The ol' girl's done it - Ruby's OTJ!

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Fiona & Ruby

Fiona & Ruby

Member Since 2017
I just wanted to share this exciting moment with you all with Ruby and I celebrating going into remission. I really didn't think we would arrive at this point, but we have and I am sooooo deeply grateful for all you great people who have helped me on this journey. I haven't been here very long, and haven't posted heaps but I've read heaps and learned so much. I want to say thank you to @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey and @Chris & China for helping me through Ruby's first low number so early in the piece when I really didn't have a clue what I was doing and for holding my hand through it. I also want to thank Aussie support from @Tara & Ivana who went out of her way to show me how to use the BD ruler, which turned out to be a Godsend. There is an amazing bunch of (good humoured and wise) people here and so glad I found you!!
So I said to Ruby, shall we have a little celebratory moment and dress up? refer to the first image to see her response!
So I said to Ruby, shall we have a more composed and ladylike moment dressed up? refer to the second image, okay if we must!
Thank you Ruby for letting your bean do this to you.....and for being the most beautiful creature in my life.
 

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Congratulations, Fiona and Ruby! May you live a long and happy life at the Falls!

Fiona, one reminder: even though Rubby is off insulin, she'll always be a diabetic, so you'll need to continue the good feeding habits you learned here - low carb wet food only, no dry, etc. Be sure to test at least once a month, and keep an eye out for any signs she's fallen off the wagon - drinking and/or peeing too much, etc.

Keep in touch and let us know how it's going!
 
Congratulations Ruby & Fiona! This is great news. :otj::otj::otj::joyful::joyful::joyful:

Yo Ruby, Great job getting OTJ! That's a beautiful party outfit! I'm baking you a delicious cimmamum cake with catmint icing. We're all coming to your party. Please ask the Flying Kangaroos to pick us up. The Kitchen Krew and I will decide what the party menu will be when we get to Australia!

~ Chef Rusty and his Kitchen Krew
 
Fiona & Ruby said:
I just wanted to share this exciting moment with you all with Ruby and I celebrating going into remission. I really didn't think we would arrive at this point, but we have and I am sooooo deeply grateful for all you great people who have helped me on this journey. I haven't been here very long, and haven't posted heaps but I've read heaps and learned so much. I want to say thank you to @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey and @Chris & China for helping me through Ruby's first low number so early in the piece when I really didn't have a clue what I was doing and for holding my hand through it. I also want to thank Aussie support from @Tara & Ivana who went out of her way to show me how to use the BD ruler, which turned out to be a Godsend. There is an amazing bunch of (good humoured and wise) people here and so glad I found you!!
So I said to Ruby, shall we have a little celebratory moment and dress up? refer to the first image to see her response!
So I said to Ruby, shall we have a more composed and ladylike moment dressed up? refer to the second image, okay if we must!
Thank you Ruby for letting your bean do this to you.....and for being the most beautiful creature in my life.
Click to expand...

Ruby's so festive! and with good reason. Congratulations!
 
Lovely pictures of your girl in her bow!

Good luck with staying off the juice. Her spreadsheet does not look like she was quite ready to start the OTJ trial. Typically kitties are all green and we go from 0.5 units to 0.25 units, and usually to 0.1 units before starting a trial. The longer we can safely give a little insulin support, seems the better chance of a kitty staying in remission. Here's a note on Earning Reductions and Starting OTJ Trials.
However, here's hoping Ruby is one of those kitties who just likes to ride a little high. Spreading out her food into multiple smaller meals will be easier on her newly healing pancreas.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Lovely pictures of your girl in her bow!

Good luck with staying off the juice. Her spreadsheet does not look like she was quite ready to start the OTJ trial. Typically kitties are all green and we go from 0.5 units to 0.25 units, and usually to 0.1 units before starting a trial. The longer we can safely give a little insulin support, seems the better chance of a kitty staying in remission. Here's a note on Earning Reductions and Starting OTJ Trials.
However, here's hoping Ruby is one of those kitties who just likes to ride a little high. Spreading out her food into multiple smaller meals will be easier on her newly healing pancreas.
Click to expand...
Thanks Wendy for your words. I posted on the Main Forum last week wondering whether I'd jumped the gun with this after not giving her insulin for a few days and wondering whether she was ready. You've confirmed my concerns. Can I ask you, if you were in my position (obviously you wouldn't have put her on a trial) but given we're where we are, would you put Ruby back on insulin for a while longer? If delaying this party and inviting you folk back later means I'm giving her the best chance, then that's what I'll do. I really appreciate your feedback and would welcome your's as well @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey?
 
Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey said:
Congratulations, Fiona and Ruby! May you live a long and happy life at the Falls!

Fiona, one reminder: even though Rubby is off insulin, she'll always be a diabetic, so you'll need to continue the good feeding habits you learned here - low carb wet food only, no dry, etc. Be sure to test at least once a month, and keep an eye out for any signs she's fallen off the wagon - drinking and/or peeing too much, etc.

Keep in touch and let us know how it's going!
Click to expand...
Thanks Tricia, I've tagged you in my reply to Wendy and her sense that Ruby could possibly have done better staying on the juice for longer. I am 110% willing to do this if that's what's needed if gone too early. I'd definitely be keeping up the testing on a weekly basis, but not sure if her pancreas is going to be compromised because she could've done with longer? Oh bugger. Love having you all celebrating, but I can always send the flying kangaroos to collect you all later if that's what's best for my girl (she's not that into parties anyway!).
 
In hind sight, might have been better to post on the Lantus forum to ask about an OTJ trial. You will find more experienced members over on this forum, especially regarding Lantus.

I think the question of whether you put her back on insulin, maybe starting with a tiny bit like 0.1 units, depends on how much you can monitor. When she was on insulin, I see many days without any mid cycle tests - I presume you work all day, and very few nights with any tests past preshot. Since Ruby is very close, I'd be worried about sending her too low with any insulin, if I could not monitor closer. We have had cats hypo on tiny doses. Safety is the number one consideration.
 
Thanks Wendy, yes I think I made a booboo with not posting my question about trialing her on this forum....oh the wonders of hindsight. Yes I work all day and weekends can also be tricky. Evenings I could probably manage a +3 but that would be about it. So I take it from what you're saying perhaps not to put her back on....but rather just keep up the testing and try and space out feeds?
 
Good Luck Fiona and I agree with Wendy that we typically go from .50 to .25, to .10 and then a drop. Also, when we do start the trial ( using a human meter) if we get a blue Pre shot number we test again at +3 -+4 to see if kitty has gone into a green number to know that the pancreas is working.

With you working all day and unable to monitor, maybe a .10 unit would be where to start since she is in high greens and low blue numbers but, do it when you can monitor. The longer they get the exogenous support, the better for the healing pancreas.

But all this said, she could be one that likes to ride a bit higher. I believe Bubba is one of those kitties. If you decide to not give a bit more insulin support, I would recommend that you keep a close check on her and I would test daily for a bit. You want to catch if she starts to trend upwards right away as the sooner you can grab the higher numbers down, the better.

Also, besides continuing to feed her a low carb wet diet, make sure you have her teeth clean once a year. Gum inflammation and/ or teeth issues is the number one thing that takes a kitty out of remission.
 
Thanks Bobbie, this is really helpful. The monitoring is tricky (have felt somewhat inadequate seeing everyone else's TR testing regimes :() I will definitely keep up the daily testing though and watch her like hawk-eye when I'm home. Let's just pray she's a happy catty riding slightly higher numbers. I'll keep in touch.
 
Thanks Marje, I really appreciate your input. I think I might start her back on 0.1u and see where that takes us. I get what you're saying about giving her the best chance for a strong remission. Gosh this is a learning discovery tour...with a few wrong turns! Note to self - check first, act later. :facepalm:
 
cmb said:
Yay! You give everyone hope here! Go Ruby!
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Yeah, I've grounded quickly and realised I've perhaps called this too early and that we're not quiiiite there yet for a really solid remission. :facepalm: But she's definitely on the way!
 
Good luck, Fiona! It's clear that Ruby is heading that way, so nothing lost by waiting a little while, I guess? I get the concern, though, about being at work and not being able to monitor. I was at home recovering from surgery for quite a while, but now I'm back at work and the worry does my head in...even on a tiny dose.

