copper's last two days

[owlgal]

Here is data for last two days for Copper. Still trying to find the right dose for him. He seemed to respond better to the 2u. I'm slowly getting over my fears at giving him insulin, but still a little afraid at times and still not much confidenece. I just want thim to get better so much. His neuropathy is not good and hate to see him suffer in anyway. He seems very happy most of the time and very playful. Loves being outside with all the birdies, squirrels and moles. I'm hoping to see him improve soon. So frustrating trying to get him regulated! I guess i thought that he would be better within the first couple of days of getting insulin. Starting to see reality. Very depressing.

Well, thought i would check-in and let you all see his SS.

Lori

 

[dmartini4]

Hi Lori
I know it is hard but try to stay optomistic.
You two are actually doing very well
I looked at his SS and I agree that the 2 units works well
If it were me I would stick with the 2 units for a few days and see how he settles in.
You are doing a great job so hang in there!

Densie and Shakes

 

[owlgal]

Thanks for the support. I really need it. My kitty is yellow too. He is a maine coon adopted from the humane society. Great cat!!

lori and copper

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

Thanks for the update, Lori.
Today's curve doesn't look bad at all. If you can get that to repeat on the same dose a few times, then this would be "easy". All you'd have to do is increase a bit, and all the numbers would come down, but the shape of the curve would stay the same.

He's dropping better than 60% on that dose today.
Here, this is encouraging to me, and should be to you - look at his numbers today. Compare them to the same dose on the 23rd. He didn't drop too much more that day. And it was a bigger drop percentage-wise and numbers-wise that day. BUT, look how much lower his AMPS number was today! That's progress, actually. The curve on the 23rd was too deep. The next day he didn't respond well in part because he got two shots in a row of less insulin. But also because he probably went "too low" on the 23rd, and his system wasn't prepared to deal with it yet. If you hold the 2.0 tonight (which you did), and tomorrow morning, you don't see any evidence of a "bounce" and a higher AMPS, then that's progress.

The back leg/neuropathy thing. That doesn't improve quickly, but it does improve. From when Bob was diagnosed (never had it really bad, but you could tell he couldn't walk right, and wouldn't climb or jump like before), it was a couple of months before he looked a lot better. He'd been off insulin for a month before I saw him jump up on the sofa one day for the first time in months. You probably won't really believe he's doing a lot better until you see him do something that he hasn't done in a long time, agility related. Then it'll hit you that he is actually doing a lot better. I was happy in the first few weeks that he could climb in and out of the litter box without it looking like it hurt to do so. It WILL get better though.

Carl

 

[owlgal]

Thanks Carl, That makes sense. Thanks for encouragement on the neuropathy. I have seen him jump up on the couch and chair, which is an improvement. But when i see him walk, it just hurts me. Do you think they are in pain? He doesn't seem to be.

On a funny note; this morning he came into my room and meowed LOUD and PRRRR. I had got 3hrs earlier and fed him so didn't think he would be that hungry. So got him on the bed with me and cuddled him. But he didn't want me to go back to sleep. He kept licking my face to stay awake. So i got up and fed him. He was VERY hungry. Ate 3oz up fast and wanted more. He is so hungry these days. He actually has gained back 1/2 lb. I hope when he gets regulated that he isn't as hungry.

Thanks for all the support. I really need the confidence to do this every day.

lori

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

Lori,
From what I understand about neuropathy, the primary symptom is muscle

weakness

, not pain. So I don't think it hurts as much as it looks like it does. Really bad cases, where they walk on their hocks, that can be muscle wasting I think they call it, but it can still be recovered from.
Bob, not only did he have weakness, but he actually got so dehydrated that the fluids that keep his joints lubricated were drying up. He walked around the house from Saturday night until Monday morning howling, walking two feet, and howling some more for 36 hours or so. I was inches away from insane when I rushed him in first thing Monday morning. That was the day he was diagnosed DKA too. The next time I saw him three days later, he was like a new cat. Of course, they told me another day and he probably wouldn't have survived, so "new" is relative to that. But here he sits today, not as fat, but fat and happy. So yeah, things are going to get better for Copper and you. It might be a slow but steady process. But it'll happen.

The appetite will get back to normal too.

I really need the confidence to do this every day.

Well, sort of the reason why we're all here. :smile: Eventually, self-confidence will soak in and you won't need us as much. But hopefully, it'll be more of a "want" to be here than a "need" that'll keep you around. ;-)

Carl

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Regulation helps neuropathy but you can also help it by giving Methyl B12.

I think you are doing great, Lori. Think how much you have learned in just a few weeks!

 

[Squeaky and KT (GA)]

...I guess i thought that he would be better within the first couple of days of getting insulin. ..
Lori

Hugs Lori!
Remember - insulin is not a chemical drug, it's a hormone that the body should produce and isn't doing so.

You're doing great - it will get easier each time.

Hugs,

 

[Angela&Henry]

Hi Lori,
Just wanted to give you a little encouragement; my cat Henry started walking on his hocks on all four feet and would walk a little and rest. He has some spinal disc disease besides the diabetes and I thought he wasn't going to get any better. I've been giving him 1/2 baby aspirin every 3 days on vet's advice and gradually over time he has gotten better. Just in the last few weeks to a month he has been much better; able to get on back of couch and bed which he had not done since Feb. and walking up on his toes, playing more, running and chasing his brothers which he wasn't able to do for a long time.
With Copper being treated for FD and taking the B12, I think he'll see improvement, but it will be slow and steady, you just have to be patient. Just celebrate each small improvement you see, and look for continuing improvement.

Angela