10/29 Scrabble (Old Timer) needs advice

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Michelle & Scrabble (GA)

Michelle & Scrabble (GA)

Member Since 2010
Hi all,
Some of you may know us but most of you probably don't. Scrabble has been otj for 2 years and 5 months. Last week I noticed him drinking more water and peeing and I got scared. Tested him and he was in the 200's. I immediately made a vet appt and they did an exam, blood work, urinalysis, and xrays. Everything came back normal, the only concern the vet had was his teeth. So I set up a dental and he had that done on Thursday of last week. He came through the dental great and there was no extractions or pain meds. The vet did give him a shot of the antibiotic covenia. It has been 3 1/2 days since his dental and his numbers are still on the high side. Do you think he needs more recovery time to drop? I tested @ 3:30 today and he was at 267. I have some lantus still in my fridge that has expired 06/2012. It has not been opened. I looked at it and there are no floaties or funny smell. My only other concern is my meter. I use the relion micro. It has been very reliable but I did notice a low battery symbol and changed the battery last week. The low battery symbol is still on there. I hope it is not affecting my numbers, I am almost inclined to buy another meter to be safe.

So my question is should I start insulin? I am so hesitant to start again but if he needs it obviously I will. I feel totally clueless about giving insulin again. Would love everyone's input. If I do start insulin, what dosage would I start at?

I am hoping this will be short lived. I am so devastated that his numbers are up! Thanks for helping!

Also I clicked on Scrabble's SS and am clueless on how to input numbers, it seems different from before. Has it changed?
 
Hi Michelle,
It's not always fast around here and the most knowledgeable folks here haven't been on as much today.
The only part I know about is from my own taking notes for future reference and that is that Convenia stays in the system for about 2 weeks.

One of the more experienced persons will probably come on line soon who can tell you what dose to start at and whether or not you should
wait or start soon.
 
To put your mind at ease, I'd get a new meter first. I can't advise if you should restart, or a starting dose.
Is he still on low carb canned food?
Google did change a lot on their docs webpage, but I would hope your old SS would still work okay. Most of the changes had to do with how to share and publish it to the web.

Carl
 
Hi Michelle, it is so good to hear from you. I am so sorry to hear about his numbers and hoping one of the advisors will weigh in on your questions. Do me a favor and in your subject line click on the ? emoticon. This will call attention to your condo that you need help. If your insulin is still sealed and never opened, I would think it is still good. The Relion Micro meter sounds questionable even with the battery replaced. They're so inxpensive. I think if it were me I would just buy a new one. I think they are called Arkay meters now at Walmart. Someone else may know. I finally switched to a humus meter, can you believe it? No more AlphaTrak. How is Scrabble's behavior as far as appy, purry, all that stuff.
 
Hi Michelle

It's good to hear from you, sorry for the reason. I think 'd get a new meter first too, make sure the other isn't giving you bad readings. I doubt it, but you never know... Mannie had received a convenia shot about a month ago. long story there, but overall I didn't notice that it really affected his BG much. AB's just don't seem to raise him much though some kitties are affected by them. convenia will stay in the system two weeks.

It seems to be that he needs a little insulin help. I'm no advisor for sure, so I hope someone in the know will be along shortly. If it were me I'd start low, maybe .25. See what the others say. I'm not sure on the viability of the insulin... just don't know for sure.... I have heard that some pharmacies will sell a single pen, so your $$ outlay wouldn't be too great if you pot for new. I suspect that Scrabble will be back off the juice once he gets a little help. Wishing you much luck!
 
I will probably pick up a new meter tomorrow just to ease my mind! I don't know what is going on with my ss. I do not know how to publish or enter anything on it? It isn't the same as it was before, not sure what I need to do? Thanks for the advice so far, I am sure the experts will come around! Scrabble's diet has been exactly the same as when he was diagnosed. He eats low carb Fancy Feast and freeze dried chicken treats. So no change there. Thanks for all your help
 
You know I've been following the Scrabble saga!

I'd get a new meter.
I'd get new Lantus. The expiration is a long time away from the date of manufacture. I'd take the expiration date seriously.
I'd start Scrabble on a small dose - certainly not more than 0.25u.

My 2 cents -- the longer the numbers are outside the normal range, the harder it is for Scrabble's pancreas to recover and the more you risk damage to other organs.
 
Gonna get a new meter tomorrow on the way to work. Will call vet tomorrow and see if he will give me a perscription for lantus. Do you think it would be ok to use the lantus I have for now or just wait until I can get a new perscription? I am scared to start giving insulin, feels like I forgot how? Any advice on my SS, I have no idea how to post on it, when I try to click on it nothing happens?
 
