5/23 Esse AMPS 187 +5 299

Lauren & Esse

Lauren & Esse

Member
Yesterday's thread!

Blue pre-shot is a great way to start our Friday!

I took another page from @Brianna & Xander's book and used one of the shaved spots from yesterday (the one we don't plan to re-use for the next Libre) for his insulin 'skin tent' and WOW was it so cool and reassuring to actually see the needle go in. No chance of a furshot today.

Thanks again everyone for the support during our Libre Drama™, I truly appreciate it--my boyfriend lurks here too and we are both so appreciative of everyone's help.

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Really nice weather today so we're enjoying an open window. :)
 
OMG! I missed the whole Libre ordeal, I'm so sorry. What a stressful day it must've been. Lovely to see that blue PS though AND that the shaved patch was a successful for the injection!!

Not sure what you're planning on doing for the 3rd Libre, but I will say, I just experienced a similar scenario to yours a few weeks ago. We were testing out the Libre for Binx - for the first application, I went to the vet because I wanted to see someone apply the sensor and the vet tech let me watch. I knew she shouldn't apply glue, but she has a diabetic cat and told me it was fine when she did it, so I didn't push back. Same with us, without evening finishing the 60 minute timer, it failed. That's when I decided to take matters into my own hands (lol). I went out, bought another Libre (we don't need a prescription in Canada), came home and pumped myself up to do it myself. Not sure what happened, but it got stuck in the applicator and I was devastated (I think I pulled away tooooo quickly, too excited and scared by the noise). Two wasted Libres!!! I was a bit too determined to try one more time, went back to the store, bought another one and came home to finally, successfully apply it. I was genuinely shaking from the stress of possibly wasting another.

Anyways, all that to say - I wonder if you'd be comfortable trying to apply it yourself? @Brianna & Xander and @Staci & Ivy probably have even more tips than what they've shared so far. And I'd be happy to detail what worked for me.

Either way - I hope today's blue PS and confidently no FS help alleviate some of yesterday's frustration. You're doing such an amazing!! And when the Libre eventually does work, I'm sure it'll be even more weight off your shoulders 🤗🤗
 
@Briana + Binx Omg, that is a really similar story! That's exactly what happened, it never even finished the countdown. So stressful!

We picked up the third one today and are planning to apply it at home! Brianna or Staci sent me the link the the FB group and their big guide document a few days ago, so we will be following their recommendations as closely as possible when we work up the nerve to try the next one (hopefully tomorrow).

This message genuinely made me feel so much better about things, thank you!
 
Briana + Binx said:
Anyways, all that to say - I wonder if you'd be comfortable trying to apply it yourself? @Brianna & Xander and @Staci & Ivy probably have even more tips than what they've shared so far.
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Lauren & Esse said:
We picked up the third one today and are planning to apply it at home! Brianna or Staci sent me the link the the FB group and their big guide document a few days ago, so we will be following their recommendations as closely as possible when we work up the nerve to try the next one (hopefully tomorrow).
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I actually wrote out a whole super detailed description of instructions for someone back on FDMB that basically just reiterated everything in the guide document (but with my insane level of detail, since that's how I like instructions to be 😅). I can paste it here if you'd like! It's very long though so if not I don't want to fill up your condo with it. It doesn't seem like the forum has an "under the cut" or "see more" option. Up to you!
 
Brianna & Xander said:
I actually wrote out a whole super detailed description of instructions for someone back on FDMB that basically just reiterated everything in the guide document (but with my insane level of detail, since that's how I like instructions to be 😅). I can paste it here if you'd like! It's very long though so if not I don't want to fill up your condo with it. It doesn't seem like the forum has an "under the cut" or "see more" option. Up to you!
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If you ever catch me turning down information, you'll know someone has hacked my account. Please send!
 
Lauren & Esse said:
If you ever catch me turning down information, you'll know someone has hacked my account. Please send!
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Haha, you got it! 😁
I'll include links for specific things I got, in case it's helpful! I'm basically just copy-pasting this from a message I sent to someone, so apologies if I miss something specific to that person. I also included links for things I use, just in case they're useful, though I know you already have a bunch of supplies.

