Help please

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Hi Lesley, welcome to LL!

I see that Cheekyface is down to 113 @ +5, I would try to get another test @ +6 if you can. You are doing a great job testing tonight!

I'm glad you are off this weekend so you have some time to read, I hope you'll keep posting too so you can ask any questions you might have....we like questions!

I skimmed through the thread, I'm going to go back and read it carefully now, so I can get up to speed. BTW, your SS is working perfectly now, thanks! :-D
 
+7 ~ 7.7

Hi Laurie, sorry I missed your post I was in front of the telly with Cheeky purring on my lap :-D

She'd only just got settled on her cushy when I had to swumble her up to test, but she's being absolutely wonderful. She must be tired too...I know I am!

Since she's come up a bit I'm going to have a cup of tea and try to gather my thoughts and make sense of the notes I've jotted down from the advisers.

Thank you all for sticking with me, this is moderately terrifying. You wouldn't think I used to be a nurse, would you!! (35 years ago now mind you)
 
You're doing great. And....the SS works!!!!

One thing to keep in mind. You shot late this evening. Your AM shot should be 12 hours from when you last shot. You can move the shot time either by 15 min. at each shot or 30 min. once a day without it having too big of an impact on numbers. (Shooting late acts like a dose reduction; shooting early acts like a dose increase. This is why we are careful about shooting as close to a 12 hr. schedule as possible.)

As far as sequencing, I test before I do anything else. I put down Gabby's bowl (providing she isn't testing in too low of a range), and once she has started eating, she gets her insulin shot. The entire test-feed-shoot sequence takes under 5 minutes.

I used to make "catsickles" for Gabby. You mix a fair amount of water into canned food. I would then freeze the mixture in ice cube trays. I'd then leave a couple for her when I was gone. An alternative is a timed feeder. The feeder works better for us since Gabby will eat whatever is in the bowl all at once. (She'd even eat frozen catsickles.)

Lesley & Cheekyface said:
I was told she'd need four curves in a row before they could start adjusting her dosage, which I believe is the Protocol...
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The protocol we use recommends that you hold the initial dose (providing it's not too high) for a week. This allows the depot (or what we call the shed) to form. We also encourage that you get frequent curves (testing every 2 hours) or mini-curves (testing every 3 hours) during one cycle (12 hr period). Getting 4 curves at the vet's office could be pricey. Most of us do not take our cat to the vet for a curve. Since you are very able to test at home, there's no reason to pay the vet to do a curve. Further, if Cheeky is anything like Gabby, the numbers will be inflated due to vet stress. As a result, you could be increasing the dose based on artificially high numbers and put your cat over dose when numbers are more like they usually are once at home.
 
Hi Lesley,

You've gotten great advice from the folks here. I just wanted to say welcome. Coming here I think you'll feel your anxiety level come down. There's always someone here to help. If it's at a time when most people are sleeping you can post on the health forum too and someone should be around.

Your vet has the best intentions but like you said just hasn't had much experience with FD. Just think you can teach them and help other fd kitties in the future.

Good luck with Cheeky. Her #'s are looking good.

jan and sara
 
I just lost a post that took me 10 minutes to type and I'm too tired to do it all again. Reader's Digest version:

Yes, have worked out my shoot schedule for the next 4 days to get me back to normal. I understand I should test, feed straight away if numbers are good and shoot promptly once she's eating.

The "weekly curve for the first four weeks" I mentioned came straight off a VeterinaryPartner.com article on Gargline, and that's what the vet said. Pardon my use of the word protocol.

Yes, I'd rather do home curves now that I know we can, but I'll still have to front up at the vet on Monday with my data and a request for an appointment (longer than the normal 10 minutes) to discuss it. Now that my shoot time has moved the timing is screwed anyway.

Catsickles, yes, that's the word I was loooking for ohmygod_smile but they have to be Bodie-friendly too and then I can beef his dinner up for CRF.

Going to have cuppa and a wee rest now before I have to disturb my poor girl again. Back soon.

xox
 
You're doing fine, Lesley...you must be very tired. It looks like Cheeky is on the way up, but if you are worried, grab a quick test, then get some sleep, ok?

We know it's a lot, try not to get overwhelmed. A little at a time....

If you get a +11 test, it will give you a good idea where she will be by shot time. If she's high (over 300) at +11, you may be able to shoot more than 15 minutes early, so post and ask for help with that right away, ok?
 
Is this the article the vet gave you? Doing a curve 2 weeks out is really too long. The article doesn't specify 4 curves.

You might want to look at this article and share it with your vet.

It is the article published by Roomp and Rand in the Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery (2009) which is the dosing protocol we use. We have the same tables linked in the Tight Regulation sticky.
 

