Ok... did anyone else struggle with the heparin injections (mandatory blood thinner post-op) I am needle-phobic and seriously terrified to inject myself 3 times a day for 14 days... any trick/tips?? When I was in for my pre-op appointment the nurse tried getting me to inject myself (to practice) I went pale and got teary eyed and COULD NOT do it... I know I sound like a total wimp (especially to any diabetics out there) but I just am scared! Surgery is tomorrow...

3 times a day, I'm a nurse and have never seen anyone have to get heparin 3 times a day you would bleed to death.

that depends on how much your getting.

My sister in law had to take it for 2 MONTHS after her blood clot 3 times a day .

Mindy

Ok... did anyone else struggle with the heparin injections (mandatory blood thinner post-op) I am needle-phobic and seriously terrified to inject myself 3 times a day for 14 days... any trick/tips?? When I was in for my pre-op appointment the nurse tried getting me to inject myself (to practice) I went pale and got teary eyed and COULD NOT do it... I know I sound like a total wimp (especially to any diabetics out there) but I just am scared! Surgery is tomorrow...

Do you have a friend who is a nurse that might be able or willing to give you the shots. If I have to give myself shots (I don't think I will) I plan to call on some of my nurse friends and get them to give me a hand. I don't think I could give myself a shot.

my dr has me on 3 heperin shots a day, the rx are at the cvs. i band on tues. little freaked out by it but i'll do it. tid for 14 days. my dh will not do it for me, he'll pass out. lol. dr said he just is taking more precaution with surjeries.

Really its not that bad, the needles are SO tiny .

Also you can give the injections in your thighs as well.

Good luck with your surgery ! My husband would not have done it even if i wanted him too either LOL

Mindy

I have also had to give myself shots. Not for this surgery but due to a clotting issue. The stomach is the best area. Do a little pinch and be sure to go straight in. Also be sure to avoid the area from your belly button to your groin. There is a major nerve in there that you don't want to hit.

I am terrified of needles and never thought I could do this to myself. You do what you have to do. It's really not so bad. I pinched the skin..touched the tip of the needle to the pinch and then looked away as I shoved it in. It works lol.

Ok... did anyone else struggle with the heparin injections (mandatory blood thinner post-op) I am needle-phobic and seriously terrified to inject myself 3 times a day for 14 days... any trick/tips?? When I was in for my pre-op appointment the nurse tried getting me to inject myself (to practice) I went pale and got teary eyed and COULD NOT do it... I know I sound like a total wimp (especially to any diabetics out there) but I just am scared! Surgery is tomorrow...

Hi Seattle Girl! I am diabetic and have had to learn to give myself injections. I remember crying when the doc told me I had to do it. Maybe the hardest thing I had to learn to do. It has been almost 2 years now and I still hate it and sometimes it still hurts. I am sorry you have to do it but if your doc says you do then please try to learn to do it. And now I am considering lap band. I am in the research stage and am planning on attending some seminars and making an appt. with my PCP by the first of the month. One of my biggest reasons is because I would like to get off insulin and quit giving myself shots every frickin day. It sucks. You've made it this far. Keep on truckin!

I had to take heparin injections when I was pregnant with my last kid. I had a blood clot previously and that makes my risk higher than average.

It wasn't that big a deal but I ended up with large areas of my lower stomach area all purple-yellow and that was gross.

i'm doing it right now and all i can get in are two a day. and my sis-law is doing one and DH is doing the other. i just cried. its pretty funny. but my sis-laws are both nurses so they love it... really they enjoy it so i let them.

DH just does what he has to do. he not as good but i'm going to keep him.

M.

Make sure that you do the injections at a different spot each time over your entire stomach. I was having clexane injections last year for major clotting and my stomch was purple after 10 days. I also ended up with a hard lump in one spot but it disolved after several weeks.