problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own health

Status
Not open for further replies.
SweetAngel

SweetAngel

Member Since 2014
hi, I'm feeling so frustrated this morning and so sorry for my Angel who is such a sweet cat and SO does not deserve all this. (none of our furbabies do)

Last night I slept through, which is pretty unusual for me, apart from waking up with night sweats when it was still too early to test. (I know any females around my age will understand). Ran downstairs to test and feed Angel pre shot. Well it took me 4 strips and 6 drops of blood before I could get a big enough sample. That's not counting the times I got NO blood because I probably wasn't holding the cotton wool tight enough against his ear. I think I must be trying the wrong part of the ear. I'm trying to keep away from the scabby/scarred bits. (neosporin not available in uk). It doesn't appear to be hurting Angel but it's obviously a little uncomfortable. I made sure I didn't let myself give out stress vibes, I was like 'I am alpha cat and we need to do this'.

I feel I need to explain why I'm being so pathetic. Sorry if this isn't the right place to do this, don't feel you have to comment on this at all, just bear it in mind when I'm so frustrated with myself. I guess I'm feeling sorry for myself as this past 18 months haven't been great, getting burgled (which nearly ruined my relationship, long story), worst of all losing Angel's sister, and my own health problems, which I guess I should explain. I feel like a wuss coz they're not at all life threatening and I've been watching a programme in the UK called 'My Last Summer' about terminal patients and it really puts all my problems into perspective.

I have ADD (finally diagnosed a few years ago after a lifetime of wondering what was wrong with me), associated depression, and ptsd due to a horrific experience. Last Feb out of the blue I developed a constant unpleasant taste plus everything started tasting vile, especially sweet stuff, citrus, alcohol. I was basically eating to stay healthy because everything tasted so vile or at the very least like cardboard, even water tasted bad. After a lot of research it turned out this was a common side effect of some meds I was taking for a nail infection, so I assumed that was the cause. I stopped the meds in April and started taking milk thistle and last July things improved until I was almost back to normal, could drink alcohol, have sweet things and fruit etc. This March I had glandular fever for the 2nd time (rare), severe tonsillitis and strep throat, I was ill for about 6 weeks and since then the taste disorder has come back as bad as ever along with discomfort in my throat every time I eat. Pretty sure now it is LPR. The only thing I can drink is tea, even water tastes vile, can't have fruit, I dread mealtimes and usually end up throwing stuff away. I'm eating stuff like sausages, bacon, rice, because anything healthy tastes too bad, I'm tired all the time because I can't eat healthily, I'm having to take vitamin supplements and zinc coz last year I nearly ended up with scurvy!!!!! Before they gave me different ppi meds I was coughing and retching every day. The nhs won't see me until 21st JULY!! and that is not even for investigations. I've asked the gp to try to put the appt forward but it looks like they can't. I'm on disability so my dad who is a pensioner is going to pay for a private appt on top of all Angel's vet bills which he's already having to help with.

Rant over, aaaaargh...going to have a cup of tea (just for a change)!!

Thanks for listening, any advice re Angel's ears and my pathetic attempts at home testing would be welcome.

xxx
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

Oh, ((((Cassandra)))),

You've been through - and are still going through - SO much. You poor love. (I think you're entirely justified in having a 'rant'!)

Regarding your hometesting ability, your attempts are absolutely not "pathetic"! On the contrary, you are doing incredibly well in that regard. OK, so you are having a bad day; or maybe even just a bad morning. And testing has been much harder than usual. That kind of thing happens to all of us at some time or other, and is in no way a reflection on your ability. Really.
Sometimes, even after seven and a half years of testing Bertie I still have days when I could swear that he has a turnip for a head because there doesn't seem to be a single drop of blood in there!

OK, about Angel's ears.... Hmmm....
Are you using a new lancet each time?
Are you pressing firmly on the test site for a few seconds after each shot? (to prevent bruising?)

Are his ears warm when you're testing? Or do they tend to be cool (and so don't bleed so well)?

Sometimes I find I can't get blood on the very outer edge of the ear but can get blood if I move a tad further toward the centre of the ear. It may be that some parts of Angel's ears bleed better than others, or that one ear bleeds better than the other.
Have you tried a teensy smear of vaseline on the ear to help the blood to 'bead up'?

Sometimes cats' ears are sensitive to the ear pricks initially but then seem to 'toughen up'.

Chin up, sweetie. You can do this.
But you need to take care of yourself too.
Set aside some serious 'me' time. Diana ('Diana & Tom') recommends giving ourselves little treats. (I find long relaxing bubble baths are good!)
And remember to breathe. It may sound trite but it is so important.

Huge reassuring hug to you, Cassandra

Eliz x
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

One other suggestion is to massage Angels ears for a minute or two before trying to get blood. She may love the head scritches. Massage towards the tip of the ear to warm up the ear and get the blood flowing.
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

Cassandra, I'm so sorry you're going through this but I'm glad you've told us. Online message boards can be funny old places, and it's not always easy to read correctly between the lines about what's going on for people behind the scenes. So well done for spelling it out. We certainly do all sympathise. Not everyone has the same set of problems, of course, but many have been through all sorts of difficult circumstances, so we know what it's like to struggle.

