Mouse dance

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Hello Rachel and Djamila you lovely cat ladies! when i got home at 6pm today he had eaten everything I left out for him, YAY, the healthy hunger hath returned! :p and he is bright and active Phew. Hmm he is very hungry so I hope he's not hyper cos of the low dose, will soon find out, testing in 30 mins..

I have wanted to try the brewers yeast or parmesan for a while, thanks for reminding me cos it sure would come in handy now!
 
PMPS is 112 !!!!!!!! after only 1 unit this morn!!!
Oh dear, did he go too low at mid cycle hence the big hunger, would that harm him??
What is going on with this kitty!!!
No Shoot!

what else can cause BG to drop like this, do infections do that? his nose and paw pads look pale..
 
Look at the trend from the beginning of your spreadsheet until now. You'll see that Mouse has been steadily getting lower and lower in numbers, and recently also getting lower in his need for insulin. This is good. This is what you want to have happen. You want him to keep going this way.

Just a few days ago one unit wasn't nearly enough. Now all of a sudden it's plenty. That's a sign that his pancreas may be healing and is able to do more of the work now. It does mean that dosing can get a little tricky though since his needs can change from day to day.

Yes to NS for tonight. do get a test at +2 tonight though. We need to see what he's doing after he eats and without insulin. Do his numbers rise? Do they stay steady? Or do they drop?
 
Try not to get too hopeful. Sometimes they stall out part way down the dosing scale and just hang out there for a very very long time. But even if Mouse does that, he'll at least be in healthier, more sustainable numbers.
 
that is wise advice, there is nothing worse than hopes getting dashed. (PS i tested him twice to make sure, both readings were 112)
 
Well shoot. That's the wrong direction, little Mouse!

If your schedule tomorrow has some flexibility, you could try giving a half unit now. Then testing/shooting eleven-twelve hours from now.
 
AMPS is 176, 12 hours after 0.5 unit !! (at 11+ he was 166)
What to do? i can monitor him today..

* i gave him the same as last night, 0.5 unit (actually its 0.4 due to the markings on U100)

He has poor appetite today, i had to open three different brands to find one he would eat (usually he like all three), but he didnt eat much. It is hot here (for UK standards!) and he always eats less in the heat.
 
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I think 0.5 was a good choice especially with a poor appetite! Try to grab some mid cycles today. If we can see what this dose does to him throughout the day that’ll help us decide what to do next time he gets a similar number! All data is good data!
 
today: AMPS 176, gave 0.4 units. BG 3+ 97; 5+ 92 ; 7+ 112 ; 11+ 153.

just did the 11+, its 11.30pm and I'd like to go to bed and not wait another hour (don't think its gonna rise significantly).

0.4 units again? or No Shoot? i realise my post might not be seen due to time zones, thats ok.

swing lo sweet Mouse :bighug:
 
What did you decide to do? Or are you still up? I'd probably want to get another test if you're still up to be sure he is rising and if he's up, give 0.4 today. It seemed to give some lovely, safe numbers today!
 
Oh dang, I didn't see your reply and i went ahead and gave him 0.2 units (without doing PMPS) :nailbiting: I get more timid at night when very tired and cant be as watchful as daytime. Hope he will be ok on that dose. I'll try to be braver in future.
Night Rachel from Lila n Mouse
 
You have to go with your comfort level! If you feel more comfortable with 0.2 (especially at night when you DO need get some sleep) I totally get that. Mouse isn't in bad numbers at all, so if 0.2 isn't enough, it won't hurt much. It really IS important that you're comfortable, so even if you had read my post and then gave him 0.2 because you needed to get some rest and not worry, I wouldn't blame you at all. DON'T worry about it. We've all done a reduced dose sometimes just to be sure we could get some rest. We have to take care of ourselves or we can't take care of our babies!
 
Rachel said:
You have to go with your comfort level! If you feel more comfortable with 0.2 (especially at night when you DO need get some sleep) I totally get that. Mouse isn't in bad numbers at all, so if 0.2 isn't enough, it won't hurt much. It really IS important that you're comfortable, so even if you had read my post and then gave him 0.2 because you needed to get some rest and not worry, I wouldn't blame you at all. DON'T worry about it. We've all done a reduced dose sometimes just to be sure we could get some rest. We have to take care of ourselves or we can't take care of our babies!
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Thank you Rachel for this reassuring message, it has really helped me to relax and lessen the guilt and the ingrained fear of ' not doing what I'm told/making a mistake'. Great start to my day :rb_icon:
 
mouse16 said:
I slept like a log, thank you Djamila! :)
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Glad to hear this! You needed it!

