6 Nov | Girlie | AMPS 398; +5=227; PMPS 664 Not doing well here

[Girlie's mom]

Condo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...-292-2-184-pmps-529-sigh.186320/#post-2069293

Took a chance last night with the high black numbers and gave her 1% FF Savoury Salmon in the hopes that that would bring her down. It did, and she dove, but the stall seemed to have worked (?). So far so good today: dive wasn't too bad while at Acupuncture vet.

She's eating and improving; tests show decrease in Creatinine (from 290 to 270); other CKD-related tests are apparently in normal range (will post all labs when I get the final results).

Specfpl is apparently 5.7, but no abdominal pain or tenderness (acupuncture vet checked today); she's eating normally again; no Cerenia since 31 Oct (so day six of no signs of nausea); no signs of pain; is alert and bright-eyed; seems happy; VERY cuddly last two days, but chilly outside. No vomiting or weight loss: in fact she's gaining weight (at 3.84 kg / 8.5 lbs).

Increase at +6 could be result of 9% being too many carbs, or reaction to acupuncture - not sure. Gave 6% @+6. Am determined to try to get this right!

I hope all kitties are well and happy tonight and surf safely.

 

[Girlie's mom]

Darrah, I wish Girlie was more boring so you wouldn't have to worry so much.

@Alicia & Maggie , I always want to "like" your posts or respond, but then that bumps the post up so it seems like I've got two going at once. But I decided I'd reply directly today. Thank you for the hug. I, too, look forward to the day when Girlie becomes absolutely and utterly boring!

I hope Maggie is doing well today; I have to dash in to work, but I'll try to check in later.

 

[Alicia & Maggie (GA)]

@Alicia & Maggie , I always want to "like" your posts or respond, but then that bumps the post up so it seems like I've got two going at once. But I decided I'd reply directly today.

I've got a condo from 10/30 still going, so I don't think it is too big of a deal. Either way, I always try to check in on you and Girlie!

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Looking good. So happy to hear of the good test results and appy back in check!

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

always want to "like" your posts or respond, but then that bumps the post up so it seems like I've got two going at once. But I decided I'd reply directly today.

This is exactly the way we like you to do it, Darrah. It does get very confusing when an old condo gets bumped up, and if you have one that spans several days, lots of info gets lost, as no one what to read the whole darned thing! Doing a new one every day and posting only on your current condo is the way to go!

I'm glad you're getting Girlie's idiosyncrasies figured out, but don't let her know, or she'll change it up!

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Farrah

I know you are working really hard at this. She isn’t making it easy, either. I am glad to hear she is feeling better. It’s easy for us to get caught up in the numbers but the numbers aren’t the kitty. It’s good you recognize it and can celebrate her feeling better.

My gut tells me she needs more insulin (ok...I’ve said it so now she can come down into green). I know you might not see this but I am seeing an improvement. I always was able to see things in other kitty’s SS much better than I could see them in Gracie’s. We focus on the high numbers so much that we can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s common.

I thought I had posted to you about whether you might be interested in trying a fast acting bolts insulin like Humulin or Novolin R? The Lantus just cannot yank the high numbers down but if you gave her a tiny bit of R as she starts up, it might stop her from going so high. It then gives the Lantus a lower starting point to grab onto and work.

I can teach you how to do it but we have to be very precise at the times that you would give it to her and you would have to be available to test for 4-6 hours so a non workday for you would be best. The goal with the R is to just get the high numbers to stop or to bring them down by about 100 mg/dL over four hours.

 

[Girlie's mom]

Farrah

I know you are working really hard at this. She isn’t making it easy, either. I am glad to hear she is feeling better. It’s easy for us to get caught up in the numbers but the numbers aren’t the kitty. It’s good you recognize it and can celebrate her feeling better.

My gut tells me she needs more insulin (ok...I’ve said it so now she can come down into green). I know you might not see this but I am seeing an improvement. I always was able to see things in other kitty’s SS much better than I could see them in Gracie’s. We focus on the high numbers so much that we can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s common.

I thought I had posted to you about whether you might be interested in trying a fast acting bolts insulin like Humulin or Novolin R? The Lantus just cannot yank the high numbers down but if you gave her a tiny bit of R as she starts up, it might stop her from going so high. It then gives the Lantus a lower starting point to grab onto and work.

