I've been doing heparin injections for quite awhile for my hypercoagulation and other than normal bruising, I haven't had this problem, until now.
Three days ago, I started getting redness at my injection sites, about the size of a half dollar or so.
Last night, just in case something was accidentally contaminated, I replaced my vial with a new one and used a syringe from a new, unopened bag.
I also injected myself on the upper part of my stomach, instead of the lower part, like I normally do, but it still happened.
Has anyone had this happen?
If so, can you tell me what's going on and if anything, what I can do about it?
Should I really be concerned about this at all? If so, when should I be concerned enough to call my doctor?
Thanks!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
[ 08. August 2007, 12:14 AM: Message edited by: jjeennnniiee ]
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
up for some help
Posted by KS (Member # 12549) on :
I had to take Lovenox and heparin shots during my pregnancy and all went in my thighs. I do recall getting what you describe...it was a little hard too. I don't recall always getting with every injection.
Hey, ease you mind and call the doctor. Easy enough and they'll know whether it is normal or not.
Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :
Try putting ice on the area for a minute or so BEFORE injection - always inject below belly button, also make sure your needles are the same as before (microfine) as this happened to me when they gave me Ultrafine as they were too thick.
Hope this helps, let me know
Rianna
Posted by sunnymalibu (Member # 9586) on :
jennie-I used to get a lot of bruising on my stomach. I learned that if you inject REALLY slowly no bruising and very little swelling. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Posted by Allison Smith (Member # 11631) on :
I also have taken Lovenox and Heparin. And I very much agree with the ice on the injection spot before you inject and again after.
I was always told to inject low and to the side...like the "love handle" area..which by the way is where Lovenox got it's name...from the area where you are supposed to inject it.
The red area is normal, atleast it was for me.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I knew I should have opened this thread when you posted it!!!
I had the same problem and we finally decided that it was a preservative in the heparin. I called the company and reported the "adverse event."
I had a gut feeling that it wasn't the heparin. The welts would show up 3-4 days after the injection! [and they itched]
SOOOO... My LLMD gave me a script for the oral troches containing heparin. I took those for 2 1/2 yrs or so.
If you need info on the compounding pharmacy I still have the phone number.
Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi KS,
Is there a reason why you used Lovenox over Heparin? I've thought about taking it, instead, as I do believe I read somewhere that it does has a better safety profile. I think it had something to do with bone density. Do you know anything about that?
My doctor has me injecting myself in my lower stomach only. I didn't know you could do it in your thigh too. Do you know if that's just for Lovenox or can you do that with Heparin too?
I called my doctor and he said to give it a few more days to see if it would resolve. Things are improving, but I'm still a bit confused as to why, just out of the blue, I started having some problems. I guess I should just take the improvement and not worry too much with trying to figure it all out! LOL!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi Rianna,
Thanks for the using ice suggestion! I've gotten a little lax about using it for very long, but I'm doing it again now for a little longer and I do think it's helping!
Since I inject myself twice a day, I sometimes get so many brusies below my belly button that I have to give myself some of my injections just right above it, but I only do that as a last resort. I've been thinking about using my thighs, as KS has, but I don't know, for sure, if that is a safe route or not. Do you know?
Yes, I always make sure I get the finest needles I can, because, if not, I have more problems too, mainly bleeding and bruising, but I find it hurts more too!
I do appreciate your help!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi Sunnymalibu,
Thanks for sharing your experience, which certainly served as a reminder to me that I need to take it slow, maybe even a little slower!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi Allison,
Since you've taken both, can you tell me what the pros and cons are?
I've only been doing ice after my injections, so I'm going to try to do it before now too that you've suggested it and it worked for you! Thanks for telling me that!
I think I'm injecting it in the right place. I sure didn't know that's how Lovenox got it's name though! Thanks for teaching me something interesting!
I've never developed red areas, until this past week, but they are not as significant now, as what they were, when they first started. I don't know what to make of it, but I think I'm going to be okay, especially since it's better, so I'm not even going to try to figure it out. LOL!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie Posted by susan2health (Member # 10446) on :
Oral troches are way easier for me, and they work.
You have to have them compounded at a compounding pharmacy.
Susan
Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi Lymetoo,
I'm glad you opened it! ESP maybe? LOL!
I never thought about my problem possibly being as a result of a preservative it contains. Thanks for bringing that up though! I've been taking them for so long and it has happened so sudden, that I just don't see how it could be that, but I suppose stranger things have happened eh? LOL!
I don't get welts and the places I get are only a little itchy. I get more of a sunburn looking red patch that feels a little warm. It shows up within hours though, instead of days, like yours.
Funny that you would mention the troches! Your post here concerning them was what lead me to asking my doctor to prescribe them for me awhile ago. I did end up taking them for quite a while, but I reached a point where as we continued to increase my dosage, they were no more effective. My fibrinogen just wouldn't come down anymore no matter how much more I took.
I'm glad the troches worked for you though and you could avoid the shots! They're no fun, for sure!
Yes, I'd like to have the name and number of the compounding pharmacy you used. Maybe they have a better formulary and/or process than the one I used had, which would work better for me?
Thanks for the help!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi Susan,
Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunately, I've been there and done that, but it didn't work for me. I'm glad to hear that they worked for you though!
I may decide to try Lymetoo's compounding pharmacy though, just to see if it would make a difference. I'm thinking maybe the one I used just didn't prepare them right?
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi Gang,
I have one other thought, which hasn't been mentioned.
If I'm thinking right, they have to be kept cool, don't they? I know the ones I used before, from my local compounding pharmacy, had to be kept in the fridge. They even provided me with ice packs to use, until I could get home with them.
So, I'm wondering if it would even work for me to get them shipped from an out-of-town compounding pharmacy? If not, perhaps I could find another local one? I'm not too sure that there is one though, but I'll see what I can find out.
Anyone have any thoughts or insights on this? I certainly don't want them to get ruined, before I get a chance to try them.
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Mine was shipped to me, but with ice packs {I think}. I don't think it's a big problem.
I'll PM you. This pharmacy compounds tons of these for my well-known LLMD, so the price may be cheaper for you.
PS... I thought Lovenox was a blood thinner, not something that will work to clear fibrinogen.
For example, coumadin will NOT clear fibrinogen. It is strictly a blood thinner. [and/or rat poison! ]
Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Hi Lymetoo,
I'm glad to hear that ice packs are included, so it shouldn't be a problem!
Thanks for PM'ing me the pharmacy information! I'm happy to hear that, hopefully, the price may be cheaper too!
I don't know much about Lovenox, except that it isn't as hard on your bones, thus less risk for osteoporosis. I think it does work to clear fibrinogen though, but I cannot say that for sure.
Yes, I do know that Coumadin will not clear fibrinogen, just thin your blood, so it won't work for me, as I need to get my fibrinogen levels down. I'm not willing to take rat poison either! I think it's so sad too that so many people, who take it, don't know that either!
Thanks for all of your help! I truly appreciate it!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
]