I can't add much to what the ever-brilliant Elizabeth has to say about testing, but it's certainly true that the more relaxed you can be, the easier it is. Sometimes we can try too hard - know what I mean? I found that once I'd got the knack - which is all it is - it became easiest to test when I wasn't thinking too much about it. Just gathering supplies and getting on with it almost on auto worked better for me than spending ages gearing myself up! Of course, everyone is different but hearing other people's takes might help.

And yes, as Eliz says - remember treats. We do all need little somethings as a reward for all the effort we put in, so try to be pleased with the progress you're making and pat yourself on the back. Different treats for different days, perhaps, so you always have something to look forward to as a change. For many of us it's chocolate or wine. I don't have a diabetic cat these days but I still need treats after a hard day and my current favourite is rum and raisin ice cream! Just the thought of it makes me feel better ;-)

Well, good luck, Cassandra. Just carry on as you are. It can and will get easier.

Diana x
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

(((Elizabeth, Lisa, Diana)))

That did me good!!! Thanks for being there for me. Angel's ears always seem warm but I do massage them. I might try the microwaved rice. I always start with a new lancet, must have attempted to prick his ears about 10 times with the same one this morning though, small blood drops about 6 times, no blood about 3 times, perfect one 10th time. What do you think about testing from paws?

Whatever is going on with me, I manage to stay calm and strong when I'm testing Angel because I know I HAVE to do this. After I posted, I spent some quality time cuddling Lianna and Cera, and of course Angel, and that calms me.

Diana, I long for the day when I can enjoy chocolate, wine and ice cream again. I've always been the sort of person who really enjoys their food!

I called the doctors surgery and spoke to the main GP, he said he'd write to the hospital, told me to take the ppi's twice a day, and that I should have been given gaviscon advance not gaviscon (the pharmacy's suppliers messed it up as I can't take aniseed and they had to order peppermint)

I guess it's stupid little things that set me off, yesterday I carried Lianna's full water fountain upstairs, tripped and soaked myself, then this morning I came down and Cera had vommed furballs over the floor and a couple of toys.

I'll maybe treat myself to a bacon and cheese panini in the high st, they don't taste too bad, and it will stop me worrying about having to find something else to eat tonight. Chilli con carne is ok too.

well, 4.5 hours after Angel's shot so time to test, wish me luck...and WHY does a cat who would previously do anything for wet food now decide he wants the dry? I'm having to give him a tiny handful of the Hills DM as a treat whilst I test him! oh... update, Angel is now sitting on the sofa so wants a cuddle, so will delay his test for a bit. I want him to feel safe when we're in this room cuddling!
xx
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

Oh gosh Cassandra, I'm so sorry, I was prattling on about food and drink treats when your comments about not being able to eat or drink so many things hadn't really lodged in my brain. I do apologise. Suffering here a bit myself today - sore throat, sniffles etc, maybe hayfever, maybe a cold. Minor in the scheme of things but it is making me a bit woozy!
Anyway, so that kind of treat may be off limits for now, but as Eliz says, a nice bubble bath or even a hand massage with some nice handcream, or similar, can be very relaxing and pampering. Put some music on that you like and go off into a reverie of your own! Things like that do help!
Diana x
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

don't worry Diana, it made me laugh!!!

Hope you're feeling ok, may be hay fever as tree pollen was bad here a few days ago (mine is silver birch, fine with grass though!) Going to cuddle Angel now, my treat will be to have a break from housework and do something arty like scrapbooking or art journaling.

xx
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

Oh yes anything arty or crafty is great relaxation! I do a lot of different things, painting, sewing, papercrafts... Too many to mention but I do like them all! Anyway, enjoy...
D
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

just tested him, only took 3 goes this time and last one was nearer the edge of the ear, so will concentrate on that sort of area. He was really co operative too, obviously decided mummy is a vampire and there's not a lot he can do about it.

He's higher than I expected, especially since he's on the lower carb food today, but at least he's less than he was pre shot.

xx
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

SweetAngel said:
He's higher than I expected, especially since he's on the lower carb food today, but at least he's less than he was pre shot.
Click to expand...

Well done for getting that test, Cassandra. Yay! :smile:

What is the 'lower carb' food that you've switched to?
And what were you feeding before today?

Eliz
 
Re: problems getting enough blood to test, plus my own healt

the lower carb is the Purina diabetic wet, think it's 7%. Before that I've had him on half Hill's diabetic dry 16% and half Lily's or Smila between 0-3%. May have been feeding him a bit much of the Hill's but know I didn't overfeed him today , he's just had part of a tin of the Purina plus a couple of small handfuls of the Hills when he's had his test . And so much for my relaxing evening, Lianna's been sick now. (she is very occasionally). I just put a clean cover on the bed yesterday. She's also a bit arthritic and not too good at grooming herself so I've had to clean a bit of sick off her fur and massage the cat cleaner mousse from the vets into her so she smells nice. So now off to clean the quilt and cover, gotta love my cats.
xx
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top