My surgeon told me I will need to give myself Heparin injections for a week after surgery. Did any of you have to do this?

NO!!! I had one injection before surgery directly into my belly...but not after surgery. Do you have any kind of clotting history??? I do know there is a concern about blood clotting after surgery, but self injecting after surgery??? not heard of this.

Yes,I had to give myself heperin shots in the stomache for 14 days after my surgery.Didn't think I could do it but I did! Laura

i also have to give myself injections for 7 days after surgery

wow...this really surprises me. i know there are alot of differences in preop diets, post op diets, requirements for insurance comapanies, etc. etc. but thisis one difference that doesn't make sense. If we have a risk of clotting high enough to warrant daily self injections of heparin postop...shouldn't we all be doing it? shouldn't at least this be consistent?

Katwmn63 it is not something we all need to do (apparently! or bunches of us would have clots) Different patients have different histories and such measures are indicated for some, not others. I'm shocked though that they have prescribed heparin and not lovenox (which is newer and causes less bruising) but they both do the trick.

As long as you are up and walking and doing well, don't fret!

As to the OP...yes, it happens. It will protect you and get you through the initial healing! :scared2:

I received the (3) shots while I was in the hospital and that was it. Had to stay over night because of Sleep Apenea so on discharge they came in my room and shot me again before I left to go home.:scared2:

I have no history of blood clots. The surgeon told me this is something they require of all people post-op. I am not sure how I am going to do it though! SCARY!

well, every "body" is different. It's probably Lovenox and it is to reduce your chance of developing a DVT (deep venous thrombosis). Your chances are increased if you are significantly overweight (most of us are...) and if you are going to stay stationary for a long time. I would suggest contracting your calves post op to help prevent this.

I didn't have to do injections after surgery, but I still have the bruise from the shot they gave me pre-op a month ago! It's almost gone, though (I bruise easily, please don't freak out).

My friend, who had surgery two years ago, did the shots for two weeks. Different doctors, different medical histories, etc :smile:

My surgeon told me I will need to give myself Heparin injections for a week after surgery. Did any of you have to do this?

Hi Amchenia,

I didn't have to heparin, but I did have to do Lovenox. They are both blood thinners, but I was terrified of having to give myself a shot. The first two days, I even had my brother-in-law, who is a nurse, give me my shots. Then I decided to buck up and try it myself, as they didn't hurt a bit when he did it. They really don't hurt. I found a couple of mine stung just a tiny, tiny bit AFTER the injection. I had to do them for 10 days and just finished with them yesterday.

It's really not that bad.

Paulette

Heparin is standard practise in the UK I believe for 7 days post op.

Paulette,

Thanks for the info. It makes me feel so much better hearing from someone who has done it. I will do anything to lose this weight, so I have just decided to deal with it when the time comes, but I must admit, the idea is so scary to me. It seems like the stomache would be such a terrible place for injections. I feel so much better now that you told me it wasn't that bad!

Anna

Paulette,

Thanks for the info. It makes me feel so much better hearing from someone who has done it. I will do anything to lose this weight, so I have just decided to deal with it when the time comes, but I must admit, the idea is so scary to me. It seems like the stomache would be such a terrible place for injections. I feel so much better now that you told me it wasn't that bad!

Anna

Hi Anna,

It is a scary thing to think of having to injection yourself with something when that is not the standard norm, especially with something you have never had to take before. As I said before, I was completely and utterly terrified that I had my brother-in-law give me the first 2 days worth. It's more the love handle area of the stomach that you give yourself the shot and you pinch up a little bit of skin, which I think helps. You will be scared your first and even second attempt, but it does get easier. In truth, it really is not painful. Good luck to you. :thumbup:)

I'm on day 6 of 14 w/these shots and honestly I am running out of places on my stomach where to inject myself. Every 8 hrs an injection. My stomach looks like I have dots all over it. I've had 2 previous surgeries & never had any clots or had to give myself shots. I tried to inject my thigh and nearly jumped 3 feet in the air it stung so much.

I had to do the injections for a week after surgery - I have no history with clotting. I think it really depends on the doctor. I was told to give it to myself in the leg - which I didn't. I'm phobic about needles so I invited my mother down for a week, and she gave me the shots in my leg.

It really wasn't so bad (I thought it would be horribly painful). I still wouldn't want to do it again, but it wasn't a big deal.

Good luck :thumbup: