Sam - Levemir has arrived! Feeling a little nervous...

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Djamila

Djamila

Member Since 2015
Sam will be switching to Levemir soon, and I'm wondering if y'all can help me figure out the best way to do that. I lowered his dose a bit to 0.5u Lantus which made very little difference in his numbers, but did perk him back up again. But it is too low of a dose. So when I switch, do I aim for 70% of the 0.5u? Or can I switch at 0.5u since it isn't really enough anyway?

Also, should I skip a cycle to clear the Lantus depot, or just go ahead and start in with the Lev?

And finally, he's pretty sick right now with terrible diarrhea starting around midnight last night, so if anyone has some spare vines, he could really use them today. :(
 
Djamila said:
Sam will be switching to Levemir soon, and I'm wondering if y'all can help me figure out the best way to do that. I lowered his dose a bit to 0.5u Lantus which made very little difference in his numbers, but did perk him back up again. But it is too low of a dose. So when I switch, do I aim for 70% of the 0.5u? Or can I switch at 0.5u since it isn't really enough anyway?

Also, should I skip a cycle to clear the Lantus depot, or just go ahead and start in with the Lev?

And finally, he's pretty sick right now with terrible diarrhea starting around midnight last night, so if anyone has some spare vines, he could really use them today. :(
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I can send some healing vines and prayers to Sam. I do not know about the Levemir, just wanted to say hello to you. What has happened to Kris & Teasel, I have not seen her logged in for a while.
Buddy, started today a new dose, it was 9u. He is officially insulin resistant.

I hope Sam starts feeling better and that you get the answers you are looking for.
 
Thanks, Teresa! It's so good to see you! I saw the test results on your spreadsheet. It's good that you got Buddy tested, so you know now. I thought about you this morning with Sam being so sick, and all your skill in caring for Buddy when he gets pancreatitis. I just realized I have a two doses of metronidazole left (the vet always gives a couple of extras in case the kitty spits one under the fridge or something. I'm trying to decide if I want to give him one before I leave for work, or just hope the SEB settles him down. I'm sure the vet will let me pick up a full prescription this afternoon if I call him, I just don't like giving AB if I can avoid it.
 
Oh, and I think Kris has just been busy this week. She moved her horse to a new stable, so she's been driving around a lot getting all of his stuff to the new place and getting him all settled. I'm sure she'll be back once that's all sorted.
 
Can I ask why you are swapping to Lev??

His numbers look good.
Is he having some side effects?

I looked on your profile to check out previous posts so I could look through the sam's history but I was unable to do so since you limit access.

Perhaps you could get into the habit of linking previous condo, this is extremely helpful to folk who are not familiar with Sam, or who want to refresh their memories on Sam. It'll also mean that the info you get is more complete.

I try and help as many folk as possible when I log on, and I always look back through condos to refresh myself, just to be sure that I'm not confusing kitties.

Thanks
 
I too am wondering why you are switching as you are getting such a good response to lantus. Do please link your posts for the reasons Gil mentioned.
 
Djamila said:
Thanks, Teresa! It's so good to see you! I saw the test results on your spreadsheet. It's good that you got Buddy tested, so you know now. I thought about you this morning with Sam being so sick, and all your skill in caring for Buddy when he gets pancreatitis. I just realized I have a two doses of metronidazole left (the vet always gives a couple of extras in case the kitty spits one under the fridge or something. I'm trying to decide if I want to give him one before I leave for work, or just hope the SEB settles him down. I'm sure the vet will let me pick up a full prescription this afternoon if I call him, I just don't like giving AB if I can avoid it.
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I would give him the Metro, sorry I did not get back to you before you left for work. Buddy is insulin resistant, this morning I gave him 9u of Lantus.
 
Djamila said:
Oh, and I think Kris has just been busy this week. She moved her horse to a new stable, so she's been driving around a lot getting all of his stuff to the new place and getting him all settled. I'm sure she'll be back once that's all sorted.
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That is good to know, I was worried about her.
 
