BG testing_ having tough time

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tara & Joey

Member
I have to tell you guys im literally in tears as i write this. I just got the nerve up to start monitering his BG this week and i was starting to feel confident as he wasnt happy but he went along with it for a treat. Just now it was terrible, i wanted to check him but i couldnt get any blood, i feel like i pricked him 20 times- he was on my kitchen counter growling, trying to bite me...i cant blame him. He"s probably wondering why mommy would hurt him. I dont know, I guess I need to get bigger lancets. The ones Im using are One touch Ultra soft Ultra thin. End result- a very upset cat and owner and no BG results. Awful. I cant see this ever getting easier. This cat HATES me right now.
 
I know it seems impossible now, Tara, but it does get easier. Take a break, give Joey a treat and get some treats for you too. Chocolate is good. :-D

Yes, a larger lancet can help. Even 26-27 gauge may work best at first. You can also double poke - just a quick second poke in the same hole. Are you sure warming his ear? Heat really helps - the rice sack was vital for us. And something to poke against helps - the rice sack works. So does a folded kleenix or a makeup sponge.

Usually it's 3 pokes and take a break and give treats. We poked poor Oliver for a whole weekend before we got a drop of blood.

Do you want to tell us where you live - city and state? Maybe we have a member who lives nearby and could give you some hands on help.

You will get this and Joey will get used to it. Be patient. It's the rare person who gets blood the first time.
 
I also started with the ultra thin lancets and had no luck. I intentionally got them because they were the smallest. I found them to be too small.

I think you will have better luck with 28 gauge.

It does get easier! I promise!
 
*hugs*

Just to let you know, I rub Noxin's ears to warm them, but a while back he started getting angry at me and one day didn't come running for pokes and treats. Turns out I had been rubbing a bruise he had and it was quite sore. I make sure that when I rub now I am much more gentle. He is waiting in his poking spot before I am again :) My favorite time to poke him is right after he's woken up, cause he's already nice and warm.

If you can get a rice bag or something else to help you warm the ears, that may help if his ears are currently sore.

Good luck!
 
((((Tara)))

It really does get better, I promise! In case you are wondering what is a rice sock. Take a small thinish cotton sock (newborn & todder socks are awesome), fill it about 2/3 of the way full with plain white rice ( not instant), then knock it at the top. Then you take it and toss it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Use that to warm up Joey's ear and also to poke against.

I adopted Maxwell as a diabetic so I had to start testing him right away, because he was already on insulin and I wanted to keep him safe. We had zero history together, so I knew I didn't know him well enough to catch those subtle personality changes that would give me the early warning signs of hypo. But because he was so new to the household, he didn't have any reason to trust this new human. And Maxwell, hasn't had an easy life to begin with. You see, he was a Katrina rescue, after that spent 2 years in a sanctuary, then was adopted by a little old lady, who became ill and had to be placed in a nursing home, and her grand-daughther took Maxwell to the vet's to be pts. Which is how I got him. So the poor guy has never known a truly stable home. And here is this crazy woman that he has just met wanting to stab him in the ear. Needless to say those early days of testing were NOT pleasant...lol. Now if I can do it with Maxwell and zero bond between us, and today we are the best of friends. YOU certainly can do it with Joey who already knows, loves, and trusts you. You are the MOMMY!!! There is no one in the world like the MOMMY!

Maxwell and I are to the point now and it has only been since October that I get out his testing blanket, shake the can of test strips, tell him it's ear time and he jumps up and waits to be tested, and purrs right through it. In fact he is so good at it, that recently I took him into my vet's off and the local shelter here in town to give them a demo on home testing. I let him wander around for a little bit, called him, he jumped on his blanket and got tested. It really does make your bond with them stronger, we promise.

Watch Lori's video of her testing her Tom, Tom has been at this a long time, he knows the routine, listen to his motor run..You and Joey will get there.http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=44644

Take Hillary and Maui up on their offer to help, even if it is just to go met her and have a cup of coffee and talk. We've all been right where you are now, we understand, and we can help you through it. We will hold your hand/paw all the way. This isn'ta race it is more like a marathon. And we call it a dance for a reason, no dance is easy if you try to learn all the steps at once, but if you learn it in baby steps it is easy and becomes natural.