Don't ever worry about not doing what you're "told". We're here to give advice and guidance, but YOU are in charge. You hold the syringe, it's got to be your decision. And remember we're just going off what we see here...you KNOW your baby best and "mama sense" is a real thing.
 
tears, I am so grateful for that Rachel.
His AMPS is 191, so I gave a teensy bit more than last night - 0.3 units - as I cant check him mid cycle today, so again opting for peace of mind.
:bighug:
 
his 6+ was 110 and PMPS was 160 !!! beautiful numbers. I gave him 0.2 units tonight, cos he is staying nice n low.
 
Could you remind me if you're still using the alphatrak or if you've switched to the human meter?
 
Hi Djamila, still using same Alphatrak.
Gosh, this morning his 11+ was 171 and AMPS 155. I still gave him the 0.2 unit, I will be able to monitor today.

All this is validating the suspicion I had that it was a steroid shot that the vet gave him in April that brought on diabetes. I had the worst gut feeling after vet gave that shot and was so angry that he didnt give me time to think about it. Mouse's back legs collapsed 3 days afterwards and all his diabetes symptoms started too. Maybe I'm wrong, but my intuition was SO strong that day that it was VERY bad that he got that shot.
 
mouse16 said:
Hi Djamila, still using same Alphatrak.
Gosh, this morning his 11+ was 171 and AMPS 155. I still gave him the 0.2 unit, I will be able to monitor today.

All this is validating the suspicion I had that it was a steroid shot that the vet gave him in April that brought on diabetes. I had the worst gut feeling after vet gave that shot and was so angry that he didnt give me time to think about it. Mouse's back legs collapsed 3 days afterwards and all his diabetes symptoms started too. Maybe I'm wrong, but my intuition was SO strong that day that it was VERY bad that he got that shot.
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I think Jaxa's was triggered by a steroid too. She had almost two months of prednisolone (mostly half a pill every other day), and one of the side effects was diabetes according to the vet literature. All of her bg tests were normal the first month we were being treated and then after her refill she started at 164 and went up past 300. I couldn't have done anything differently though- she needed the drug for her pancreatitis and was so sick at that time I would have done anything to get her through it. Ultimately it probably doesn't matter why- she was also fat and sick- but now is responding to insulin and is getting her energy and weight back to where they should be.
 
Glassgoblin said:
I think Jaxa's was triggered by a steroid too. She had almost two months of prednisolone (mostly half a pill every other day), and one of the side effects was diabetes according to the vet literature. All of her bg tests were normal the first month we were being treated and then after her refill she started at 164 and went up past 300. I couldn't have done anything differently though- she needed the drug for her pancreatitis and was so sick at that time I would have done anything to get her through it. Ultimately it probably doesn't matter why- she was also fat and sick- but now is responding to insulin and is getting her energy and weight back to where they should be.
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Hi Glassgoblin, it sure does sound like it was the steroid that caused it but like you said, it was necessary. A different and very good vet told me she had never seen a cat get diabetes from a steroid shot, and i admit it does seem unlikely cos it was just one shot, but the coincidences are also weird. I am so glad Jaxa is healing and feeling better, that is pure gold and you should be proud!
 
Yes, steroid shots/pills are a big reason why we see cats arrive here.

Lila, let's see how Mouse does today, but I'm worried that dose is a little too low at this point. If you don't see some greens today, I'd encourage you to raise it a bit for this evening. You want to make life as easy as possible for her pancreas right now as it's healing.
 
Djamila said:
Yes, steroid shots/pills are a big reason why we see cats arrive here.

Lila, let's see how Mouse does today, but I'm worried that dose is a little too low at this point. If you don't see some greens today, I'd encourage you to raise it a bit for this evening. You want to make life as easy as possible for her pancreas right now as it's healing.
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Bg 3+ was 99 (green) and 6+ 103 (blue but almost green:)
What do you think? I wouldnt like to double his dose to 0.4 u tonight, maybe 0.3 and tomorrow give 0.4. How does that sound?
 
Yes, I think it's time for an increase. It's up to you whether you'd like to go 0.3 tonight so you can get some rest and then up to 0. 4 tomorrow so you can monitor, or if you'd like to do 0.4 tonight and just make sure to monitor. You could wait to do the increase until tomorrow morning too if that makes you most comfortable...one more cycle won't hurt, but I'd definitely increase no later than tomorrow.
 
