Michele A & Christy
Member Since 2022
I found this group on the day that Christy was dx'd and was freaked out and despairing. I've learned so much -- and still have so much more to learn -- but I'm a lot less freaked out now, and that's 100% because of this group.
I wrote on the 2nd or 3rd day post-dx that I didn't know how I was going to poke Christy's ear 6-12 times a day because it was so traumatizing (and blood-spattering) for both of us. Yet, here I am, almost one month into this journey and I can get out the testing supplies, insulin, and syringe, and have her tested and shot in under 5 minutes. Testing without giving a shot is 2 minutes, tops.
For one thing, I figured out that I should be nicking the surface of the ear skin, not poking the ear. Sort of like the difference between skipping a stone across a pond and dropping it straight in.
I only realized that I needed to be "picking" at the skin a week or so ago. Prior to that, I was poking STRAIGHT THROUGH HER EAR.
So now @Teetee (UK)'s comment on one of my first posts about using the lancet with the bevel facing up makes complete sense. Before, I couldn't figure out why the direction of the bevel could make any difference when I was applying it perpendicular to her ear skin. And, yeah, it doesn't make a difference if you're stabbing straight in.
BUT... if you're coming at the ear skin fairly close to parallel, then having the bevel facing up will result in a quick, clean, teensy, "nick" of the outer skin layer on the edge of the ear and -- bam -- out comes a perfect itty-bitty bead of blood.
Also, Christy has gotten used to (though she still doesn't like) being held in one place and having her ears messed with. And I've mastered holding her head still while I get the blood on the test strip and then applying pressure to her ear, so no more blood spatters everywhere. Yay.
Anyway, this is already too long but I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone here. I read as many posts as I can, and seeing the advice and guidance given to others is helping me with Christy.
I wrote on the 2nd or 3rd day post-dx that I didn't know how I was going to poke Christy's ear 6-12 times a day because it was so traumatizing (and blood-spattering) for both of us. Yet, here I am, almost one month into this journey and I can get out the testing supplies, insulin, and syringe, and have her tested and shot in under 5 minutes. Testing without giving a shot is 2 minutes, tops.
For one thing, I figured out that I should be nicking the surface of the ear skin, not poking the ear. Sort of like the difference between skipping a stone across a pond and dropping it straight in.
I only realized that I needed to be "picking" at the skin a week or so ago. Prior to that, I was poking STRAIGHT THROUGH HER EAR.
So now @Teetee (UK)'s comment on one of my first posts about using the lancet with the bevel facing up makes complete sense. Before, I couldn't figure out why the direction of the bevel could make any difference when I was applying it perpendicular to her ear skin. And, yeah, it doesn't make a difference if you're stabbing straight in.
BUT... if you're coming at the ear skin fairly close to parallel, then having the bevel facing up will result in a quick, clean, teensy, "nick" of the outer skin layer on the edge of the ear and -- bam -- out comes a perfect itty-bitty bead of blood.
Also, Christy has gotten used to (though she still doesn't like) being held in one place and having her ears messed with. And I've mastered holding her head still while I get the blood on the test strip and then applying pressure to her ear, so no more blood spatters everywhere. Yay.
Anyway, this is already too long but I just wanted to say Thank You to everyone here. I read as many posts as I can, and seeing the advice and guidance given to others is helping me with Christy.