Mel, Maxwell and Th Fur Gang
 
Just wanted to throw out there that I've been here since 2006 and have known Hillary since she and her notorious Maui joined. :smile: She has went on to help numerous other members in your neck of the woods with testing and vet recommendations and whatever else people asked so don't hold back on taking her up on her offer. She's a pro at this stuff and sometimes, getting a little help is what gets you breathing again. ((((Tara)))) It really does get easier. It doesn't feel like it now but it does.

When I first started this dance with Mousie I had to chase her in circles around the house for 30-45 minutes just to get my hands on her. She was also getting a pill for her liver upon diagnosis and that took both my fiance and me to do and she still spit that stupid thing out so many times at us i could have wrung someone's neck. at one point i was ready to give her to my vet because i felt like i wasn't doing a good enough job. but seriously, within a few months she started voluntarily meeting me in her testing spot for her tests and shots. yes she still takes me for a jog from time to time, like this morning, but i laugh it off, remind her i have more stamina than her, and get the job done. it will come. just remember to breathe ok
 
Thank you ALL for the support and great advice! I was able to get a BG reading from my Joey today! :-D

Although I would NEVER wish this on ANYONE, it really helps to know that you all understand what I'm going through as a "newbie" and you all inspire me!


Hugs to you and your furry babies!!!

Tara & Joey
 
Woohoo Welcome to the Vampire Club!!! (secret handshake coming later). :thumbup

Okay now you can't leave us like this....WHAT WAS THE NUMBER?

Mel, Maxwell and The Fur Gang
 
Mel!

:lol: The Vampire Club!!! I love it!!!!

He tested at 323 at 2:30 but he has been eating ALOT of FF. 4 cans between 12 AM-2 PM. He is starving, the poor thing!!!

I did as you said, I'm letting him sleep now and pulled his food for now. Next test is right before his shot at 5 pm

Will keep you updated! :smile:
 
Tara you ARE a Vampire now....you will never again look at a blood droplet without a little glee in your heart (and maybe a desire to run for your meter) We are all Vampires now :-D
And please rest your mind on the knowledge that it is never easy to start out with....but it ALWAYS gets easy...for all of us.
So easy in fact, you'd be pressed to find an experienced kitty on this board who does not 'assume the position' just hearing the shake of the strip vial.
It's a promise.
 
:-D LOL Lori! It's so true!!!I have to admit when I saw the blood I did get very happy! You would think I struck gold!!! It was seriously the best thing that happened to me all day!!!!! HUGS!!!!
 
Sugar Dancing dancing_cat dancing_cat dancing_cat cat_pet_icon and Hugs right back to you. Now wait till you hit the absolute delirious joy of a nice low (not too low) number. pure ecstacy!
 
I cant wait Lori! I think this whole street is going to hear me scream "YES!!!!" as I do my happy dance when I get a good safe reading!!! flip_cat
 
That first low (not too low) number and you enter it in the spread sheet and see that first green, BEFORE insulin...Better than winning the lottery! I think I woke up the whole neighborhood that night...lol

Pretty soon before you know it You will be on here with the next batch of newbies..going its alright...it always sucks in the beginning, but now..piece of cake, I can do it in my sleep...And some of us have...lol

Mel, Maxwell, & The Fur Gang
 
Mel, I do take the oath that if and when I become a pro- I will absolutely, 100% pay it forward to the next batch of newbies!!!! I am going to look into the spreadsheet tonight, after I run to the pet store and stock up on wet food and healthy treats!!!!! :YMHUG:
 
Aww guys, I'm blushing and well you know the notorious Maui is hoping that Joey will go into remission and can come to her place and fit into one of those lovely uniforms (errr outfits) she has for the boy cats to wear. Of course he'll have to earn his keep....sigh.

Tara - when a cat goes into remission (OTJ - off the juice) they go to the Falls, where all the cats get a condo. From the day Maui got her condo, she's been recruiting the other cats to work for her. Sadly, she can't seem to keep the hired help, but that doesn't deter her at all, she just keeps recruiting new kitties.

Seriously, I PM'd you my phone number, if you need to talk, please call.

And where in NYC are you, that will help us to help you find another vet.
 
