8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcome!

[Pumbaa]

It's all my fault! ohmygod_smile

When I saw the 353 AMPS number, the first thing I typed on his SS this morning was, "I love how quickly Pumbaa is clearing his bounces." Then Pumbaa either read over my shoulder, or read my mind, and, being the contrary little juvenile delinquent that he is, did the opposite, as always! (My mom thinks Pumbaa is clairvoyant and that's how he knows to run from me at testing time, but not when it's not testing time, even though he gets absolutely no signals from me that I am approaching him to poke him vs. just to rub his belly.) :roll:

If this is a bounce...why isn't he clearing it as quickly as he has for the last couple of days? Especially now that I had nudged him up to 2.25U six cycles ago?

One variable that changed was that I started a new Lantus pen yesterday morning. Is there water in this pen instead of insulin? *LOL* I checked it carefully, and it's not cloudy and there are no particles floating in it. Depending on what Pumbaa does tonight, I may go back and use the remains in Pen #1 tomorrow to see if this pen is in question.

The other variable that changed was the meter I am using. I switched to the Relion Prime last night at the PMPS. At +6 this morning, I used the Relion Micro for another test right after I used the Relion Prime (not the same drop of blood though), and the Prime reading was 333, but the Micro reading was 306. Not a huge difference.

Is this New Dose Wonkiness rearing its ugly head? I thought I would avoid that by increasing by drops (fat 2.00U to 2.25U) instead of by an entire .25U. My reasoning was that Pumbaa was reacting so well to the new doses, with much more even rises and falls in his numbers, less diving, lower bounces, etc., that I didn't want to rattle everything by increasing too quickly.

Chip & Dale suggested I up him to 2.50U in the morning. That would be very aggressive and I don't know that I want to be very aggressive right now since my short-term goal is to have steady decreases in his numbers and not wake up the bounces to black and the dives to low greens.

Input is welcome and appreciated!

Suze

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

Technically since he had blue nadirs for the first three cycles of the dose, Rand says to hold for 5-7 days.

But what I was thinking is you need to break a new high without waiting too long or stalling out.

So Chip may make it to 2.5U before Pumbaa does? But of course if all we are shooting is water... :razz:

Wonder if the Prime/Vital meters run a little bit high? I'm using from my good batch of Contour strips all day today.

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

I'm thinking the Prime doesn't run much higher, since I tested the same drop of blood on myself last night and there was only a one point difference. Using the Micro for a test comparison on Pumbaa today at AM +6 was an afterthought, and I had to poke anew, so it wasn't a good test. Although the numbers were still very close. If Pumbaa wasn't such a wiggle butt, I would try to do a one-poke test on the same drop of blood with both meters, and test the difference at higher numbers. Maybe I'll try that tonight. But I don't want to use up my last Micro test strips too quickly.

I know your suggestion for a dose increase was to prevent stalling and maintaining momentum. (((HUGS))) But it concerns me that, now that the shed should be at the 2.25U level, that I'm not seeing better results. I don't want to increase until I figure out if this is a bounce, or the insulin in this pen is bad, or whatever.

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

If the price was the same I'd just as soon stick with the Confirm/Micro.

I like the made in Japan strips, sealed in foil, with silica gel in every vial. My Vital strips aren't sealed except with a sticker on the box. And I did have one error out from too little blood. Otherwise the sipping seems good, but maybe not quite as good. And I do miss the beep. When I get down to 50, my next order may be for more Confirm/Micro strips?

And I bet I'll regret not getting that $99 vial of Levemir last month while it was on sale. Now there are no good options to tide me over when this pen runs out, before it's cool enough to order from Canada. I'll need to call 90 Pharmacies to see if any have individual Levemir or Lantus pens. Wish I knew which it will be. @-)

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

If the price was the same I'd just as soon stick with the Confirm/Micro.)

Those are the operative words, "if the price was the same..." Me, too. But I can't turn away from saving another $.10 per test strip. Not with how often I/we test.

I like the made in Japan strips, sealed in foil, with silica gel in every vial. My Vital strips aren't sealed except with a sticker on the box.

The Prime strips were still sealed in foil just like the Confirm/Micro strips. But they don't have any silica gel package in the vial. Neither did the Arkray strips I've been using for the Micro. Interesting observation.

And I do miss the beep.

Me too, but Pumbaa doesn't and is less agitated during testing due to the lack of the beeps.

And I bet I'll regret not getting that $99 vial of Levemir last month while it was on sale. Now there are no good options to tide me over when this pen runs out, before it's cool enough to order from Canada. I'll need to call 90 Pharmacies to see if any have individual Levemir or Lantus pens. Wish I knew which it will be. @-)

Hind-site is 20-20, unfortunately. Try talking the previous supplier of the Levemir sale to honor the same price. You never know until you ask! I've had expired coupons honored and previous sale prices honored, just because I had the cajones to ask for the lower price.

Since Chip is feeling better and reacting better on the Levemir, I wouldn't give up until you try a new vial/pen. Post on Craig's List in your area that you are looking for an unused pen of Levemir. Post on the Supplies section of this board that you are looking for an unused pen of Levemir. You've invested a lot of research time, and testing time with Chip to transition him to Levemir, and it would be very sad to see you give all of this up just because there might be something not up to par with the pen you received.

Just don't give up yet. Find a way to test if the pen you've been using is good or bad. Economically!

