needle phobic needs more help please

Hiya needing more help, I have searched the message boards, but there seems so much info out there, my brain feels fuddled. several questions really. I have thankfully injected Elle quite a few times now, and all satisfactorily until about two days ago, I couldn't seem to get the air bubble out of the syringe, I ended up throwing about four needles away and then when I did inject her she really let me know I had hurt her. I didn't seem to do anything different, but I was pure panic for the rest of the day, and haven't injected since. secondly, we have decided to take her in the motorhome with us on holiday, she has never travelled with us before, but im hoping to get her used to the MH before we actually go, and maybe a short trip to test things out first. any help with this would be really appreciated. Ie cages, will France be too hot, is there any thing I should watch for. ???????????????so many questions my head is buzzin. thank you Elaine

 

HI Elaine
I'd be happy to talk to you over the phone....

I would say don't worry too much about airbubbles...in years of testing I've never bothered with that.

There is a way you can angle the needle so kitty doesn't feel it going in. I can describe on the phone.

And great idea to take kitty on your trip. I drove my Fred all over the place and including from NYC to LA, Ca and back! He was fine. They get used to it and no biggie--but at first he'll probably meow nonstop

If you PM me your phone number and best time to call, evening preferably and your time zone--I'll give you a call

best
Martica

 

Hello there

let me know if you manage to speak with Martica.

With insulin shots you are giving them subcutaneaously so you dont need to worry about air getting into their systems. The only issue is that a small air bubble will impact your dose but as long as its always consistent its not a big deal.

are you using a vial or a pen? I have techniques that could help prevent air bubbles.

Wendy

 

Hello Wendy, I haven't spoken to Martica yet, I'm not sure what time zone I'm in. just UK GMT It is now 3.50 and very expensive to make phone calls cross country's. I have been shown by vet how to inject, maybe my technique for filling syringe is not too good. I will go have a look on you tube and see what I can find. the other thing that is worrying me is she seems to be always asking for food and I'm not sure if I should give her extra or not, she used to have two pouches of felix day one am one pm with I ams dried food in between as and when she wanted it. She hardly ever touches the I ams now, but if I put pouches down she always eats some of them and then will start wanting food again half an hour later. we are using a vial ( if that's the little bottle ) Elaine

 

Before filling your syringe, you might try sliding the plunger in and out a bit, then pressing the plunger in as firmly as you can as you insert it into the pen.

 

Hi Elaine,

I'll see if I can rouse up some of our UK members. Where are you? I don't know what GMT stands for.....

Unregulated kitties are unusually hungry as their bodies are not processing food well. So we suggest feeding more than you usually might, until her blood glucose levels come down, so you might add a snack mid day. If you can add some warm water to the Felix food, that sometimes makes them think they are getting more food than normal.

 

Hello

Heres my vial technique. You insert the syringe into the vial while pressing and holding the plunger firmly. Make sure you press the plunger very firmly because the end of the plunger is flexible rubber and can catch some air. Then slowly pull back. Pull back a little extra. Then remove the syringe and hold it vertially. Tap it till the bubble goes to the top and gently expel the air till you reach the right dose. If there is still a small air bubble in it I wouldnt worry - she will get most of the 2 units.

What weight is she? here is the amount of calories she should get per day :Required calories per day = [13.6 X ideal weight in lbs] + 70

and you can find food calories here: http://binkyspage.tripod.com/nonusfd.html

Wendy

 

Hi again, Elaine,
Well done you for managing to give those insulin shots! I know that was a really scary thing for you to try to do, but you did it! :RAHCAT

OK, you've had a little hiccup. You tried a shot and it didn't go easily, and that has probably dented your confidence. Most of us have been there. I certainly have! The first few shots I gave my cat were just fine (despite my anxieties), but then, a couple of times, I seemed to hurt him during the shot. He got nervous. I got nervous. And I really felt that I just wasn't going to be able to get it right ever again. But I did. And so will you. Your confidence is a little shaken, that's all. But I'm willing to bet you that a month from now you will be expert at giving your cat her insulin shots! And a little further down the line you'll be posting on here telling 'newbies' how you overcame your fears... ;-)

It's actually quite common for people who've been giving shots for a short while to suddenly find they have a problem with it. I think this is because we put a lot of concentration and effort into it the first few times while we are learning how to do it. But then, when we think we've 'got it' we sort of relax a bit and sometimes lose concentration or focus. And that's when mistakes can happen. It can also happen quite easily when we're just tired! The mistake I made was one that a lot of people make: I wasn't pulling the skin up high enough. And because of that when I put the syringe in I probably jabbed at a muscle or something instead of into the space under the skin. You need to yank the loose skin waaaay up and then inject into that space.

I know it's hard to try again when the last shot didn't go well. But it's a matter of 'feeling the fear and doing it anyway'. And once you've got a few successful ones 'under your belt' you will be just fine. Maybe there will still be the occasional shot that doesn't go well. That's no big deal. Be kind to yourself!

Oh, a quick note about cat food... Am I right in thinking that you're feeding Felix 'As Good As It Looks'? If so then there's something you need to know about that food... In some cats it can raise the blood glucose levels enormously! Despite the fact that it seems to be a low carb food there is something in it that some cats are extremely sensitive too (possibly the 'vegetable protein extract'). Not all cats are affected by it. If you are feeding this on a regular basis then I would strongly suggest that you continue to do so unless/until you or your OH start testing your cat's blood glucose at home. That is because removal of this food could have a similar effect to removing dry high carb food from the diet; your cats blood glucose could drop and the insulin dose may need to be reduced.

I can't remember if I PM'd you about this or not but I have some spare glucose meters and am very happy to send you one if you'd like to try hometesting. Just let me know...

Eliz

 

Hi Elizabeth, thank you for your help. I like one of the other newbies have been told Not to test my cat either urine or blood. She was diagnosed and the vet showed my husband how to give her insulin. We went back the next day and she let me try and told us about giving sugar syrup or honey if she has a hypo??? I would be grateful for one of your spares if you wouldn't mind. Thank you Elaine.

 

Hi Elaine,

I'll try to get a kit in the post to you tomorrow. Please don't feel under any pressure to hometest. All I ask is that you 'have a go' at it and see how you get on. If it's helpful then that's great. You can practice on your other half! :smile:

I've copied your address from your post and you may want to delete that part of the message now so your address isn't publicly available... ;-)

Best wishes,

Eliz