How To Go To Work When Treating FD?

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Jenn & Baxter

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Since Baxter has been in my life (5 years) I haven't worked. When he was DX on Nov 12, 2011 I was very blessed to be home & do all the testing and observation needed. At times I wondered how do people work & take care for the diabetic cat?
Well....I was offered a position recently that I couldn't pass up. I will start on Monday. Instead of being excited I have found myself sad & very worried about leaving Baxter. I am dreading about going to work. I am worried something might happen & I not be home.
Don't get me wrong I am very thankful to be offered the position. It will allow me freedom once during the day to check on him. I have a outside position & my house is within my territory. For the first couple of weeks I don't think I will be able to come home to check on him.
I will be working 4 days a week from 9-4. Really it's not bad, but Im just not excited. I'm sad.
I didn't share in my interview I have a diabetic cat. Now thinking I probably should have said something or not?

Baxter is currently on a 8am & 8pm. Should I change his schedule so I will have more hours into his shot cycle before I leave? Do I leave it the same? I'm just kind of lost on what to do?

How do I go to work with some peace of mind that Baxter is ok?
I really could use some advice or tricks on what to do.

Thank you,
Jenn & Baxter cat_pet_icon
 
Jenn- it is good to get a job- a new adventure to follow. It has been wonderful that Baxter has had you at home for his first half year- Sneakers was DX just a week after Baxter so we've been at this about the same time.

I go to work everyday leaving my sugar-cat at home. I do sometimes worry about it but as I haven't had any episodes it hasn't really been a big problem. That might change as she becomes more regulated. The only thing I really worry about now is her feeder and making sure it is functioning okay. That is one of the reasons I got the petsafe5 is it has a low battery indicator on it so Sneakers has access to food all day long. The other kind the batteries shorted out after a month because of very poor design placement and she went a whole day without food :evil: .

And all my co-workers know I have a diabetic cat and they have been very supportive (both places as I started a new position just two weeks ago.) I told my new job about it when they asked about the toughest thing I have encountered so far. The insulin, complete change of diet, testing- now I'm an old hand at them but they were tough at the beginning- and i my new job is at a dietetics and nutrition clinical teaching program at a college- so they know a lot about diabetes- the human kind. That you didn't mention it in the interview is no big deal but do try bringing it up naturally at the right time would be great- you'll get people asking about your family, kids, hubby... all the family stuff so always include the cat. Kind of like the ADD kid you have to make sure takes his meds every day. Except yours has fur, licks himself at inappropriate times, and runs around on all fours :lol: . After the initial "Cats can get diabetes?!" they will at least know and if they want to know more about it they'll ask.

Schedule- since I also go to school I had one night that I was always late on- twice this semester. So I shot a 7/7 schedule, but that would leave me no room to stay late if I ever got an un-shootable number in the morning- having to leave at 7:30. I am slowly moving it back now that school is over so I can give myself room to maneuver. Next semester I'll see how it pans out to keep, and just shoot less when I get home after class.

Good luck on Monday!
 
hello,
congratulations on your new job!
I was in this position myself - 1-1/2 ago, when I got a full time job after being off work for a year.

I too was very nervous to leave Luna the diabetic, altho at the time, he was off insulin, it was still worry-some.
At the time we just left out a few bowls of food here and there.

4 months after I began working again, he decided he wanted to go back on insulin. ohmygod_smile

So I finally picked up the 5 meal auto-feeder, plus a friend gave me the 2-meal feeder, and we gave it a try.
Trial run it thru the weekends to make sure it works, use kitty treats (LC ones) to entice them to use the feeder and voila!

It took a little while to feel comfortable leaving after shooting, but I learned over time, he has plenty of food, for himself and his sis, I had to take the advice of others - he will be ok, he will be ok.
One other trick we discovered is before we leave for the day, close all the doors and closets -
that way all the cats (we now have 3) stick around in the living/dining room area.

Luna had a habit of taking his naps in the bedroom or the in the closets and not coming out to eat from the feeders, we did not want to isolate him in one room with his own food, so we soon learned close all the doors and the closets.