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+9 ~ 238

Yes, that's the one--and no, the vet didn't give it to me, I found it in my reading; it just agreed with what she'd told me when I picked her up after the first curve. The last bullet point is where it says "...it is important for the cat on gargline to have a glucose curve conducted weekly for the first four weeks of treatment"

I received nothing from them except a formulaic booklet and DVD about "Your Diabetic Pet" put out by Caninsulin. I read it in 5 minutes and learned bugger all.

The Roomp-Rand study is sitting on my desktop here and also at work--but I never got around to printing it off and I don't have a home printer. Thank you, and Julie too, for the links, I'll send them on to the vet.

It's been a very long night. Thank you all so much for your patience.
 
I also wanted to add my Welcome!!! When I read how scared you were, I completely understood how you felt. I'm only two months into this myself and it's only been a few short weeks that I've gone without crying!! Take some time when you can and look over other kitties SS's. They'll show you proof that we've all been where you are...some far worse. My own Champ has just recently started doing some amazing things. This board and the people on it have saved my cat's life and have saved my sanity. I'm so glad you found your way here because now you'll never be alone with this. There are many people here who are single and work full time and can give you great advice on what they do to accommodate feeding schedules, etc. Good luck with it all. I'll be looking forward to reading Cheeky's condo on a daily basis and lending my support!! :-D
 
Laurie and Mr Tinkles said:
If you get a +11 test, it will give you a good idea where she will be by shot time. If she's high (over 300) at +11, you may be able to shoot more than 15 minutes early, so post and ask for help with that right away, ok?
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Hi Laurie, thanks for that, I will. I think I missed your post in amongst the flurry earlier on, sorry not to acknowledge.

I've had to sneak Bodie down into the bedroom for his breakfast, because he's starving, poor old man. Cheeky +9 ~ 238 is patiently waiting for something to happen but it's daylight now so she knows food isn't far away. Her poor ears.

Once she's fed and okay I'll have breakfast too and sleep right along with her.

Then again I might just collapse in a gibbering heap and howl for a bit @-)
 
Then again I might just collapse in a gibbering heap and howl for a bit
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I think we've all done that.

As far as getting curves for the first 4 weeks, I wouldn't disagree. However, you don't need to keep the dose the same. If you look at our SSs, I test a lot. I also change Gabby's dose based on what her numbers tell me.

You've had a very long night. I do hope you get some sleep.
 
+11 ~ 369

She's very cranky, mostly from hunger I suspect, and this one was a bit of a struggle. I don't want to stick her again before 8.30, she's had enough. Is she high enough for the full dose when it's time?
 
I'm a little concerned about the full dose, Lesley. The 1.0u didn't bring her down too low, and I know you need sleep, so how about shooting 1.0u again? I would test and shoot now, it's about +11.5, right? Since she's so high, you can shoot earlier to work on getting back on schedule.
 
Lesley --

Here's what I'm thinking. You've had to cut Cheeky's dose in half twice because numbers were uncomfortably low. Rather than jumping between 2.0u and 1.0u which totally messes up the insulin shed and contributes to wonky numbers, what would you think about shooting 1.5u? I'm hoping that this will allow you to consistently shoot the same dose.

Laurie's point is also well taken. If you need to get some sleep, shooting 1.0u should keep Cheeky safe.

You've got some options here. Either one is fine.
 
+12 ~ 452

Thank you, thank you, thank you. She's tested, shot 1.5u and fed. My hands were a bit shaky with the shot but it was good, I'm hungry too and it's been a long night.

So I should test and shoot 1.5u again tonight at 8.15pm? or wait for advice depending on the numbers?

Sorry to be so needy
 
Please. You're not being needy!! You did a great job today.

Right. You can move the shot time 15 min. earlier each shot until you're back on schedule. Hopefully, the dose change will make things easier for you to shoot the same dose consistently.

Just be aware that there are only a handful of people up and on-line 12 hours from now. Please post if you have a question about dose. I just don't want you to think that the response will always be immediate. We do have some people who are early risers. It's a US holiday this weekend so there's a good chance people will be sleeping in or off of work.
 
I was lucky that so many people were available when I needed the help. And that it was the weekend for me, here.

1.5u seems a logical compromise and will hopefully get her more stable. I'll compose an email to the vet for tomorrow and make an appointment to assess data and get our treatment plan tweaked.

Thank you again Sienne and have a good weekend.

Lesley and Cheeky xox
 
no worries about being needy - we were all needy at the beginning and still are sometimes. fortunately, we're not all needy at the same time! :lol: and we help each other, so it works.

you're doing great. you've got lots of people looking at your posts to help you through this initial few days where it's all getting figured out.

have a wonderful day!
 
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