Well done you, though, and well done Ruby! You go, girl! :D
 
Girlie's mom said:
Good luck, Fiona! It's clear that Ruby is heading that way, so nothing lost by waiting a little while, I guess? I get the concern, though, about being at work and not being able to monitor. I was at home recovering from surgery for quite a while, but now I'm back at work and the worry does my head in...even on a tiny dose.

Well done you, though, and well done Ruby! You go, girl! :D
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Hey Darrah nice to hear from you and for your encouraging message. I really hope you're doing well and little Girlie is going okay and managing in the heat. :)
 
Chris & China said:
Don't worry Ruby!!....if your mama puts you back on da juice, I'll waits for you at da Falls!! Mama hopes I stays there a very long time!! ~ China
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Oh Chris I've just read China's message and started crying. :bighug: This has felt like a really weird day of so many emotions. I've had a good study of China's ss and can see that Ruby can do with some extra time to help her stay at the falls when she gets there....so we're back on the juice this evening. Feeling like a bit of a fool but just need to kick my pride sideways and remember whatever is best for Ruby. I so look forward to when Ruby can meet China at the falls, I'm so bloody happy for you both!! Tomorrow is your day. :cat:
 
Fiona & Ruby said:
Hey Darrah nice to hear from you and for your encouraging message. I really hope you're doing well and little Girlie is going okay and managing in the heat. :)
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We're both really, really grateful that the house we're renting has air con: it has been SO hot (over 113 Farenheit for the North Americans). My brother said that Sydney was the hottest place in the world this weekend, but I find that hard to believe...
 
Fiona & Ruby said:
Oh Chris I've just read China's message and started crying. :bighug: This has felt like a really weird day of so many emotions. I've had a good study of China's ss and can see that Ruby can do with some extra time to help her stay at the falls when she gets there....so we're back on the juice this evening. Feeling like a bit of a fool but just need to kick my pride sideways and remember whatever is best for Ruby. I so look forward to when Ruby can meet China at the falls, I'm so bloody happy for you both!! Tomorrow is your day. :cat:
Click to expand...

Oh, try not to be so hard on yourself! This sugar dance is so hard and so confusing, and just looking at your SS, I think you've done a fabulous job with Ruby! There is nothing wrong with going back to insulin just to ensure that the reduction sticks. I think you should feel really proud of yourself for all of your hard work and how far she's come! I'd be dancing with joy if Girlie had numbers like you do right now. Give yourself a big pat on the back and save those pictures for just a few weeks from now: it looks like Ruby is on a mission. :D
 
Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) said:
Congratulations Ruby & Fiona! This is great news. :otj::otj::otj::joyful::joyful::joyful:

Yo Ruby, Great job getting OTJ! That's a beautiful party outfit! I'm baking you a delicious cimmamum cake with catmint icing. We're all coming to your party. Please ask the Flying Kangaroos to pick us up. The Kitchen Krew and I will decide what the party menu will be when we get to Australia!

~ Chef Rusty and his Kitchen Krew
Click to expand...
Yo Rusty, can't wait to party with you but can we just hold on baking da cake for the mo. Mama tells me today I gotta stay on this juice for a bit longer and I also gone huntin for those stupid kangaroos and they're grazing way over the back paddock and not ready to come get y'all yet. Perhaps give you some more time to plan that menu, yo Rusty I'm not fussy...I eat ANYTHING! Luv ya, Rubster from down under.:cat:
 
Girlie's mom said:
Oh, try not to be so hard on yourself! This sugar dance is so hard and so confusing, and just looking at your SS, I think you've done a fabulous job with Ruby! There is nothing wrong with going back to insulin just to ensure that the reduction sticks. I think you should feel really proud of yourself for all of your hard work and how far she's come! I'd be dancing with joy if Girlie had numbers like you do right now. Give yourself a big pat on the back and save those pictures for just a few weeks from now: it looks like Ruby is on a mission. :D
Click to expand...
Thanks so much Darrah :bighug::bighug:
 
Hi Fiona,

For what it's worth, I agree with Marje and Wendy. I also understand your hesitation due to your inability to monitor closely. My recommendation would be to grab tests whenever you can and try not to worry about when you can't. Safety is always first, of course. Remember, if you have concerns about her going too low while you're gone you can always leave higher carb food out for her. We all know that Ruby's well-being has been your first concern all along. We are all cheering for you, either way. We'll be ready to party whenever Ruby is.
 
