10/26Hannah GloryAMPS 331/2U

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Priscillalea

Member Since 2011
Good Morning Kitty Friends, I may have to give Hannah a day or two break from ear sticks, veins are not working as well and sometimes have to stick a couple of times to get blood, she is very sore and is fighting me some, which she has never done..........I usually do not have trouble getting the blood, but the last day or two has been more difficult, ..............I will fill in spread sheet when ever I do do it.............Hope you all have a great day................Priscilla and Hannah Glory
 
Hi Priscillalea,

I guess you've tried the tricks of warming her ear, etc. My husband accidently discovered a way that makes the blood flow faster. He and Weezer have a special play move he calls stretchey. If I get a video someday I'll post it. But the main thing is, during this play time Weezer's head is a bit lower than the rest of her body. A poke done afterwards is almost guaranteed to bleed well. Would Hannah Glory go for something like that? Maybe on you lap with her head hanging down. I know you are aware of how important it is to get those readings to keep her safe. Good luck!
 
Hi Priscilla, I haven't posted in your condo before....I have not been around for a few months so I am trying to get caught up with everyone. I noticed that you have posted before about using an AlphaTrak meter....are you still using it or have you switched to a human meter? If you are still using the AT, please make a note of it in you signature, as well as on your SS. It is important for anyone advising you to know if you are using a pet meter, because the normal range is 30 pts higher than for a human meter. Low numbers for a pet meter is below 80, not below 50, so it would be very possible for Hannah to be in hypo range when everyone thinks her numbers are just fine!

I know it can be difficult to get the tests, but it is important to try to get at least one mid cycle test during each cycle as well as the PS tests....that's 4 tests per day. That is really the minimum that you should get in order to monitor how the dose is working. My cat was resistant to the testing in the beginning, but I persisted and it got easier, he learned that I was going to test him whether he resisted or not. It is important that you not let Hannah "win" by resisting and getting rewarded for it (meaning that you abandon the attempt). You need to be calm, firm and no-nonsense when you test if she is resisting, and be sure to reward her every time. As far as the soreness....use the neosporin, it does help. You are not doing any permanent damage to her ears.....they will learn to bleed more easily over time. I only use one ear to test, always have.....if you look at our SS you will see that we test a LOT. Hang in there, it will get easier, honest!
 
i'll join the chorus of "hang in there, it gets easier!" as you poke the ears grow more capillaries - after a while there's never a poke that doesn't bring a drop of blood. i had to set the lancet on the deepest setting in the beginning, which is a 4 on our lancet device, and now i have it at 1, the shallowest setting.

the neosporin ointment with pain relief is awesome - just smear some on at the end of the day and the ear heals overnight. if you're worried about it hurting her, you can put it on about a half hour before you test to kinda numb it. i tried it on my foot where the cats had scratched me (i must've been in the middle of the racetrack!) and it was pretty amazing! it really does take out the owie.

the reason everyone is encouraging you to still get at least one mid-cycle test is because on the same dose the numbers will change. it seems logical to think if you maintain a dose & feed the same the BG will measure the same - but it doesn't. the body adjusts and suddenly they are lower than they were before. insulin is a hormone - so it's different than taking a blood pressure med (for example) where you stay on the same dose all the time.

anyway, you'll get there. don't be discouraged!
 
Hi guys .. sorry to hear the testing is not going so well .. as others have said, it's so important but I am sure you know that by now .. Neo worked well for us .. also, a lot of the times we rubbed the edges of mocha's ears before we tested her .. that always seemed to get the blood flowing ... Good luck in getting more tests in .. have a great day guys!
 
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