1/8 Ivy Amps 396, +3 229, +5 144, +7 257, +10 224, Pmps 315, +3.25 163 Libre

Staci & Ivy

Staci & Ivy

Member Since 2022
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ps-400-2-343-3-247-libre.285385/#post-3141063
Good morning,
Amps 396
Based on my conversation with Marje yesterday, she believes Ivy is losing duration of insulin in many cycles. So, I altered her snack/minimeal schedule and stopped feeding past +3 last night (was giving additional 2 tsp of 6% at +4,5 pm only).
I was also giving a 2 tbsp 6% snack at +6, I will eliminate that as well.

I will do the same in am cycle (I normally don’t feed anything past +3 unless she is diving fast and low, which does happen somewhat frequently, many times until +4 or +5, when I would give a tsp of 6%, as needed).
I assume I would do the same on as needed basis in both am and pm cycles if she’s diving fast and I need to slow a drop.
Lots to digest from yesterday.
Pondering switching her from 6% diet to 9% to try to get her curves to be more moderate, instead of the extreme highs and lows she has. (Although her lows haven’t been extremely low lately, she does bounce up to 400s, then she generally responds with a bounce break the next cycle, then repeat.)

So much to try to figure out.
Today, I have eliminated the freeze dried beef liver (given due to low HCT levels and anemia since 10/23).
Hoping to see less itching, maybe she’s allergic to beef??
She's been itching since May 2023, (before she broke her leg and wore a cone for several months, which prevented her from biting and scratching) so I don’t think that’s it, but I will try eliminating it anyway.

I will order a B Complex vitamin and ask vet if it’s ok to add that instead of beef liver (already giving methylcobalamin B12).

So much to try to figure out…..:arghh:
Have a safe surf on a Monday :cat:
 
Good morning Staci,
Wow, all those things are so complicated!
You have such a knack for figuring out the intricate nutrition thing. :)
But don't do too many tings at once! Too hard to figure out what works and what doesn't! ;)
Looks like Ivy is on her way down nicely! Keep going, sweet girl :kiss:
Happy Monday (wait, could Monday ever be happy:rolleyes:), Staci :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Good luck with the experimentation! The hardest parts for me have been not changing too many things at once and making sure to give them sufficient time to see the results (which of course will vary in length woooooooo :rolleyes:)

I did find the conversation about Ivy's maybe/maybe not CKD to be very interesting. Other than an attempted diet change that did not go well, I haven't done any additional things for Kit's CKD other than add water. Her vet didn't want to start her on phosphorus binders yet, and some of her numbers have improved in ways we didn't necessarily expect? I need to get all of her lab results so I can add them to the spread sheet. I only have the most recent one, and my data hungry brain wants to do comparisons.
 
Mikanmama said:
Good morning Staci,
Wow, all those things are so complicated!
You have such a knack for figuring out the intricate nutrition thing. :)
But don't do too many tings at once! Too hard to figure out what works and what doesn't! ;)
Looks like Ivy is on her way down nicely! Keep going, sweet girl :kiss:
Happy Monday (wait, could Monday ever be happy:rolleyes:), Staci :bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
Hi Kit, yes, so much to figure out, never ends for my girl. She's soooo complicated. Some cats are more than others it seems!
She seems stalled in yellow today...so she probably has a very active night planned for me tonight.

I'm not sure I have a knack...I just keep asking questions...there seems to be so many varying opinions.
Happy Monday, I hope Mikan gives you a calm day :)

:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Alicia & Kit cat said:
Good luck with the experimentation! The hardest parts for me have been not changing too many things at once and making sure to give them sufficient time to see the results (which of course will vary in length woooooooo :rolleyes:)

I did find the conversation about Ivy's maybe/maybe not CKD to be very interesting. Other than an attempted diet change that did not go well, I haven't done any additional things for Kit's CKD other than add water. Her vet didn't want to start her on phosphorus binders yet, and some of her numbers have improved in ways we didn't necessarily expect? I need to get all of her lab results so I can add them to the spread sheet. I only have the most recent one, and my data hungry brain wants to do comparisons.
Click to expand...
HI Alicia, I agree about the maybe, maybe not CKD....WHAT??? I've been under the guise of yes CKD for more than 5 years, been on a binder and supplements this whole time. And no doctor (numerous), specialist or nutritionist who has looked at her and her labs has questioned that label. Kind of blowing my mind...
Or....are the supplements just keeping her really well controlled???? I agree, trying to change one thing at a time can be a challenge....Trying to go slow and not do too much at once.

I'm kind of OCD with the data too, (have you seen my insane spreadsheet with EVERY cell filled in 24/7?? Nuts. :woot:

I hope you all have a calm and lovely day :):bighug::bighug:
 
Good meowning Staci and Ivy
So much to learn and absorb. I bet your head is spinning. I think the important thing is to not do too much at once and overwhelm yourself.
That was my biggest issue at the beginning of this journey. I kept reading and researching and all the new information was just way too much and I felt I was swimming in it without a life preserver.

I know you can do it all cause you're such a great mama to Ivy and I know you will get her where she needs to be.

I hope the food experimentation helps with her highs and lows and hopefully helps her steady herself.

We wish you a good week and happy monday.

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Karolina KJ said:
Good meowning Staci and Ivy
So much to learn and absorb. I bet your head is spinning. I think the important thing is to not do too much at once and overwhelm yourself.
That was my biggest issue at the beginning of this journey. I kept reading and researching and all the new information was just way too much and I felt I was swimming in it without a life preserver.

I know you can do it all cause you're such a great mama to Ivy and I know you will get her where she needs to be.

