New, Scared, and Confused in NYC.

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The general rule, Alexia, is that you don't shoot under 200. You wait 30 minutes and test again. If he is over 200, then you shoot. But come back on tonight when you have a number and get advice for that specific number. Any chance Hillary will be there tonight to help?

So the 182 was his nadir (lowest point in the cycle). What we don't know is if he was stressed and if that number is artifically inflated by stress. So it's possibly not a "real" number. Does that make sense?

The good and bad news is that this is the tricky part. He is responding to the diet and the insulin and it is likely that his numbers may be bouncing around some. You want to give him enough insulin to keep his bg levels down but you don't want to give him too much. That's why it's called a sugar dance!
 
Okay that makes sense. So even under 200, I don't shoot at all verses lowering it and then test again in 30 minutes. Hillary is not coming by tonight, I met with her today and talked to her on the phone after the unsuccessful hometest and vet visit. I am flying solo now.

No, I totally understand about the 182, that is what is even more exciting to me is that it could be lower, making the diet already working.

Now I just need to get my nerves under control, after an unsuccessful one earlier, I am nervous about this one. I will repost my results!
 
SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!

Outside of the ear with vaseline! He tested at 235!

So that close to 200, do I shot? Should I give him half a unit? What next?
 
Why do you put vaseline on his ear I had my first time by myself tonight too YEAH needed tuna but I did it hate needles LOL Kath & Trey
 
Earlier today I tried the inside of the ear and I drew blood, but not enough. So I read that a lot of people have success with the outside of the ear. The reason I used the vaseline is because since there is hair on the back of the ear the fur with absorb the blood. But with the vaseline there it beaded up perfectly. The first strip it didn't take because I think I got too close to the vaseline and it got on it, but I got a 2nd bead and it tested perfectly! Outside of the ear, on the edge, down the middle, with vaseline worked with one upward prick. I hope that that helps!
 
Fantastic! Welcome to the vampire club. You got it - vaseline helps the blood bead up, and it shows you exactly where you want to poke. Great job.

1 unit would probably be fine, but he did have that strange reaction. If you want to be perfectly safe, you could give 1/2 unit (.5ml) Why don't you put PZI Dosage advice needed and start a new thread? We used PZI but it was before it was PZI zinc. I would feel better if others agree with me.
 
I posted under the PZI thread about it. I felt uncomfortable doing 1u being so close to 200 so I did .5u and I am going to test me at his peak. Since I switched his diet, he hasn't reacted the way he had before, so hopefully that continues. And I started a spreadsheet, it is just the first day so it might not help but it is there!
 
I think .5 is a great choice. And a nadir number would be wonderful.

Have you stopped to think how much you have learned in a few days? Isn't it amazing? Not only do you have a whole new vocabulary, but you are getting blood from a cat! Take time to pat yourself on the back. Great job!
 
Not good tonight tried 4 times and no blood then when I got blood the strip didn`t work shaking hate needles will start again when hubby is home in about 2 hours Thanks anyway Kath
 
Kath,

With the vaseline, make sure you put an extremely thin layer, just enough to kind of smooth the fur, otherwise the vaseline gets in the way of the test strip being able to "sip" the blood in.

If it's too hard to get the blood into the test strip from the ear, you can scrape the blood onto your fingernail, release the cat, and then test from your fingernail.

A few other things you can try are:

- Heat the ear beforehand to make it bleed better. Take a thin sock, put 1/2 cup of dry rice in it, knot the sock. Heat the sock in the microwave until it's quite warm (but not hot enough to burn). Hold the sock to the cat's ear for like 30 seconds before testing.

- Prick twice very close to each other, so that the blood from the two pricks makes enough of a drop

- Use a flashlight under the ear so that you have something hard to press against, and it helps you see exactly where the vein is.

- Are you trying to prick with the pen device, or just using the lancet free-hand? I find freehand much easier 'cause you can see exactly what you're doing.

- Try pricking lower along the side of the ear rather than towards the tip.

Good luck!
Odiesmom

ps - I also wrap my cat in a towel to contain all his paws and make him less wiggly
 
Odiesmom and Sue, thank you so much!!

Kath,

Here is what worked for us. First, I bought a warm sock filled with oatmeal-heat for 30-40 seconds- on his ear for about a minute. Then I put a thin layer of vaseline-and I got it in the first test strip and had to use a second. I pricked a little in from the edge about in the middle of the ear, the top is definitely harder. I free hand it, scarier but actually easier. I also prick in an upward motion, coming straight in you are more likely to accidentally piece their ear, but the upward motion is just enough to poke them for blood but not enough to cause them pain. Once I got the blood in the meter and a reading I squeezed the spot with some tissue to stop the bleeding and put on pain relief neosporin. Hopefully that helps you out!
 
I have not read the others posting yet, but wanted to say one thing before you log off, ok :-D I am glad Blue is doing much better. As far as the 182 at the vet. That number could be lower minus the stress he may have been under. I agree, definitely check his bg before you decide to shoot tonight, ok :YMHUG: I'll be back to post more after I read what everyone else wrote. ;-)

BTW - The relion micro meter is AWESOME for getting the smallest amount of BLOOD!!!!!!! :lol: That's why I had mentioned it before.
 
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