Home testing

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JulieM

JulieM

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Unfortunately still no luck with home testing. Have you ever heard of someone having this hard of time before? Its going on 6 to 7 weeks and I have not been able to get any blood from her ears. I have tried different spots in the ear, the sweet spot, the area the vet has showed me. I have warmed the ear with a rice bag and I have warmed it with a hot water bottle. I have used a flashlight, and my glasses to see where the veins are. Cannot see any without being in direct sunlight. I have tried the automatic lancet and also by hand. I have tired different sizes of lancets. I have bought the relion prime. I've used neosporin pain relief to make the blood bleed if it would ever come out. Nothing. She tolerates me warming her ear and getting in one or two pokes and then shes done. She will fight me until she gets loose. I've bundled her up in a blanket, I've tried when she is relaxed. I've tried when shes sleepy. I know how important it is to home test and I am so upset that every time I give her a shot and walk out the door to go to work she may not be here when I get home. So far her numbers have been really high every time we go to the vet each week for her curve checks but I know there will be a day that she will go low. I've watched videos and gotten tips from others on the facebook diabetes site but nothing seems to work. :(
 
This must be incredibly frustrating, Julie. Have we tried to find someone who lives near you to come help? Have you tried her paws?

It sounds like you've done all the right things. The only other idea I have is to be sure you give a confident firm poke, even a quick second poke in the same spot. Have you tried poking the vein? This isn't a long term solution as you don't want to use it all the time. But it might give you some confidence? And a test number!
 
Yes I tried the paw and she really, really didn't like that. No blood there either. I've tried poking all around the outer rim of the ear. I know I am poking it hard enough because one time I missed and got my finger until I started putting a cotton ball behind her ear.
 
Are you using the center (large) paw pad when you tried? After warming, I would squeeze the pad as I lanced it and then kind of "milked" it until it bled.
 
I'm so sorry you are having such problems. Have you tried to test her yourself while at the vets? Maybe they could see something to help. Or, maybe ask if one of the vet techs could make a few house calls to help you get started.
 
I did the same as Anita when using the large pad on the paw, poke , then squeeze with your fingers, firmly till you get a bead of blood. I first wipe it with a little clear Neosporin, to help bead the blood up. I gave him something to eat while making him lie down. It's not easy, but doable. I feel for you, I had a difficult at first with the ear, hence the pad, but once I started getting blood, I got more confident and moved to the ear. Did you bleed when you poked yourself? If not , you are not doing it hard enough. You could try lower on the ear, close to the little fold or flap, I read someone pokes there on their cat and I have used that area when Rupert has had a lot of testing. I know you are doing everything possible, but keep trying, you will succeed eventually. Sharon has a good idea about the vet tech making a house call to help. Hang in there, we are all sending "poke" vibes!
 
I think we have all had trouble with the testing. Even after 6 months, I still have to poke repeatedly to get a sample, much to Bubba's dislike. Maybe the largest size lancets, #28 are going to be the best for you at this point.
 
So true, Bobbie! I had to double poke last night and then had to squeeze too, barely got enough for the test. :rolleyes:

Julie, this face :banghead::banghead::banghead: is commonly used when talking about testing, especially when first starting! So, you are not alone in this. You trying so hard, just shows how much you love your kitty and want her to be safe and well. Maybe your kitty is just not an easy bleeder, Bobbie's idea about the larger lance size might do the trick.
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
This must be incredibly frustrating, Julie. Have we tried to find someone who lives near you to come help? Have you tried her paws?

It sounds like you've done all the right things. The only other idea I have is to be sure you give a confident firm poke, even a quick second poke in the same spot. Have you tried poking the vein? This isn't a long term solution as you don't want to use it all the time. But it might give you some confidence? And a test number!
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There isn't anyone near me, I had some people searching for me. I live in a small town so there's not a lot of options.
 
Bobbie And Bubba said:
I think we have all had trouble with the testing. Even after 6 months, I still have to poke repeatedly to get a sample, much to Bubba's dislike. Maybe the largest size lancets, #28 are going to be the best for you at this point.
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Ok I was told 26, when I get some extra money I will try 28. I'm going broke with all of the expense.
 
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26 are fatter than 28 so you have big enough lancets (it's like wire; the smaller the number, the bigger the lancet)

Have you tried hitting the vein? It might give you some confidence, and I don't know - get the blood moving around. If you try that, hold it for a few seconds to help prevent bruising.
 
Hi, Julie - Even now, I often have a hard time getting Bat-Bat's ear to bleed after a poke - her ear just doesn't give it up easily. (Doesn't help that my eyesight is lousy, either.:oops:) So I can totally relate to your frustration!

Although this seem a dumb question at this point (if you've already tried this, I mean), but I'll ask anyway: Are you"milking" the ear after a lancet-poke? By that I mean (using the thumb & forefinger of your free hand) stroking the ear, using gentle pressure, toward the poke-spot from a point about a half-inch from that spot you'd just poked with the lancet? Yep, I know it's hard to get a kitty to hold still for this.:rolleyes: But very often this is the only way I've been able to get a little blood dot to appear on Bat's ear after a poke. (I use a 28 gauge lancet, just in case you're wondering.)

I will be thinking good thoughts for you, Julie.:bighug:
 
Hey Robin! We were all just wondering where you had been! Glad to see ya!

Julie, I know it's got to be frustrating for you. I'm not sure why it isn't working, but keep trying! Have you watched videos online of people testing their cats? Or tried the paw pads?
 
JulieM said:
Unfortunately still no luck with home testing. Have you ever heard of someone having this hard of time before?
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Yeah I have the same issue. But once I finally get him under control to test his ear, I can't get enough blood if at all. I can see that I hit the little vein but not enough even when milked. The one time I actually did, it had taken so long the dumb meter had shut off. Waiting for it to cycle back on.... blood was gone. I can not try his paws, he won't have it. He bites if I try. He's fine with the insulin shot, not fine with testing. Please update if you get it. I'm curious to know what worked.
 
@Georgie

This works for me. I always time out. Before you poke insert strip half way. Once you see a little drop push strip in all the way. Continue to milk the ear and the meter should be ready.

When I use Smokey left ear it's so hard. It doesn't bleed well at all.
 
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