I hope the food experimentation helps with her highs and lows and hopefully helps her steady herself.

We wish you a good week and happy monday.

View attachment 68715
Click to expand...
Thank you for the sweet vote of confidence, Karolina. I really appreciate that. I do feel like my head is swimming. Nothing new. All I do is read and research. (My husband says I am always "playing on my phone"....really....playing????)
It's a full time job to be a caregiver of a chronically sick feline with some bad-ass catitude!!

Wishing you, Nestle and Peanut a nice day :bighug::bighug:
 
Hi Staci:)
I'm so happy you've had a proper look at Ivy's situation by Marje. I haven't yet read everything but it sounds like you have some new directions to explore that might make a big difference.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this will evolve.
It's nice to see a pink start. Even though only few points less than red but still pink :)
Wishing you a great rest of your day :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Fistuk & Shelly said:
Hi Staci:)
I'm so happy you've had a proper look at Ivy's situation by Marje. I haven't yet read everything but it sounds like you have some new directions to explore that might make a big difference.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this will evolve.
It's nice to see a pink start. Even though only few points less than red but still pink :)
Wishing you a great rest of your day :bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
Hello, Shelly. Yes so much to try to understand. My head is spinning. Ivy is a real puzzle. I’m waiting for her to poop so I can send her test back to Animal Biome. She must know I’m waiting….no poop. :arghh:
Marje has been incredibly patient, thorough and so helpful. Just wow! She’s so knowledgeable!! What a gem.
My homework continues. I will keep you posted.
I hope you’ve all had a good day :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Fascinating conversation yesterday. Something tells me you will get to the bottom if especially now with the information you received. Marje is a walking encyclopedia of all this cats. My goodness. Cats would benefit from a marje spokesperson at each vet appointment.
 
Basic's Mom said:
Fascinating conversation yesterday. Something tells me you will get to the bottom if especially now with the information you received. Marje is a walking encyclopedia of all this cats. My goodness. Cats would benefit from a marje spokesperson at each vet appointment.
Click to expand...
Boy I hope so. It’s been a long road without a roadmap. I really need some help. She’s been so kind and giving. I wish we could bottle Marje :)
 
Staci & Ivy said:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ps-400-2-343-3-247-libre.285385/#post-3141063
Good morning,
Amps 396
Based on my conversation with Marje yesterday, she believes Ivy is losing duration of insulin in many cycles. So, I altered her snack/minimeal schedule and stopped feeding past +3 last night (was giving additional 2 tsp of 6% at +4,5 pm only).
I was also giving a 2 tbsp 6% snack at +6, I will eliminate that as well.

I will do the same in am cycle (I normally don’t feed anything past +3 unless she is diving fast and low, which does happen somewhat frequently, many times until +4 or +5, when I would give a tsp of 6%, as needed).
I assume I would do the same on as needed basis in both am and pm cycles if she’s diving fast and I need to slow a drop.
Lots to digest from yesterday.
Pondering switching her from 6% diet to 9% to try to get her curves to be more moderate, instead of the extreme highs and lows she has. (Although her lows haven’t been extremely low lately, she does bounce up to 400s, then she generally responds with a bounce break the next cycle, then repeat.)

So much to try to figure out.
Today, I have eliminated the freeze dried beef liver (given due to low HCT levels and anemia since 10/23).
Hoping to see less itching, maybe she’s allergic to beef??
She's been itching since May 2023, (before she broke her leg and wore a cone for several months, which prevented her from biting and scratching) so I don’t think that’s it, but I will try eliminating it anyway.

I will order a B Complex vitamin and ask vet if it’s ok to add that instead of beef liver (already giving methylcobalamin B12).

So much to try to figure out…..:arghh:
Have a safe surf on a Monday :cat:
Click to expand...
A bit late to the Ivy-party but one thing occurs to me about possible allergy to food and that is to try a novel protein. I'm pretty tired so that's all of got but hope things are looking up (well, except for the numbers, Ivy, not the numbers).
 
Staci & Ivy said:
HI Alicia, I agree about the maybe, maybe not CKD....WHAT??? I've been under the guise of yes CKD for more than 5 years, been on a binder and supplements this whole time. And no doctor (numerous), specialist or nutritionist who has looked at her and her labs has questioned that label. Kind of blowing my mind...
Or....are the supplements just keeping her really well controlled???? I agree, trying to change one thing at a time can be a challenge....Trying to go slow and not do too much at once.

I'm kind of OCD with the data too, (have you seen my insane spreadsheet with EVERY cell filled in 24/7?? Nuts. :woot:

I hope you all have a calm and lovely day :):bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
I just want to add that I was basing my statement on the labs I can see. I never saw the ones that had your vet dx CKD. If a vet told you five years ago she has CKD, it’s very difficult for me to believe her creatinine and USG, especially the latter, can look so good. Her HCT has been up and down which it wouldn’t do with CKD so the B vitamins might not help the anemia. They help with non-regenerative anemia and hers doesn’t look that way.

Is it possible the supplements are helping? I never say “never” but even my two CKD cats that lived a long time with CKD and were on Standard Process supplements still had their creatinine slowly increase up to 3.5 and USG drop.

And remember…food trials take some time to see changes so we might not see an automatic change to duration. And it loss of duration can be caused by other things but food is the culprit we start with.
 
Basic's Mom said:
I feel like your map is coming together. Excited for Ivy. How was her biting at her shirt today?
Click to expand...
I guess we will see.
Biting was pretty bad today. I put a soft cone on her overnight. Sometimes she chews holes in the tee and her tooth gets stuck on the hole. Then I put a new tee on her and we start again. :(
 
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