like you're feeling more comfortable with the idea of "taking the ball and running with it". That's great! You'll start feeling more confident about this over time.
 
I see your dose tinkering on Timmy's SS, Susan. Looks like you're doing it very carefully and that's the way to go with a bouncy boy. My guess is he'll be at/around 2 u before you see lower numbers. How are you feeling about all this? How is Timmy feeling?
 
Kris & Teasel said:
I see your dose tinkering on Timmy's SS, Susan. Looks like you're doing it very carefully and that's the way to go with a bouncy boy. My guess is he'll be at/around 2 u before you see lower numbers. How are you feeling about all this? How is Timmy feeling?
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Thank you for checking on us. I took a look at Teasel's spreadsheet and it is a beautiful sight! You made that switch about four months ago. I'm amazed and it certainly gives me a lot of hope. :) I will admit that there are times when I question if he will ever get regulated, but we only switched to Prozinc about six weeks ago. So I guess it is still early.

The family emergency situation has indeed pushed me to "take the bull by the horns" with Timmy's dosing. I have a lot of data, but really testing each dose to see what will keep him safe and what will be needed to push him lower is an ever-changing balancing act. It is a good thing though. I have to have confidence in the dose when I cant be home during this time, but Timmy doesn't follow the rules, so I still find myself holding my breath when I'm away. I do agree that we will probably be at 2 units to really move, especially at the night dose, which he is always higher. I made a note on my spreadsheet to adjust the dose, I'll be able to monitor him close by then and make small moves. I do know that Timmy has to have dose consistency and very small increases, or chaos ensues. The move to the U-100 syringes was a very good thing for us.

Timmy hides a lot when he goes into lower greens. He feels good and plays in the lower blue range. I know I will need to push him lower to get him lower, but he struggles a lot when I do that. It is a necessary evil.
 
Timmy is so much like Teasel in his responses that they're FD twins! I had to be SO careful dosing ProZinc or Teasel would fly off into the ozone. No sliding scales for us. Lantus requires consistent dosing and it works for him. He seems to be in a really good spot right now - by Teasel standards. I feel like I'm dosing an "easy" cat. I'll enjoy it while it lasts. :)

I know what you mean about the low numbers' effect on behaviour. Teasel is also quiet and withdrawn when he's in lower greens. His happy place is when he's running in low blues too. I understand the need for exposure to those greens but I don't like what it does to him. :(
 
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