Ooops I guess I should have mentioned that while Hillary is fantastic you gotta watch out for Maui, she is relentless about trying to enslave... I mean hire help for her condo. :lol:

Mel, Maxwell and the Fur Gang
 
Hi everyone! So, I just got another reading of 298 pre insulin.. It's the lowest I've seen so far. I took it 2 hours after his last meal. I gave him his one unit with another can of FF and now he's sleeping. I will check again in 2 hours.

I am hoping Joey can have a condo of his own soon!!!!! Haha Maui sounds like a piece of work...Joey ,when he's his usual self gives that cool, laid back, vibe that charmed me upon picking him up from the streets. He's been a pampered indoor kitty now for the past 5 years but I let him believe he's still a tough street cat! If he goes into remission, I will happily let Maui put him to work though :smile:
 
That's not a bad reading for a start. I'll be curious to see how he does after he gets his shot.

Oh and I PM'd you the name of the vet my boss uses and highly recommends, whom I think is near where you are at.


Dr. Mark Peterson
http://www.animalendocrine.com/

21 West 100th St., New York, NY 10025, Phone: (212) 362-2650 • Fax: (212) 537-6340
29 Haines Road, Bedford Hills, NY 10507, Phone: (914) 864-1631 • Fax: (914) 864-1632

He is world renowned endocrinologist and from his bio specializes in diabetes. My boss has a dog who she was told by other vets has cushings, hyperT and other things. Dr. Peterson examined the dog and set her on the right track, dog has hyper T and bad arthritis, not cushings or anything else the other vets said. Sounds like my Sydney cat.

Anyway you can't go wrong seeing this guy and tell him that you were referrred by a friend of my boss (I pm'd you her name).
 
Hi Tara and welcome,

wow you're doing so well!! I've only been here a fortnight myself and am just recovering from a little meltdown (mine, not Cheeky's) and I am eternally grateful to the peeps on this board who gave me the confidence to keep at the home testing until it happened. Welcome to the Vampire Club!

The newborn-sized rice sock was my saviour, along with my favourite beach towel (Cheeky will never come quietly, I fear) but I find they start to stretch after 3-4 uses and lost firmness. Being a hand-embroiderer, I've today managed to knock up a cotton/calico (non-stretch) ricebag just the right size and am hoping it will do the trick.

I've been living on the Lantus support board for a week, since Cheeky surprised us all and came down from reds to yellows and hit blues before I knew what the hell I was doing, but I try to check in here daily.

Wishing you and Joey the best of everything

xoxo
 
This is a recommendation from board member Caryl & Alex. When she lived in NY she went here. Her cats weren't diabetic at the time, but the care and attention she and her cats received was unparalleled. She highly recommends this place.

Edward S. Kepner, V.M.D
Feline Health NYC

http://www.felinehealthnyc.com/index.html

1533 First Avenue
(Northwest corner of 80th St.& 1st Ave)
New York, New York 10028

Phone: 212-879-0700
Fax: 212-879-0349
e-mail: felinehealthnyc@aol.com

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

And I checked out the site, they have a link to this board!!!! Which means they will be good when it come to helping you. And they have a link to Mark Peterson, the other vet I recommended.

If you go here, tell them that Caryl (and Chance) recommended you.
 
Hillary, Thanks agin for the recommendations, they are close to me and I am going to keep you updated! Joey thanks you too! I already told him he's going to work for Maui!

Lesley- Thanks to you too for the support! I had a meltdown on Friday night- complete with sobbing and everything, I was so frustrated and felt like I was torturing Joey because I didnt know what I was doing. He steered clear of me as much as he could for the rest of the night making me feel worse, but then yesterday I had lots of luck, well, not really luck, I took the advice that all of these wonderful people gave me! Last night my Joey was acting like himself again and it was so good to see him playing and trying to infuriate me by getting into everything he knows he shouldn't!!! :-D I am going to start a spreadsheet in the Lantus forum today! Hugs to you and Cheekyface-he's a cutey and I love the name!


Thanks for the support guys!!!

xoxo
Tara & Joey
 
Be sure you are warming up that ear. And also, hold that lancet very close to his ear so it surely penetrates it. Are you using the makeup sponge as a stopper behind the ear? These are 3 things which almost guaranteed me success. Maybe better to use a bigger lancet than keep poking at him.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top