After surgery doctor says I will need to inject myself one a day for 2 wks with Lovenox to prevent blood clots, anyone else have to do something like this? Im kinda scared about having to inject myself.

I got them in the hospital and also for 2 weeks post op as well. Was not the most pleasant experience but i was glad They gave me peace of mind during that time about blood clots

I took them in hospital and then quit after a discussion with the doc. I didn't like the heprin/coumadin risks, but for some its vital so do what your doc says, but feel free to question. It shouldn't be routine..it should be patient based.

That said, I gave myself those types of shots (hormones and meds) for three years while trying to have or carry a successful pregnancy. A great deal of your problem (and any normal human) is that it's counterintuitive to stick a needle in your body...so you have to get over the mental game. I myself had to do it alone, no one could talk to me, look at me, bother me, etc. Total silence. Like a tummy poking ninja stealth....

A tip to avoid pain and bruising (which should not happen with each shot). The best thing to do is to ice the area by holding an ice cube on your shot location for a min or two, then quickly wipe with the alcohol swab and inject quickly into the location. (Have your shot all ready to go, alcohol pads open and on top of their container). Additionally if you pinch about an inch worth of skin and fat up and then do the icing and injection, pinching firmly but not hard, you will find it goes easier. If you find the ice a pain, just do the pinch. By the time you are done with the shots you will be an expert. The ice helps with the med stinging and can reduce bruising if you are hitting a blood vessel (there is nothing dangerous to hit in the fat so don't let that freak you out). You can also bruise by going in too slow.

See....I got nothing out of the baby attempts, but it did make me an expert on gut shots so there's a silver lining out there right? heh heh

I had to do the same thing while pregnant, and find a spot with a baby sticking it's feet where I would try to grab an area LOL Yes do the ice and you'll be fine, it's not that bad, the only thing is a little bruising and you have to be careful not to rub the spot or let any of your clothing rub against it. I would just put a band-aid over it to keep from rubbing it. The rubbing causes bruising as well, but fades eventually, I'm almost 4 weeks and all the bruising on my belly is mostly gone.

I had to overcome my fear of needles when i took medical assistant classes. I was so scared to give other people and myself shots. But i can tell you it's really not too bad. I also had the injections after a surgery a couple yrs ago. The worst was when the nurse would do the shot too soon after wiping the area and it stung soo bad. But just take a deep breath and do it, it'll be ok!

Yes, I did them for 2 weeks after. It was a pain in the butt, however it was a necessary evil.

I have a pre disposition to blood clots..a genetic mutation that causes my blood to clot more than normal...it is called factor 5 Leiden. I would suggest before any surgery having a doctor test you for this..I have the two weeks of shots as well..I wouldn't do the surgery without it..my dad died from a clot and my sister for one almost killed her by almost going to her lung..I am walking like crazy after surgery and taking my shots for sure! !

I have a pre disposition to blood clots..a genetic mutation that causes my blood to clot more than normal...it is called factor 5 Leiden. I would suggest before any surgery having a doctor test you for this..I have the two weeks of shots as well..I wouldn't do the surgery without it..my dad died from a clot and my sister for one almost killed her by almost going to her lung..I am walking like crazy after surgery and taking my shots for sure! !

Well ya you definitely want to take it! It was suggested for me after a PIC linen was removed. There was a tiny clot on an exterior and not important vessel causing me little risk of any danger aside from infection. The doc suggested the shots to me, as well as cumodin for I think three too six months (AMA guideline). It was late at night...I let them do one and then waffled all night about following through with it as cumodin and I don't have a comfy lifestyle (I run, climb ladders, scaffolding, blah blah)) so I asked about the risks again and was told that I could do ultrasound follow up to watch it until I was either in more danger or out of it. The doc gave me no trouble about not doing it and then later another said he wouldn't have taken the meds in my case.

On the two week check it had totally dissipated. Thank goodness! The fear you have to live with is something that scares the crap out of me! I wish you well during the surgery and be a good girl and take those shots faithfully!!!

Thank you everyone for alll the info! I didnt know about this at all until my appt Monday and now I do! So thank you sooo soo much!

I also have factor 5 and am on coumadin because I had a pulmonary embolism. I had surgery in June and ended up in ICU for a GI bleed and I believe that it has to do with the Lovenox injectiions I gave myself after surgery. I'm not telling you not to do it, but just be careful and pay close attention.