Back to work, cautiously optimistic

Hello everyone! Hope the weekend treated you all well. As the title, says, I am back to work tomorrow, so I will be gone after Pita's AM t/f/s until his PM. I have updated his spreadsheet and will be doing a final +6 before bed tonight. He is currently at 1.5 units twice a day and without being able to test more than 3 times a day this week, I am assuming I should keep him at this dose for the week? I will be doing his first GC this Saturday (March 4) as it will be 14 days from his first ever PZI dose. I really just want to check in to hear any words of advice or suggestions before I'm away all day and won't be able to observe. I'm not happy it happened, but I am so thankful of the timing for starting all his treatment/getting used to testing. I will be checking in every day still, just a little less now. I'm sure many more questions will come to mind and I will type away when they do

 

I think I'd stick with it for tomorrow at least. Generally, we say don't change unless it's a cycle you can monitor...some people do a dose change at night so they can get some tests in to see if the cycle will be active. That's a decision to make later though...for now, I would say tomorrow morning, give 1.5 and then be confident during that day that he should be fine.

 

Thank you! Yes, I was curious as to whether he should be given a higher dose sometime this week. I'll check in again tomorrow or Tuesday. His numbers have certainly been consistent but not down to the regulated area quite yet. I would be exhausted but am more than willing to do night testing after an increase!

 

Hi Caitlin! I don't have any advice, but wanted to wish you a good first day back!

 

Haha thank you so much! I'm sure my mind will be on him a lot but I know that he's been rocking it all so far.

 

Good advice about being careful. This is a marathon, not a sprint - said often here.

 

I'd like to see lower blues. I'd go 2 next time you can monitor.

 

His PMPS tonight was 381, gave the 1.5 units and I just tested at +5 and he was 156! His lowest blue yet

 

Very nice!

 

Should I wake up and test him again in a few hours in case he goes lower or do you think it's OK to wait for his AMPS? And thank you!! I'm excited.

 

That's a +5 number and not too low so you should be OK until AMPS.

 

Thanks Kris! Going to bed a happy mom

 

Aaaand, just like that, it's also the highest #I've seen . AMPS was 417, gave 1.5 units. Wednesday is actually the only weekday that I leave around 7am, so I can test more this evening/tomorrow am before I leave- IF it's advisable to go up to 2 units tonight. Otherwise, I can stay at 1.5 until his Saturday curve and go up to 2 units on Sunday am. Thoughts? Happy Tuesday!

 

The AMPS today is actually quite close to the PMPS you had yesterday. I know it looks worse since it's red, but look at the actual numbers...you're basically looking at the same thing with the 20% variance.

Let's see where he's at tonight and go from there. What time do you usually shoot at night? I see you're in ET.

 

Thank you for reminding me of that with numbers! Yes I shoot around 4:15 am/pm ET.

 

And you had a nice low blue last night - likely he would have bounced some this am. No worries, just collecting data.

 

Good advice. Patience and perspective ...

 

Thank you! I'll see what his number is tonight and try to get some input before I shoot in case I should up the amount

 

Hi all, I just got home (a little late) and his PMPS was 391. I'm feeding him now, but am wondering about going up in his dose. I started the 1.5 unites Saturday am. Please let me know any suggestions asap! If I don't hear back in another 15 minutes I'll just stick with the 1.5. Again, I leave a bit later tomorrow am, so I could be testing tonight and tomorrow am until 7 ET. Thanks!

 

I just gave the 1.5- better safe than sorry! Still, any advice on staying at this dose until the weekend (1st Curve on Saturday) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all!

 

Just my thought but if they suggest a dose increase, might be best to go to 1.75U before the full 2.0U. We'll see what Kris, Sue, or Rachel has to say .

 

Very true, good thinking! I wish I didn't have to work! I'd rather be hanging out with these bums all day and test as much as needed

 

I want to get him controlled before I start working so I'm not just worrying about him allllllll day. Unfortunately, I can't find anyone that will pay me to stay home with my kitty lol

 

Yes, I'd try 1.75 u next. Dose changes of 0.25 u are what we recommend.

 

OK, I can do that! If I use the u 100 syringe, do you think I should stick to 1.7 or 1.8? Also, should I do it this weekend or at night this week? Want to make sure I can test as often as this increase needs.

 

If you use the U100 syringes you can give 1.6 u or 1.8 u by reading the marks directly and you can eyeball 1.7 u. If you use the U100s I recommend sticking with them and putting the U40s away somewhere so you don't accidentally fill one thinking it's a U100. Not good!

 

Will do! Kris, he's been on the 1.5 for 4 full days. Do you honestly think I should up the dosage or give it a few more days?

 

You can increase now. Are you more comfortable doing it tonight and testing this evening or would you rather wait until tomorrow? You can try a tiny increase to 1.6 u tonight if you want to be cautious.

 

I already gave him his shot earlier. I can do a 1.7 dose tomorrow evening so I can test him more!

 

Yep we usually recommend dose changes after 6 cycles if needed. So that would be 3 full days...so its a good time for it.

Now that I know your times I'll try to remember to check in on you in afternoons s. I'm in central and at work for your PMPS which is why I wasnt around today.