Suze

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

...The Prime strips were still sealed in foil just like the Confirm/Micro strips. But they don't have any silica gel package in the vial. Neither did the Arkray strips I've been using for the Micro. Interesting observation.

Interesting indeed. Why foil for Walmart and not for ADW? And the desiccant is inside the rounded edge of the tic tac vial. Look at the clear bottom and you can see it. Really the Walmart prices are cheaper but we pay outrageous sales tax on everything here. I used the free shipping, $5 off $50 plus the autoship discount at ADW. I always do that, then you turn off autoship once you get the order. I thought you paid tax on your Lantus? But not on test strips?

And really I need to get a new pen locally to rule out the unknown viability problem. The vial from Walgreens would have been perfect for that.

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

This is my little guy tonight, sleeping in his favorite cool sink, with a huge smile on his face because I was petting him under his chin. (His favorite thing!)

I just had to prove that Pumbaa is not always evil-looking, and not always getting into trouble, and is frequently a very loving little guy!

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

That's adorable!

Look at those perfectly formed bat ears.

I'll bet he uses those to tune telepathy?

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

Interesting indeed. Why foil for Walmart and not for ADW? And the desiccant is inside the rounded edge of the tic tac vial. Look at the clear bottom and you can see it. Really the Walmart prices are cheaper but we pay outrageous sales tax on everything here. I used the free shipping, $5 off $50 plus the autoship discount at ADW. I always do that, then you turn off autoship once you get the order. I thought you paid tax on your Lantus? But not on test strips?

And really I need to get a new pen locally to rule out the unknown viability problem. The vial from Walgreens would have been perfect for that.

The Arkray test strips from ADW were still foil wrapped, as were my Relion Prime test strips, but there was no silica jell packet inside the Arkray test strips for the Micro. Wait, I just looked at the vial from the bottom and there was a silica packet in a separate area from the test strips. Damn, you're good! But the Prime test strips package doesn't have any clear sections so I have no clue if there is a silica packet anywhere in the vial. It isn't right in with the test strips, that is for sure.

I just looked back on my Costco bill for the Lantus Pens, and there was no sales tax charged. Arizona has many problems, but not charging sales tax on pharmaceutical items isn't one of them.

Contact Walgreens in the morning, and ask them if they will honor that sale price on the Levemir. Be humble. Tell them it's for your cat and your insurance won't cover it. I've had Walgreen's pharmacy employees tell me that purchasing my syringes with a prescription was going to cost me a lot more than if they sold me the syringes over the counter. You never know until you ask, and beg/grovel.

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

I've been browsing the GoodRx price engine looking in other localities, and it looks like those chain promotions are nationwide. Everyone had the same prices, except for Walmart. Walmart seems to have regional prices, even those differ from the local Sams. You can check major cities for any item with a single click.

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

That's adorable!

Look at those perfectly formed bat ears.

I'll bet he uses those to tune telepathy?

Yeah, he uses those ears to read my thoughts and then do the opposite! Little bugger! *LOL*

So glad that he's "adorable" in this photo since he's usually so intense/evil in so many of his photos.

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

I've been browsing the GoodRx price engine looking in other localities, and it looks like those chain promotions are nationwide. Everyone had the same prices, except for Walmart. Walmart seems to have regional prices, even those differ from the local Sams. You can check major cities for any item with a single click.

I didn't know about the GoodRx price engine. You should share that on the health board so that others can use it, too!

But, that still doesn't mean you can't do a sob story to your local Walgreens, etc, and try to get the previous sale price. You won't know until you ask! And even if Walgreen's turns you down, you can tell Sam's that Walgreen's was offering the Levemir for $99 and ask if they will honor that price. Be creative and ask for the discounts. The worst that can happen is that you are told "no". The best would be that someone honors that price! You have nothing to lose but time. I never asked Petsmart, until a few days ago, if they honored price-matching, and I was pleasantly surprised!

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

I've been browsing the GoodRx price engine...

I was just browsing the GoodRx website. Wow. I didn't know that you could purchase 3 Lantus Solostar Pens instead of the five. Looks like the price has stayed the same as it was in April, except now I can't use the "first purchase" $25 coupon again. Another reason to order from Canada.

I'm going to have to tell my mom about GoodRx. Thank you for that info, Chippendale's!

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

...Chip & Dale suggested I up him to 2.50U in the morning. That would be very aggressive and I don't know that I want to be very aggressive right now since my short-term goal is to have steady decreases in his numbers and not wake up the bounces to black and the dives to low greens.

Input is welcome and appreciated!

Suze

Great green surf Pumbaa! :mrgreen:

I still wouldn't wait too long to raise it. Perhaps fat 2.25?

BTW you can't get 3 pens unless they sell them individually. You could print out and take in the GoodRx coupon that says "3 pens" and see it the pharmacist will open a box?

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: 8/2 Pumbaa - One huge flat pink turd today. Input welcom

Great green surf Pumbaa! :mrgreen:

And it's not even Friday night yet! *LOL*

I still wouldn't wait too long to raise it. Perhaps fat 2.25?

Considering he's still at 88 at +8 AM, if he doesn't bounce, maybe he'll earn a dose reduction tonight. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

BTW you can't get 3 pens unless they sell them individually. You could print out and take in the GoodRx coupon that says "3 pens" and see it the pharmacist will open a box?

I know some people have reported that their stores will sell the individual pens, but none of the stores I checked around here will. That's unfortunate.