I finally got my surgery date for july 3rd, my independance day !! my dr has his patients give themselves shots of lovenox to prevent blood clots for 10 days post surgery. My insurance doesnt cover them and it will be about 240.00 for the 10 shots. he then told me if i cant afford them to not worry about getting them! has anyone else had to do the lovenox shots? what did your dr. tell you about them?

I haven't heard of them, and my doctor didn't have me do it.

Lovenox is a blood thinner that is injected into the stomach area. It is to prevent blood clots. Do you have any history of blood clots? Or anyone in your family ever have a blood clot? I don't think most lap band patients have to take lovenox shots.

Other means to prevent blood clots are: early ambulation after surgery, ankle exercises (pump up and down like working a pedal) support hose and when in the hospital they have EPC cuffs which are applied to both of the calves and they intermittently squeeze your legs to move the blood around.

So there is other options to prevent blood clots unless you are high risk or have a genetic predisposition to develop them.

Hope that helps :biggrin2:

Tess

WOW 240.00 for 10 shots! That is not a bad price at all. I work in a pharmacy and have seen it for much more. My Dr. did not require Lovenox and I haven't really heard it talked about much <not at all really> here on the board. A lot of insurance's won't cover

injectable's but as crazy as this sounds will cover the medication if given by a home health care nurse. If it is REAL important to your doctor see what your insurance will cover if you do home health care.

~Good-Luck~

I finally got my surgery date for july 3rd, my independance day !! my dr has his patients give themselves shots of lovenox to prevent blood clots for 10 days post surgery. My insurance doesnt cover them and it will be about 240.00 for the 10 shots. he then told me if i cant afford them to not worry about getting them! has anyone else had to do the lovenox shots? what did your dr. tell you about them?

I just picked up my shots today :smile: I have to do 5 days pre and post op... so..... 20 injections cost $843 :redface: Thankfully I only had to pay $40 copay :smile:

Have you had a blood clot before??? I had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung) 5 years ago when 8 wks pg with my daughter. If you have not had a clot, and don't have any sort of clotting problem, I don't see the need for them (keeping in mind, I am not a medical professional)

I too had to do the lovenex shots. My doctors are really big on preventing blood clots. I don't have a history of having them but they just wanted to make sure they did everything to prevent any. My also cost 800 and something with my insurance covering most of it. I think I had to pay $40 or $60-can't remember which one. I would talk to him again about it and see what he says. I would have to agree with Tess-if you don't have a history of clots and you do other things to help prevent them then you will probably be fine. I know some people at my doctors office who couldn't take the shots because they made them sick so my surgeon made them stop. Good luck with your surgery!!

You know...now that I've slept on it, I think they gave me a shot of it before my surgery at the surgery center.

I didn't need lovenox after being banded, but my OB did have me use it for 14 days after delivering my son via C-section. I was at my heaviest after giving birth and he was concerned about clots.

thanks for the feedback on the lovenox shots.I dont have any history of bloodclots even after 2 c-sects. I am willing to do what ever it takes to do what i need to to prevent them. I will talk again to the dr. on the 26th. sue

my doc office requires lovenox for 4 weeks post-op if you have history of clots or if your BMI is 50+

i pay a $25 copay for 10 syringes. the bruising is the worst part of lovenox! every couple of days i get a nasty bruise at the injection sites. other than that they are no biggie.

Those prices are a crime! Yes, I think the shots are important - but my insurance covered them. Then again, people do die from blood clots. Try to find a cheaper source.