Im so nervous my vet is closed now. Without the disinfecting wipes?
You don't need to worry about disinfecting his ear before a test nor do you before a shot. I guarantee this will be a lot easier more quickly than you think.
Disinfectant wipes may be counterproductive. If it’s rubbing alcohol, kitty probably won’t like the smell. If it’s some other disinfectant it may cause issues with the test. I don’t use anything, just wash my hands!
Help dont know how to read meter it said 41I have a Relion Micro, and I freak out too! I bought 2 boxes (200 count total) alcohol wipes and I found at first I might not need them, but then when I started I found.... I NEED THEM. I wash my hands before testing but I have to pet, love, scritch, groom soooo much... my hands start to feel abit ichy even though Fena had been bathed and she's clean. So I use the wipe on my hands once I have her calm and relaxed - or if it doesn't take much for her, I'll use one on my supplies. Outside of bottles, kit bag, etc.
So long as I don't waft the smell by her face, she doesn't care - she's starting to learn, "Oh okay my Mom's nervous and this is the smell, eh, whatever" - I swear that's the look on her face. I do 2 pokes because I'm still really new at this and.... Fena doesn't care. Literally. She's more interested in my hands or what I'm holding, than the "sticks" - which has its own problems, believe me! Same thing for her insulin shot - bright eyes, happy face/ears/whiskers, she just.. goes with it, but I'm messing with her, so she's happy.
Course I have problems... that happy can mean paws, etc. as she thinks I'm playing or it's a game, etc. for testing especially - not shot, surprisingly.
One weird trick I've learned? Does your cat like ear cleaning wipes? Fena LOVES the hell out of them - if I use one of those, her eyes close, she drifts off in this weird daze.. and I can test, no problem! Maybe buy ear cleaning wipes? Anything I do with her ears, she loves - kisses, lipping, nibbling, finger rubbing - if I do it long enough I can put her to sleep, I don't know why. Mao is getting to that point to and I'm SOOOO happy since he's the "sensitive" one, just in case.
Speaking of which I need to update my damn spreadsheet, grrrrr - I forget that! I have my results in my notebook, but forget to update online.
PS - point of note! For Fena I've noticed, if I finger the edge of her ear enough I can FEEL the vein - most say to warm the ear and poke but I think they leave off the FEEL part sometimes. If she won't hold still for my small flashlight, I "feel" her vein - where I feel her heart beat after a lot of rubbing, I go to the edge and less than 1/2 inch of where I felt the pulse - usually above where I've been rubbing. Human nurses say the same - watch what fingers you use to test pulse/blood/vein. It's true!
It must not be right because hes eating and walking around
My cat was severely low with no symptoms several times. Once she read 30 on an alpha (under 68 is hypo). Doesn’t mean the cat is not in danger. The only way to know is to test.
I dont think i did it right. I gave him 1 unit of lantus at 6:52 this morning. Was supposed to do it tonight. Going to wait to do anything till i take him to vet. They are sick of me calling everyday with questions. Im almost positive i did it wrong.
He seems fine. i need a good video to watch of testing him
He wasnt nervous. He just wanted me to keep petting him. i stupidly tried to put the cap on the lancett and pricked myself. Horrible thing to do to myself. Not supposed to do that now i know. His ears are light so i can see thru. I need a video or something on how to do this right. How hard is it to get an inaccurate reading?Laura, I'm glad to see that he's not displaying symptoms. Please relax a little, learning to test at first can be a bit of a struggle. But you can't give up, testing is the best tool you have to keep Nermal safe. I would like you to try another test, but sing while you are doing it. It really does help, If you are nervous and jerky, Nermal is going to pick up on that and react accordingly. You are in charge here, so take charge get another test, just to reassure yourself. Practice make perfect. Tell us the number and what song you sang
Thanks about to watch.
I tested 11 hours and 45 minutes after the 1 unit of lantusNot sure, I haven't gotten her to reply to me yet.
Uh oh, you aren't the first to do that! LOL It's rather a comedy at times with all the mess ups.Tonight, I stabbed myself with Fena's insulin syringe - LOL. I don't think I got any of it, aka a push on the plunger, but yeah. She zigged and I zagged and WHAMMO - my first time for it, and I'd joked in previous posts about it happening in the future too. You're fine, sweetheart!!
Idjit, thank you so much for coming in, and Janet too - god love this site, I swear it by every breath I take. xxxx
Laura if you'd like to talk to a fellow beginner, I'd be happy to? Just let me know. I'm still here all night.
Thank you. Ive been in tears every night over his diabetes. I never thought when i took him to the vet it would be this. I feel like its all my fault. I fed him purina indoor formula for years. Canned food was an every other day treat, he doesnt mind the switch. He always loved canned food. The more expensive vet i took him to years ago said his dry food was ok and i didnt need to watch his weight for his size-which was approximately 15 pounds then. Hes 11 pounds now. I keep wondering what is the quickest remission after starting insulin on lantus. I keep also wondering how high can blood glucose rise from a vet visit. I also keep wondering how low can it drop from switching to high protein low carbs from dry. The vet knows i instantly switched him from the day she told me. If i had to take a final right now on feline diabetes education i wouldnt do so well.Tonight, I stabbed myself with Fena's insulin syringe - LOL. I don't think I got any of it, aka a push on the plunger, but yeah. She zigged and I zagged and WHAMMO - my first time for it, and I'd joked in previous posts about it happening in the future too. You're fine, sweetheart!!
Idjit, thank you so much for coming in, and Janet too - god love this site, I swear it by every breath I take. xxxx
Laura if you'd like to talk to a fellow beginner, I'd be happy to? Just let me know. I'm still here all night.
Thank you. Maya Angelou quote really helped too.
Thank you i appreciate all of your help. Trying to overcome fears of needles, get a little shaky.Night sweetheart, have a good one!!
I've been there, hell, still there in many ways! 