But with 3 cats, how do you know if the diabetic ate?
That's why we have two feeders = 7 compartments of food :lol: they piggy back each other so if one cat eats one serving, another pops open for the next one.
We place them right in the centre of the living room, in front of the couch, because God knows they can't get off the couch to go to the kitchen.

Honestly, it is nerve-wrecking - but you can do it! Just like the very first days of dealing with FD, you can do this.
Leave plenty of food out, you will find a routine that works for you

Our shot schedule is still the same 6am/6pm, DBF gets home earlier than me, and he does an in-the-door check, and then I get home by pmps time.
Knowing your cat and their patterns, number wise is also a plus. Took some time, patience, but I think I know Luna pretty well now :-D

4 days a week 9-4 are awesome hours by the way plus you have the opportunity to come home to check on him.
I got extra lucky with my new job - I work for a small family run company, one of my bosses has a diabetic cat too, and the other bosses are all pet-friendly, so they totally understand if I have to be late to check Luna - so far it has only happened once.

Good luck to you!
 
HI Jenn, I understand your concern but Baxter will be fine. I'm also a somewhat -ohhh shall we say obsessive- cat Mom. I'm so notorious that when I tell friends "I'm concerned about Sitka" they just smile and say "what else is new?" - LOL. Since you've had time to get his diabetes regulated and you test before giving insulin you are armed with knowledge!!! You can leave out canned food (I water Sitka's down pretty well so it takes a good bit to dry out) or you can go with a automatic feeder. Its great that you do have a flexible job so that if you have time during the day you can pop in & check on your baby. One time I left work early and when I got home I swear the cats looked at me like "Hey what are you doing here - its not time". I guess I messed up their kitty alarm clock LOL. So enjoy your new job and don't feel guilty about it. Jan
 
Hello, dear friend,

You know I don't work (well, nothing I get paid $$ for) but I do have to leave Hershey. I try to move shot times so I can get in a test (or two) before having to leave him. You know I still worry about him when I'm away, but at least I know where he was when I left.

I also use an automatic feeder - the PetSafe 5-meal http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-5-Mea...WHNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337537063&sr=8-1 - actually a little less than I paid for it. I water it down a little or freeze it if it's going to be a while before his feeding. It only took hearing it once for him to be conditioned that the magic box contains FOOD!! I would advise testing it out while you're home before using it while you're gone. Didn't click it down right the first time, so it didn't open. :sad:

I know you're dreading leaving Baxter, but it'll be okay. I remember leaving my oldest at Kindergarten...then college...then my second one at college...believe me...I understand your feelings...But, it is awesome that you can come and check on him during the day and it will make your time together even more special.

Great big HUGS and PRAYERS -

Libby (and Hershey, too!)
 
Been thinking...might want to leave access to one closet, in case of a storm while you're away...If you want to leave food out and think she might not want to leave the closet in a storm, you could always put a small dish of food in the closet?? Just a thought...
 
Thank you to each of you for your response, advice & tips.
I am going to look into the "Magic Food Box".
Also after reading all the responses I am considering changing Baxters shot times so I will have some room to play with if ever need be. Changing his time will also allow me to test him at +2 which will give a idea before I leave for work.
When I come home for lunch some days I would be able to get a +6-+7.
Today I was able to come home at lunch & get +5. Which made me very happy.
It made me sad when I went to leave this morning. He looked with his big blue eyes with a surprised look. He then went to get on his bed because he knew then I was leaving. :sad: I know with time it will bet easier & I will figure out our routine.

Again thank you so much my friends for helping me with this.
I am so glad to have the FDMB for help when needed.

Jenn & Baxter cat_pet_icon
 
Thats right - with time it will be easier and before u know it, u will be out the door - kitty checked, food out, and u will have good days at work without the added worries.,
maybe treat him with some new toys - mite make him a bit distracted as u leave the house for work.

Best of luck to u Jenn!
:)
 
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