1/12 Simon PMPS 82 +4 78 +6 98

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Georgia and Simon (GA)

Georgia and Simon (GA)

Member Since 2010
Last night and this morning were a little stressful because I am having problems getting any blood out of Simon's ears. I have never had much of a problem before and now, all of a sudden, I am having to poke him many times and waste lots of strips because there is little blood coming out. I have warmed up his ear, massaged his ears, put pressure on his ear below where I want to poke, tried all different areas on his ears, but still nothing. I have had to resort to just using the lancet without the lancet pen, but Simon doesn't like doing it this way. I know his AMPS was higher today because of all pokes I had to do. The one good thing is that Simon is very forgiving and doesn't run away from me when I have to test again. He is so patient and likes the treats after his pokes. Does anyone have any advice? I have also noticed that Simon has a little bump on the tip of his ear where I do many of the pokes. Is this something to be worried about? Other than the ear poke issue, Simon is doing great although I think he is getting a little tired of me being with him 24/7 because we are still stuck inside due to the winter storm. Another day off from work which has been pretty nice but I am beginning to get cabin fever.

Thanks for listening everyone and have a wonderful day!

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Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 ear poke help

I had the same problem with Maverick yesterday. I think it took five pokes and we rarely have any trouble. Even tried both ears.

When we have trouble like this and I clue in we do a couple of pokes close together and hope that I can massage enough blood for a test. Just an idea. Some days it just seems harder.
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 ear poke help

I've never used the lancet pen because I thought I'd have better accuracy doing it by hand. Like Karrie, I have sometimes done a couple pokes close together hoping the little blood drops will combine enough to yield a sample.

It's terrible snowy here too and I am going to conquer my cabin fever by working in my kitchen! :cool:
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 ear poke help

Hi, Georgia & Simon...
Here are some links to review.. sometimes it helps to see & remind ourselves of the basics ;-)
I tried a lancet pen once & the noise, etc was too stressful for Baby, so I tried freehanding that first day & have freehanded since.. I don't warm the ear or anything, I just get Baby, prick the ear quick & test. I found warming the ear, lancet pen, etc. made a big production of it - if I just freehand quickly it is over in about 10 seconds (7 of which are the meter counting down). Each cat/bean is different though. Here are the links:

Home Testing Site http://www.sugarcats.net/sites/harry/bgtest.htm

Home Testing Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zE12-4fVn8
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 ear poke help

Thanks for the advice about doing a couple of pokes close together. I'll give it a try. I'm also going to try and do a few deep relaxation breaths before I test again. I think my stress and frustration is making the situation worse. I'm not going to test as much today to see if that also helps. Reading the testing information sticky again was also helpful.
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 ear poke help

Hi Georgia, Join the club! Sometimes we all just seem to hit a rough period. Rusty and I are in that now, too. I've tried free-handing, but always wind up going back to the lancet device because it is so much faster of a poke than I can do free-hand. But everyone has their own preferences and their own skills!! I recently switched to BD lancets (much better than the store brand I was using) and the Accu-Chek "Soft Touch" lancet device, which is much better than the one I had been using (the one that came with the meter). This has made a big difference. But some days you just can't get good blood.

Simon is looking good. Keep up the good work!

Ella & Rusty
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 ear poke help

I forgot to mention in my earlier post, I use the Relion Meter & testing strips - but use Accu-Check Softclix lancets & have found them to be wonderful "easy" on the ear, the link provided here is for Amazon - but you can buy them most anywhere.
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 ear poke help

HI guys .. sorry to hear about the ear poke problems .. that happens to us quite often as well .. We have never been able to free hand poke, we always use the lancets but several times we have to do multiple clicks ... hope you get it figured out .. oh, and nice amps! Have a great day guys!
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 ear poke help

Great AMPS! We sometimes have problems with pokes, too. I tried freehand, but it just didn't work well for me, so we use the Relion pen, which i HATED at first, but now have grown to like quite a bit. I also like the one that comes with the Freestyle lite metter. Good luck with getting that straightened out!
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 +6 72

Thanks for all your words of encouragement. At +6, I was successful on the first poke! I think it made me calmer to think that everyone has these problems once in awhile and it will get better again. Ella and Nicole, I didn't think about changing the lancet pen to a different brand. I thought they were all pretty much the same. I'm going to try the Accu-check one as soon as I can get out of my icy driveway -- probably not until Friday!! It is still only 21 degrees here so i don't think we are thawing out yet.
 
Re: 1/12 Simon AMPS 132 +6 72

Hi Georgia,
Simon kitty is looking really good. Add me to the list also for a difficult time getting a drop of blood sometimes, especially first thing in the morning. Maggie also has that little bump from me pricking there too many times. I don't think it's anything to worry about. I try and prick around it. Her other ear does not seem to want to cooperate. I remember the cabin fever feeling when I used to live on the east coast. It's warm here today - you can always move here in southern Calif. if it's in the cards.
 
Re: 1/12 Simon PMPS 82

I really think you're on to something with taking a few nice deep breaths before you test. My Chaos can definitely tell if I'm anxious at test time. They're so sensitive they can probably hear our hearts pounding! I take deep breaths beforehand if I'm feeling wound up, and (this is kinda silly but it works) I sing while I'm warming his ear. It probably calms me more than him, but it makes for a better overall experience for us.
 
Re: 1/12 Simon PMPS 82

When Maverick had his feeding tube I had to come up with very innovative ways to keep him calm enough and not bolt. I used to sing to him too - mamas and the papas of all things. When his tube was removed I really think he missed that attention - probably not my singing voice though. They can really tell when you are calm and when you are stressed. He just loves being petted with a warm rice sock. All over. Its calming for me too - that motor/purr of his is so cool.

Beautiful PMPS for Simon!!!
 
Re: 1/12 Simon PMPS 82 +4 78

What a great idea to sing while I test Simon. He loves music because whenever I play the piano, he jumps up on the piano bench and loves to watch me play. I guess he has that musical gene. I'll try singing tomorrow morning to see if that helps the blood flow better. Thanks for the tip!
 
Re: 1/12 Simon PMPS 82 +4 78

Hi Georgia - Another one here too that's been through what you described. Mannie and I have been through many a session where blood was not to be found. Sometimes it is just the way it is. I also have done two pokes close together. I also found that poking out on the edge towards the top of the ear works better for Mannie. and on the ridge/bump thing: Mannie gets that too. It will go away. Try and move the poke site a little to let the area heal up some. I also use neosporin on Mannie's ears - that too helps with the bumps. while i am not a singer i do talk to Mannie while I test. It seems to relax him some.

have a great night - nice numbers too btw!
 
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