4/12 Elian - amps 420; 297 +3; 183 +6; 416 +9

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Susie and Elian

Susie and Elian

Member Since 2013
I was hoping his numbers were going to get better - and I'm seeing many that are. But when he shoots back up into the 400's it worries me and I lose hope. :-(

His vet asked me to put him on 2 units (he was at 2.25) for the next two weeks until we go back. She wants to do a fructosamine. It's been 4 months since his first/only one. Good suggestion? Bad? Does he need an increase soon or do I wait and let his mouth and ear heal completely first?

yesterdays condo
 
When I look at his ss just back at March and see where he gets a green and then bounces to black.... I think his liver just isn't used to the lower numbers and it's going to be a process... even though he just had his dental.
That's my opinion.

As for dose, most likely he should be where he was but let's get one of the dosing advisors to tell you that. It also depends on how well he's eating and your ability to monitor.

I personally would say no thank you to the fructosomine ....
She can see your chart... give her the link. I gave my vet my google password so she can look anytime she wanted. She was happy with that.
Why should you spend more money for bg results... you already know what his numbers are.

You should edit your subject line and add question.... and add the question icon too.....
that way you get noticed ....
 
Thanks. I really don't want to pay for the test if its not necessary. I'm still in shock that I was charged $45 for three bg tests the day of his dental - I'd love $15 for each time I test him!!! I printed out the spreadsheet for her and she has it in his file.
 
As long as Elian is eating reliably, I'd increase back to 2.25u.

I used to have arguments with my vet about fructosamine tests. I'd ask your vet to explain the purpose of a fructosamine test. No doubt, she'll tell you it gives you an average of Elian's BG over a 2 - 3 week period. I'd then ask what's the difference between the results and your home testing? you can average your results over a 2 - 3 week period (or probably your meter will give you an average automatically). Fundamentally, if you home test, there's no need to spend the money on a test that tells you less than your spreadsheet.

While I can appreciate your frustration with the bounces, there's no reason to feel hopeless about it. The more time Elian spends in more normal BG numbers, the more he'll get used to those ranges. A bounce is a normal response and it's a protective response that safeguards a cat from hypoglycemia. It's just very annoying that it happens when your cat isn't hypoglycemic!
 
Thank you - yes my meter gives me averages. I will politely tell her it's not necessary. And yes, he eats well. I was just venting - definitely not giving up! I just wish he would surf more and bounce less! I was hoping the dental would do the trick - be the magic potion!
 
look at the dental as helping keep his overall health good - remembers that diabetes management is a marathon, not a sprint - so you need to put on your patient pants and take it all in stride.

and what sienne said about the fructosamine - if your vet insists - then tell her you would be more than happy to have the test done as long she pays for it! that will stop any vet from insisting on an unnecessary test. and just so you know - it does serve a purpose - that is to diagnose diabetes and once home testing, it isn't necessary to do that any longer.
 
Thanks Hillary. I'm guessing its a money maker. I recently got a reminder from the first vet I went to that its time for a fructosamine check also. Kinda funny to see it in the mail since it was the office that gave me all wrong advice re: diabetes and the office I hand delivered a letter to telling them exactly that! (With info and help from all of you, of course!) I really like this vet Ned was sure I could my trust in her. I should know better.
 
I really like my vet. They are trained to use fructosamine tests as a way to gauge a cat's diabetes and response to insulin. If you don't home test, then a fructosamine test is the only resource the vet has to determine what the numbers really look like since a BG test at the time of an appointment is unreliable due to the effects of vet stress. All of us here are outliers -- we home test. The majority of people with a diabetic cat don't home test. I suspect it's a knee jerk response on the vet's part to ask of a fructosamine test.

Also, don't expect immediate results on BG from a dental. It takes a while for any inflammation and for any residual pain from the procedure to resolve.
 
Hi Susie,

You don't have to give your vet your Google password to give her access to your spreadsheet. After all, you don't want her changing it by mistake! Simply click on the link to your spreadsheet where it appears in your signature at the bottom of any of your posts. When the spreadsheet pops up, copy the URL, paste it into an e mail to your vet, and send it. Ask her to save the link so that she can look at the spreadsheet whenever she wants. This way she will be able to see it, but not edit it. In other words, she will see the same thing each of us sees when we view the spreadsheets of other board members.

I hope that Elian's dental will help get his numbers down, but it is certainly true that this is very early in the FD "dance" for Elian and he will probably get less bouncy as the days and weeks go by. You are doing fine.

Have a good weekend,

Ella & Rusty
 
your vet is doing what he is trained to do and sienne is right - many people do not home test, many vets don't recommend or support it and therefore, the fructosamine test is the only way the vet will know what is going on. since you home test, you can share your spreadsheet data and that should suffice, if the vet still insists on the test - then ask him to pay for it - that's all.

and getting reminders in the mail, is quite common. my vets sends postcards when it is time to various visits, check ups and immunizations. I just chuckle and toss them in the trash. and vets do this, because most people wouldn't think to take care of these things otherwise and they are giving you a reminder to do the basic pet care.

do they make money, well of course - if you go in they make money. don't get all down on your vet for doing his job and what he knows best - again, you are doing things that most of his patients probably don't.
 
Susie no one-no vet- is perfect and no one is going to agree with everything you, me or the majority of the people on this board have to say...except for maybe Dr. Lisa. Use your vet for what you need her for and use the FDMB and your own judgement (well not yet) when it comes to Elian's diabetes and just "yes" her. Take what you need and leave the rest.You will need her when other medical issues come up that only she can help you with. That's why I said, don't be hostile about the Metacam...just don't use it.You go in there guns blazing and you've lost a vet. You don't want that, right? Just be calm. In control. Soon you may believe that you actually are :) REALLY!
 
Susie and Elian said:
Thanks for the reminder, Caryl. I do tend to react first and then think/regret after!
Click to expand...

I know :) You love E. But losing his vet ain't gonna help anything. But you don't have to pay for things that aren't necessary and you are allowed to speak your mind. You ARE allowed to say that you do curves every day and don't need a fructosamine test and you ARE allowed to decline medications. As an informed consumer and an advocate for Elian, you are allowed to do these things without being disrespectful. (I was telling Hillary last night that I held up the WHOLE day surgery schedule at Mt. Sinai Hospital once because I refused the anesthesiologist they assigned to my surgery. I had him once before-remembered him-and he used a drug that made me hallucinate and it took them 4 hours to get me out of it. Everyone was edgy. The guy himself said he wasn't even working that day so it wasn't him. The head of the anesthesiology department had to come down and she had my charts and WHAT DO YOU KNOW it WAS him and he gave me Ketamine which tends to cause hallucinations. The head of anesthesiology did my anesthesia that day. I never had an issue at Mt. Sinai again. I had some pre-cancer problems when I was younger so I had several not so great surgeries).

Point being, I did not back down and I was right. I would have had an awful outcome if I didn't do what I did cause it was a long surgery this time, and no one was angry with me. You are allowed to stick up for what you believe in. It's all in the delivery. ;)
 
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