1/7, Bell, AMPS 264 +2.5 227 +4 211 +6 118 +8 63 +9 77 +10 68 PMPS 61 +1 60 +2 71 +3 69

[bluesunshine]

Yesterday

Bell gave me a good reminder of why I don't think I could handle a full time in-office position right now. I probably would have saw a relatively flat +2.5 to +4 and thought she'd be ok for the rest of the day... I do think this identifies a pattern that I can use in the future. Looking back through her spreadsheet, I don't see maybe consecutively decreasing AMPS +2 +4 in the yellows that haven't resulted in her going low. Maybe 10/21 but that is a long time ago. I'm not confident enough at reading the tea leaves to not drive myself nuts. But not to bury the lede, Bell is in greens!!! I know this may be short-lived but I will take it.

Got her to the vet today for the IAA and IGF-1 tests. Looks like Michigan State runs the IGF-1 on Tuesdays and Fridays and the IAA on Mondays. So I will have to wait awhile. I'm really nervous about the IGF-1 test, but what will be will be.

Thank you for all the support about the job situation. I don't currently see a path forward where it would work but my supervisor and I are going to give it some time to think on. He was wondering if either of these tests would give any clarity to how long I would need to keep doing this, but I don't think they would. If she does have acromegaly, I'm sure that would shorten her life span, but from what I've read from folks here who have treated it, that could be multiple years. So I don't think that changes anything. I'm a little raw and numb so I'm just going to give it time.

Thank you all, again! Bell seems to be doing well today after not having fun that the vet. She is currently in HUNGRY mode with the low greens.

 

[bluesunshine]

 

[bluesunshine]

Hi Seth, I am so sorry, that is a lot to digest. I send you lots of hugs. And as you described your team, it doesn't really makes sense to be in office anyway. Corporate life can be crazy...

Bell is so lucky, you found her in this shelter. She has been through a lot too. I'm sure, solutions come up. And who knows, maybe after some time you are somehow grateful for the changes you are doing now. Good to see Bell rewarded you with a green number today.

Thank you so much Heike!! Hugs right back! . She really loves to stick to those low greens!

 

[cecile & bella]

Great to see her in greens!
I am sorry you have so much going on. I hope the test results will give you some direction, and maybe there will be a solution with your work. It's hard when nothing feels right

 

[bluesunshine]

Thank you, Cecile! I have had trouble keeping up with everyone’s kitties with all that’s going on, but I’m so happy Bella is doing well.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Hi Seth. Just worry about Bell! You have a lot going on. We are here to hold you up.
Enjoy Bell hanging out in greens. And I hope you can both get some rest tonight as she recovers from the vet appointment and stress.

Sending you both lots of good wishes tonight

 

[Tim & Pookey]

Nice greens today!! No stress about us, you’re doing a great job for Bell.

 

[bluesunshine]

Awe thank you all!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I was trolling Bell's SS earlier today - not sure if you heard the cheer from here on that 63.

When you are looking for patterns, it's typically more than one cycle in a row. I do remember having a 3 cycle pattern for Neko that led to her dropping. I'd start by noting all the "starts yellow sees green surf" cycles, then take a look at the 2-3 cycles before then and see if you can see a pattern. I did see a few starts yellow down to green in the SS.

 

[bluesunshine]

So that’s the noise I heard when I entered it in the SS!.

I see a pattern in todays’s AM cycle but if I look beyond that, I don’t send a good pattern from the 1/6 cycles. Maybe the continuously decreasing cycle from the PM cycle of 1/6 might hold a clue? Or perhaps I just missed the nadir of that cycle…. 12/30 is another continuously decreasing 2-cycles pair that ends up in greens the next day. 12/21 is almost that… Baby steps to reading the tea leaves!!

 

[MinnerPip]

Hi Seth. Knowledge is power and you are most certainly gathering all the knowledge you can via glucose testing and the IAA and IGF-1. It is refreshing to hear that your manager is so respectful, caring and collaborative regarding your personal circumstances. I’ve seen this return to office strategy in my own company over the years, as well as centralizing job functions to certain geo locations and low cost countries. Reducing staff w/o having to pay separation packages is a CFO joy. Good ole corporate America. Ok, off soap box (sorry!).

Have you ever tried the Libre? I did with Minner but it just won’t work for her. She is miserable, constantly trying to get it off, often dislodging it within a day or a few days. And it destroys her skin, taking almost a month to heal afterwards. Big bummer b/c for us humans, it is a godsend. Especially the Libre3 which is small (dime sized) and has auto sensor reading via bluetooth vs having to manually scan. There is another function of the technology that I have read about but not used. It appears that this additional app (LibreLinkUp) allows glucose readings to be shared remotely. In theory, if all the stars align this could mean caregivers can be away from their kitty yet be vigilant to the glucose levels so they could return home if warranted. Since u would need your phone w/ u remotely, would need another phone/device running the apps near Bell to auto capture. This could be a nice safety net that provides more flexibility, but it does not solve the frequent need to encourage eating situation. Minner is same way w/ sometimes needing encouragement to eat. I use petcube systems to monitor and interact with cats while away, but I’m pretty sure remote eating encouragement via petcube system would not be effective for Minner. Thinking out loud here ….

Love seeing the green for Bell today. Dancing a celebration jig for her (and you). Good luck as the labor of love continues. I trust that a path will reveal itself.