**Weekly Lovenox Ladies Check-in**

fignewt74

Hi Everyone,

Its time again for our weekly check-in.  This check-in is for anyone dealing with clotting disorders, or for anyone doing once or twice daily shots of Lovenox, Heparin, Fragmin, Arixtra, etc. (you are also welcome if you are on any other blood thinners - coumadin, aspirin, etc.)  This is a place for us to share our frustrations, worries and triumphs.  What?s new this week?  How is everyone feeling?  How are your bruises?  Any injection tips for the newbies?

Here is the growing list of Lovenox Ladies:

NicksChick23 (MTHFR) ? 9/24

ShanaNChris (Factor II, MTHFR, and previous DVT) - 9/26

Luvpinsanity (APS) ? 9/26

LeighMonkey (previous PE) - 10/6

Sprice1010 (FVL and protein S def) ? 10/10

FancyFeet10 (FVL) - 10/11

Jenn06L80 (FVL) ? 10/18

Gingergold (MTHFR) - 10/22

Jen~n~brett (MTHFR) ? 10/25

Jenny04 (FVL and MTHFR) ? 10/29

Lax15bsu (MTHFR and PAI-1) ? 10/30

Meagan78 (DVT) ? 11/4

Tyronne (FVL) ? 11/6

Str8ota (APS) ? 11/8

Margolicious (MTHFR) - 11/9

Struttonnorf (previous DVT) - 11/11

Kelley33 (FVL) ? 11/11

Mattbrit (Protein C deficiency) ? 11/17

Pinkamers (previous PE) ? 11/19

Mygirls2010 (MTHFR) ? 11/19

Piperjanesmom (APS) ? 11/25

Lulu3061 (previous DVT and PE) ? 12/7

Dieted01 (Protein C and S def and LA) ? 12/11

Manniejean (previous PE) ? 12/13

Heather&Shaun (FVL, MTHFR, previous DVT) ? 12/28

Cruisebride1208 (previous unexplained IUGR) ? 12/31

Wiscgirl95 (MTHFR, PE and previous DVT) ? 1/2

PeetiePie (APS) ? 1/4

nurseJK (MTHFR) ? 1/7

NikkiAnderson907 (FVL and previous PEs) ? 1/15

Danamh83 (previous DVT and PE) ? 1/15

wifey006 (FVL and MTHFR) ? 1/21

Mrs. Thistletwat (FVL homo and previous DVT) ? 1/23

Chaucer (MTHFR and FVL) ? 1/27

Ms.Messmer (FVL) ? 1/31

Atalanta04 (Protein C def and previous DVT) ? 2/1

Pamela05 (protein S def) - 2/2

Rkearns0821 (FVL, APS, MTHFR) ? 3/1

sweetpea18 (MTHFR homo and Factor VIII) ? 3/4

Fryday13 (MTHFR) ? 3/13

Wheelber (MTHFR homo) ? 3/16

kappanole (FVL and prior PVT) ? 3/22

ButterBean13 (MTHFR homo and Protein S def) ? 4/10

Sweetgirl425 (FVL and APS) ? 4/21

If this is your first week checking-in, please let us know your EDD and the reason you are on blood thinners.

QOTW:  We haven?t done this in a while, so lets post our injection tips.

Sit or lie down, pick a spot at least 2 inches from your belly button, 1 inch away from any bruises, and not directly into a vein you can see through the skin.  Put an ice pack on the spot.  After 5 minutes, pick up the skin with your left hand and with your right hand, lightly poke a spot to see how sensitive it is.  Move the needle over 1 mm or so and poke again - once you find a spot that is less sensitive, push the needle in very slowly.  Once its completely in, start to inject the fluid VERY SLOWLY ? it takes me about a minute to inject 60 mg.  Leave the needle in an extra 10 seconds, and then pull it out slowly.  Immediately put the ice pack back on the spot for 6-10 minutes.  Have a clean tissue or band aid ready in case you have a ?bleeder? you?ll need to put pressure on the spot in addition to the ice pack.

 

Clotho!

I'm new here so any advice anyone has would be great. My EDD is April 26, 2010. I'm on Lovenox due to having pre-e w/ my 2 previous pg which my dr. feels is due to malformation of the placenta. I was tested for clotting disorders but they all came back negative, however, I do have an auto immune disease which could contribute to these problems

I just found out today that I will be doing Lovenox injections. I knew this might be a possible treatment as we discussed this before I was even pg I just didn't realize it was a definite thing (always thought it was only a maybe) so right now I'm a bit overwhelmed w/ all the info I got in one sitting. I'm scared to death of having to give myself a shot everyday. Any tips or encouragement you could give would me much appreciated.

