Uncharted territory for us: gave a full dose this AM, and no food spike. She was down at +2, so I fed 1/4 of a 3oz can. After 30 mins (so, +2.5), down again to 64, and insulin onset is probably only just starting. To up the degree of difficulty, have a clogged sewer pipe and expecting plumber between her +4 and +6, and so may not be readily available. Ugh! Do I just abort the cycle now with some high carb food??
Do you remember on the 12/21 cycle how much steering you did? I think I'd be inclined to keep the regular low-carb food available for her, and see if she surfs it out. She may just hover at those lower numbers for a few hours, and not dive. Also, having just gone through a bunch of repipe and sewer work, once you get the guys started, they'll want you to stay out of their way, so you'll probably be able to keep an eye on Josie.
I don't remember precisely, but I'm confident I gave 1/4 of a 3 oz can of LC each test, b/c that's my M.O. I'll try LC for a few more 20 minute testing cycles. To your new post: yes, we have 13 in addition to 20.
You might give a little medium carb if you don’t think you’ll be able to watch her. If you can watch and she’s okay with the extra tests, I think I’d use it as a chance to see how she does.
+3 is 64 again, so sticking with her regular LC for now and will test again in 30 mins. For the record, we have her regular LC (various flavors: 4-6%); 13, a 15 gravy, and some crazy thing that's 20 and which she's never eaten. We also have honey and temptations. Djamila, can I just say that I had a physical sense of relief when I saw you post? It means so much to know you are out there keeping a wise eye on us Thank you!! EDIT: +3.5 = 57. Gave a little more LC.
62 at +4, so hanging in there! I am feeding her little bits (like < tsp) of LC each test and testing every 30 minutes. She's getting a little mad at me for poking her so much!
Hi Jenna, I see you just went up to 2.2 a few cycles ago. I notice that when I take little up even a micro dose i tend to get what I call a “ whammy” somewhere between cycle 4-6. Maybe someone can comment as to that may be? It seems to be a pattern ...
I hear ya on the poking. Little officially has cauliflower ear. I seee you are not using a pet meter. What is the danger zone on a human meter is it 50?
Yes, that's true! She also tends to do this (though not quite so dramatically before) after she has had a run of high-and-flats, and she's be right there in the 200-250ish range for about 36 hours. I think Kris once referred to it as being like a "sticky gas pedal." EDIT: Yes, 50 is the official "take action" number with a human meter.
Guess your the one that needs the wine tonight.. although in my book your allowed to start early on Sunday!!
Looks like she’s been surfing for a couple of hours now. You could probably stretch out the time between tests and give her a little rest. Maybe give her a little bigger snack check again at +5.
Thanks for checking in on us, you all! It's true she's skimming along around 60, propped up -- I think -- by the little bits of food I've been giving her. Just took her +4.5 = 60. If she's still holding around there, yes, larger snack + will wait an hour for the next test. (On the sewer pipe front, no sign yet of the plumber . . . )
Rachel, that is an excellent question! Between the sewer and the cat... Hopefully the plumber will be there soon! Although it's never good news when you have to call a plumber on a Sunday. Josie is taking a nice long surf today, isn't she? I'm curious what she'll do in the next few cycles....?
The nice plumber came, and so that's all settled (wasn't half as horrible as it could have been! *knocks wood*). Josie was glad b/c it means she got to skip a test. +8 is 90. In theory, she should get her next dose in about 3 1/2 hours (8:00pm CDT). Any thoughts on what to anticipate giving? Obviously, it will partially depend on her PS, but do you think that this morning's non-food-spike may have been a result of 2.2u being too high? Of course, 2.1 seemed to be too low . . . She is just so confusing!! EDIT: +11 = 134 Perhaps she'll be around 150 or 160 in an hour. Any advice? I think I remember reading somewhere that one should go back to the next "good" dose after a lime (she didn't go lime today, but I'm pretty sure she would have but for persistent steering), which would be 2.1 OTOH, today could have been a total fluke pancreatic flutter -- it's going around these days! -- but I can tell already that I can't stay up with her tonight . . . even if I don't polish off that whiskey!
Bumping my own post (is this bad form?). PS is 171. She's clearly going up, and were it not for what happened today, I'd be comfortable giving her the full 2.2. I feel like today earned her a slight reduction back to 2.1 . . . but then I think, she's probably going to bounce, and so do I hold the 2.2 for this cycle to counteract that and go to 2.1 in the am (numbers permitting, of course). So many factors! Any thoughts? I think I'll go with 2.1 unless there are objections in the next little bit.
lol. Look at my last post..: I just asked the same thing. As I told you earlier.. a few cycles and I get a whammy. I grew a pair and shot 2.2 since every time this happens I reduce and get nowhere. But I can’t advise you. I just know I’ll be up all night again to see what happens ..: you may be too. Feel free to reach out as I will definitely be awake!! Good luck and let me know what you decide to do
Jenna - it's likely that Josie will be high tonight, and possibly for a few cycles since she isn't used to being in the greens. However, I can absolutely understand needing your sleep tonight and not wanting to gamble on the bounce. I think a little reduction is fine if it will help you sleep better.
