02/02 Hercules AMPS 225, PMPS 58, + 1 85

Hercule's mum

Hercule's mum

Member Since 2020
Morning everyone!

Hercules continues with his alternation of amazing days and bounces. I am worried about both....

When he is in the green zone, he needs alot of propping. At least I assume so, as he surfs for a while despite a lot of MC and HC. How long do we keep all the propping? when do we decide that maybe he needs a lower dose?

He is still bouncing... Again, would reducing the dose reduce bounce, or do I just keep my patience pants on?

Unfortunately he seems off his food today. Started last night when I gave him some of the Hills diet can food as a tril of MC. But this morning he doesn't ate much of his usual LC either. Luckily we started on a bit of a bounce, but worried if he doesn't start eating what to do to manage his numbers?

Sorry for being a bit blue... I know is party time for Simba!
 
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Hercule's mum said:
When he is in the green zone, he needs alot of propping. At least I assume so, as he surfs for a while despite a lot of MC and HC. How long do we keep all the propping? when do we decide that maybe he needs a lower dose?
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You can try just giving him LC and if he slips under 50 then he'll have earned a reduction. If you prop, then you're working to keep him in a good dose for as long as possible. He will let you know when he needs less and in spite of the propping he'll drop under 50 and will have earned the reduction the hard way - really not the hard way - but the very obvious way of telling you that his pancreas is working now - key word is now - and his numbers will be good for a bit...then when his pancreas gets tired, those numbers will rise and so should the insulin.

The thing about these kitties is the pancreas, while it can be regenerated, creates new beta cells...and those cells will work for a time...but this isn't a one-fix wonder, and it needs time to heal...and sometimes it takes a step back for whatever reason and needs more resting time and help is then needed to regulate that blood glucose, because the pancreas is 'back on break'...I wrote up an explanation about all of this a while back. @thebigfuzz - do you know where that little story is about Mr. Pancreas? I can never seem to find that...

Perhaps you'll find that entertaining and possibly enlightening.

btw, I don't think that bounce looks half bad...let's hope Herc clears it quickly :)
 
I hope his bounce clears soon! Simba wasn't crazy about food after multiple consequent night of frequent meals, he was probably stuffed. :confused:

Edit: nice drop into blue numbers at +2. Maybe his bounce is clearing?
 
He is actually doing very well! The change in his SS is obvious. So much more green and blue than yellow. Yes, he is still bouncing, but he is clearing them quickly.

I agree with Sue. It's okay to feed a little MC now and then to keep him surfing and at a good dose - but if you find that you need to keep feeding MC to keep him over 50, it might be time for a reduction. He has held the last reduction so he may very well hold the next one. If he doesn't, that's when you use higher carb food to keep him at a good dose and prevent a dip below 50.

Let him earn the reduction for now and see if he holds it. I hope I am making sense?
 
Yes, I am happy with the progress, I just thinking that after feeding him a can of HC each of these days, it was getting a bit silly.... and then there is a day like today, where he is not eating much...so that got me thinking that I can't always rely onhim eating so much. I'll try to keep going for a while more, and if my boss threatens to fire me over my lack of brain, I'll reduce his dose :p

I am off to read the sticky.....
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Suzanne, I was thinking just the other day about how you have all the links at the ready! I think that's a sticky worth making! :)
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If you want to see my brain, go to my SS and click on the FDMB links tab...it's a scary, unorganized, informative place :p The trick is knowing what I wrote as the description :joyful: But yes Sue's post should be a sticky!
 
The vet wanted me to bring him in for a lipase test on january and I have been dragging my feet. Guess who called very fast today to get and appointment for that test ??? I am worried about his pancreas, because he looks like he wants to eat, but just can muster himself to actually go through it. I think this indicates nausea, if I remember Mogs description....
 
Hercule's mum said:
yes... but that is because he hasn't eaten much today....:nailbiting:
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Their appetite reduces as they see lower numbers. Plus they are pains in the @rses and will not eat when they should eat. I know that once Bandit gets a taste of the HC food she likes, she starts turning her nose up at her usual LC food.
 
Hercule's mum said:
The vet wanted me to bring him in for a lipase test on january and I have been dragging my feet. Guess who called very fast today to get and appointment for that test ??? I am worried about his pancreas, because he looks like he wants to eat, but just can muster himself to actually go through it. I think this indicates nausea, if I remember Mogs description....
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does he lick his lips? especially at the sight of food? that's a sign of nausea.
 
no lip licking I don't think....he has had periods like this before, fingers crossed will pass! I just tried a different flavour and he was willing to eat a bit....
My fridge is full of half eaten cans of different carb % anf flavours... it smells yuck!:p I guess I need to get the sugar syrup thingy that you can just add to the one LC food Eliz told me about it....

