First of all nothing anyone says here will serve as my medical advice! I also think every once in a while we can be calmed down when in a heightened state to realize we actually do not need medical advice!

In the hospital I had six heparin shots in my stomach- and every time they did it in a different area. Of course the level of skill in giving them varied widely!

There are bruises, some much bigger than others, and a particularly big one on my left side. Since coming home I have been lying on my left side to sleep- going back and forth from that to my back. Left side is my sleep side, normally.

Today I noticed the left side is more painful than the right (well that is where my sleeve is right?) But tonight looking in the mirror I thought maybe the biggest bruise had grown and perhaps met the others- my husband thought so too though we have not truly had that good a look since I got home as I was too busy desperately trying to get fluids in!

Anyway the bruise surrounds one of my incisions too- does that affect anything?

I know nothing about heparin so I don't know if lying on this is causing it to bleed more, etc.

I can also send this photo to the doctor on call but wondering if there is any reason...

My abdomen is also bloated and I am thinking that will cause pressure on the bruise and incisions.

Ths photo is right under my left breast on my upper abdomen and stretches around.

I came in ready to say yeah they get bigger, but I didn't have anything approaching the size or discoloration of that bruise. I also had lovenox shots, not heparin. I might call someone if I were you, that thing is huge.

Meggie can you put moist heat on it? Someone else was asking about hematoma's and I looked up on webmd about bruising. Elevate it? Call the Dr? gah...I'm worried about you tonight :Cry:

Renee`

Yep- but I think it is three bruises from three shots grown together. I read a thing about the bruise being different depending on the duration of the shot. Some of the nurses were very adept- others, not so much.

Maybe I will see if the on call doc can receive pix on his phone!

I think that's a good idea Meggie. That's a nasty looking bruise!

I was also going to say that they spread but that is huge! I still have one bruise in my thigh from the heparin and I'm almost 5 weeks post op. Let us know what you hear from the doctor.

Meggie is there a lump in it or anything? I know spreading happens, but that is a bit over the top.

Renee`

I have a call in to the doc. Never hurts!

Hello,

Your bruise looks exactly like my entire stomach! I was on Heparin for 3 weeks (3 times per day) due to having to travel from so far away for the surgery. It seemed to me the bruising also got worse and ran together. Today is my 2nd day off the Heparin and hopefully the bruises will subside.

So, if it makes you feel better...I am in the same situation!!

First of all nothing anyone says here will serve as my medical advice! I also think every once in a while we can be calmed down when in a heightened state to realize we actually do not need medical advice!

In the hospital I had six heparin shots in my stomach- and every time they did it in a different area. Of course the level of skill in giving them varied widely!

There are bruises, some much bigger than others, and a particularly big one on my left side. Since coming home I have been lying on my left side to sleep- going back and forth from that to my back. Left side is my sleep side, normally.

Today I noticed the left side is more painful than the right (well that is where my sleeve is right?) But tonight looking in the mirror I thought maybe the biggest bruise had grown and perhaps met the others- my husband thought so too though we have not truly had that good a look since I got home as I was too busy desperately trying to get fluids in!

Anyway the bruise surrounds one of my incisions too- does that affect anything?

I know nothing about heparin so I don't know if lying on this is causing it to bleed more, etc.

I can also send this photo to the doctor on call but wondering if there is any reason...

My abdomen is also bloated and I am thinking that will cause pressure on the bruise and incisions.

Ths photo is right under my left breast on my upper abdomen and stretches around.

I to had heparin with my surgery, but also had prior experience with it when i was pregnant with my daughter and had to take 3 shots a day for about 4 months due to my pregnancy induced Lupus. they finally took me off of it, due to the bruising, welts, and how on fire my stomach was(i told them it was that or i needed some nerve pills cause it was driving me crazy!) Yes the bruises will fill out and all run together, so maybe that is how yours got so big, and dark. It will also most definately make it worse if you are rubbing it or itching it...makes it spread like a wildfire. hang in there girl, it took mine about 2 1/2 weeks to go away completely.

doctor said if I worry go to ER....nope!

I had & still have some nasty bruises from the heprin shots. I had to inject myself 3 times a day for 2 weeks on either the thigh or stomach. I'm 10 weeks out of surgery and the bruises have faded somewhat, but not disappeared. Mine also seemed to spread out... I'm not sure why.

goodness Meggie, that is huge - glad its nothing to major - other then the bruising, how are you feeling?

I am still pretty sore on my one left incision, but everyday its better.

I dont know about you, but I am sooo happy that this surgery is behind me and I only have awesome things to look forward to from now on

I have the same problem and I took my last shot today and the dr said it was not a problem and I should be concerned. I am so glad the shots are over

Mine were in my arm. They started off in my right arm. Then to my left arm. When I got home my entire left upper arm was one huge purple black mass. My right was a little smaller. So I can relate to size and color. It took several weeks for the bruising to subside.

Deb

My entire stomach, hip to hip, looked a lot like that about 2 days after the last shot. I saw the doctor a couple days later and he wasn't concerned. It's now been 4 more days and they are starting to get that yellow healing look. I was also concerned because I had the occasional pinch type discomfort but they didn't seem to think anything of it.

This is not to say you should not check with your doctor. Believe me, if you learn nothing here it's that each program and each surgeon has very different standards.