Blood Thinning Injections?

[amjon]

Is anyone currently on blood thinning injections? When the doctor ordered another round of clotting factor/ autoimmune tests he did mention with some of them I would need the injections when I get pregnant again. I talked to the nurse Friday and apparently some of them did come back positive and she wouldn't tell me what until I meet with the doctor. I made an appointment for Monday, but I am worried about the injections. I do not do well with needles as a whole. I had to take Xanax for awhile just to have blood drawn (after a VERY bad experience with a cranky old tech when I was already nervous to begin with). I cannot even do a finger prick test on my finger for blood sugar checks (though I can have someone else do it). I am worried that I won't be able to and even if DH were here he would refuse (he already told me when taking blood sugars often was a possibility he couldn't stick me, even if it meant helping both me and the baby). Are they pretty easy to do? Are they painful?

 

[princess444]

Hi, I had blood thinking jabs after my c section, I'm was and am petrified of needles I vomited on a nurse during a blood test, I went exposure therapy for it and It did help tht and emla cream! I over 3o needles in hospital , but done it, the jabs ur on about are one, I put emla on an hour before and took mt time, it stung a little but that's it, if I can do it , anyone can

 

[peagarden]

I've been doing them for 6 months now and it seems to be working as am 28 weeks pregnant and so far all seems well. They don't really hurt, but they do leave bruises. I was scared in the beginning too but doing them every day, you soon get used to it. The trick is to not think about it, whack it in quick and then worry about it later wen its all over!! Good luck x

 

[amjon]

He's confirmed I have Factor V Leiden mutation, so I will need Lovenox my whole pregnancy and aspirin for life. He also recommended all of my immediate (blood) family be tested. Has anyone else had that recommendation"?

 

[amjon]

Hi, I had blood thinking jabs after my c section, I'm was and am petrified of needles I vomited on a nurse during a blood test, I went exposure therapy for it and It did help tht and emla cream! I over 3o needles in hospital , but done it, the jabs ur on about are one, I put emla on an hour before and took mt time, it stung a little but that's it, if I can do it , anyone can

I will ask about that. Do you need to get a script for it?

 

[NatalieGrace]

I have Factor II, which is similar to Factor V just different chromosomes. I've been on 2x daily Lovenox injections since I found out I was pregnant (about 5 months now). There are a few tricks that I have found work for me. The need itself is tiny. At worst it's a TINY prick going in, and best you won't feel it at all. Just depends on where you shoot (you'll fine the least sensitive spots pretty quickly). For me it's the lower part of my stomach. Try not to hesitate when you put the needle in (don't worry, you will hesitate at first just because it's weird to give yourself a shot, but after a few you won't). Just pinch the skin/fat (hopefully you're like me and have some pudge to shoot into) and push the needle in fast, but NOT HARD. If you shove the needle in hard, you'll get a bruise. Also, don't sqeeze your skin hard when you're putting the needle in either, that will make you bruise too. Just loosely grab some pudge. Once the needle is in, inject SLOWLY. The medicine itself has a tendency to burn, and the slower you inject it the less burn you'll get. I didn't know this at first and would just push the plunger down and it hurt like heck. Now I inject really slowly and it stings a bit but not too bad. And viola! You're done! It's definitely weird at first, but you'll get good at it and before long you won't even think about it. Oh, and make sure you swab your skin with rubbing alcohol before the shot to keep everything sterile. Feel free to message me if you have any more questions or worries, I'm a pro! You can do it though, and it's worth it to know you're keeping you LO safe. Good luck!

 

[chudd]

Hi ladies,
I am taking lovenox 80 mg 2 times a day for the remainder of my pregnancy. This was scary at first as all of this came as a nightmare when I was admitted with a pulmonary embolism a few weeks ago at a little over 10 weeks preggo and I am now 12 weeks and 4 days . I am (or thought I was lol) a normal happy and healthy woman. This pregnancy was a suprise and my daughter was just in heaven about it as she is 12 and will be 13. I also have a 10 year old son and we really did not think we were ever going to have any more but God had a different plan. I am a little over a week of being home and I have to say it is scary emotionally as I thank God everyday I am alive to see my kids, husband, and family. I give myself the injections and it seems to be getting easier. I am scared for the labor process as I will be off the shots for a little while. Do any of you have experience with being on these shots then delivering and being back on them? I am hoping to find others like me so we can help each other with questions and hopefully realize we are not alone as at times this is very over whelming and prayer is getting me through. As of now we are just going with pregnancy being the cause as I have no history and we can not test just yet.

 

[amjon]

Have they also told you to take aspirin? The doctor has told me I will need shots once a until 30something weeks and then switch to something shorter acting twice a day. He said I would only need aspirin after delivery (for the rest of my life). Have you been tested for Factor V Leiden?

 

[chudd]

No they have not put me on aspirin yet. I go back on Thursday to the doctor. We are going to test for possible factors after I am off the thinners. I know he said I will be on them atleast 6 weeks post baby. We had a scare and had to go the ER last night.My left knee started retaining a small amount of fluid and would hurt to walk. I called my doctor and they said to get to the ER and get checked out (I am 1hr and 45 minutes away from the Hospital). They did an ultrasound of my leg and praise he Lord I had no blood clots in my left leg. I think I was screaming with excitement. I have just managed somehow to over extend my knee so we just watch to make sure it dos not get any worse. Today its not as bad.

