Lovenox advice?

newsbaby

I start lovenox on Friday and the nurse that taught me how to use it (today) totally scared me.  

She said the needle is duller therefore harder to get in/breakthrough the skin.

 

She said that I have to compress the area immediately after but when I inject and it is going to sting a lot. I told her that I have used menopur and it burned so I can understand. She said no, this stings a hell of a lot more.

 

She also said I am going to bruise A LOT.

 

I thought I was a pro with all of this stuff but I am intimidated by the lovenox!

 

Any experiences to share? 

AuburnBride06

Yea, the bruising is bad. My stomach looks like someone beat me (after 2 weeks of 80mg/day-thats 2 shots/day).  For me, the stinging is not that bad. Sometimes, it hurts like hell when the needle goes in, other times I dont even feel it. I do bruise less and bleed less when DH gives me the shot. It seems like every shot is different. The needle stick definitely hurts more than follistim, but nothing that can't be dealt with. Just go slow injecting it, it helps with the stinging/pain and also the bruising.

svp1537

I used it with my 2nd IVF and will be using it again... everything your nurse told you is pretty accurate. The needle is duller and it did burn more than the menopur (which doesn't even seem possible, right?!?!). I only had a few bruises after doing 14 injections, so that wasn't too bad.

Good luck!

newsbaby

Oh boy. I was really hoping you guys would say she was exaggerating. I usually stab myself so that it definitely goes in on the first attempt. Looks like I am going to have some trouble with that.

The stinging only lasts for a bit so I can hopefully handle that...

As for the bruising, it is going to be rough to find areas to do 2 other injections each day.

Oh well, I have no choice right!? Thanks for sharing your stories ladies.

c0debabe

I haven't done IVF, so I can't comment on the relative sharpness of the needles.  I took Lovenox when I had a blood clot 5 years ago.  I remember occasional small bruises around the injection site.  I think it depends on if you are a person who bruises easily.  Also, I didn't find that the Lovenox stung--YMMV.

Good luck!

Fundoh21

Unfortunately, the nurse is right. It does have a duller needle and it does bruise much more than anything else I have ever used and the bruises stay around for quite a while. Sorry!

PrincessShay80

I had mini bruises on my stomach, but it was not that bad. It burns, but I didnt think anymore then the Menopur. honestly, its not that bad- you will be fine- I just pinched the skin and did it quick, like with the Follistim. the needle is small- its not like a PIO needle.

fallbride110406

I hope you don't mind me responding.  I'm an easy bruiser and I've been on Lovenox since my first positive beta (7/17).  I agree with everyone else that the needles are dull, so jabbing it instead of doing it slowly is the best way to go.  It stings, but Menopur stung worse for me.  As long as you go slow, it is easier and sometimes it doesn't sting at all.  I was told not to rub it after because it can increase the bruising but the stinging always makes me rub the spot, that may be why I'm covered in bruises.

As for trying to find places to even do the shots, I developed a system when I was doing 3 shots a night during stims.  I started way to one side (I was told I could do them anywhere in my lower tummy, under my belly button, above the hairline) and did the three shots vertically in a line.  Then each night, I just moved to the side to go across my tummy doing the same thing.  Usually by the time I got all the way to the other side, any bruising I had where I started was gone.  I've done this with lovenox too and been okay finding spots.

Hope this helps and good luck to you! 

newsbaby

Thanks again so much for sharing ladies! I have time to psych myself up since I don't start until Friday....ahhh! I hope it will be ok.

newsbaby

fallbride110406:

I hope you don't mind me responding.  I'm an easy bruiser and I've been on Lovenox since my first positive beta (7/17).  I agree with everyone else that the needles are dull, so jabbing it instead of doing it slowly is the best way to go.  It stings, but Menopur stung worse for me.  As long as you go slow, it is easier and sometimes it doesn't sting at all.  I was told not to rub it after because it can increase the bruising but the stinging always makes me rub the spot, that may be why I'm covered in bruises.

As for trying to find places to even do the shots, I developed a system when I was doing 3 shots a night during stims.  I started way to one side (I was told I could do them anywhere in my lower tummy, under my belly button, above the hairline) and did the three shots vertically in a line.  Then each night, I just moved to the side to go across my tummy doing the same thing.  Usually by the time I got all the way to the other side, any bruising I had where I started was gone.  I've done this with lovenox too and been okay finding spots.

Hope this helps and good luck to you! 

Thanks - this totally helps! Yeah she told me to not rub it but just compress the area otherwise all the surrounding capellaries (sp?) will burst and cause a lot of bruising.

Congrats to you! 

kme930

Just wanted to add an agreement with pp. Don't rub it! Do whatever you can to just let the stinging pass without touching it. For me rubbing always = bruises. Once I figured that out. I stopped looking like someone was beating up my bloated tummy!

sarahandeddiejune212008

I have no personal experience, but my sister had to do lovenox when she was pg with her second son.  She hates needles - to the extent that numerous nurses used to have to hold her down for shots when she was a kid - and she took lovenox without any problems.  I don't remember her being bruised, but it was nearly 7 years ago.  I hope it isn't that bad because I'm probably going to be doing the shots if/when I get a bfp!