I see in the tip above that you inject it slowly. Is this something you just found seems to work for you or is that something you were told by your dr. to do. My dr. didn't say anything about having to do it slowly.

kelley33

the doctor never told me to inject it slowly either, but it does help, because it stings much more the faster you inject it! And, definately use ice. I didn't in the begining and I wish that I would have. It is much easier to do this to yourself if your skin is numb. I only ice for a couple of minutes. Really until I can see that my skin is whiter underneath where I place the ice than the rest of my skin.

b2bapril07

I'm new here. Just got by 3rd BFP and I'm due 5/18. I have had two m/c's and I have recenlty been dx'd with Lupus. My second m/c was due to Trisomy 21.

 I am on 40mg injection a day along with a baby aspirin, and so far DH has been giving me the injections. So far so good. I have one tiny bruise.

My OB is having me give my injections in my thighs. I was shocked when she said thigh and not stomach. Does anyone else do injections in the thigh?

FancyFeet10

I've officially been switched over to Heparin!  Woohoo!  The end is in sight

I'm not patient enough to do the whole icing thing before injecting, but this is the 3rd time I've been on it, so I'm pretty used to it.  Needles/injections don't bother me at all.  I would definitely recommend injecting it slowly though; it seems to decrease the amount of bruising.  Make sure you alternate sides every injection.

I also MUCH prefer injecting on my sides (love handle area) than stomach or thigh.  Several years ago when I was on Lovenox (post-surgery) they told me inject it into my thigh and I ended up very bruised and with a couple of "knots."  The Lovenox instructions now say to inject in the love handle area.  

hmtuthill

I'm so thankful I found you ladies!!! I've been searching for fellow preo ladies getting Lovenox shots. I'm 9 weeks and 4 days pregnant. My I've had three miscarriages before this pregnancy. We're praying this is a sticky baby! So far we've have four u/s and all have been great! Strong heartbeat!!! My fertility doctor released me to a high risk obgyn and perinatal doctor (not sure why). We're very excited to be released but nervous the weekly ultrasounds have been fantastic.  My husband has been giving me the Lovenox. I've been on them since I was 4 weeks pregnant.  I get the shots to hopefully prevent my body aborting the baby. The doctors theory is that my body thinks the baby is a blood-clot and aborts it. The shots hurt like hell.  Every shot I get I get a bruise. Its terrible. I'm also taking baby aspirin. When I get a shot directly above or below my belly button I'm in horrible  pain. We're NOT doing it there anymore. As much as I hate the shots my husband and I love the feeling of doing something to help our little baby. My husband is in the Air Force and he had to leave for the weekend. I've never given myself a shot so I'm very nervous.  Thank you so much for posting the tips! Again, I'm so glad I found you all!

sweetpea18

I don't have the patience to do the whole ice/inject slowly, etc.  I would rather get it done with quickly, like ripping a band aid off quickly.  It takes me about 30 seconds to do the whole thing. 

I typically inject in my thighs, as it hurts a lot less, epecially once my belly gets bigger. 

janjag

Hi, I'm new here... again.  Please add me to the list.  I have Factor II, and previous DVT and PEs.

Just found out I'm pg without ART, after IF and 2 IVFs that got me my girls.  Tonight was my first shot for this pg.  Going to give generic a chance, and am happy it's available now. 

I almost always use the abdomen.  I'll try to do the shot slower next time and see if that helps.  I noticed my last pg that after the first couple months the soreness/bruising was at a minimum. 

comfortable

Haven't had any bruising so far {knock on wood}!  I'm am entering my 3rd week of Lovenox injections.  I pricked my finger while trying to give myself an injection yesterday - hello, klutz!  Was not happy about the bleeding or having to sterilize the needle with alcohol and then stick myself:   burn.  I was on Coumadin and Aspirin prior to becoming pregnant due to an MI from blood clot.  Have a good week everyone!

* Is anyone taking Aspirin also while doing Lovenox or Heparin injections? *

Lan715

Hi all,

 This is my first check-in too, and am due on April 4. I'm currently on the lovenox generic 1x a day for protien s deficiency, and have been taking the shots for about two and a half weeks. Such the pits!

 I've got a 2 year old as well, and had high blood pressure that started up in my 28th week - that led to a number of pills and (not super strict) bed rest for about 2 months. My daughter was delivered at 36w2d, and spent 2 weeks in the hospital. So, I'm definitely up for trying these shots this time around, versus what happened last time.

 I'd say that the things that have worked well for me are lots of the things that folks have mentioned - sitting, ice, going slow, moving back and forth between injection sites. I do the shots myself - I'm way too much of a control freak to let anyone else do it. I also spin the needle a bit when I do the injection - inject a bit, then rotate a quarter turn, inject then rotate, etc, so not all of the medicine is going into the spot. Sounds weird, but seems to result in less bruising.