 

[amjon]

Hopefully it will feel better soon. They can do the Factor V Leiden test when you are on thinners because it is a DNA test. It takes a few weeks to come back though.

 

[chudd]

oh thank you for telling me that I will def. love to know and will ask about getting it started so I can find out. I think I would feel better if I knew. I finally broke down and made myself buy some newborn diapers and baby wash just to realize hey this will happen and it will be ok lol.

 

[CJGirl]

I have Factor II, which is similar to Factor V just different chromosomes. I've been on 2x daily Lovenox injections since I found out I was pregnant (about 5 months now). There are a few tricks that I have found work for me. The need itself is tiny. At worst it's a TINY prick going in, and best you won't feel it at all. Just depends on where you shoot (you'll fine the least sensitive spots pretty quickly). For me it's the lower part of my stomach. Try not to hesitate when you put the needle in (don't worry, you will hesitate at first just because it's weird to give yourself a shot, but after a few you won't). Just pinch the skin/fat (hopefully you're like me and have some pudge to shoot into) and push the needle in fast, but NOT HARD. If you shove the needle in hard, you'll get a bruise. Also, don't sqeeze your skin hard when you're putting the needle in either, that will make you bruise too. Just loosely grab some pudge. Once the needle is in, inject SLOWLY. The medicine itself has a tendency to burn, and the slower you inject it the less burn you'll get. I didn't know this at first and would just push the plunger down and it hurt like heck. Now I inject really slowly and it stings a bit but not too bad. And viola! You're done! It's definitely weird at first, but you'll get good at it and before long you won't even think about it. Oh, and make sure you swab your skin with rubbing alcohol before the shot to keep everything sterile. Feel free to message me if you have any more questions or worries, I'm a pro! You can do it though, and it's worth it to know you're keeping you LO safe. Good luck!

I'm glad I found this thread. I am TTC and right now I am on Warfarin. As soon as I get a BFP my hematologist will be starting me on Lovanox and I was a bit nervous, but you have given me a little more confidence.

 

[amjon]

I had my first shot today. The doctor basically just stabbed it into my stomach. (I don't exactly trust this doctor, so not sure if he did it right.) Does that sound right?

 

[angelbabyz]

I have a healthy and happy 4 month old baby girl after using Lovenox injections during my recent pregnancy. I was diagnosed with prothrombin gene mutation factor II at 28 weeks and that is when I began taking Lovenox shots. I took them once daily the rest of my pregnancy and for 6 weeks post pregnancy. My husband had to give them to me, as I was too scared to do it myself. They would hurt and sting some days, and other days I could not feel them go in. I know some others are switched to Heprin at the end of their pregnancies but I was not. I also had a c-section at 37 weeks with ZERO complications from the blood thinners. They did, however, run a TON of tests and consult with other specialists before by surgery but everything turned out fine. I had myself SOOOOOOOO worried about the effects of the shots in the baby and what would happen with my c-section but everything turned out great. In fact, this section was better than my first.

Try not to worry too much and just do as your dr says! I was seen by a high risk maternal and fetal medicine specialist who performed ultrasounds twice a week and non stress tests twice a week to check on the baby and blood flow to the baby. Not to scare you, but clots can form in placenta or cord and should be monitored, invade it happened, they could take appropriate measures.

Anyhow, the shots are safe and you get used to them after a while, although they are no fun! It's all worth it in the end!!

I'm on my iPhone so excuse any misspellings

 

[angelbabyz]

I did all mine in my lower belly towards the side, closer to my side/hip area. I just grabbed as much skin as I could and my husband shot it in me. I alternated sides daily and just tried not to shoot into a bruise.

 

[babydrms]

Hi, I take Lovenox once to twice daily depending on how my labs are doing (I have a couple of genetic thrombophilias as well) - anyhow, I found it hurts much less if I ice nefore the injection and sometimes after. Supposedly this helps with bruising too because it makes vessels constrict, though I have gotten some NASTY bruises, lol. I also stick to the middle near my belly button - you can do it all the way out to the love handles but it hurts there for me. Best of luck!

 

[familygirl30]

I have just posted a new thread about these injections,this was before I had seen this one!im 4 weeks pregnant and they going to b starting me on the injections on Monday,as I have factor Leiden and had a Dvt 4 years ago,I'm feeling really nervous about it all!

 

[amjon]

They aren't that bad but I can't give them to myself. Now DH is but he's leaving to go back up North today. They have me on 30mg but I'm going to a hematologist as I think it's too low. I've bruised a few times but usually don't.

 

[familygirl30]

I have had to do the injections myself before but never for that length or time or during pregnancy as this is my firstI'm sure will get used to it

 

[familygirl30]

I'm on daily blood thinning injections,need to stop them when go into labour,after baby here will be on them again for 6 weeks,I forgot to ask my doctor how things will be as I know u can bleed for a few weeks after birth,scared of it been heavy