I can teach you how to do it but we have to be very precise at the times that you would give it to her and you would have to be available to test for 4-6 hours so a non workday for you would be best. The goal with the R is to just get the high numbers to stop or to bring them down by about 100 mg/dL over four hours.

Hi Marje,
I can certainly increase her insulin to 1.25. I hate this time difference thing between the US and Oz! It creates such a time delay with doing things like dose increases.

I don't know if the vet would give me Humulin or Novolin R: I'd have to make an appointment and see if she'd do that. I know they were trying that from 4 - 11 July when Girlie was in hospital after her hypo incident; you can see the numbers on her SS. It brought her down really quickly, but she wouldn't stay down: she bounced back up to high black numbers. She was one sick kitty while she was there. They finally sent her home to me and said use 1.5 Units of Lantus AM and PM.

Do I need a fast-acting insulin to bring her high numbers down? All I have to do is give her a low-carb food and she'll drop 100+ points just that way, unless she gets stuck in black AM and PM, as she did after both Zydax injections. Wouldn't that just start another bounce, then, as it did when she was in hospital? It seems like we'd be going up and down as we are now, but with insulin, instead of food with different carb levels. But I probably just don't understand how that would work!

I have to admit I'm a bit anxious about that as she drops so quickly normally; and from her SS, that would have to be done at night, which is when she tends to bounce to higher numbers. I feel like I'm failing Girlie, but to be honest, given my degree of extended sleep deprivation at the moment, I don't know if I could do that right now. I don't know if I can express how absolutely exhausted I am and how desperate I am to get several nights - just one night! - of some uninterrupted sleep. I looked at Gracie's SS, but you must have been able to work from home and had someone to help or you have an incredible ability to get by on no sleep! I just can't test that much as of the end of this month, and I need to know that I can keep her safe.

Lantus vs. Levemir: Is it possible that Lantus just isn't working for her? Could Levemir possibly straighten her out a bit? How do I know if Lantus isn't working? Although it seems a remote possibility at this point, do cats go into remission when on Levemir? It seems like Lantus is the preferred insulin, but I haven't been able to find much info on Levemir and the difference between the two: the advantages and disadvantages. And if I were to try Levemir, is it like starting from scratch, I assume? How I do that and keep her safe when I'm at work is worrying...plus, I was hoping to surprise mom at Christmas, but that's looking less likely as each day goes on with Girlie.

I don't quite get what's going on with her: she had a pretty good September, and then October has gone downhill after the second Zydax injection. 2 and 3 November were looking positive, but then I wonder if I stuffed her up with my trying to be proactive with guessing when she might dive and trying to compensate for that beforehand with food that was too high in carb.

Also, just curious: I've looked at a lot of SS here, but I don't think I've seen a kitty that has spent as much time in high blacks as Girlie: is she unusual in this?

Okay! I've hit a huge wall: it's already 7:00 pm; I still haven't had time to eat today; I'll be flat out tomorrow; I'm fighting off getting sick but feel like I'm losing that battle; I feel utterly defeated with what's going on with Girlie; and this is the second anniversary of my dad's death, and my brother and I will be having our anniversary catch up early in the morning. Not a good day today, and what I've got on tomorrow doesn't look good, either. I'm going to have a good cry and hope things look a little better in the morning. Sorry to end this on a negative note...

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

{{{Darrah}}}

Marje has probably called it a night, as it's 2 am where she is. I'm sure she'll respond in the morning.

Meanwhile, you need to take care of you, because if you don't, who will take care of Girlie? Get some sleep. Get a before bed test tonight, and unless Girlie is showing signs of taking one of her signature dives (which I doubt), don't set an alarm to test. Things will look a little better in the morning if you've had a good night's sleep.

Yes, we've had a kitty or two that spent a lot of time in black numbers. Don't ask me to name names, as I can't site one in particular, but I'm sure there have been some. Girlie is not any more unusual than any other cat. There's a reason we say ECID, because every cat truly is different. That's what makes this so darned hard.

Although it seems a remote possibility at this point, do cats go into remission when on Levemir?

Yes.

