Stefania S
Active Member
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...200-10-266-amps-n-a-3-164-5-106-6-146.279045/
Hi all,
Our sensor died prematurely again and this time I decided to let it rest for a few days. The skin on her neck where sensors have been placed is getting pretty bad and she has been scratching more and more. This is also the location of the SCC tumor so all in all it felt right to just pause. I'm learning how to put that on myself, and I'm almost done gathering the materials I need to do that much better than they do, but I haven't yet mustered the courage to do it. I'll have to put her in my car to do it since she'll probably struggle too hard here at home.
I'm using this downtime to get going on blood testing. Boy is it rough! I have managed to draw blood three times and not once was I able to complete a test successfully. Worse, I keep hitting the marginal vein even when I'm trying not to and this makes the whole thing that much more stressful and painful for her which of course means she'll be less and less compliant each time.
I'm not going to give up, but I do feel awful about it.
What is crazy is that today, just moments ago, I did it again, hitting the vein and so much blood came out, which shocked me and her, she was growling at me the entire time and fighting to get away. I was so nervous I forgot to wait the 3 seconds before scooping the blood with the stick. I can't believe it! All that blood, stress and pain for nothing! And we lost another test stick.
Now she looks awful as she always does after any stressful event, like she's processing it through her little mind and body. And there's blood on her white fur under her ear.
I'm so mad at myself! I should have gotten a read at least to make her pain worthwhile.
So, can I get some advice on how not to hit that marginal vein while going for the outer edge of the ear? Or should I avoid the edge altogether?
And can you tell me just how painful is it when that vein gets punctured? I'm pretty sure that's where the vets were pricking her while they had her. She always came back with a red spot right on the edge of her ear.
Now it's red like that from having been hit at least twice.
Anything I can put on it to help it heal? I prefer natural products as much as possible, and something that won't harm her if she eats it. I had put some coconut oil on it earlier, but that isn't very soothing or disinfecting as far as I know.
One things she often does after I prick her ear is shake her head, so I have to hold her head still while I'm grabbing the glucometer and pushing the stick into it...of course she's more likely to shake her head when I hit the marginal vein because it hurts and because she can feel the blood coming out.
Oh man, I feel so awful about this right now. This is why I avoided it for so long. I hate being the person who scares and hurts her.
Poor Jessi has to go through so many stressful things one after the other...having them happen right here at home makes it even worse.
But I know we'll get there, and I know I have to do this, because I'm fed up with the sensor being so inconsistent and inaccurate, and I need to be able to give her skin a rest. Plus she is a cat that can't stand to have that on her, especially on her neck, so she kicks at it a lot which makes it come off sooner. Finding a place where she can't reach it with her tongue or her hind legs might be virtually impossible without wrapping her or clothing her. I have been trying that out too and that has been another source of stress. She absolutely HATES wearing a shirt, and it makes her lose her balance and lie down like she can't walk in it...
Anyone have experience with cats and clothing?
So many reasons to do the ear pricks, but also so many reasons to avoid it...
I guess when the former outweighs the latter that's when I get kicked into gear, like right now.
Thanks for all your support, encouragement, pointers and sharing, it all helps especially in moments like this.
p.s.
The clinic vets are leaving me hanging about the tumor. They did tests to find out if it had spread to other organs and at the moment after the tests were done they said that it looked like it hadn't spread but that we had to wait for the official word from the specialists (oncologist, dermatologist). Well, that word never came and they just told me to come see them on Thursday instead. These are the kinds of things that make me flip. All they had to do was write one or two sentences confirming or not, instead of making me wait 2 whole weeks to tell me in person. Really???
Hi all,
Our sensor died prematurely again and this time I decided to let it rest for a few days. The skin on her neck where sensors have been placed is getting pretty bad and she has been scratching more and more. This is also the location of the SCC tumor so all in all it felt right to just pause. I'm learning how to put that on myself, and I'm almost done gathering the materials I need to do that much better than they do, but I haven't yet mustered the courage to do it. I'll have to put her in my car to do it since she'll probably struggle too hard here at home.
I'm using this downtime to get going on blood testing. Boy is it rough! I have managed to draw blood three times and not once was I able to complete a test successfully. Worse, I keep hitting the marginal vein even when I'm trying not to and this makes the whole thing that much more stressful and painful for her which of course means she'll be less and less compliant each time.
I'm not going to give up, but I do feel awful about it.
What is crazy is that today, just moments ago, I did it again, hitting the vein and so much blood came out, which shocked me and her, she was growling at me the entire time and fighting to get away. I was so nervous I forgot to wait the 3 seconds before scooping the blood with the stick. I can't believe it! All that blood, stress and pain for nothing! And we lost another test stick.
Now she looks awful as she always does after any stressful event, like she's processing it through her little mind and body. And there's blood on her white fur under her ear.
I'm so mad at myself! I should have gotten a read at least to make her pain worthwhile.
So, can I get some advice on how not to hit that marginal vein while going for the outer edge of the ear? Or should I avoid the edge altogether?
And can you tell me just how painful is it when that vein gets punctured? I'm pretty sure that's where the vets were pricking her while they had her. She always came back with a red spot right on the edge of her ear.
Now it's red like that from having been hit at least twice.
Anything I can put on it to help it heal? I prefer natural products as much as possible, and something that won't harm her if she eats it. I had put some coconut oil on it earlier, but that isn't very soothing or disinfecting as far as I know.
One things she often does after I prick her ear is shake her head, so I have to hold her head still while I'm grabbing the glucometer and pushing the stick into it...of course she's more likely to shake her head when I hit the marginal vein because it hurts and because she can feel the blood coming out.
Oh man, I feel so awful about this right now. This is why I avoided it for so long. I hate being the person who scares and hurts her.
Poor Jessi has to go through so many stressful things one after the other...having them happen right here at home makes it even worse.
But I know we'll get there, and I know I have to do this, because I'm fed up with the sensor being so inconsistent and inaccurate, and I need to be able to give her skin a rest. Plus she is a cat that can't stand to have that on her, especially on her neck, so she kicks at it a lot which makes it come off sooner. Finding a place where she can't reach it with her tongue or her hind legs might be virtually impossible without wrapping her or clothing her. I have been trying that out too and that has been another source of stress. She absolutely HATES wearing a shirt, and it makes her lose her balance and lie down like she can't walk in it...
Anyone have experience with cats and clothing?
So many reasons to do the ear pricks, but also so many reasons to avoid it...
I guess when the former outweighs the latter that's when I get kicked into gear, like right now.
Thanks for all your support, encouragement, pointers and sharing, it all helps especially in moments like this.
p.s.
The clinic vets are leaving me hanging about the tumor. They did tests to find out if it had spread to other organs and at the moment after the tests were done they said that it looked like it hadn't spread but that we had to wait for the official word from the specialists (oncologist, dermatologist). Well, that word never came and they just told me to come see them on Thursday instead. These are the kinds of things that make me flip. All they had to do was write one or two sentences confirming or not, instead of making me wait 2 whole weeks to tell me in person. Really???
I wipe the blood off, clean the ear with a damp cotton swab and put some gentle pressure on the ear for 10-20 seconds. The pressure really helps with reducing the bruising 
Sometimes she acts like the spry, feisty, territorial kitty she used to be. Back when we had an enormous garden, she used to chase all the animals away, including deer and raccoons. Ok, once she got chased by a coyote, but otherwise, she was the Queen and gatekeeper of her castle. 
It's still in her, but I think she realizes pretty quickly she doesn't have the physical resilience and strength to go up against anyone. She quickly came back and let me scout around to make sure the other cat had gone away. Now she's standing guard outside our backdoor.