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Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey said:
Hi Fiona,

For what it's worth, I agree with Marje and Wendy. I also understand your hesitation due to your inability to monitor closely. My recommendation would be to grab tests whenever you can and try not to worry about when you can't. Safety is always first, of course. Remember, if you have concerns about her going to low while you're gone you can always leave higher carb food out for her. We all know that Ruby's well-being has been your first concern all along. We are all cheering for you, either way. We'll be ready to party whenever Ruby is.
Click to expand...
Your opinion is worth a lot...so thanks Tricia. :bighug: We're back on with 0.1u this evening and we'll see where that takes us. So very grateful for the support and wisdom that is here.
 
There is an amazing bunch of (good humoured and wise) people here and so glad I found you!!So I said to Ruby, shall we have a little celebratory moment and dress up? refer to the first image to see her response!
So I said to Ruby, shall we have a more composed and ladylike moment dressed up? refer to the second image, okay if we must!
Thank you Ruby for letting your bean do this to you.....and for being the most beautiful creature in my life.[/QUOTE]

animated-festivity-and-celebration-image-0053.gif
 
Fiona & Ruby said:
I just wanted to share this exciting moment with you all with Ruby and I celebrating going into remission. I really didn't think we would arrive at this point, but we have and I am sooooo deeply grateful for all you great people who have helped me on this journey. I haven't been here very long, and haven't posted heaps but I've read heaps and learned so much. I want to say thank you to @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey and @Chris & China for helping me through Ruby's first low number so early in the piece when I really didn't have a clue what I was doing and for holding my hand through it. I also want to thank Aussie support from @Tara & Ivana who went out of her way to show me how to use the BD ruler, which turned out to be a Godsend. There is an amazing bunch of (good humoured and wise) people here and so glad I found you!!
So I said to Ruby, shall we have a little celebratory moment and dress up? refer to the first image to see her response!
So I said to Ruby, shall we have a more composed and ladylike moment dressed up? refer to the second image, okay if we must!
Thank you Ruby for letting your bean do this to you.....and for being the most beautiful creature in my life.
Click to expand...
Congratulations!! simply fabulous!!!
Enjoy life at The Falls
 
Just want to chime in with maybe another view on things. When we started out with Quintus, my vet described the ideal BG we would be aiming for was him staying between 4 and 8, which is roughly the normal-ok range for a cat. So, my reasoning was that if he is staying in that range all by himself, without insulin, why can't that be good enough? I know you're using a human meter so your "real" numbers might be a tad higher, but still, those numbers look pretty good and normal to me.

Now, I know the wisdom here is that a "strong" remission, brought on gradually, is better. I've been in various (and variously argumentative) discussions about this when Quintus approached going off insulin and went off insulin, and to be honest this still does not make sense to me. Meaning: I haven't seen anything that convinces me it is better to keep on giving insulin longer if the cat can stay in decent(-ish) numbers on its own. It feels a bit like "this is how we've been doing it and it works, so we'd rather not take the risk of doing things differently".

There is a paper on risk factors for relapse, and higher BG is a risk factor, but this doesn't mean that tapering off insulin or trying to get lower numbers with insulin will give you lower numbers afterwards in the long run (or if I've missed that bit I am VERY interested in reading about it, because that means we could probably screen pre-diabetic kitties and put them on micro-doses of insulin to readjust their BG and keep them from becoming diabetic).

Granted, I have less observational experience than many people here, and most will disagree with what I'm saying here. But I did dig around quite a bit and I'm glad I stuck with my intuition to take Quintus off insulin, despite being told Quintus's spreadsheet looked nothing like the spreadsheet of a cat whose pancreas was working. So far, it seems to be working decently since Jan 1st.

This being a peer-reviewed board, I find it important to speak up when to the best of my ability to judge the advice being given just doesn't seem to make sense to me.

You remain the person who makes the decisions for your cat, of course.
 
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