Worn down

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Jajsmom

Jajsmom

Member Since 2020
So, I'm feeling a little worn down this week. I've poke my poor cat's ear to death. I don't even want to poke it anymore. Its like a battle zone. Keeps shaking blood everywhere. Stupid test strips are so sensitive. Just wasted 3 of them. I want to try Jasper's paw, but twice got nothing. He's so hard to keep still. I know it will get easier. Its just one week. I don't know how you all do it. Deep breath. Deep breath.
I was out all day celebrating my b-day so didn't get to test much. Not sure I can do another tonight, but will try. Sorry to vent.
 
Jajsmom said:
So, I'm feeling a little worn down this week. I've poke my poor cat's ear to death. I don't even want to poke it anymore. Its like a battle zone. Keeps shaking blood everywhere. Stupid test strips are so sensitive. Just wasted 3 of them. I want to try Jasper's paw, but twice got nothing. He's so hard to keep still. I know it will get easier. Its just one week. I don't know how you all do it. Deep breath. Deep breath.
I was out all day celebrating my b-day so didn't get to test much. Not sure I can do another tonight, but will try. Sorry to vent.
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Don't apologize for venting, it's a part of the job! Diabetes is hard, it's alright (and expected) to be overwhelmed and worn down from time to time. This disease isn't only new to you, it's new to your kitty as well. It will take some time for Jasper to get used to what you are doing. I picked a spot for testing and we test here every single time (cat's love familiarity). When I finish testing I always meet Ducote at the fridge to give him a treat. Doing this routine over and over not only led to him expecting it but also kind of looking forward to it in a weird way. When he hears me unzip his meter he comes running and gets in his spot on the counter. He knows when it is over he gets to run to the fridge for a treat. It will get easier in time. Jasper's ears will also begin to become easier to work with in time. At the beginning I was milking Ducote's ears after his poke but now a bead just bubbles up. Give it time and practice and you will both get there!
 
Jajsmom said:
So, I'm feeling a little worn down this week. I've poke my poor cat's ear to death. I don't even want to poke it anymore. Its like a battle zone. Keeps shaking blood everywhere. Stupid test strips are so sensitive. Just wasted 3 of them. I want to try Jasper's paw, but twice got nothing. He's so hard to keep still. I know it will get easier. Its just one week. I don't know how you all do it. Deep breath. Deep breath.
I was out all day celebrating my b-day so didn't get to test much. Not sure I can do another tonight, but will try. Sorry to vent.
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Hi get some neosporin ointment with pain relief and put a little on his ears, make sure it's the ointment NOT the cream, In see some members will try putting it in a clean finger nail and use the test strip on there
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Hi get some neosporin ointment with pain relief and put a little on his ears, make sure it's the ointment NOT the cream, In see some members will try putting it in a clean finger nail and use the test strip on there
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I have some neosporin. Been using vaseline, but I'll switch. I do use the nail when I can, but sometimes my strip doesn't catch it the right way. Sometimes is does. I do give him a treat afterwards. Sometimes he'll jump right up, but as soon as I hold his ear, he tries to shake away. I've been blowing on it and sometimes it will hold him still.
 
Jajsmom said:
So, I'm feeling a little worn down this week. I've poke my poor cat's ear to death. I don't even want to poke it anymore. Its like a battle zone. Keeps shaking blood everywhere. Stupid test strips are so sensitive. Just wasted 3 of them. I want to try Jasper's paw, but twice got nothing. He's so hard to keep still. I know it will get easier. Its just one week. I don't know how you all do it. Deep breath. Deep breath.
I was out all day celebrating my b-day so didn't get to test much. Not sure I can do another tonight, but will try. Sorry to vent.
Click to expand...
Robyn I kind of had it easy for a bit because my Dusty wore the Freestyle Libre the downside was she did not make it for me to make it to meter test her ears .
Here is a thought for the forum I will also post this to the think forum
Is there a Safe numbing cream that could be used on a cats ear to make pricking it easier ?
On the cat and the caregiver ? I think it’s also a good think to Vent on here
 
Vaseline and Neosporin Ointment serve two separate purposes. Vaseline is for helping the blood to bead up before poking, Neosporin is for preventing bruising and promoting healing after the poke. Not sure about everyone else, but I stopped using Vaseline after a couple months, didn't really need it any more. I did provide some for a friend who was cat-sitting to make it a little easier on her and she said the lancet would gunk up so I told her to dial back on the Vaseline, just a smidge is all you need.

I have seen Halo Cloud Nine Herbal Healing Salve recommended in lieu of Neosporin.
 
You could be hitting the vein on accident and that’s why it’s hurting him more. Be careful to only poke the very outer edge.
 

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JanetNJ said:
You could be hitting the vein on accident and that’s why it’s hurting him more. Be careful to only poke the very outer edge.
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I've been getting very near the tip, though he might have moved yesterday and I could've got the vein. I don't think he's hurting. I just feel like I've poked all around the outer top edge of that ear and I can't do the other. This morning went well.
 
Jajsmom said:
I've been getting very near the tip, though he might have moved yesterday and I could've got the vein. I don't think he's hurting. I just feel like I've poked all around the outer top edge of that ear and I can't do the other. This morning went well.
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You don't have to stay just on the outter top edge. You could do all along the edge around the whole ear.
 
JanetNJ said:
You don't have to stay just on the outter top edge. You could do all along the edge around the whole ear.
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This is what I do, and alternate ears to give him a break. I start at the bottom, then over a few days work my way to the top...then start over. This way I'm (hopefully) not poking the same area more than once every few days.

Edit: I use the old nursing trick of moving a hair tie between wrists to remember which side I did last
 
No real advice to add but just wanted to offer some support! Hang in there and keep at it! I am just starting week three of home testing and it gets easier...slowly, but it does. I was pretty much a total disaster with testing the first week and I think I wasted fifteen test strips during that time. After much advice from people here, slowly, the number of successful tests is creeping up and the wasted strips are decreasing. You will persevere!! Keep at it until you find what works best for you and Jasper. I drop a tiny treat into a fluffy blanket then quickly do the poke and get enough blood onto my finger while she searches for it.
 
Jajsmom said:
So, I'm feeling a little worn down this week. I've poke my poor cat's ear to death. I don't even want to poke it anymore. Its like a battle zone. Keeps shaking blood everywhere. Stupid test strips are so sensitive. Just wasted 3 of them. I want to try Jasper's paw, but twice got nothing. He's so hard to keep still. I know it will get easier. Its just one week. I don't know how you all do it. Deep breath. Deep breath.
I was out all day celebrating my b-day so didn't get to test much. Not sure I can do another tonight, but will try. Sorry to vent.
Click to expand...
You are not alone ! It's the end of my first week testing and I feel exactly the same way you do, 100% . I feel it getting easier every day but do feel bad for my kitty and on top of that one of my other cats just got ill so it is a lot to handle ! Just remember it is a labor of love and they give it all right back to us in so many ways :) keep your head up you are doing great.
 
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