12/13, Binie, AMPS 414, +2.5 375, +7 279

Last post: https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/thr...45-3-320-6-270-10-75-447.296538/#post-3227804

Good evening,

still we are both adjusting to the new poking habit. Last night I got up two times to test, always yellow numbers. I hope we see some blue ones soon.

I am a bit concerned because I feel Binie is more quiet since yesterday. Her vet will be only opened until next Thursday and then closed until next year 7th of January. I really hope, we don't need them until then or I don't miss anything.

Her skin where the libre was placed does not look great. Lots of shedding skin cells and it is a bit reddish beneath and a bit warm. If I don't see any improvement by Monday, I will have to ask the vet.

I am so greatful I was able to test her so much but I have to take care I don't ruin her ears. Seems the lancets I am using are too big (23G). Since I am poking her so much, it is sometimes even too much blood. And I can't use both eartips, as one is torn from a cat fight years ago. I ordered new lancets today and hope they arrive by Monday. I will also call the pharmacy tomorrow, sometimes they can get things in one day.

Hope everyone has a good start in the weekend!

 

@cecile & bella


Thank you so much for your feedback Cecile! So much appreciated! I had the hope she would go down to blue numbers like some nights before and I hoped I would catch it. See what happens tonight.... Hope you have a great start in the weekend!

 

Hi Heike, I’m so glad that the poking is going as well as it could be. I didn’t realize one of Binie’s ears was out of commission due to a prior fight. Poor girl she’s a real trooper.

I do hope her skin starts to look better. I guess it can’t hurt to ask your vet what they think you could try.
Hopefully the lancets will come in quickly, and they will be helpful in managing the poking and making it easier on both of you.

We are sending lots of good wishes for an easy night ahead for both of you to relax.

 

Thank you so much Staci! I think I will just write an e-mail on Monday if it it does not get better. Maybe (hopefully) they don't have to see her. I just wonder if I have to do anything else, as she seems a bit tired.

Her left ear can still be used for poking but it is a bit limited, because of the tip is torn and the vein changed it's route. Here you can see it quite well, look at the ear on the right (left from Binies perspective). I can still remember the night it happened. She was so upset and it was bleeding a lot. Of course it was at a weekend, so we had to go to an emergency vet.

 

Our kitties are bookends—I only poke Methos’ left ear. I hope you get smaller lancets soon (I bet you never thought you’d have too much blood eh?). I also hope your vet has some suggestions —I’m worried she’s acting off, but Methos gets more quiet when he bounces (I don’t like it). I think he doesn’t feel well from the change, or maybe his tummy is upset from the medium carb food or me stuffing him with extra low carb. It looks like Methos and Binie have similar numbers today—I hope they both lower gently.

 

Wow, Binnie is a warrior!
I found that poking got a lot easier, at first it was very difficult to get blood, and now it's easy. I read here that their ears learn, and I think there is some truth in that!

 

Yes, I don't like how her ear looks and I am scared to poke her more. I call the pharmacy first thing in the morning. Or I should think about free hand poking. I am using these little devices which look like a pen because I feel intimidated by the needle. But maybe I should get rid of that feeling because I know I hurt her if the ear gets too bruised.

And yes, I am really surprised how much blood is coming.... I will do another ketone test tomorrow. Yesterday was o.k.

I wonder when I should do another poke tonight? Maybe getting up around +7? I don't want to poke her too often....

Yes, Methos pattern today looks very familiar to me. Hope you have a calm night Colleen!

 

Hhhhh....she unfortunately is! And I bet she also ruined some cats ears..... Hope Bella is fine and had her small piece of butter today.

 

She even helped herself to my plate, this little thief.
You should try freehand, it is much much better, in my opinion. I could never know where the poke was going to be, with the device, and it was too strong, it pierced my finger through her ear several times, I did not like it. My cat sitter pokes very gently on the inside of the ear (the pink side), same spots but inside. She turns the ear on her finger. I do the outside but it comes back to the same. She does not have any bruises.

 

Thank you Cecile, you are right! I should try that. Another new thing to learn... Hhhhhh....Bella the little thief! I hope she enjoyed it!

Will go to bed now and set my alarm at +6. We'll see, what she is up to. Hope you have a relaxed evening!

 

Have a good night!

