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this a reply for MaryG

u wanted to know how to inject on ur buttox.. if u lay on ur side u can get the fleshier part of ur hip/buttox. and i know it hurts no matter where it goes, but when i started on my injections my dr refused to let me inject on my tummy, bc ur bruises can actually bleed through the surface of ur skin.

but please PPLEASE take it as perscribed, i wasnt and my levels were sooo messed up and they keep upping my dosage and it can cause other problems as well. im 7months now and have been on the injections since about 9weeks. the longer ur on it the easier it will get and the bruising less and less.

keep me posted dear! best of luck to u :)

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Hi, I am 16 weeks pregnant and have been taking 2 injections of Heparin daily since before I was pregnant (2 days after IUI) I have blood clotting issues possibly Antiphospolipid Syndrome. Anyway, yesterday I was switched to 40mg of Lovenox which I did this morning. Do I need to worry about making the switch? Could the Lovenox not work as well as the Heparin? I also had a difficult time with the Lovenox since it is a prefilled syringe. There was a large air bubble that I could not get out without wasting medicine so I just injected it (hope that is ok) I only do the Lovenox 1x per day.

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Stacy,

Lovenox and Heparin are the same medication, only Heparin is a little more "surgery safe"...you will be switched back to Heparin closer to your delivery date, then back to Lovenox after the delivery. There is no problem whatsoever with the switch since they do the exact same thing for your blood.

As far as the air bubble - do not try to expel prior to injection!! Simply turn the syringe upright with the needle facing the ceiling and tap the barrel several times...you want to get ALL the air to the very top of the syringe. Once ALL the air is at the very tippy top of the barrel, then you can inect...air and all. JUST GO SLOWLY. The air is fine and should actually be in there. You can call your RE to verify if you like, but this is the way the injections are given. I believe it also says this in the patient materials that come with the Lovenox...so I'm not giving you any weird information about the air bubble.

BEST of luck with your Lovenox - I'm glad you only have to do it 1x per day. I had to do it 2x, but I'll ask next time about once!!

Have a GREAT day and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!


Heather

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Thank you Heather! I appreciate the info!!! :)

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Hello All!!

I too am on Lovenox 40 ml a day. I am in my 30th week of pregnancy and have begun to wonder about my labor and delivery. I had an appointment with the hematologist yesterday and discussed the epidural. He kind of scared me when he said that the epidural could caue bleeding and paralysis. He also said that some anestheseologists won't give epidurals unless you have been off of the Lovenox for a certain amount of time. I was just wondering what some of you have been told or have done with your deliveries.

Thanks,
Felisa

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My Doctor told me that I would switch back to Heparin at 36 weeks so I could have the epidural if I wanted. I don't know what happens if you go into labor early etc... I have also heard that there are drugs they can give to prevent the potential clots in your spine that can happen from Lovenox. What they would do if you had to have emergency surgery etc.. Good luck!

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Hello all. This is my first post although I have been watching this forum for some time. I can't tell you how much reading your post has helped me.

I have had 2 m/c. My doctors have done test and they all come back negative. The only thing they said is there is no blood flow to the baby. They want to put me on a baby aspirin as well as Lovenox injections. I am very concerned. I want to have a child but am afraid that if this does not work it will be more than I can handle.

To make things worse I found out my insurance will not cover it >:(! Is this common or is there a way around it?

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Roro,

Yeah, you need to tell your doc that the Lovenox is NOT for infertility but rather for clotting disorders...if it's listed as "infertility" insurance won't touch it. And, it's REALLY pricy. So, ask them to resubmit with this diagnosis and see if that works.

You've been through bad times, so hopefully this is the path to much greener pastures!!

BEST OF LUCK!!


Heather

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Some hints on the Lovenox injections:

I have a clotting disorder, and have been on Lovenox injections since getting pregnant with my son. He is now one year old - and beautiful! I had a mini-stroke (because of CVT) after he was 2 months old when we switched back to the coumadin, so they put me back on Lovenox (for the rest of my life). After nearly two years on the shots, I am finally getting the hang of it... here are the tricks...

Rotate sites! Very important. For me I do my arms and legs as well as stomach, but because I have been doing them so long. I go low then high, left then right. You will find your own path, just rotate sites and don't overuse one area.

Those hard bumps! Ick and ouch. Push the injection slowly! Wash the site (alcohol rub) and your hands well! Do those two things and you should be able to prevent some of them. Choose a fatty area if you can. The bump is a hematoma, just a bruise under the skin. I have had one get infected, its not fun.

"I am soo sick of doing these. This hurts. This sucks." Yeah, we feel that way. I put up a photo of the baby's ultrasound, that helped me remember why I was doing them. Also have a rotation partner. My husband would do my evening injections, and I would do my morning ones. For those of you lucky enough to do once daily - have someone you can call when you just dont feel up to it. Give yourself permission to be burnt out. Do not beat yourself up. But remember why it is important, and DO NOT MISS ANY! There is a reason you have to do these shots - your health and the baby's health. That is important.