Lol!! Make sure you are logged in to Google! Your name should appear above the blue "Share" box on the top right of the SS. My guess is that you're not logged in.

If it were me, I'd be nervous about using expired Lantus.
 
Ugh I feel clueless I have done everything that it says on instructions to post my spreadsheet but when it comes up it still does not let me do anything, so frustrated!!! Ok I figured out after my ss comes up I hit the google button at the bottom and them I can post to my ss. Is that how it works now? I used to be able to post right to my ss from the link. Any other opinions on insulin?
 
You can't click on the link in your signature in order to edit. If you open the link from your signature line, it's just like me opening Scrabble's SS -- I can't edit. Go to Google documents -- it should open directly to your documents. Open Scrabble's SS from there. (I have Gabby's SS bookmarked.)
 
Michelle

I agree with Carl and Sienne about getting a new meter and I also would not shoot old lantus.

One thing that is really important with cats coming out of remission is to be a little more aggressive with dosing then when they were first diagnosed. Sienne had great advice to start him at .25u and let's see how he responds. If he's Not coming down in four cycles, ask for dosing help.
 
Gonna pick up new meter tom evening & call vet in morning for new prescription. I will keep you updated from there. I figured out the ss finally lol. I feel like a newbie all over again!
 
michelle! happy to see you, but sorry to hear scrabble's BG numbers have risen.

you've been given some good advice on dosing. start low, but don't hesitate to take the dose up after only 4 cycles as marje suggested. the sooner you can get scrabble down into normal numbers safely... the better. don't worry. this will all come back to you quickly!


on a side note...
i noticed some mention about the antibiotic convenia staying in a cat's system for 2 weeks and i need to correct this impression for all reading.

according to the manufacturer, " Adverse reactions may require prolonged treatment due to the prolonged systemic drug clearance (65 days)."

65 days! that's a long time. we've all seen kitties have reactions to antibiotics. we can stop other abs when kitty is having an adverse reaction and the ab generally clear the body quickly, but that's not the case with Convenia.

quote from dr. lisa: Convenia (manufactured by Pfizer) is an injectable long-acting antibiotic that is labeled for the treatment of skin infections in cats and dogs. It exerts its antibacterial effects for approximately 1-2 weeks but stays in the body for over 2 months.".

edited to add:
just imagine if kitty were to have an adverse reaction to Convenia... you could be fighting that reaction for 2 months! not to mention the more serious reactions noted on dr. lisa' website.



dr. lisa goes into detail about uses and adverse reactions of Convenia here: Convenia: Worth the Risk?

imho, dr. lisa'a article is a must read for every cat owner!
 
Tested Scrabble this morning and he is at 309, I am beside myself. Left a message for the vet to call me to get new insulin. Hopefully he gets back to me today. I would like to start insulin tonight when I get home from work. Freaking out!!!
 
Don't freak out Michelle .. you will get the new 'script and come here for advice and we will get you guys back on track! You've done this before, now it's just a matter of getting back on that bike and riding it again, right? :-D
 
Vet finally called will be picking up script in a little bit. My usual vet was not in so I spoke to the other vet in the office & I had to convince her to write a script. She said well his numbers are not that high yet do you think u can change his diet? Ugh I said he has been on a low carb diet since his diagnosis! She was talking to me like I had no clue! I told her I have a lot of experience. Oh well gonna start a new condo tomorrow, wish me luck!
 
Hugs, Michelle. Have you picked up the insulin yet? You have been given lots of good information. New meter...check
getting insulin...check....now dosing and shooting. Go low and go slow. I also believe that that loner you wait to give him the insulin the harder it will be for his pancreas to start healing, so I'm glad that you are starting now. Hopefully with a little luck and love and insulin, he will be good to go and will be able to return back to his condo at the falls.
 
Hi Michelle & Scrabble,

Sorry that we have to hear from you in the present circumstances, but I'm sure that you'll be able to get Scrabble back on track very soon. New insulin is a must, as is a reliable meter. The Walmart ReliOn is now the Arkray (actually, the meter was always the Arkray, but "branded" for Walmart). It looks as if you figured out how to edit your SS, so you're all set.

Welcome back, and hopefully Scrabble will be back at the Falls before you know it. Many of us "old timers" are still here, plugging away. Tomorrow is Halloween, so be sure to tell Scrabble that he is expected at the big party.

Hugs,

Ella & Rusty
 
Didn't you just love the vet treating you like you didn't know what you were talking about? :roll:
Usually all you have to do is pull out the "I got my cat into remission " and they back off.

I did that with a pet store owner yesterday.... she was trying to convince me that grain free meant low carb.
She backed off really fast when I explained to her that wasn't true, and showed her the list of foods I had that were appropriate.

Looking forward to watching you get Scrabble right back to where he needs to be.
 
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