5/26 Billie AMPS 180 +2 172 +3.5 152 PMPS 348 +2 305

Good morning, and happy holiday!! :smile:

Yesterday's condo: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=119280&p=1247161#p1247161

Billie has a lovely AMPS number today!! I hope I didn't ruin it with what I think might have been a partial fur shot I'm very sure that at least some went in, but she tried to walk away mid-shot, and I smelled a little on her fur after. She is very fluffy. In any case, I am loving this PS number and need to stick to shooting while she is eating chicken treats so she doesn't move away.

I am sure everyone is busy enjoying the holiday, and I hope you and your cats all have fun!! I have a question that I will repost tomorrow if no one gets to it today. I clumsily dropped my Lantus pen this morning. ohmygod_smile It landed on the carpet and rolled a bit, and now there are a bunch of very tiny bubbles along the sides of the chamber. Is this going to compromise the quality of the Lantus? I did not refrigerate it initially, so I was planning on getting a new pen after a month anyway (and refrigerating that one to make it last longer).

I was re-reading some stickies last night, and I watched Julie's awesome video of how to handle Lantus - thank you for making that, Julie!! I learned a lot of tricks that I didn't know before, like how to lubricate the syringe, and how to twist the plunger to let some insulin drops out when measuring (so helpful). However, I also learned that bubbles are not a good sign. I noticed late last night (post shot) that I did have one lingering bubble. It was pretty small, and I managed to draw it out with a needle, and it looked like all was right with our Lantus. Then, of course, I fumbled and dropped it this morning. I tried to draw the tiny bubbles out, but they are staying put. They don't move up and down like larger bubbles do when I turn the pen upside down. They seem to be clinging to the sides of the cartridge.

Do you think I should get a new pen, or can this one be trusted for a couple more weeks?

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 - bubbles in Lantus pen?

Happy Memorial Day to you too Deanna!

Look at that pretty blue AMPS!! Isn't it lovely?

Don't worry about your pen. We've found that Lantus isn't quite as delicate as we think it is at first (especially when you're new to this dance and everyone is hollering at you to "Do This!, Don't do that!") My last pen had bubbles in it for the last 2 1/2 months of it's life.

As long as the insulin inside is perfectly clear, with no "floaties", and is working "appropriately", don't worry about it. If you look at China's spreadsheet, you'll see I started a new pen on 5/11 and that she had awful numbers that morning...I finally figured out why she had those awful numbers too! The night before and that morning, I'd been trying to get those "last few drops" out of the old pen, and had only pulled air....so I'd used every last drop!!....OOPS! :lol:

If Billies numbers were to start to go up without good reason and even after increasing dose continued to go up, then we'd suggest a new pen.

Hope your food experiment continues to show good results!

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 - bubbles in Lantus pen?

Chris is right, if you don't se any change in Billie's numbers the pen is probably fine. Those tiny bubbles will consolidate because the pens are under pressure. If you feel the need to get the larger bubble out hold it upright and draw it off the way you did last time. The bubble itself won't hurt the Lantus though. To keep from getting any more bubbles, store the pen upright. Because of all the piercing from the needles when you store the pen on it's side, some Lantus can seep out through the membrane and be replaced by air. I used to get bubbles, but once I started storing the pen upright I haven't seen any.

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 - bubbles in Lantus pen?

Thank you Chris and Ann!! That's a relief! I will store the pen upright from now on - I had been storing it on its side, so that explains the larger bubble.

Billie's +2 is a wonderful, stable 172! I am thinking that I didn't have a fur shot (or maybe just had a partial one), and the food experiment with Turducken is going well! We're both very happy. I do have to work for a little while on this holiday :evil: but I will be able to get a +3.5 before I leave, and I'll keep some Turducken out just in case Billie does anything crazy while I'm gone.

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 +2 172

i agree with Ann & Chris about the bubbles. what happened with my pen (the one in the video) was that the suction was so great that it pulled the dose back into the pen, taking the syringe lubricant right along with it. air bubbles themselves aren't a problem. I got a pen needle (the kind meant to go directly on the pen) from the pharmacist and used it to try to push out the bubble. there was a description on Lantus.com on how to do that - you dialed the dose from the bottom, flicked the pen to work the bubbles to the top, then pushed the bottom dial. i didn't know about using a syringe to withdraw the bubbles at that point. i think that might be easier.

but bubbles in themselves aren't a problem. you just don't want it to screw up your dose.

glad you liked the video.

nice start to Billie's day today!

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 +2 172 +3.5 152

Thank you Julie!! That makes sense! I am off to work, and Billie is sitting pretty at 152 for +3.5. Woohoo!

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 +2 172 +3.5 152 PMPS 348

And...bounce. It looks like Billie's liver was not crazy about the low 100s that she probably ended up in. Well, it felt great while it lasted! I hope everyone had a nice day!

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 +2 172 +3.5 152 PMPS 348

it's reassuring to know her liver works! :lol:

don't worry, she'll come down from the bounce.

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 +2 172 +3.5 152 PMPS 348

:lol: Thanks for the silver lining!

Re: 5/26 Billie AMPS 180 +2 172 +3.5 152 PMPS 348

anytime! ;-) :lol: