12/18 Tessa AMPS 303 +2 205 +4 108 +6 217 PMPS 327 +2 305

[tessa's mom]

Yesterday: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/12-17-tessa-amps-348-2-327-pmps-285-2-253.271958/

I'm starting to get a little better at getting those tests in. I managed to get the +2 test with just one poke and that was without getting her ear warm, that seems to annoy her more than anything.

I'm really hoping she clears the bounce today instead of tomorrow. I will be home tomorrow but I do have to work and can't take frequent breaks to chase her down and test her.

I'm probably going to stick with 1.5 until we can get a new Libre sensor because I just don't have it in me to test her as often as necessary when increasing the dose. I know that she's been on 1.5 for quite a while now but I'd rather play it safe and have all the data.

Since Tessa seems to either drop fast early in the cycle or coast along, would a preshot and +2 be enough tests to decide whether to keep testing in each cycle? She's dropped by nearly 100 already today, I'm thinking I should test her again at +4.

 

[Bandit's Mom]

It's great that testing is getting easier. Looks like she is listening and might clear the bounce this cycle. A +4 or even a +5 should be okay this morning. Feed her a little LC every hour to prevent sharp drops?

I think a +2 would give you an indication of whether it's going to be an active cycle.

 

[tessa's mom]

It's great that testing is getting easier. Looks like she is listening and might clear the bounce this cycle. A +4 or even a +5 should be okay this morning. Feed her a little LC every hour to prevent sharp drops?

I think a +2 would give you an indication of whether it's going to be an active cycle.

Thanks! I'll give her a bit of food again at +3 and then more at +4 and I'll try for a test then.

 

[tessa's mom]

It's great that testing is getting easier. Looks like she is listening and might clear the bounce this cycle. A +4 or even a +5 should be okay this morning. Feed her a little LC every hour to prevent sharp drops?

I think a +2 would give you an indication of whether it's going to be an active cycle.

I think you're right on her clearing the bounce! She's at 108. Should I test again at +5 or just keep an eye on her for signs of hypoglycemia? She's pretty upset with me testing her, she's hiding under the bed now.

 

[Bandit's Mom]

Give her a break and test at +6? Feed her at +5. I presume she got food at +4?

 

[tessa's mom]

Give her a break and test at +6? Feed her at +5. I presume she got food at +4?

Yes, she ate some fancy feast pate at +4.

 

[tessa's mom]

She's up to 217 so I'm going to wait to test again until PMPS.

 

[tessa's mom]

She was back up to 327 at PMPS. I plan to only test at +2 tonight unless her numbers have plummeted. She'll get more food at +2. I've also got some wet food in the freezer that I'm going to leave out overnight in case she's hungry later in the night.

 

[tessa's mom]

Thank goodness her PM +2 was 305 because poor girl needs a break. It took me like 8 sticks to get enough blood for the test. I don't know why it was so difficult when most of the other tests today weren't that bad but it was like I'd get tiny bit of blood and it would coagulate before I could even get any on my fingernail. I ended up sticking her manually with the lancet and it still took 2 more times to get enough blood. I feel so bad for her. She was growling and upset with me. I gave her a little bit of extra food (I'm sadly out of low carb treats and I didn't realize!) and she scarfed that down and is now hiding under the bed.

Today has been tough. I am hoping that we can get a new Libre sensor on her tomorrow because I don't think she or I can handle doing this day in and day out and today was only 6 tests. I can't imagine a day where she drops low and I need to do a bunch of tests.

 

[Bandit's Mom]

You could try applying a thin layer of vaseline before poking so the blood will bead. Hang in there. It gets much easier with practice. Her ears will also "learn" to bleed. Even after you get the Libre, you might want to poke her twice a day just to get her used to it.

 

[tessa's mom]

You could try applying a thin layer of vaseline before poking so the blood will bead. Hang in there. It gets much easier with practice. Her ears will also "learn" to bleed. Even after you get the Libre, you might want to poke her twice a day just to get her used to it.

I tried the vaseline last night, not sure if it helped. I'll try it again tomorrow. The only other thing I can think of is that the lancets I got are not going deep enough. I got the Bayer Microlet lancets that are 28 gauge and they had good reviews. They point looks kind of short though so maybe it's not going as deep as it should (I have the lancing device set to the deepest setting). I also have some ReliOn lancets and a ReliOn lancing device but those lancets are 30 gauge. Maybe I'll try those tomorrow though just to see if they work any better.

I really meant to get her used to the tests before I absolutely needed them but I just forgot. I've been completely overwhelmed and exhausted lately between doing all the things I need to do for Tessa, work, Christmas, and other family stuff. I'm going to try really hard to keep up with at least two manual tests per day even after we get the Libre but there may be days where it just doesn't happen.

 

[Bandit's Mom]