Rachel said:
Yes, I think it's time for an increase. It's up to you whether you'd like to go 0.3 tonight so you can get some rest and then up to 0. 4 tomorrow so you can monitor, or if you'd like to do 0.4 tonight and just make sure to monitor. You could wait to do the increase until tomorrow morning too if that makes you most comfortable...one more cycle won't hurt, but I'd definitely increase no later than tomorrow.
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Thanks Rachel. I think I'll do 0.3 tonight and 0.4 tomorrow. You are brave cat ladies!! :smuggrin:
 
mouse16 said:
You are brave cat ladies!! :smuggrin:
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Lol...I sure wasn't when I first started! I imagined all kinds of horrible things happening every time I had to change the dose. :nailbiting:

Lots of time, lots of spreadsheets, and lots and lots and lots of data help to settle the jitters. Oh, and Rachel holding my hand through months of nerves! :bighug:
 
Djamila said:
Lol...I sure wasn't when I first started! I imagined all kinds of horrible things happening every time I had to change the dose. :nailbiting:

Lots of time, lots of spreadsheets, and lots and lots and lots of data help to settle the jitters. Oh, and Rachel holding my hand through months of nerves! :bighug:
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Awww :)
i am jittery cos his PMPS is only 137..and he only ate a very small amount, so 0.2 again tonight. Will increase tomorrow.
Night all
 
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his AMPS was 130, i gave 0.2 units and at 3+ he was 65 (lime green). I tested him just minutes before we had to leave for vet appt! so quickly gave high carb paste and treats.

I took him to vet cos he is having respiratory issues, episodes of very rapid laboured breathing with abdomen and chest , they come on after very light exercise (walking slowly around our apartment building outside) and last 9 hours, after 12 hours he is back to normal. He is unresponsive and highly agitated during episodes. He had one last night. The vet said his heart and breathing is faster than normal, but it was MUCH faster last night.

Vet says to stop giving him insulin for a couple of days to see what his pancreas does. She doesn't know what is causing the breathing issue or if it linked with diabetes. Has anyone here heard of anything like that?
 
I don’t think I’ve ever read about anything like that being connected to diabetes.

Let us know what you hear from the vet!
 
Hmmm...I've never heard of anything like that either. You might ask out on Main to see if anyone has ever experienced anything like that.
 
Thanks Djamila and Rachel,
i am certain that his breathing problem is the long term issue that he has had for 2 years (i guess i was in denial, hoping it was diabetes related and easier to treat).

It is so sad that he is healing on the diabetes front but his other mysterious condition is getting worse by the day, so much so that I dont know how long he will hold out. I am going to write about it on the main forum.

He had a dark green for PMPS last night, after 36 hours without insulin.
Any advice on what I should be doing/watching out for at this point? The vet said to report on Thurs, I bet she will tell me to withhold insulin.

* today AMPS 128
PMPS 124
 
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Hmmm...that's pretty good actually! He's pretty consistently in normal numbers without insulin. Maybe a bit higher than some cats, but remission kitties can have different normal numbers. If you can get a test one of these days say at +1 or +2 that would be interesting...after he eats if his numbers go down, that's usually a sign of pancreas working. You don't have to though.

I'd say keep an eye on his numbers for now...he's doing really well without insulin, but he's right at the high edge of remission. If he starts to go up, you want to hop right in with insulin support so he doesn't lose it.
 
Thank you Rachel! I will keep a close eye on his numbers and won't waste a minute if they start to rise. His 'AMPS ' is 106 :) :bighug: :cat:
 
Hi everyone, i disappeared for a while because Mouse's other longer term condition got much worse. The vet came to our home on Thurs and could see his breathing was very fast and laboured with 'bellows' movement and heart rate too fast. She gave him diuretic pills in case he has fluid in his lungs and after just one pill, within a few hours he was breathing easier and next day totally normal, for first time in many weeks. But they don't know what is causing the fluid (its not cardiac).

Now i am so worried because he has had hard compacted stools for weeks but today he cried when straining and then vomited (he did get some out). He squats like he is peeing and i wonder if it is nerve damage related constipation. I have started B12 again. I stupidly stopped it cos his back legs seemed ok and its so hard to get him to take anything.

warm wishes from Lila and Mouse
 
Make sure you're adding lots of water to his food. The diuretic takes water out of them, and that can cause constipation, so rehydrating will be an important part of getting things moving again. Also, if he doesn't have a good full poop, get him to the vet. Cats can block up when they get constipated and sometimes require vet help to get everything out.
 
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear he hasn't cleared it on his own yet. I was really hoping he just needed a few more hours. Do keep us posted!
 
Hi Djamila and Rachel,
he didnt poo on Sunday so we went to vet today, who probed and prodded and said he is not very backed up and gave him Microlax mini-enema just in case. I then had to call a taxi and get home and poor Mouse was frantic in his carrier, and poor boy pood inside it on way home :arghh: . Wish the vet had let us stay longer, it was so stressful.
Not sure if I have said that Mouse has a very odd position when pooing (since the diabetes) with his bum on the ground, a bit like he is peeing. I think nerves have been damaged back there making it hard for him to squeeze. I have ordered Miralax and have been adding water to his food and giving probiotic, and B12 again.
But good news is his numbers are still normal :bighug:
 
Oh no! Poor Mouse! And poor you having to deal with that! Yes, the vet should have kept him there until he was finished. Enemas tend to be quite fast acting as you experienced! But thank goodness Mouse is at least cleaned out now and hopefully feeling a bit better!
 
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