I gave her 2.1, but went right back up the next day to 2.2. Yes, @Djamila , you were right . . . again! But she cleared that bounce quickly and now, 24 hours later, back to a low blue AMPS = 123. I did test her 30 minutes early. Had I feeling I might need to "stall," and so this way I will be able to see if she is headed up. She's not allowed to have a non-food-spike again today as I can't stay home with her (first week of classes) though I'm almost certain I can get home at midday for a test or to put out extra food for her if necessary. @JanetNJ I agree with you: why can't they do this during winter break?!
Yep, plus she's thwarted my brilliant strategy by giving me a 122 with her new test. So now I'm *actually* stalling. *shakes head*
Do you have enough time to stall this morning? If not you can always feed and get her to rise that way. I would lower the dose this morning based on what she did a couple of days ago, and since you won't be home. Once you get her rising a little, maybe try 2u? Or whatever your mama heart is comfortable with this morning. You've been at this long enough to have a feel for it. (although when I'm faced with unusual numbers I usually resort to asking Sam where he put his instruction manual )
So important to know! Yes, to getting a feel for your kitty's idiosyncrasies. Teasel hides his instruction manual from me regularly.
There's an instruction manual?!?! Yes, I can hang around for another 30 minutes, which will be +13. I am hoping she'll at least get to the 140s . . .
Meh. Little bugger. She really did want the whole dose this morning, didn't she? Ah well, hindsight is all we have around here. .
Yeah, well, that's Josie! I snuck her back up to 2.2 after a couple of cycles at 2.1. We'll see . . . Her 2019 SS is much more, um, colorful than her 2018. There were *weeks* in 2018 when it was just yellow, yellow, yellow. I'm not a fan of the pinks, for certain, but it does seem like she's developing a more ProZinc-like curve this month. I don't know what that means with her, but at least it's interesting!
Jenna, I realize we're in different time zones, but according to your spreadsheet, you're in a completely different day . It looks like up around 1/7 and 1/10, the dates went awry . Josie is definitely keeping you guessing these days. Some of the old timers around here (ahem....@Rachel ) used to say that it's a dance, and only the kitty can hear the music. When patterns shift I always think of it as a change in the music.
Oops! Thanks for pointing that out. Fixed it. As for the dance, I'm a big fan of the genre "structured improvisation," so we'll just see what happens next!
Blasted cat! Me: Josie: 112 at +13. I started testing early (had a feeling!) so that I could be sure she was on the way up before shooting. She is not. Her +11.5 was 114; gave a tsp of food; +30min = 114 again. Gave another 2 tsp, and +30 minutes was essentially same (the 112). We were supposed to be somewhere 15 minutes ago. Ideas? Thoughts? Commiserations? EDIT: I don't actually have to go out tonight. It's just that I, you know, wanted to!
Been there. No advice just muchos commiserations. ... look at my SS today. Exact opposite so tomorrow I’m expecting the opposite of the opposite !!! Xoxox. Wine time for you!!
My hunch is it's too late, but for next time....I think what I would have done was give some higher carb food right away (knowing that I had to leave soon), wait for it to bring her up, and then lower the dose (maybe even a BCS), shoot, leave out food, and go have fun. It's not ideal, but it's so important that we get out and have fun sometimes!
Oh! Or....depending on how long I was going to be gone....maybe just skip the shot, go out and have fun, then come home and shoot a few hours late. Then walk the dose back over the next few cycles. That might be the better option.
I just really don't want to skip or lower the dose too much. I feel like something is shaking loose with her this past week or so, and I don't want to blunt any momentum she may be developing. But I also don't want her to drop to the 60s at +2.5 again! That was not fun.
Again, that one isn't a great option, and I definitely wouldn't recommend that for a newer cat. Unfortunately Josie is now past the six month mark, which puts her in the "long-term" category, and you can often be a bit more aggressive than newer kitties. Although I agree that something seems to be up with Josie right now, so I can understand not wanting to lose momentum.
I sooo hear you. I feel like every time I think I’m making progress I get a whammy. Thoughts are with you. I know it gets frustrating cause we just want them to get better
She's only at 129 with a full dinner on board for an hour and +13.45. Should've gone and left at 1st set break to shoot! Oh, well. Supposed to get icy anyway . . .