posted
I just returned from my llmd appt with Dr. C and when they were drawing my blood for a test the nurse could hardly get anything. Then when she did, it was soooo thick that it stuck to the side of the glass vile.
My blood was so thick it looked like tar. It was scary.
The nurse told me that I could easily develop a blood clot or worse yet a heart attack. They ran a blood test to make sure that I could take heparin and I just got the results today.
Dr. C sent me a prescription for 6000 units every 12 hours and lab order to have labs done once a week.
Problem #1... I am scared of needles and have never given myself a shot. (I have an appt for my pcp to show me how in the a.m.)
Does anyone else do these shots?? Does it get easier after you get used to it? and anything I should know about the shots/heparin??
I do have a list of abx that I cant take with the shots.
and last question.. I 200 mg of doxy today,, is it safe to take heparin tommorrow if I discontinue the doxy as of today or do I need to wait??
I really need some experienced helpers here. I am kinda scared.
Thanks
Sandra
Posts: 73 | From phoenix, az | Registered: May 2005
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posted
***and last question.. I 200 mg of doxy today,, is it safe to take heparin tommorrow if I discontinue the doxy as of today or do I need to wait??***
If it were ME, I wouldn't worry about that dosage.
I was shaking all over the first time I had to give myself a heparin shot!! So don't feel like a baby!! It IS kinda scary the first few times.
Now I'm a pro at it! I even give myself B-12 shots. Piece of cake! You can do it!!
Be sure to jab it in....don't stick the needle in slowly...big mistake! It's so much easier to just go for it. It will actually hurt LESS when you do that!
Let us know how you did on your first shot!! We'll be ready to hear the success story!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Thanks Lymetoo Of all people to reply to me, I had hoped it would be you!! I truly respect your widom and I thought that I had remembered that you had done this too!
Thanks for the advice and I will keep you posted on how it goes
Do you know how long typically I will have to do this for?
Thanks
Sandra
Posts: 73 | From phoenix, az | Registered: May 2005
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
My LLMD created a stevia compounded heparin sublingual lozenge that we have compounded at the Apothocary pharmacy. I don't know if you have that pharmacy where you are. If you do, they should have the recipe on file.
posted
I was really scared of needles too and had never given myself a shot before either. I've been doing the Heparin shots now for a year and a half and also B-12 shots. It doesn't bother me at all anymore.
It was scary the first time though!!
Good luck! Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
SO many Lymies have thick blood- it is amazinG!!!
I used to hate shots and needles and get scared of them but after IV it is no big deal- I would never have believed I could become habituated to it but you do get used to things...
Still, YUCK*)!!!!!!!! I'm with you on that*)!*)!
Positively, Living happily with chronic Lyme, Sarah
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Well I accomplished my first injection without passing out!!! YEAH
I went to my pcp first to watch a video on how to do, etc.. and he decided to send me to the hospital lab to have a hypercoagulation panel done. They had to draw 9 viles of blood. I have been taking aspirin all week so it went much better than monday.
I asked the lab tech why so many viles and she said the would also be checking for abnormal cells, etc. HMMM?? what does that mean???
anyways,, my pcp wasnt satisfied that my llmd wanted my to do the heparin shots without this blood work first. He thinks its odd that they didnt detect this problem in the hospital in may when I spent a week there. I reminded him that in the hospital they were giving me blood thinning shots twice a day, so hence the lack of thick blood.
I wasnt told how long I will have to do the heparin, but after hearing here, sounds like maybe a year. My nurse suggested possibly taking cumadin was I was regulated.
So, I will do my second shot this evening with a little more confidence
And I am sure you all are right, I WILL GET USED TO IT!!!!!!!!
Sandra
Posts: 73 | From phoenix, az | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Hey is it NORMAl to have red/purplish spots and every injection site?? I have now done four injections and after a few hours they all turn deep red/purplish color. One is actually swollen and very purple and large, like quarter size.
I cant believe this is normal. And if it is I cant imagine what my stomach will look like if I have to keep doing this for any length of time.
PLEASE!!! Anyone else have these bruises???
Sandra
Posts: 73 | From phoenix, az | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I took Lovenox and Heparin (not at the same time) for years because I developed pulmonary embolisms (blot clots in the lungs). I screamed and yelled at my stupid doc that something was wrong and it wasn't until my mom took me to the ER did they finally dignose them and confirmed it with a CAT scan. But that's a whole other story.
Bruises are completely normal, and yes, very annoying. A trick that worked for me was to rub ice on the injection site before and after the injection. It doesn't stop all the bruising but it does lessen it.
I agree with the previous postings. Beware of Coumadin...or warfarin, it's generic counterpart.
Warfarin gave me horrible headaches, bad enough to put me in the ER. And since my Lyme already gave me headaches to begin with...it was terrible.
Next they put me on Coumadin, it made me swell up like a balloon. I kept telling the doc's it was the Coumadin. I finally found a doc who believed me when she looked up and confirmed Coumadin causes ademia.
Now I am on aspirin, but causes a bunch of problems with my menstrual cycle(that Lyme already screwed up) since it isn't a regulated blood thinner.
Heparin has antinflamitory, antibacterial, and blood thinning components. It's a wonderful thing to a person with Lyme. So if you can take it, keep taking it.
Usually doc's only like giving it for a year. I was on it for one year and on Lovenox for 2 years. Lovenox costs $1200 month, so I would serously stick with the Heparin.
Much luck!
Posts: 94 | From Greenville, Tx | Registered: Apr 2007
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