Nose Bleeds after BCP-PZI started? Just a coincidence

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hooyerd

hooyerd

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This is a little strange. I started BCP-PZI about two weeks ago, a switch from Levimer. Levimer wasn't bad, and maybe I shouldn't have messed with something that was working, but after reading about BCP-PZI I just had to try and see if it would be better. The numbers swing much more radically with BCP-PZI (everything on paper now and nothing in the computer, sorry) and even at 3 shots a day the best I can get is highs between 250-300 with lows at 80 - 90. It is really a roller coaster and with Silky it almost resembles Vetsulin, which I first started out with a couple years ago. I will probably be going back to Levimer after consulting with the Vet, it was by far much longer lasting and smoother. Shame on me for upsetting the apple cart. Here is my question though: My Silky baby never had a nose bleed in the 8 years I have had her. She is estimated by the vets to be about 16-17 years old. We really have no way of knowing her age for sure. Two weeks ago, when I made the switch from Levimer to BCP-PZI, she started having nose bleeds. About 4 or 5 in the last two weeks. She has a sneezing attack and then blood is flowing from her nostril and sometimes sprayed into the food bowl. I have taken some photos because over these two weeks I have noticed scratch patterns on the fur right above her nostrils signifying she has been scratching her nose. I am open to any and all speculation and advice. I just called the vet. Vet not in till morning. I will call back in morning and inform him and see if I need to bring her in to have looked at. Allergic reaction to the BCP-PZI? Is there such a thing when it comes to insulin? I thought I knew all of this feline diabetes subject well and have been doing fine by it for a couple years now, but I realize I will never know it all and here I am met with another strange situation. What ever anyone wants to say I am all ears. Thanks all.
 
One other thing to add is her composure has changed also in the last couple weeks. She spends more time alone instead of more involved with me sitting and watching tv, or sleeping on my feet at night. Much more time laying alone in a bedroom. I thought this may be important. Thanks.
 
Re: Nose Bleeds as soon as BCP-PZI started?

I don't know if they can have alergic reactions to different insulins or not.

Bloody sneezing sounds like a sinus infection to me.
 
Re: Nose Bleeds as soon as BCP-PZI started?

Does it seem like it could be an upper respiratory infection? That could explain some of the higher #s you are seeing as well. I agree if you are getting that steep a curve shooting TID, sounds like the insulin isn't lasting long enough. Could be a rebound pattern or something like that going on too, but if it's not that, sounds like the BCP just isn't giving you enough duration to pass the reality check. I'm presuming too you are already feeding low-carb canned food? If not, that can make a huge difference. I have seen some mention of insulin allergies, but from what I have read it is quite rare, and limited in the types of reactions (which I don't remember at the moment). You might be able to get more info on Health, if you haven't already posted there...
 
Re: Nose Bleeds as soon as BCP-PZI started?

I'm pretty sure I have read about beans who thought their kitties were having allergic reactions to just about all the insulins - different cats. So I would say that as far as allergic reactions go, it conceivably could perhaps happen with all insuilins - not just BCP. I've never read anything about like what you describe. Heck for that matter, I've never read the specific symptoms the beans claimed were "allergic reactions" - just that their cats supposedly had them [and in some cases I guess, quite severe].

I like Robin's idea - that would have not crossed my mind. Infection as you may know is not so great for the old BGs [understatement]. Does your vet have any ideas for you?

How many units of Lev were you on and how many units of PZI now? Not being able to see you SS I really don't have much to say about your difficulties regulating.

You could always switch back to Lev and see if the symptoms go away.
 
Re: Nose Bleeds as soon as BCP-PZI started?

If you had something that worked, I would switch back tomorrow. I have used both. Levemir has a much later onset (like +3 or 4), but yes it lasts much longer, and the drop is much slower so it does not tend to create the panicy liver reaction and bounce, unless they go way low.

The 'whole cat report' concerns me a lot (sleeping alone, change in behavior is HUGE, cat's clues are subtle) thus the opinion to switch back:
-Poor regulation can encourage infections. (esp urinary, but all types)
-The fast rise and drop probably feels lousy.
-3x/day is difficult, and requires a lot of testing to be sure you are shooting a rising number. easy to get off track if you have to wait for +10 because it not clearly rising at +8.

I have used 'sensitive eye' saline on my cats for minor eye/nose infections,
(along the lines of us humans using "Simply Saline" to knock out a human virus/upper resp infection/allergen.)
I have found it to work as well or better than the antiobiotic and/or pred drops the vet sells

I don't how mellow she is, but you could try a drop or two up the nostril and in the eyes to try to flush an allergen/kill a virus. Just be super careful not to touch the bottle to the cat. Obviously, this contaminates the whole bottle.
 
Thanks for the replies. Silky is doing much better she had an infection determined by the vet and he prescribed an antibiotic. The vet said it was common this time of year. Did switch back to Levemir with much better results. Still some signs of being effective up to 13 - 14 hours, and with my cat the onset was about the same as BCP-PZI, so in my case I say again, shame on me for playing around when i had something that worked. The interesting thing is that after the short time (2 1/2 weeks) on BCP-PZI and then going back to Levimer, she requires less Levimer. More reasons for home testing as I would have hypod her if I restarted her back at her prior levimer dosages. Maybe we will be back to the old dosages (3u/day) in a short time but right now she is about 1 unit less per day. Just thought that interesting note was worth mentioning. So the nose bleeds had nothing to do with the insulin, she just has a cold. Nose bleeds and sneeze attacks stopped in conjuction with starting the antibiotic. Last night she slept on my feet most of the night which is pretty much normal. If I sounded worried I was, and thanks for the input here. SIGH of relief. HooyerD
 
Re: Nose Bleeds as soon as BCP-PZI started?

You might want to update the subject of your first post to reflect that BCP was NOT causing nose bleeds just in case anyone comes through here reading ONLY subjects and reads something like "Nose Bleeds as soon as BCP-PZI started?" - if they were on BCP it might cause a little more panic than necessary. :-D At least it would with me if I were giving BCP or thinking about it. Maybe something like "Nose Bleeds as soon as BCP-PZI started? -- corrected NOT cause" or anything of your choice.
 
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