Djamila said:
And finally, he's pretty sick right now with terrible diarrhea starting around midnight last night, so if anyone has some spare vines, he could really use them today. :(
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Lots and lots of healing vines for vibes.gif Sam


I'm not sure about the starting dose but will give me opinion. No clue about skipping to drain the depot...that's out of my league:smuggrin:

You were happy with the .75 U numbers but Sam wasn't feeling it. So you reduced in the interim before the switch. So if we go with that 70% reduction (from the .75 dose) I would think .5 would be ok. And as long as you can monitor of course. Some kitties recently have had some pretty marked responses and got reductions. Especially since you're so close to the right dose.

Please post when you start and let us know how Sam responds to the Lev :bighug:
 
Thank you so much, Michelle! Both for your thoughts and for your help with the old link! Couldn't go back that far on my rickety old phone, and I've been at work all day. It looks like you just went straight from Lantus to Levemir without skipping a cycle, so unless someone suggest differently, I'll just go ahead and dive in when it arrives.

I love the picture you chose! It looks just like Sam!!!
 
Don't skip a cycle. Shoot Lantus one cycle and Lev the next. Just make sure you can monitor closely the first couple cycles as some cats have strong reactions to the change. Which is also a reason for the 70% guideline. Good luck with the switch. I would go for 70% of 0.5 as it was giving greens. I hope you use calipers.
 
Thanks Wendy! That will be a tiny dose. I'm going to have to get out a calculator and some reading glasses....:bookworm:;)

I also have a question about scheduling:

Right now, I get up at 4:15 for t/f/s, then leave for work about 3.5 hours later, so that I can monitor the first part of the cycle. I'm thinking since I've read/seen people on Lev have later nadirs, that it might be better to move his t/f/s time up a few hours so that it's right before I walk out the door, then I will be home at +9 to monitor the later part of the cycle instead. Would that be better?
 
The Levemir just arrived, so it looks like it's time to get started on this new phase of the journey. I'm still not sure what time to do the new shot though - stick to our current 4:15/4:15 schedule, or delay a few hours tonight to better monitor the later part of the cycle. If only I didn't have to go to work all day....;)
 
I just got the Levemir, and was all set to start it, but I'm having second thoughts since he's still so sick.

The night before last, Sam started having a loud gurgling tummy and was making little moaning sounds and having diarrhea like crazy. This morning I thought he was on the mend, but as the day has gone on, he's still having liquipoo, and has thrown up twice as well. He just started metronizadole, but it hasn't really kicked in yet.
I'm just nervous to start him on Lev while he's this sick. But if I don't start him tonight, I really should wait until next weekend since i can't be home all day with work. Which means another week on Lantus. Arg! It's so hard to know what's best!!!

Should I just go ahead and start? Or wait until he's had a couple of days to get over the stomach thing?
 
Djamila said:
Sam will be switching to Levemir soon, and I'm wondering if y'all can help me figure out the best way to do that. I lowered his dose a bit to 0.5u Lantus which made very little difference in his numbers, but did perk him back up again. But it is too low of a dose. So when I switch, do I aim for 70% of the 0.5u? Or can I switch at 0.5u since it isn't really enough anyway?

Also, should I skip a cycle to clear the Lantus depot, or just go ahead and start in with the Lev?

And finally, he's pretty sick right now with terrible diarrhea starting around midnight last night, so if anyone has some spare vines, he could really use them today. :(
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Thinking good things for you!
 
Djamila said:
I just got the Levemir, and was all set to start it, but I'm having second thoughts since he's still so sick.

The night before last, Sam started having a loud gurgling tummy and was making little moaning sounds and having diarrhea like crazy. This morning I thought he was on the mend, but as the day has gone on, he's still having liquipoo, and has thrown up twice as well. He just started metronizadole, but it hasn't really kicked in yet.
I'm just nervous to start him on Lev while he's this sick. But if I don't start him tonight, I really should wait until next weekend since i can't be home all day with work. Which means another week on Lantus. Arg! It's so hard to know what's best!!!

Should I just go ahead and start? Or wait until he's had a couple of days to get over the stomach thing?
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I'd wait, Djamila, even though you're keen to get him off Lantus. You'll want to see his early Lev responses clearly and that could be hard to do if he isn't feeling well.
 
Okay, thank you Kris! I've been really torn about what to do, so it helps to have another opinion!!!
 
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