  1. I shave a little spot as close to the skin as I can (but be careful not to hurt kitty's skin, of course. It doesn't have to be bald, just as short as possible) with I think this trimmer. It looks right. It's very quiet and just charges by USB. I don't use the clip-on guides because at least for Xander they prevented getting close to the skin. You don't need to shave a whole lot, just big enough for the sensor and maybe an inch or so of space around it. It could probably be less, but it bothers Xander if his fur gets caught near it, so I leave some room.
  2. Next, I use a Curad alcohol prep pad (I get mine at Costco but I'd imagine anything similar would work) and really scrub that spot (gently, and obviously not if there are any knicks from the trimmer). I do that with two pads, using both sides. Really clean off any excess fur, dust, oil, etc.
  3. You have to wait a few minutes for that to be completely 100% dry before moving onto the next step. It takes longer than you'd think. While that's working, you can get the Libre ready. I don't know yet how the 3+ will work in terms of application, but assuming it's the same as the 3, just untwist the cap and have the applicator ready to use.
  4. Once it's dry, I use a single Skin Tac wipe and just really scrub that whole area that it will be attached with it. Unfold it and use different spots to make sure you really get it on there. Wait for their skin to get tacky (it takes longer than it does on your fingers, so you kinda need to wipe off your fingers and then use the back of your fingers that are clean to test it. Don't wait any longer than it takes for it to get tacky.
  5. Line up the sensor where you need it. I put Xander's on his ribs, behind where his "elbow" would be when he bends it. It needs to not be near any skin that tends to fold or wrinkle much, but still in a relatively meaty area. Make sure you brace kitty's opposite side (kind of like holding a football. Just give it a firm grip so that when you use the applicator, they don't get knocked sideways). The applicator is fast and easy, just line it up, the edges touching the skin, and then press down firmly and immediately (but gently, so as not to get stuck or remove it) pull back up. No need to keep it pressed in. It has a relatively loud pop but it's very quick. Just do it confidently and hold onto her other side. It might startle her, but it's over quickly. After that, I press down a little on the paper edges around it just to give it some extra stick.
  6. Then I scan it with my phone to activate it (it takes an hour to set up, so you wanna get that going). Sidenote, if no one has mentioned this yet: unless you plan to be around Esse nonstop, you'll need to have it connected to a phone that you can leave at home with him at all times. I just use my last old phone. It'd be a good idea to have one that's considered "supported" (you can see that here) in case you need replacements, but mine technically isn't. With the Libre 3, anyway, it needs to stay within 33 feet of the sensor without walls or obstructions. I just leave it in a place where he tends to hang out (and make sure it can stay charged). In order to be able to see it on your own phone, you can then set up the LibreLinkUp app, and connect the two accounts. It's not perfect, but it does let you see how they're doing when you're not around.
  7. The next thing I do isn't required but I like to do it. I use the Brava spray recommended in the tutorial (it's super gentle) on a q-tip (not too much, and not close to the sensor!) to gently try to get off a little of the extra Skin Tac around the sensor that isn't needed. Again, not much, and not too close. You don't want to remove the adhesive we do need. Just to get it off of the rest of the skin and maybe some fur. Then I use a damp (not dripping) water cloth to wipe off the spray since you don't want them licking that.
  8. After everything is completely 100% dry, I wrap it. I struggled for months to try to get Xander to leave it alone. He wouldn't. He also wouldn't wear clothes or anything resembling it, like a Thundershirt. We lost some sensors in less than 24 hours. We've spent SO. MUCH. MONEY. on sensors because he ripped them off early. It was only about a month ago that we finally found the one thing he doesn't seem to mind: just plain old self-adhesive bandage wraps. Literally just Walmart brand. Like this, but I think we use the 2", not the 3". Other than occasionally licking it during normal grooming, it doesn't seem to bother him at all. No movement restriction, it's not painful, it covers just enough. I wrap it fairly snugly (not painful, but so that it won't move) around his ribs over the sensor. This is tricky and you'll likely need a second person for it, because you have to kind of move their arms out of the way to make sure that it goes behind their "armpits" when they bend their arms. I hope that makes sense. It needs to be directly behind their front legs so that it doesn't block movement but covers the sensor. You do want to make sure it lays flat/doesn't fold in on itself, and be careful not to pinch any fur between the layers because that'd be annoying I'm sure. I wrap it all the way around about twice, then maybe cut off another piece and add a second layer for extra security.
That's it! When it comes time to replace it, you do want to put it on the opposite side to give the little wound time to heal. I just go back and forth between the same spot on both sides every time. I apply the new one first, and then remove the old one after (to avoid accidentally getting any adhesive remover around the new site, which could prevent it from sticking). I spray a little of the Brava around the top edge of the sensor, and use a q-tip to very gently rub under the paper and slowly loosen it. Just go slow and be gentle. It shouldn't hurt. It may take quite a few little spritzes, but the stuff is amazing and works really well. After it's off I use some to get as much of the leftover adhesive off his skin as possible (gently). Then I use a wet (not dripping) cloth to just really wipe off that spot. You definitely don't want them licking that spray, so it's good to really wipe that off. If you use the bandage wrap like I do, it will be covered anyway, but you don't want it to be all wet or sticky before you cover it up.

Also, the Libre like anything else has a meter variance, but it's important to keep a few things in mind:
  1. It's usually considered the least accurate during the first 12-24 hours and also possibly the last couple of days. For the first 12 hours, there will constantly be a little icon of a blood drop and a magnifying glass in the app. It's not definitely wildly inaccurate in that period, but it technically could be, so the icon is just to remind you to double check with a normal BG test before making any big treatment decisions. You can also "soak" them: 24 hours before your current one runs out, apply the new one. Don't scan it yet, just let it sit. When you do scan it after taking the old one off, it should be accurate right away (will still have the icon though) because it's had time to calibrate. I haven't done this because I try to subject Xander to as little stress as possible since he's so sensitive.
  2. It usually seems to read higher at the high end and lower at the low end. I was only ever able to compare between it and a BG test once and it was only 10 points for me, but on @Staci & Ivy 's spreadsheet you can see times where she tested with both (during limes) and the Libre could be off by as much as 30-100 points. So if you're seeing a scary number, it's worth at least trying to verify with a normal test.
  3. Heat and pressure will both affect it. Laying in the sun getting warm will make the numbers go higher, and laying on it and putting pressure on it will make it look lower. If she ever seems surprisingly low but is laying down on it, try moving her and check again after a bit to see if it goes back up. A lot of the time a very sudden straight drop is just a pressure low.
 
Lauren & Esse said:
This is great, thank you so much! There's definitely a few things in here that are sort of glossed over in the full guide, or that are more cat-specific. Nice to have it all spelled out. Very helpful!
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You're so welcome! I'm glad it didn't just seem like extraneous information. I really instructions to be as specific and detailed as possible for when I do things, so I tend to write them out that way too lol
 
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