Stoney - new thread

McKenzie LaPray

McKenzie LaPray

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Previous thread - over 100 posts

Me again! This disease is so debilitating. I’m disappointed that we can’t get Stoney’s numbers down even after several increases, now up to 3.75u, moving to 4u tomorrow. His numbers just won’t go down even with a new vial. I am doing everything in my power to help him and minimize the potential for another DKA event. We’re calling the vet today for a pancreatitis test, they closed at noon on Friday when we had tried to call and get scheduled. I don’t know what else to do. I have read up on acromegaly and IAA and wouldn’t be surprised if he has one or both of those. His appetite has been good without Zofran, since Saturday. We ran out, but his vet approved the prescription through Chewy and it’s being delivered today. He’s playing normally but also sleeping a lot which is very normal for him too. I’m just so exhausted. I am trying to just breathe but it is so hard.
 
Stoney is currently at 403BG and 0.9 ketones @ +3.5 AMPS. I might go pick up a new BG meter at Walmart to check if he’s really this high. I’m not sure what is going on.
 
Just got a call back from our vet, their FPL tests are expired, and the vet is out next week. They said they might get them in time. But it’d be best to go somewhere else. 🙃
 
I think, however, that the vet is referring to as snap fPL test which is not what you want. You want the spec fPL test where the vet draws the blood and sends it out to an outside lab for analysis! The snap tests done in the vet’s office are not as accurate.

With all of Stoney’s issues, you should probably just bite the bullet and have a GI panel done (again it’s blood sent out to an outside lab.) it would include pancreatitis as well as a few other tests that can indicate different intestinal diseases (or rule them out.) Either way, you need blood sent to an outside lab. It’s the Texas A&M GI panel because it was developed by Texas A&M, but now some of the other labs do a GI panel as well.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I think, however, that the vet is referring to as snap fPL test which is not what you want. You want the spec fPL test where the vet draws the blood and sends it out to an outside lab for analysis! The snap tests done in the vet’s office are not as accurate.

With all of Stoney’s issues, you should probably just bite the bullet and have a GI panel done (again it’s blood sent out to an outside lab.) it would include pancreatitis as well as a few other tests that can indicate different intestinal diseases (or rule them out.) Either way, you need blood sent to an outside lab. It’s the Texas A&M GI panel because it was developed by Texas A&M, but now some of the other labs do a GI panel as well.
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Hmmm…. The vet did in fact call back later this afternoon and scheduled us for 9:30am. I’ll give my husband this information since he will be the one taking him. Covering for 2 colleagues at work during the holiday season is not for the faint of heart. I hate that I can’t get away. Hopefully they can change the test to the GI panel. If not, we can always go back to his other vet that is at a vet hospital.
 
McKenzie LaPray said:
Previous thread - over 100 posts

Me again! This disease is so debilitating. I’m disappointed that we can’t get Stoney’s numbers down even after several increases, now up to 3.75u, moving to 4u tomorrow. His numbers just won’t go down even with a new vial. I am doing everything in my power to help him and minimize the potential for another DKA event. We’re calling the vet today for a pancreatitis test, they closed at noon on Friday when we had tried to call and get scheduled. I don’t know what else to do. I have read up on acromegaly and IAA and wouldn’t be surprised if he has one or both of those. His appetite has been good without Zofran, since Saturday. We ran out, but his vet approved the prescription through Chewy and it’s being delivered today. He’s playing normally but also sleeping a lot which is very normal for him too. I’m just so exhausted. I am trying to just breathe but it is so hard.
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Another positive is that he has been eating well even without Zofran.

It’s really discouraging/devastating/frustrating/frightening when their BG just won’t lower. I am with you. I don’t know if you ever took a look at my spreadsheet— going back to 2020 and then 2021 (separate tabs) we would give insulin and nothing happened Ultimately, he ended up on well over 40 units before beginning to take Cabergoline for his acromegaly, which helped him a lot in terms of his numbers and dose.

I pray Stoney does not have acromegaly.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Another positive is that he has been eating well even without Zofran.

It’s really discouraging/devastating/frustrating/frightening when their BG just won’t lower. I am with you. I don’t know if you ever took a look at my spreadsheet— going back to 2020 and then 2021 (separate tabs) we would give insulin and nothing happened Ultimately, he ended up on well over 40 units before beginning to take Cabergoline for his acromegaly, which helped him a lot in terms of his numbers and dose.

