Baxter-Bad Luck Friday

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Jenn & Baxter

Jenn & Baxter

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This Friday the 13th started out well. Then PMPS came.

AMPS-241-.5
+4-193
+10-317
PMPS-326-.7 :o :o WTH? I haven't seen something like this in a long time.

This afternoon I was reviewing Baxters SS. I went over the very beginning of his numbers. When we first started out. I started to cry it made me so sad looking at his numbers from nov to now. Looks like his numbers are worse now then when we began this stupid game. I saw all the green in the past. We haven't seen green on months. I reviewed the days & weeks he was off insulin which was for 3 weeks. How do I get him there again? Is it even possible at this point?

I did see where Robin suggested I increase my sliding scale by .1 in each range. I did a increase on each range on April 3. So here we are 10 days later doing another increase.

I am getting to the bottom of our bottle. Is it time to try a different insulin?
 
If you want to try a different insulin go over and read their stickies to learn how each one works and is different so you can make an informed decision as to which insulin you want to go to that will fit your needs.

Also start reading Barbara & Thumpers posts she switched to Lantus and Marty & Callie's she switched to Lev this week.
 
This afternoon I was reviewing Baxters SS. I went over the very beginning of his numbers. When we first started out. I started to cry it made me so sad looking at his numbers from nov to now. Looks like his numbers are worse now then when we began this stupid game. I saw all the green in the past. We haven't seen green on months. I reviewed the days & weeks he was off insulin which was for 3 weeks. How do I get him there again? Is it even possible at this point?
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It's always good to review the past numbers so that we can pick up on patterns that our cats have.... nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is to compare then to now., especially if you have a short OTJ period in the middle of it. If you think about why you are giving insulin, it may help you a bit.

So, Baxter's pancreas needs a bit of help; it can't do its job sufficiently and you are helping out with a bit of insulin. Maybe the pancreas just needs a break, or a bit of time to heal, so your helping with insulin gives the pancreas some time. In the start, you see that maybe Baxter's pancreas did not need help for that long, once you got everything all sorted, good diet and a bit of insulin. Pancreas says I think I am OK now, and you stopped the insulin.

You were wise and kept testing just to be sure, kind of like watching a child on a bike just after you removed the training wheels... it could be OK or maybe not, but let's give it a try.

Now, you find that Baxter needs some help and that is what you are doing. There's nothing wrong with that, is there? And there is nothing to say Baxter won't go OTJ again. As for the dose, if Baxter needs a bit more, then so be it. So long as it's working, that's all that matters. Think of it as wearing glasses maybe; you may find that you need a new prescription for stronger lenses but the result is you can see better, just fine. Stronger lenses, higher dose.... doesn't matter because you just give what Baxter needs.

As for switching insulins, I can't comment on any of the P insulins as I have no experience, but I can say that I'd find a sliding scale tedious, and worry about no shed/reserve, and also that the P insulins are more of an intermediate insulin so there may be a need to dose TID, and that I could not do. You will have to get input from others who use the same insulin, but if you wanted to switch, I would not hesitate in recommending Levemir as several other P insulin users who ran into problems have switched to Lev.

Please remember that Baxter knows squat about numbers; all Baxter knows is that you take good care of him and help him feel better. And that's all that matters.
 
Gayle Shadoe & Oliver said:
As for the dose, if Baxter needs a bit more, then so be it. So long as it's working, that's all that matters. Think of it as wearing glasses maybe; you may find that you need a new prescription for stronger lenses but the result is you can see better, just fine. Stronger lenses, higher dose.... doesn't matter because you just give what Baxter needs.

Please remember that Baxter knows squat about numbers; all Baxter knows is that you take good care of him and help him feel better. And that's all that matters.
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I agree wholeheartedly. For 43 years I didn't need glasses. In two weeks, that all changed. Now there are readers scattered at work, at home, in my purse, in Grayson's testing basket... :lol:

Baxter, on the other hand, may take offense that she thinks he ONLY knows that you take good care of him... but that's just because he's a very capable I-pad literate kitty waiting til Mom leaves the room so he can send a message to his friend! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
cat(2)_steam
 
Hate you had a bad day. I know you want the best for Baxter and will make the best decision as to which insulin, etc. I do pray for a peace about this for you as i know it is hard to switch to something new. We would miss you here though.

Hang in there!
 
Doug and I have talked about the other insulins and I have this great FEAR that we might have to change one day. FEAR of starting all over with something I know almost NOTHING about and FEAR of starting with a whole new group of people!! I know you'll do lots of research and make the best decision for Baxter. I'm sure every insulin has its pros and cons and I'm sure those other groups have lots of nice, helpful, friendly people. We would miss you, but I know you'd come back often to check in with us!!

We're still on our first bottle of insulin, but I've read on some people's threads that they think the beginning of a new vial is more potent than the end. Like I said, I have no experience with that. ANY chance he got into anything today? I have caught Hershey trying to be helpful by cleaning up bread crumbs off the floor. I've gotten pretty obsessive about taking those anti-bacterial wipes and going over countertops and anywhere I think crumbs could have dropped. Or, maybe Baxter's just having an off day and tomorrow will be BETTER!!

We ALL have to hold onto HOPE for remission, but even if we never get there, we CAN do what we need to do to take care of our furry friends. The up side is that diabetes isn't terminal; it's a very treatable condition. AND, just look at all of the new friends we've made who are there to hold our hand when we need it...to answer our questions and give their opinions/advice...And, I don't know about you and Baxter, but Hershey and I have grown closer since his diagnosis - just an added bonus!

As far as changing your scale - we've changed the scale some sort of way five times since 3/28 and tomorrow we're upping it across the board. Some of those changes have taken us right back to doses that didn't work before but may work now - who knows? It's a NEW day!!

Sending prayers for rest, peace and GOOD numbers. And - BIG HUG!!
smiley-gets-a-big-hug.gif
 
Doug N Libby said:
We're still on our first bottle of insulin, but I've read on some people's threads that they think the beginning of a new vial is more potent than the end.
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My 4.5u dose did not behave differently from the old to the new bottle. I asked the vet about mixing, using up, or sticking w/ the new. She said DON'T mix (which is what I expected), but definitely use it up. Too expensive not to. And like I said, the only difference I saw was the onset happened a little sooner.

Keep in mind, that my numbers may have been screwed up because I was using so much, so maybe it did have an effect, but was not obvious because the body was busy fighting off the quantity.

Good night!
 
+5-168

A very special thank you to each of you for your kind supportive words. I have read each of them over & over. The responses have made me look at somethings differently. Which is a good thing.

Baxter & I aren't going anywhere just yet or maybe ever. In order for me to switch insulins it would take a lot of research & getting education. It would also take me finding a new vet who is supportive of a different insulin. My vet only supports ProZinc. Yesterday marked 5 months since Baxter was DX. I have learned so much in the last 5 months. To think of starting all over from the very, very beginning even down to the vet is a major decision. It is something that is going to take a lot of thinking.

So for now PZI is stuck with Baxter & I. Please just continue to help us. ;-)
 
Maybe a neuvile (new vial) may have some kick that yours is lacking...?

Oh Baxter... Oh.... We saw a squirrel on our fence this morning!!! A SQUIRREL - fluffy tail and all!!! He was cool! Never seen one of those before!!! It was just like in the video - only not flat!!! You should've seen him!!!

cat(2)_steam
 
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