something exciting/confusing

[Vtambo & Rex]

I just tested Rex again almost 4 hours after his shot this AM. even after a bit of a struggle, his reading was 203. I am confused because he has NEVER had a reading below 300 and yesterday it was as high as 440 at 8:30 PM. so - some background in case whoever reads/replies to this is not aware of circumstances. Yesterday Rex was not feeling well. He did not eat all of Monday night and not too much yesterday. also did not drink much. today his eating is pretty much back to normal. I still did notice a little bit of diarrhea this AM in his litter box (VERY smelly - if that means anything) I have been giving him broth with his food (Trufood from Wellness) but he has not been drinking that much water today and his litter box (aside from the diarrhea) was pretty dry, like maybe he went one time. so, what should I make of this reading? does it have anything to do with him being sick yesterday? Or can I be optimistic that we are turning things around?? I was only planning on doing one more test today right before his PM shot since he is obviously stressed about me poking him so many times and his ear looks pretty "full of holes". I tried his foot today, but he moved around and there went the drop of blood. suggestions? Opinions? recommendations? Please and thank you.

 

[Djamila]

It sounds like you're doing some home testing which is great! That's one of the hardest steps, so good job getting that going!

So it sounds like you gave a shot this morning (did you test before that?) and then you had a +4 reading that was lower than you've seen before. Have you been doing mid-cycle tests on other days? Going lower in the middle of the cycle is a good thing - it means the insulin is helping.

If you can put the data you've been collecting into a spreadsheet, it will really help folks here to give you the best possible advice. Here is the link to setting up the spreadsheet. It's already all formatted for you, so you just type in the numbers and it will change colors automatically. If there is anything we can do to help you get it set up, just ask. There are people on here who are great at helping with that part.

Spreadsheet
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

 

[Vtambo & Rex]

It sounds like you're doing some home testing which is great! That's one of the hardest steps, so good job getting that going!

I have really been struggling with that since the beginning, so I kinda of gave up for a while (at the "advice" of a vet - not my normal one - long story), but yesterday because he was not eating, I knew I could not give him a shot until I knew what the number was, so I pushed through (I think I helped that he was under the weather because he didn't fight me for once). I ended up getting four readings yesterday - the last one pretty high, or at least the highest I have seen with Rex. so yesterday was kind of a wake up call for me because I was really concerned that he may be having DKA at one point. so, after being able to get four yesterday I got some confidence. although today now that he is feeling better, he is back to his old self and trying to fight me every time he even sees me with the test kit. however I realize how important it is to continue, so I will keep trying. I did try the foot today but he moved on me and there went the drop of blood. I do however think that would be easier if I can get him to hold still.

So it sounds like you gave a shot this morning (did you test before that?) and then you had a +4 reading that was lower than you've seen before. Have you been doing mid-cycle tests on other days? Going lower in the middle of the cycle is a good thing - it means the insulin is helping.

I did give him his shot this AM without testing because I tried to test and I got hissed at and clawed and then he ran out of the room and didn't come back for quite a while. he laid outside the door. the only other days I did mid cycle testing was yesterday and one day several weeks ago. yesterday I believe it was something like 348 mid cycle.

If you can put the data you've been collecting into a spreadsheet, it will really help folks here to give you the best possible advice. Here is the link to setting up the spreadsheet. It's already all formatted for you, so you just type in the numbers and it will change colors automatically. If there is anything we can do to help you get it set up, just ask. There are people on here who are great at helping with that part.

that's awesome. I know people on here are always talking about spreadsheets, but I wasn't sure how to go about that. I have just been using the memory in the meter.

Spreadsheet
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

 

[Djamila]

My cat is hard to test too. He's getting easier now that we've been at this for awhile, but I've been thinking I should make a video of how it is to test a difficult cat since the videos of testing the sweet kitties that lie still just isn't how it looks at my house! So hang in there! You are certainly not alone in having a hissing/biting/scratching kitty. I know there are quite a few other people on here who can empathize as well! The fact that you're getting tests, and trying to get tests, speaks so highly of your commitment to Rex and desire to keep him healthy and safe. I used the paw a few times when I was first starting out. And I did a paw test the other day when he was sleeping in a basket and kept burying his head so I couldn't get to his ears. But Sam's ears bleed better, so I prefer those.

You've probably already had a ton of advice on how to get testing to work, so I'll try to refrain, but if there is anything we can do to help, we all have our own little tips and tricks for how we make it work with our cats. Every cat is a little different, and we all went through the process of figuring it out with our quirky cats. For example, if I put a pot of cat grass between me and Sam, and let him bury his face in it, he cooperates better for the test. Weird, huh? There's a learning curve to be sure. In a few weeks you'll look back on this time and be amazed at how routine it's become!

 

[Vtambo & Rex]

My cat is hard to test too. He's getting easier now that we've been at this for awhile, but I've been thinking I should make a video of how it is to test a difficult cat since the videos of testing the sweet kitties that lie still just isn't how it looks at my house! had to laugh at that. I can imagine, because I am guessing it looks kind of like it does at my house. there have actually been a couple of times where I was almost literally sitting on him to get the test. I really never want to have to do that because of the stress factor, but like I said on those days, that was what it was going to take to get it done. So hang in there! You are certainly not alone in having a hissing/biting/scratching kitty. Rex is usually pretty tolerant, at least of me, but even I have limits I guess. he was born in a wood pile to a feral mom, so don't know if that is partly why he is the way he is, or if it is just because he is a boy, or what. guess it doesn't matter, does it? he is still my kitty and love him no matter what and I am going to do whatever it takes to get him/us through this. he has been with me through a lot and I owe him the best that I can give in his time of need. I know there are quite a few other people on here who can empathize as well! The fact that you're getting tests, and trying to get tests, speaks so highly of your commitment to Rex and desire to keep him healthy and safe. although I never thought I would be posting on this site, I am encouraged/inspired daily to stay the course and hopeful that perhaps a remission is possible, and if not a remission, at least a happy management. I am grateful to all of you for that. I used the paw a few times when I was first starting out. And I did a paw test the other day when he was sleeping in a basket and kept burying his head so I couldn't get to his ears. I can't believe he would continue to sleep through it. Rex is so suspicious of me now that even if I just get up out of my chair he is alert and ready to move if he has to. But Sam's ears bleed better, so I prefer those.

You've probably already had a ton of advice on how to get testing to work, so I'll try to refrain, but if there is anything we can do to help, we all have our own little tips and tricks for how we make it work with our cats. Every cat is a little different, and we all went through the process of figuring it out with our quirky cats. For example, if I put a pot of cat grass between me and Sam, and let him bury his face in it, he cooperates better for the test. Weird, huh? There's a learning curve to be sure. In a few weeks you'll look back on this time and be amazed at how routine it's become!

Let's hope!