I pray Stoney does not have acromegaly.
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I just took a look at Mr. Darcy’s spreadsheet. Wow! We are very similar, right now. I know we’re only a a month and a half in and I need to lower my expectations. 40u! I also really hope he does not have it. I’m very nervous.
 
I have seen some cats who initially just need more insulin and it’s possible we haven’t gotten to his good dose yet. We need to keep plowing ahead with the increases anyway.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I have seen some cats who initially just need more insulin and it’s possible we haven’t gotten to his good dose yet. We need to keep plowing ahead with the increases anyway.
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Good morning! First yellow AMPS in a few days!! 248 🙌 I am hoping that part of these high pinks are somewhat due to constipation. I am not sure if the MiraLAX has kicked in, it has been difficult for me to catch him in the box. I am going to ask my husband to ask for an X-ray tomorrow to see if he is constipated, if so, we may need to do an enema. 🫣
 
Oh I hope not. But I would continue with the MiraLax. Are you giving it twice a day - morning and evening? If you aren’t seeing diarrhea in the box then it’s okay. If you do then you just reduce the MiraLax.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Did you test ketones this morning? I bet they’re not bad with an AMPS like that. Hopefully the new dose is helping him! 🙂
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Haven’t tested ketones yet, that meter is a pain because of how much blood you need! I plan on testing with his +3
Suzanne & Darcy said:
That is a better AMPS. Can you or your husband test him today mid-cycle?
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Oh, yes! I usually test throughout the day. I have been skipping the +2 and sleeping through it and doing +3, +5, +7’s, and sometimes +9s!
 
My big boy at +7, 158!! He’s so funny. He better keep this up!! 😀
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McKenzie LaPray said:
Well…. I just tested him at +9, and he’s at 439… could it be from his snack? It was his normal low carb FF. :(
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No. It’s not his food. Don’t panic. It’s his body’s reaction to being in the low numbers that he isn’t used to anymore (since becoming a diabetic.) Many cats will clear this bounce quickly and get right back into better numbers, but some will take a few cycles to clear the bounce.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
No. It’s not his food. Don’t panic. It’s his body’s reaction to being in the low numbers that he isn’t used to anymore (since becoming a diabetic.) Many cats will clear this bounce quickly and get right back into better numbers, but some will take a few cycles to clear the bounce.
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Phew! I just had a freak out moment. I knew about the bouncing. I just forgot!
 
A bounce is where the cat's body reacts to lower numbers that he is not used to being in anymore... since becoming diabetic. It's a protective mechanism where the cat's central nervous system perceives either a steep drop in blood glucose or simply the cat being in lower numbers - and releases adrenaline, cortisol, glucagons and growth hormone, all of which create insulin resistance and can keep numbers high for up to six cycles (the bounce). Bounces don't have to last that long, but in some cats they will. Over time, many cats will start to clear the bounces more quickly. When the bounce does clear, BG numbers will come back down and give us an accurate picture of what a dose is doing for the cat.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
He’s still bouncing… but hopefully coming down. It’s a very frustrating part of the progression to lower numbers.
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They just got home from the vet! Husband didn’t ask for the other fPL test like I asked 😒, but we’ll see what this one says. They should call me in about an hour. I’m tempted to call our other vet to see if they can run the test that gets sent to A&M. Our other vet is an Aggie, so I am sure he will find us a way!

And the meter… well, our other strips were getting PRICEY. It was cheaper for me to buy the Relion with strips I can get at Walmart rather than buy strips online and pay for the shipping. I will continue to buy the ketone strips though! But BG will be strictly Relion!
 
Good
McKenzie LaPray said:
They just got home from the vet! Husband didn’t ask for the other fPL test like I asked 😒, but we’ll see what this one says. They should call me in about an hour. I’m tempted to call our other vet to see if they can run the test that gets sent to A&M. Our other vet is an Aggie, so I am sure he will find us a way!

And the meter… well, our other strips were getting PRICEY. It was cheaper for me to buy the Relion with strips I can get at Walmart rather than buy strips online and pay for the shipping. I will continue to buy the ketone strips though! But BG will be strictly Relion!
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I like the ReliOn meters
 
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