Ladies on Lovenox, I need your injection tips (turning chicken mentioned)

Scout05 · June 2010

UPS just dropped off my Lovenox injections and I am getting ready to give myself the first dose.

I know it goes in the abdomin (anywhere, right?) and I watched some You Tube videos that suggest injecting slowly and pulling out slowly help with the bruising.

Any other tips? Also, be honest and please tell me if it really hurts. I am better if I just know it going in.

I'm turning whimpy all of a sudden, which is pissing me off. It's not THAT big of a deal.

kellie3065 · June 2010

Are they sub-q or intramuscular? I didn't do Lovenox but I did many other things....I can help with general injection questions. Big Smile

Scout05 · June 2010

sub-q, in the belly. I am such a...well, baby. There it is.

jen15lax · June 2010

I got whimpy for my first shot too.

1. My shots have to be in my abdomen at least two inches away from my belly button. I alternate sides for my shots (since I have to do two per day, the right side is my night side). Lovenox is once per day, so just switch sides every day.

2. Make sure you have alcohol wipes. Wipe off the injection site with the wipe before you inject. Then pinch an inch of skin and that's where you're gonna inject. You probably have the prefilled syringes, but I'm not familiar with them. I don't know if they're any different than mine or not, so hopefully someone else will pipe in.

3. I've found that there are certain spots on my stomach that the needle really hurts to be pushed into. I used to stop pushing on that spot and pick a different one, but I'm running out of bruise-less space, so I bite the pain and push it in. But, there could be a spot less than a centimeter away that literally doesn't feel a thing to push in the needle.

4. Push the medicine in SLOWLY. Some ladies ice the site before hand - I never have. Some ice afterwards - again, I never have. I really mean push in slowly... like millimeters a second. My injections site usually sting/burn for a few minutes after the injection.

5. Do NOT rub the site afterwards. That causes more bruising. Believe me, you'll get enough. I never found the few times that I did rub to even make a difference in the stinging.

Scout05 · June 2010

Thank you, Jen, that is really helpful. The slow injection seems to be a big part of it.

I was all "no big deal" this morning w/ DH and now I had to call my mommy to come over and sit with me.

Lame-o, over here.

jen15lax · June 2010

ambrandau2:

Thank you, Jen, that is really helpful. The slow injection seems to be a big part of it.

I was all "no big deal" this morning w/ DH and now I had to call my mommy to come over and sit with me.

Lame-o, over here.

I can't feel the medicine going into me. I think if I could feel it pooling under my skin, it would freak me out more. But maybe that's a part of going so slow - you don't feel it. If I pushed it in faster, I'd probably feel it and THAT I don't want.

Wynnieboo · June 2010

ambrandau2:
Thank you, Jen, that is really helpful. The slow injection seems to be a big part of it.

I was all "no big deal" this morning w/ DH and now I had to call my mommy to come over and sit with me.

Lame-o, over here.

You are not lame, its scary stuff. But you can do it girl, you are a strong confident women. If you are positive and confident it will be a lot less painful!!!! Just take a deep breath, and inject slowly as you let it out...

Haterz · June 2010

Everything Jen said, plus I noticed it stings less if I sit down while doing it vs. standing up.

mkoelker · June 2010

:::Butting in:::

I'm sad you have to give yourself shots, its not fair.

I am however excited that it will give you a beautiful baby!

:::Butting out:::

kellie3065 · June 2010

You get used to it, one more thing.....make sure you let the alcohol dry completely before injecting. Less stinging. I made that mistake a few times because I just wanted to get it over with.

Good luck!!!

Kel&Jay · June 2010

I don't have any advice. I just wanted to wish you good luck.

jen15lax · June 2010

Oh, and totally not lame-o. Lame-O is ME when I won't let my husband do my shot for me. That's when I turn into a huge chicken.

sydney0928 · June 2010

I think the medicine hurts more than the needle, if you find the right spots. Definitely pinch off some fat, and keep it pinched until you take the needle out. When you clean the area, make sure you wipe it off with a clean towel before injecting, because the alcohol can sting too. Keep the cut side of the needle up. Inject slowly. Alternate sides and spots every day or you'll get huge knots. Don't inject into a bruise, it hurts like a ***!

I definitely had about a month where I just could not find a spot anymore that didn't hurt. But here lately, it's gotten a lot easier, and I'm not sure why.

I tried on my thighs for a while and got HUGE bruises, I think there are more muscles down there. The belly is really best for that, but my doc said anywhere you can pinch some fat is ok.

Good luck!

ETA: I have pre-filled syringes. They almost always have air bubbles in them, which my doc said wasn't harmful, but I don't like the way it feels going in. So if it's at the front I make sure to squeeze the air out first, or if its at the end I take it out early. I'm sure I waste medicine doing this but oh well.

Cruisebride1208 · June 2010

Everyone pretty much covered it. Some hurt more than others and you will find out in time what areas you prefer over others.

Make sure you switch sides every day. I'm not sure if that was mentioned.

Best of luck!

Joyous1106 · June 2010

I did gonal-f and not lovenox, but it was sub-q.

My first shots didn't hurt, but after a couple of days I was starting to wimp out from the stinging (and I'm a nurse:D ) so don't feel bad about being apprehensive. Pretty much ditto what the ladies have said, and if you see a bruise starting, get out the ice.

I had to ice a bad bruise that started forming seconds after I took the needle out, even with the cold it took weeks to fade.

I hope you don't have any problems (and your ins. company gets their head out of their butt if that hasn't already been resolved). Good luck, Allison!

PeetiePie · June 2010

sydney0928:
I think the medicine hurts more than the needle, if you find the right spots. Definitely pinch off some fat, and keep it pinched until you take the needle out. When you clean the area, make sure you wipe it off with a clean towel before injecting, because the alcohol can sting too. Keep the cut side of the needle up. Inject slowly. Alternate sides and spots every day or you'll get huge knots. Don't inject into a bruise, it hurts like a ***!

I definitely had about a month where I just could not find a spot anymore that didn't hurt. But here lately, it's gotten a lot easier, and I'm not sure why.

I tried on my thighs for a while and got HUGE bruises, I think there are more muscles down there. The belly is really best for that, but my doc said anywhere you can pinch some fat is ok.

Good luck!

ETA: I have pre-filled syringes. They almost always have air bubbles in them, which my doc said wasn't harmful, but I don't like the way it feels going in. So if it's at the front I make sure to squeeze the air out first, or if its at the end I take it out early. I'm sure I waste medicine doing this but oh well.

All of this and especially the bolded!!!

vlewis515 · June 2010

No experience but wanted to offer moral support!!! You can do it!!! Just grin and take it like only a woman can!!!

Scout05 · June 2010

Thank you so much everyone for the advice.

I basically botched it the first time, but I'll get better (didn't get the needle in far enough and spilled some of the medicine down my belly before realizing it. And then panicked, shoved it in and pushed the trigger down too fast. Oh well, I learned!)

erpetdoc · June 2010

I don't know anything about Lovenox injections, but here's sending LOTS of good wishes for your way for a healthy pregnancy. Scout wants a baby sister/brother...she told me so!

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Ladies on Lovenox, I need your injection tips (turning chicken mentioned)

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