 

Rachel it's so kind of you to check in for me, thank you! His AMPS was 438 today and I just did 1.5 I'm planning the increase tonight and I'll set a few alarms to test string the night- maybe +4, +8?

 

Sounds like a good plan!

 

Thanks! His +3 this am was 266. Just left for work

 

PMPS was 361, gave 1.75 (ish) probably 1.8 units with the u-100 syringe. Will test when I am home from second job!

 

+3 was 276, +5 was 199. Will wake up and do a +7 or 8

 

Well I was going to test once more last night, but set my alarm for 'pm' instead of 12 'am' . But, we both slept great! AMPS was 317 and I gave 1.8. I'll plan to do more nightly testing after work again today.

 

Hahahahaha done that myself!!!!

 

I just needed to vent my frustration. I just tried to do a +4 with Pita's right ear (I switch every test) and 2 things happened. 1- he is struggling again so much every time I touch his ear. Almost as if it hurts to touch. 2- I poked 3 times after warming and got NO blood. Well, like the tiniest amount ever that had no saturation. ugh!! I hate to need to burrito him again because he's been so good! Has anyone else experienced this after everything being so successful?

 

I'm still curious with people's thoughts, but I think he was just in a defiant mood earlier! I decided to wait for a +5. He was lounging on the bed so I curled up with him and got some purring. I then sneakily poked his right ear, got a TON of blood (that's been happening more with both ears) and his +5 was 121, which is now his lowest ever. sigh of relief. I'll be waking up for a +8 just out of curiosity/assuming I don't turn my alarm off in my sleep.

 

Experienced the teeny tiny drop and then a BIG drop? Or the behaviour changes?

 

I'm a little confused! What do you mean?

 

I was a little confused on which experience you were asking about lol

 

You're not alone. Last night I had to poke him a few times and still barely got enough to get a test. Then just now there was blood running everywhere like I had stabbed his ear instead of just giving it a little poke. I've noticed it seems to matter how relaxed he is - the more relaxed, the more blood. When he's being squirmy and trying to get away, I get almost nothing. Thankfully, he's usually only squirmy for the last test of the night!

 

Haha, sorry about that! He hasn't had any behvior changes besides fighting me a bit more, but I think he was just being feisty.

I have a feeling this is exactly it! Glad it's not just us.

**I unfortunately wasn't able to pull myself from sleep to get another test last night, so I'm hoping he didn't drop too low overnight/I wonder what his lowest may have been. AMPS was 274. Not very sure if I sure give him the 1.8 still or go a bit lower. I hate being up this early with not many members on! I remember being told that if it was above 200 pre-shot/food, that I could give a normal dose. So, I'm hoping that's correct and I shouldn't give a reduction.

 

I'm going to only give 1.5 because I'm super nervous about leaving with a lower AMPS and the 1.8 Can anyone help me feel more confident about my am routine, since it's not a high traffic time? What numbers I should give a reduction for, etc? Thank you!

 

Hey Caitlin! So sorry...your shot time is 3:30 my time...that's just too early for me! 1.5 is fine... in the end you have to remember that YOU hold the syringe....and you must be comfortable with your dose. With the fact that Pita is not in terrible numbers, the lower dose shouldn't really be a problem.

As you get more data on your SS, you will feel more comfortable with his shots. You'll be able to look at the numbers and what doses have done to him in the past to help you determine if another dose would work better.

My final advice is to go with your gut. If you just FEEL you need a lower dose because you're concerned...do it. Obviously, we gotta be somewhat aggressive sometimes...but that can happen on weekends and other times we can monitor.

 

Thanks Rachel! Yeah, I really had no idea how low he might drop during today with the 1.8, so I'm glad I went down a little. Will do 1.8 tonight when I can test more again. Plus his first Curve is tomorrow! Wooo

 

What Rachel said in post #45!

 

Ah ok, yes for the blood pokes I have noticed a similar thing. If he's more testy I get a smaller drop, whereas if he's relaxed or was just napping, I get a better sample . I was kinda tired when I read the post because I've been staying up an extra hour since Maury decided to have lower evening cycles . His +4 gives me a better idea of where he's going before I go to bed.

 

Alrighty, his PMPS was 419 so I went back to the 1.8. Glad the weekend is here so I can really see how he reacts to it during the day! Question for his Curve tomorrow. Is every 2 hours, up to 12 total enough or should I do more? Also, I will be able to do his am t/f/s then a +2, +4, but will be gone until about +7. Should I just wait until the +8 for this case and keep going every 2 hours after? If this is a no-no to skip one +#, I can probably do the Curve on Sunday. Thanks all! Excited and nervous for his first curve but I'm very interested to see some different numbers since he's gone up in dose.

 

Every 2 hours for 12 hours is enough. Probably wait until Sunday when you can do the curve during the day.

 

I usually do every 2 hours until +10 and then the +12 is essentially his PMPS time. I just did a curve on Maury the other day. I would wait til Sunday if that's a better day.

 

Thanks guys! I think I was stuck on the 14 days after his first dose, but Sunday is only 15 so I'm being very literal. He's still being a bit feisty with the poking, but his numbers seem to be doing well on the 1.8 so far. I'll keep you all updated!

 

Looking forward to seeing his curve numbers!