 

I do freehand. I feel like I have better control and I know methos would hate the pen and the noise and well—all of it. He doesn’t like new things. If you do freehand make sure you put a cotton ball or 2x2 gauze or something under the ear in case you poke through (I do that ) so you don’t poke yourself also. I may have done that

good luck

 

Poor baby. I can see her ear well now. She is a tough girl.
She is such a beauty. I love her markings on her sweet face. The black fur around her left eye is so beautiful. She’s got the sweetest face I just want to smooch her

My favorite vet who used to treat Ivy would always tell me that her tough demeanor was actually a good thing, that she had the will to fight.
So hopefully that applies to Binie as well. She has the fight in her to try to be as well as she can.
Hoping their personalities serve both of our girls well

 

Hi Heike.
Binie is such a cutie!
You are doing a great job testing Binie. Hopefully, you get the new lancets today.
I hope Binie skin starts to look better. Sending healing vibes, paws crossed.
Wishing Binie shows you some blues tonight and that you both have a calm, restful night.
Safe surfing, Binie!

 

Such a pretty girl, your Binie! I love her pretty spots and those mysterious almond-shaped eyes!

I hope you can get some smaller lancets soon (I use the 30g on Chispa). Also hope her skin will clear up where the Libre is.

Happy weekend, Heike, and safe surfing to Binie!

 

Thank you Cecile! After your post last night I felt incouraged to do the poke just with a lancet. I definitely need some practice but I think that is the way to go!

 

Thank you so much Colleen. I am convinced now, that free hand is what I have to do. Binie doesn't mind the click fortunately but with a device it is more difficult to place the needle right. That might have caused me to hit the vein so much. I have to admit I also hit the vein free poking since yesterday but maybe with a bit of practice I get better. And you are right with the gauze, I poked myself yesterday.

 

I really like it better, it made such a difference when I changed. I have a much better rate of success like that.

 

Hi Staci, thank you so much! Binie also says thank you for the smooches and the compliments. I have to admit that the picture is from last year, I was searching for one where you can see the ears correctly. It was one of the last pictures before her Iodine treatment. She was much slimmer by then. But for me she is always beautiful. I'm sure you feel the same with sweet, fluffy Ivy!

I love the thought that Ivys and Binies will to fight is a benefit for them. Very often I just saw where it made her life more difficult. But maybe it helps them to go through tough situations and fight for their life, even though they don't feel great.

I hope you and Ivy have a great day today, even though you will be more than a bit tired... I send you many hugs!

 

Great to read that! Somehow it is logical that one can be more precise with the needle in the hand. I think they make the device because people feel intimidated by the needels. I do too.... ...but on my way to overcome it.

By the way: Just drinking the first kefir which is tasty! The first batches tasted a bit too much yeast-like. Tomorrow I will start giving a little to Binie and see how she can digest it. This one seems to have too much alcohol... I hope you and Bella are fine! Going to check on you guys later!

 

Hi Madeline,

Binie says thank you for the compliments! I think the testing has room for improvement, because I hurt her ears too much. They had no suitable lancets in the pharmacy but I found some in my private pet-stuff-warehouse at home which allow me to free poke. I think I need to expermiment a bit to find, what works for us.

Thank you so much for the healing vibes! Since today I have the feeling the skin gets finally better. But it might be a long way before I can install another libre....

Unfortunately we are still seeing no blue numbers. But Butch has great numbers today! So happy to see that! Great job!

 

Hi Karen, thank you so much! Binie is delighted you find her looks "mysterious" and she says thank you too! I asked for 30g lancets in the pharmacie today but after long research they didn't find any. I hope the 28 will be in the post on Monday and by now I experiment with free poking with the lancets from the device. If the 28 works, i will change to 30. Thank you for giving me this orientation!

Hope you have a great weekend with Chispa!

 

Been there. More than once. Once even with the gauze.

 

Hi Heike. I haven’t been on here much but just now checking on everyone. So glad you’re getting the hang of it!
Binie is so beautiful in that picture, I could just hug her up!
Hope you both have a great weekend!

 

Thank you so much Deb! I am not a fan of the poking thing and I might never will... Hope we can use the libre again in future. I hope Tiger is all well!

 

Hi Binie. Thank you! Butch really did surf nicely today.
Happy to hear you found some lancets and you were able to free poke. When we test Butch with the handheld, we free poke too. We never did it differently. I understand about hurting Binie's ear. You will figure out what works best for you both.
That is good news that her skin is getting better. Continuing to send healing vibes!
Sorry, no blues. Come on Binie, show your mama those beautiful blues...

 

Princess Binie of the enchanting smile, Methos sends his regards! Perhaps you and he could both take a walk out of the sunset colors and into some nice cool