I've been meaning to ask...does bandit's name mean he is he a food stealer?
 
your theory might be right... he is at 63 at +5. So i gave him a spoonful of HC and he gobbled that down (thank goodness!)
 
Hercule's mum said:
I've been meaning to ask...does bandit's name mean he is he a food stealer?
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If there ever was a misnomer, it was Bandit. My sister gave her the name because of her mask and mantle appearance. Bandicoot would have been more appropriate. She is a large mouse and scared of her own shadow!

Hercule's mum said:
your theory might be right... he is at 63 at +5. So i gave him a spoonful of HC and he gobbled that down (thank goodness!)
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Like I always say, who would choose salad over pizza? Who????
 
JaxBenji said:
If you want to see my brain, go to my SS and click on the FDMB links tab...it's a scary, unorganized, informative place :p The trick is knowing what I wrote as the description :joyful: But yes Sue's post should be a sticky!
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...this is a genius way to do it! I've been trying to figure out the best way and now I feel dumb!
 
Just did something really stupid, and shot hercules a full dose with a PMPS of 58!!! :nailbiting::nailbiting::nailbiting:
I reasoned with myself that he was this low because he hasn't been eating. So i put his first dinner down and decided that if he ate it ok, I would shoot him. He did... but now I am terrified I was stupid...
 
I would have done the same...although it's kinda in the lowish range - a lot of people here shoot low to stay low.

You will definitely want to get a 1+ and then stay up as long as you need to...if his numbers continue to drop - if you're lucky he'll surf the night away - in the green lagoon. If he starts to dip lower than you're comfortable with, get him started on medium carb, test again in 30 minutes, if that's not helping prop him up, get out the high carb and let him have a little - keep it up until he turns around and starts to head up - then at some point you can withhold food and test again to make sure he's steady - then you can probably go to bed...

@Bandit's Mom - Bhooma are you around? Going to be a late night for Karen I think...anyone else you can tag who's available late? I still have project work to do today...I was just surfing around while taking a little break...

Karen, if you need to - add in LARGE FONT - HELP NEEDED TONIGHT! Keep bumping your post by writing something in the new comment ..and it'll bump your post to the top.
 
Hi Sue, as long as he keeps eating we will be all right....I think.... I am just not sure why he is not as into his food as usual...

I am also wondering whether I really understand when the food effect kick in and for how long.... I was sure I was safe this afternoon when he went up to 110 without any food since +5.5...., and then all of sudden we are back to 58 for PMPS... It is these sillly fumbles that makes me worried I am making stupid decisions...
 
Hercule's mum said:
whether I really understand when the food effect kick in and for how long....
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I though I usually should see food effectafter 20 minutes and up to 2 hours? But I thought the effect was such that the largest number would be seen to begin with and decrease over time. Am I correct?
 
Hercule's mum said:
I though I usually should see food effectafter 20 minutes and up to 2 hours? But I thought the effect was such that the largest number would be seen to begin with and decrease over time. Am I correct?
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You are right that food takes 20 minutes to affect numbers and could continue to do so for 2 hours. The extent to which food/carbs affect numbers depends on which part of the cycle you are in - earlier in the cycle, higher carbs could have numbers falling gently (prevent a dive) or keep them flat. Later in the cycle (closer or after nadir) could see numbers rising. When a cat wants a reduction, even higher carbs may not keep them up for long.

Some cats also do the "double-dip" on Lantus. The BG goes down till the nadir then rises and then dips again at the end of the cycle (but not as low as the nadir). Hercs' 58 yesterday could be a combination of the double dip and the higher carbs wearing off. He does seem to bob up and down quite a bit and it can be confusing. Don't be so hard on yourself! He's only been on Lantus a few weeks and they live to keep us guessing!
 
Hercule's mum said:
The vet wanted me to bring him in for a lipase test on january and I have been dragging my feet. Guess who called very fast today to get and appointment for that test ??? I am worried about his pancreas, because he looks like he wants to eat, but just can muster himself to actually go through it. I think this indicates nausea, if I remember Mogs description....
Click to expand...

Lipase is not a marker for pancreatitis in cats. You need the SpecFpl. Nausea is a symptom. Max became inappetent with pancreatitis every time.
 
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