I was calling the dose 0.8, because it was just shy of the 1u mark on 3/10ml syringe. I am trying to locate and get some syringes with 1/2u marks. Stewie is a tough tester sometimes. He gets very irritated trying to claw and bite. I have been able to test him more today than any other day. I am new to this and have been overwhelmed at times. Testing takes two people. So today had a friend who he nows and later my husband when he was home from work. I would like to say I can get another reading before bed. I was going good to try at 10. I was afraid to give him his usual whole dose today as the AMPS of 166 was the lowest I had seen and dramatically lower than the 528 yesterday AMPS. I am terrified of him going low especially overnight. He has been eating fairly well today and just had another 1/2 can of food at 8:00. I also have noticed less drinking of water over the past few days. Also they were concerned about underlying heart problems when he had his crisis that led to the diagnosis in the beginning of Feb. He had fluid in his lungs at that time so put him on ace inhibitor, furosimide, and another cardiac med. All have been discontinued except furosimide as echo showed good heart function. Also was on antibiotic that was stopped last Sunday. I will try to test again at 10.
Hello and welcome to you and Stewie Man!
My girl Luci was definitely a two-person test event when we first started. She was not happy about being poked in the ear at all! She would scramble around and would not cooperate at all - much less allow me to take a hand off of her to pick up the lancet or the meter -or anything else for that matter! The minute I'd lift my hand off she'd go...the first day I think we tried five times to get blood from her ear - it was an exhausting experience for all of us. So my husband and I determined that this was definitely a two person job. He'd hold her and I'd do the testing.
We started out by laying a clean towel on our kitchen counter where the light was the best and we could see what we were doing - it's kind of a breakfast bar/island thing and he'd get on one side and I'd get on the other. That went on for about a month or so - then he started telling me that he was testing her at night - ALONE! I asked how did you get her to stand still - he said, she just seems to know that she can't leave...really? So the next day, I tried testing her alone as well - and she just stood there on her familiar towel - with the lancet, the meter and a washcloth nearby. My most important tool (I felt) was a clean white sock filled with about a half cup of rice - warmed for 14 seconds in the microwave - just warm enough to help promote the blood flow and keep me from poking myself in the finger when I'd poke her ear. I'd hold her ear propped on the warm sock, massage it for a few seconds and rub her head a bit - talking to her about having her snack. EVERY test is always followed with a snack - either FF pate or freeze dried chicken or salmon (she loves that stuff!) Sometimes she gets a piece of string cheese - another treat for her...and now I do 90% of the testing, DH tests at night until midnight and then I get up if her numbers are decreasing to get another test - when she sees me coming - it's all about the food...so she waits for me to pick her up and put her on the towel with all the equipment already laid out...
If you'd have told me when Luci was first diagnosed that she was going to be this cooperative I would have said 'NO WAY' - she's a wild thing with a mind of her own - she's a Manx and has never been a lap cat...she's aloof...but she responds to FOOD...it's all about food with her...so get your snacks lined up...talk gently to Stewie - if it takes two people for now - it won't always. You also may want to try putting Stewie in your testing place, do some gentle petting and talking and reward him with a treat - just for allowing you to put him the 'test position'. He'll get the idea soon that you're not always going to hurt him (although many have said to me it doesn't hurt, Luci used to flinch a lot - I had to have a firm grip on that rice sock and her ear - otherwise she'd shake the blood off - all over me, etc. Then I'd have to massage and squeeze the edge of her ear a bit more to express another blood drop - or heaven forbid, stick her again - have had to do that a few times too...but we're getting lots of practice. I test Luci about every two to three hours and she cooperates every time now.
If you're patient and work with Stewie - have his favorite treats nearby for a quick reward - and go through the motions lots and lots of times he'll catch on.
You're doing a lifesaving thing for him...it's worth it. Best of luck to you!! Please write me back if you'd like - there is so much help on this board - wonderful people helping us save our cats. The vets mean well...but they're not the experts when it comes to diabetic cats...I just think they're spread too thin. I have a wonderful supportive vet here...but his answer was to give her 2 units right off the bat...I would have killed her had I followed her advice...gotta take this thing slow...she'll come along when she's ready - and so will Stewie!
