3/5 sid update

Hi everyone,

I'm just sitting down and it's 11pm. I don't know where the time goes!!

I was worried about Sid's heavy breathing so I took him to the vet on my lunch hour and left him there until 5 when I left work. The vet thinks the breathing could be the pneumonia and reminded me that his lungs are clearer than before and that it will take awhile for the infection to clear. He gave me more clavamox and said to continue the baytril too. He said to increase Sid's insulin as i see fit and just monitor him because he knows that I do. That is the only way to get rid of any ketones. He really thinks I should use R insulin or 70/30 but knows that I am going to continue the prozinc unless faced with a crisis. He thinks Sid looks really good - his coat is shiny and he is gaining a little weight. He was 6 pounds today!! I think we are doing pretty good except for the glucose levels and those ketones. :sad:

Tomorrow I am having another vet come over. (she makes house calls.) She is a holistic vet as well as a general practitioner. She is going to examine Sid and see if he would be a good candidate for acupuncture. She did say he might not be because he has too much going on. But she knows about the ketones and will give me her opinion on that also as well as do a general exam.

Here are Sid's numbers from today - you will also notice the variation in the meters! Why can't there be 1 accurate meter? It is so frustrating.

Ketones negative twice today (at vet in the afternoon and this evening)
Tested on the nova and the ketone level was 1.5 - yesterday it was 2.9 and the day before it was 1.1

AMPS 330 am 496 (nova max) gave 1.4UPZ and 1/4 can - also put 1/4 divided into feeder dish for +1 and +2.

+2 455 (nova max)
+3 394 (nova max) gave SQ fluids

+8.5 MPS 12:15 313 (nova max) gave 1.4U PZ and 1/4 can of food. Took to vet with instructions to feed 1/8 can at +1 and +2

+1 323 (nova max) (alpha trak 379)
+2.5 208 (nova max) (alpha trak 288)

+6 359 (nova max) 329 relion confirm
+7 398 (nova max) HI relion confirm
gave 1.6U Pz and 1/4 can food/baytril/clavamox
+.75 ate 1/8 can
+1 433 (nova max)
+2.5 452 (nova max) ate 1/8 can pred/metronidazole/leukeran/60ml SQ fluids
+3.75 346

Let's see. I gave Sid 1.6 U again tonight and I am not seeing the action the same as last night. I'm also seriously wondering how accurate my glucometers are. The Relion is really giving some crazy variations (IMO). When my vet tested sid with the alphatrak and with the Nova there was about an 80 unit difference - with the Nova being lower.

last lantus condo: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=65309
last pzi condo: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=65373

*edited to add condo links

Wow Lydia you are doing an incredible job with Sid. I am so glad Sid is gaining weight and hanging in there. What an incredible bean you are. And Sid, what an incredible kitty you are.

Desi et al

any possibility you need a new battery in either glucometer? i had crazy numbers last time i needed one.

another thought is that you could get the control solution to check the accuracy of the meter. you might have to have the manufacturer send it, i'm not sure.

hearing that Sid is looking better is really significant. that's great news. you're doing a good job keeping a lid on the ketones too.

I also think you're doing a great job. And the shiney coat and gaining more weight are good signs. Keep on keeping on.
Good luck with the holistic vet visit, today.

Yay for no ketones, I hope the holistic vet is able to help him.

I needed to test a meter once and I just called the manufacturer and they sent the control solutions straight out and asked me to call them and they did the tests with me over the phone. Also called them to ask for a battery recently and it was shipped immediately - I must actually get around to changing it now, I thought the numbers would just fade out or something as the battery went, I didn't realise it could give me odd numbers.

Scritches for Sid, as long as he's still chirping at you I think you're doing ok :smile:

Glad Sid's put on some weight! I hope he continues to get better and those ketones go far, far away.

Hi everyone!

Sid is still doing well this morning. When I got up at 3:30 to give him his insulin, he was only 149 so I didn't give him any until 6 and he was 313. (If the meter is accurate nailbite_smile )

I did just order control solution for the Relions. (I have 2 of them) I didn't realize we had to order it from the manufacturer. Maybe I do need a new battery though I just bought the confirm about a month ago.

I'm so glad Sid is doing better! It's been a hard road for you and your boy, but you've got him headed in the right direction. Good luck with the holistic vet. Hugs to you and scritches to Sid.

Hey Lydia, Let us know how it goes with the Vet. Thinking of you both!

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHINY COAT AND GAINING WEIGHT...WONDERFUL!

We'll be waiting to see what the holistic vetty suggests...

lovies, huggies, and continued improvement vines coming your way

I'm glad he is still with you to hug and kiss. Can they tell fluid in the lungs apart from pneumonia? I think they must be able to. Are you giving him extra fluids? I just want to make sure his heart is good.

Please give Sid a whole bunch of kisses from me tonight.

Lydia, you are the best ever caregiver! You and Sid are in my thoughts every day.

I use a ReliOn (Arkray), too. Sometimes I retest in case a weird number is from a bad strip, but that doesn't always make a difference. It can be terribly frustrating, especially considering the cost of supplies. The first ReliOn I bought often gave me weird numbers, and I noticed the strips didn't sit snugly in the slot. I called the company and they replaced it for me but wanted the old meter back for quality control testing. The second meter they sent is much more consistent.

Thanks for keeping us updated, Lydia. :YMHUG: