The ongoing saga of Sue and Joe and testing Joe at home

Thanks Susan.
Just be aware that posting over on the Prozinc forum, won’t get as much traffic as the main forum so if you need help quickly and there’s no one around here, post over on the main forum.
 
You were doing the very best you could, and every day will be better! I think I can speak for everyone that we kind of "lost it" when we first got diagnosed. How is Joe doing today?
 
No blood from Joe's ears today. He acted out. Got his tuna but acted offended that I wanted something from him. He was a bad sport. I am having a helping hand, someone that he knows, my daughter, come tomorrow to help.
 
Susan Pomocnik said:
No blood from Joe's ears today. He acted out. Got his tuna but acted offended that I wanted something from him. He was a bad sport. I am having a helping hand, someone that he knows, my daughter, come tomorrow to help.
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Joe! This is no time to be a prince! Another set of hands will help. Maybe having someone there can be encouraging to not give up, to try again. Keep us updated.
 
YAY! Today was a successful! Bites of tuna in front of him, rice sock warming his ear, a couple of pokes in the sweet spot and we get blood. Not only that but we get blood on the meter. My daughter, although I love her dearly, has the common sense of a firefly and brought her dog with her, who would just make Joe nervous. I sent her packing and went about it as I have done much in my life "to heck with anybody I can do this myself' attitude.
It was not a good reading, 444, but I am thrilled I made it all work. The Reli-On meter is less temperamental than my other.
Joe had some canned food at 1pm and the testing was done at 2;15
 
For some reason the SS is not updating. I erroneously put his test results for today in yesterday's place. I used cut and paste and changed it but the spreadsheet in here did not change. Todays reading 444.
 
Susan Pomocnik said:
YAY! Today was a successful! Bites of tuna in front of him, rice sock warming his ear, a couple of pokes in the sweet spot and we get blood. Not only that but we get blood on the meter. My daughter, although I love her dearly, has the common sense of a firefly and brought her dog with her, who would just make Joe nervous. I sent her packing and went about it as I have done much in my life "to heck with anybody I can do this myself' attitude.
It was not a good reading, 444, but I am thrilled I made it all work. The Reli-On meter is less temperamental than my other.
Joe had some canned food at 1pm and the testing was done at 2;15
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Congratulations!!!
 
We are supposed to go to the vet tomorrow for a fructosamine test. Anyone else have that done and is there any value to it?
 
Look at you with the three readings today! You could ask here what the opinion is on upping his dose, I'm sure they would love to help.
 
smorgasbord said:
Look at you with the three readings today! You could ask here what the opinion is on upping his dose, I'm sure they would love to help.
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I know! I am feeling so accomplished. I was going to print the spreadsheet for the vet but felt I would test again tomorrow maybe at +4 (just because I can!) so I will wait to add that data and then print.
 
Susan Pomo said:
Is the place on the SS labeled AMPS PMPS where I put the hour he gets his insulin?
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Yes, that is the test that you give him BEFORE he gets his insulin. AM Pre Shot/PM Pre Shot. Then the "U" is the amount of insulin he gets after testing his blood sugar and making sure it's safe to give insulin.
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Hi it's important to get some tests in after PMPS, you are only seeing half the picture and some more in during the AMPS cycle
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Hi Diane
I am just starting to be able to test at home. Yesterday was my first day when all went right.
Today Joe is having a Fructosamine test.
thanks
 
smorgasbord said:
Yay, more data. Great job mom!
Is it getting easier to get a reading?
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yes! Just like everyone said, we have a routine. I heat the sock and then take out the can of tuna. He is paying attention when the tuna comes out of the fridge. I put a few bites on his plate and warm ear. Put a few more bites out and prick ear 2-3 times using the heated sock behind where I prick. wait for him to finish his last bite of tuna and capture the blood on the meter. He is happy and I am happy. Fingers crossed and thank you GOD for answering prayers
 