I have heard people using ice to numb the spot first, but that didn't work for me. My hemotologist did give me some topical anesthetic. It helps so you don't feel the needle going in. If this is an issue for you, ask for it. It isn't that expensive. Our insurance didn't cover it, but my sister is a nurse and started bringing some home for me. I don't even use it anymore, but it got me over the rough hump.

Good luck, and enjoy your pregnancies!

I am thankful every day for our son. We lost 7 pregnancies before him. I didn't think we would ever have a baby. He is very smart, beautiful, perfect - and worth every shot that I did. (The clomid was not fun either, but... :D

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[quote author=HeatherMak link=board=13;threadid=1981;start=75#24251 date=1155838681]

Roro,

Yeah, you need to tell your doc that the Lovenox is NOT for infertility but rather for clotting disorders...if it's listed as "infertility" insurance won't touch it. And, it's REALLY pricy. So, ask them to resubmit with this diagnosis and see if that works.

You've been through bad times, so hopefully this is the path to much greener pastures!!

BEST OF LUCK!!


Heather r>
[/quote]

Thank
s
HeatherMak :). I will call my doctor today.

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seems like everyone on here has been told that they will b switched to heparin b4 delivery. my highrisk dr is not doing so. he said i will stay on my lovenox straight through until i start with the hematologist 8 weeks post pardum... i dont understand how it can b perfectly fine for me to b on the lovenox, adn yet yall have to switch?

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Hi,
I am new to this sit ebut I have a similar situation. I have an almost 4 year old daughter and when we tried for #2, we haad 4 miscarriages in a row so after many blood tests, I came back positive for Prothrombin II Gene Mutation. My OB believes this to be the cause since it is am inherited blood clotting disorder, I just learned my mother tested pos. last week. He, along with my Hematologist want to begin Lovenox when I become pregnant. I currently take baby aspirin dialy. I am TERRIFIED about Lovenox. I am a nurse and I can't imagine having to give that to myself. I have no history of clots nor my family. Does anyone else out there have the same as me? I am scared to get pregnant and we were told to try as soon as we can. I am still recovering from the last m/c. I need some advice, I am freaking out and am considering not having another baby although I desperately want one.
Thanks, Anne

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babykent,

Congratulations on finding out what might be causing your m/c!! That is wonderful information to have - now you can battle the enemy and win your fight!! Every piece of information that helps us overcome amd combat our infertility is wonderful news!!

I would suggest reading LovenoxMom's post again. It's a very powerful post. If the Lovenox is the only thing standing between you and a baby, have the baby. An injection that will save your life and the baby's life is really insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Women who go through IVF have to inject huge vials of progesterone in oil...into the muscle...and they are extremely painful. Lovenox is not nearly as large or painful, and is a wonderful life-saving tool.

The Lovenox needles are teeny-tiny and if you pinch the skin before injection, they go in fairly easily.

So, be strong, get pregnant, take your Lovenox and thank God we have such wonderful medicines available to help us in situations such as these.

Best of luck to you and LOADS OF BABY DUST!!


Heather

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Hi everyone

I am really in need of some support. I had two second trimester miscarriages in 2003. I have been trying to get pregnant ever since and now it has finally happend! By the grace if God. But now I am scared and emotional. The specialist has prescribed Lovanex 40mg, once daily. It has only been one full day and I am already nervous that I am not doing it right. I inject in the side of my stomach. They told me to make sure the bubble is towards the top but I don't see a bubble. Can anyone give me some advice. I'm nervous and anxious about this. Please help.

Thank you,
Meika

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Meika,

You have to make sure the bubble appears...there are lots of tiny bubbles in the barrel, but you have to shake them down to get all of them at the top.

To shake down all the bubbles, hold the syringe in your hand with the needle pointed toward the ceiling. Tap the barrel lots and lots and lots of times until you get all the bubbles to the top...if you still see more little ones, keep tapping until you get them all. Once the air pocket is at the top, you're ready to go!

I find, too, that it's easier to pinch a bit of skin to inject...you can use your abdomen and hips, too!!

CONGRATULATIONS and best of luck with the Lovenox!! Keep us posted!!


Heather

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Hi everyone, Basically this message is for Heathermak who after reading all of her insight, seems to be an unbelievably positive asset to this site. I keep getting depressed seeing all of the side effects and negatives, and then read her stuff and feel better. Ok, I have been TTC for almost 2 years and finally after a number of surgeries, got my BFP last week (I am still learning all the acronyms-lol). I am so excited, but also weary about possible m/cs. I saw that you were given metformin and lovenox, which i am on both along with the progestrone. my drs is great, but his down side is he never explains anything - thats why your info is so helpful. did they ever tell you why you were put on metformin- is it because you have pcos- or can you need it even if you dont have that. i am just concerned because i dont even know what that is- and this is the 1st time ive heard that i have clotting problems also. any info you can provide would be great. good luck to everyone still trying. it has been an unbelievably long haul for me, so there is hope... thanks, maria

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