It seems like Lantus is the preferred insulin, but I haven't been able to find much info on Levemir and the difference between the two: the advantages and disadvantages.

Have you seen this: http://www.diabetesclinic.ca/en/diab/2treat/lantus_vs_levemir.htm

And if I were to try Levemir, is it like starting from scratch, I assume?

No. The dosing is the same. The biggest difference you see is that with Lev they nadir later in the cycle.

I'm so sorry about your dad. Those anniversaries are always tough, especially the first few. Even though mine has been gone for 18 years, I still feel it every October 9th.

Just take it easy on yourself. You are not a superhero (although sometimes you seem like one to Girlie, I'm sure). You are a woman who is doing her very best for her beloved kitty, and no one can ask more of you.

 

[Stacy & Asia]

Darrah

It's extra tough when you're not feeling well either. I'm sorry Girlie is being so unpredictable and I hope between this board, you and your vet something starts to peek through soon and make sense.

You're doing such an excellent job caring for Girlie and she sure is testing your patience with all her ups and downs. I know how frustrating it is not to find another SS that looks similar to yours. ECID, but it sure is nice to see some similarities and not feel like you have the only weird/unpredictable one.

I'm sure a little bit of sleep and better health (for you) will freshen up your perspective, be gentle on yourself. Something is bound to click soon and you have some of the best eyes on the board looking at you and Girlie.

 

[Girlie's mom]

{{{Darrah}}}

Marje has probably called it a night, as it's 2 am where she is. I'm sure she'll respond in the morning.

Meanwhile, you need to take care of you, because if you don't, who will take care of Girlie? Get some sleep. Get a before bed test tonight, and unless Girlie is showing signs of taking one of her signature dives (which I doubt), don't set an alarm to test. Things will look a little better in the morning if you've had a good night's sleep.

Yes, we've had a kitty or two that spent a lot of time in black numbers. Don't ask me to name names, as I can't site one in particular, but I'm sure there have been some. Girlie is not any more unusual than any other cat. There's a reason we say ECID, because every cat truly is different. That's what makes this so darned hard.


Yes.


Have you seen this: http://www.diabetesclinic.ca/en/diab/2treat/lantus_vs_levemir.htm


No. The dosing is the same. The biggest difference you see is that with Lev they nadir later in the cycle.

I'm so sorry about your dad. Those anniversaries are always tough, especially the first few. Even though mine has been gone for 18 years, I still feel it every October 9th.

Just take it easy on yourself. You are not a superhero (although sometimes you seem like one to Girlie, I'm sure). You are a woman who is doing her very best for her beloved kitty, and no one can ask more of you.

Thank you, Tricia. I was hoping that this anniversary I could celebrate Dad; last year I couldn't, because I was in the U.S. trying to take care of and sort out my mother, who'd been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and was in full battle mode about her meds, about the diagnosis, and about moving into assisted living: I was not the beloved child because I was the caregiver and one sorting everything out. There was no time to remember dad because I had to focus on her. This year, it's Girlie's turn. That's okay: I love Girlie so, so much; dad's gone, but he was an animal lover, too, and he'd understand my devotion to Girlie. Send some help from up there, would you, dad! Grief finds its own path; it's just another weight on already tired shoulders for me right now, but this will pass.

I know I need to take care of myself, and I try, but I'm finding it hard while trying to take the best care of Girlie. I know I need to get the tests in; it's not as if I can take a night off just because I'm tired. Someone has to watch out for her and figure out a way to help her, and I'm it.

There was a nice spot today: acupuncture vet remarked rather off-handedly that Girlie was lucky to have me. She said that if it wasn't for me, Girlie probably wouldn't still be here - that not many owners would make the huge effort that I was making with her, and that it showed: Girlie was looking really well. I should have told her that I wasn't special: she should meet this group on FDMB! Devoted carers, all, who go above and beyond to help their beloved cats ...

Thank you for the support, Tricia. I know you've all been here. I'll try to pull my boots up and get on with things tomorrow. I just wish I could find a way to figure out how best to help Girlie. I just feel like I'm running around in circles and not getting anywhere.

Girlie says it's time for bed: she wants me to get off the computer and get into bed and cuddle. I'm going to follow orders. Fingers crossed I can sleep!