Routines are good, tuna fixes everything :) You're lucky you don't have to hold his ear once you get the drop. Templeton gets annoyed at the feeling of the blood drop and immediately flicks his ear, losing the blood, so I have to hold it once the drop appears and grab the reading quick.
Wondering why you prick more than once? His poor ears :( I'd guess if you wait a bit and lightly squeeze to get a bigger drop, you should only need to prick once.
 
smorgasbord said:
Routines are good, tuna fixes everything :) You're lucky you don't have to hold his ear once you get the drop. Templeton gets annoyed at the feeling of the blood drop and immediately flicks his ear, losing the blood, so I have to hold it once the drop appears and grab the reading quick.
Wondering why you prick more than once? His poor ears :( I'd guess if you wait a bit and lightly squeeze to get a bigger drop, you should only need to prick once.
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HI Smorg,
I prick more than once because sometimes once is not making it happen. Sometimes I get no blood from one poke and then the moment is lost, tuna is gone and he is aggravated. Kind of insurance if you will. I will get better!
BTW, I have looked at the pic of the sweet spot and cannot tell. Is the sweet spot on the part of the ear on the outside of his head? Or the part closest to the other ear?
 
Susan Pomo said:
HI Smorg,
I prick more than once because sometimes once is not making it happen. Sometimes I get no blood from one poke and then the moment is lost, tuna is gone and he is aggravated. Kind of insurance if you will. I will get better!
BTW, I have looked at the pic of the sweet spot and cannot tell. Is the sweet spot on the part of the ear on the outside of his head? Or the part closest to the other ear?
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I feel you, time is valuable, once that tuna is gone...
If you're warming up the ear, I'd be shocked if you don't get blood, it may just be taking a second to appear? I totally get it, the insurance. You're doing great!
It's the outside of his head. The longer side of the ear if you will.

More reading: http://wendyblount.com/handouts-disease/endocrinology/ClientHandout-HomeTesting-EarPrick.pdf
 
Susan Pomo said:
HI Smorg,
I prick more than once because sometimes once is not making it happen. Sometimes I get no blood from one poke and then the moment is lost, tuna is gone and he is aggravated. Kind of insurance if you will. I will get better!
BTW, I have looked at the pic of the sweet spot and cannot tell. Is the sweet spot on the part of the ear on the outside of his head? Or the part closest to the other ear?
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What do you mean closet to the other ear?
Either ear is fine , you can go back and forth from one ear to the other

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fec17d29-5ab4-44a8-912b-3a91944c3954-jpeg.57073
 
"Stroke the ear, wait a few seconds for the
capillaries to refill, then stroke again. If you
don't get a big enough drop before it starts to
coagulate, you will need to prick again."

I love this tutorial.
"If it has already been close to 3 minutes, remove and re-insert the strip to restart the countdown. Most meters will shut off after 3 minutes, even in the middle of sipping up the blood drop. Try explaining to your cat that everything was perfect except your timing ;)
 
Susan Pomo said:
HI Smorg,
I prick more than once because sometimes once is not making it happen. Sometimes I get no blood from one poke and then the moment is lost, tuna is gone and he is aggravated. Kind of insurance if you will. I will get better!
BTW, I have looked at the pic of the sweet spot and cannot tell. Is the sweet spot on the part of the ear on the outside of his head? Or the part closest to the other ear?
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You can do either side.
 
Yikes! Put Joe into the carrier and off to the vet we go. Receptionist cannot find our appointment and DERP..his appointment is tomorrow :facepalm:
Call in to her to make sure it is alright to go to 3units. He has thrown up a little. Twice. Both times there was grass in the vomit.
 
Susan Pomo said:
Yikes! Put Joe into the carrier and off to the vet we go. Receptionist cannot find our appointment and DERP..his appointment is tomorrow :facepalm:
Call in to her to make sure it is alright to go to 3units. He has thrown up a little. Twice. Both times there was grass in the vomit.
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oops! That sounds like something I would do. ;). grass usually makes them puke. 3 is safe
 
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