Anyone using Heparin and self injecting

[johnM]

Anyone using Heparin and self injecting. If so where injecting - the stomach?
Should have said:
Low Molecular Weight Heparin

 

[Ross]

Heparin or Lovenox? Just grab some flab around the belly just slightly below the belly button on either side. Might want to apply an ice cube to the injection site just before injecting. Cut's down the bruising effect.

Heehee, Nurses can't even agree on where to inject it!

http://allnurses.com/forums/f279/lovenox-enoxaparin-sq-15043-4.html

 

[johnM]

Many thanks Ross- and thanks for all your excellent input on the site.
I am due an ablation in November and should move to heparin 5 days prior to the proceedure - I can't think of any other practical way other than self injecting

 

[Ross]

Well they may admit you and put you on a Heprin drip IV a few days before the ablation, but that's really between you and insurance companies.

 

[PeggyM]

Might want to apply an ice cube to the injection site just before injecting. Cut's down the bruising effect.

Now you tell me!

 

[Computec]

Heparin versus Lovenox

Heparin versus Lovenox

You won't be self injecting Heparin. It's given via an IV directly into the blood stream.

Lovenox is similar to Heparin but is molecularly smaller and can be injected in the fat layer of the abdominal area and will absorb from there. Much different from an IV drip.

If your looking at Heparin be ready for hospitalization for the IV.

Jerry

 

[aussie girl]

I was given injections while in hospital after my surgery (of heparin) and was told I could choose either my stomach or my outer thigh which is what I chose. I was told either was ok but it takes longer for it to work if given in the thigh. If I had evidence of clots I woundn't have been given the choice

Mary

 

[Ross]

I was given injections while in hospital after my surgery (of heparin) and was told I could choose either my stomach or my outer thigh which is what I chose. I was told either was ok but it takes longer for it to work if given in the thigh. If I had evidence of clots I woundn't have been given the choice

Mary

Mary they may have told you Heparin, but as Computec said, Heparin is not injectable, it has to go IV. It was Low Molecular Weight Heparin or Lovenox or possibly one of the other LMW anticoagulants.

 

[INRtest]

Oh joy. Oh joy. Thank you all for the info. I had a colonoscopy, while on Warfarin, 1.5 yrs. ago & he said that I would need to return in 1-2 yrs. to have a polyp removed. Last wk. my cardio asked what VR recommends (I smiled) and told me that I could self-inject Lovenox for abt. 5 days prior to procedure & 4 or 5 days post-procedure.

I'm going to schedule in Jan. to catch the beginning of insurance deductible cycle. Sounds like fun.

 

[Computec]

I believe that Heparin is actually produced by the body and that the Heparin IV just increases the level in the blood thus making the blood slower to clot.

I've heard that there's a new version of an ACT on the horizon that closely matches the mechanism of Heparin but doesn't need to be given through an IV. Seems to me that the big advantage/disadvantage of Heparin and the LMW versions is that they disipate from the body very quickly. I think that Lovenox and the others are administered every 12 hours in order to maintain the desired effect. This is all well and good unless you forget a dose. The new version is suppose to be oral and forgiving and doesn't use the mechanism that Warfarin/Coumadin uses thus making it safer as well.

Jess, unless the polyp is large there should be no need to come off of your ACT. If it's one that needs the snare then, yes, be prepared for bleeding. I would think that if it wasn't big enough to remove during your last exam then it "should" have been removed then instead of waiting for it to grow. Kind of odd that your doc waited all this time.

I just had my follow up exam. Several polyps were removed three years ago. I should have been in sooner for the follow up but OHS got in the way. My doctor said "Stay on the ACT." He said that if there was anything that would require a snare he'd reschedule and take me off the rat poison. As it was, he removed a couple small polyps and there was no bleeding. Make sure your doc knows if you're on an ACE or a BB or any other meds for that matter.

Just a few thoughts.

Jerry

 

[Bina]

3 weeks postop I needed a Lovenox injection....hubby was not thrilled to do it, so my daughter (nurse) came over to do it. I lay down and while I was pointing out where I wanted it injected, she STABBED me
She said that's the best way to do it; rightly so, cause I never felt a thing.

 

[Ross]

When I had mine done last year, I went fully anticoagulated and I had polyps removed. No bleeding at all. Snare and cauterized all in one swoop. Granted this wasn't the plan, but he decided to do it anyway.

 

[maestrorn]

Injectable heparin

Injectable heparin

Mary they may have told you Heparin, but as Computec said, Heparin is not injectable, it has to go IV. It was Low Molecular Weight Heparin or Lovenox or possibly one of the other LMW anticoagulants.

Actually heparin is injectable and we do it in the ICU quite often. Injectable, and IV, heparin are usually only used in the hospital as it has a really quick half life. This means that the body metabolizes heparin very rapidly and in fact in as little as 4 hours the PT/PTT can return to normal.

Lovenox has a longer half life and that's why it's used at home.

Heparin, and lovenox, can be injected into any layer of fat. I used my "love handles" when I used it. It does burn when going in. Make sure you do NOT rub the site after you inject it, as that can cause additional bruising.

 

[Computec]

My understanding (probably incorrect) is that the LMW injectables such as Lovenox are a "type" of Heparin but not the same as regular Heparin because of the molecule size. They can be injected subcutaneously and absorbed into the bloodstream for that reason but have a longer half life than regular Heparin. This negates the advantage of the drip which has the shorter half life and is more easily controlable.

Could I take the Heparin that comes in an IV bag and inject it subcutaneously and have an effective ACT?

Thanks

Jerry

 

[maestrorn]

Don't do it

Don't do it

My understanding (probably incorrect) is that the LMW injectables such as Lovenox are a "type" of Heparin but not the same as regular Heparin because of the molecule size. They can be injected subcutaneously and absorbed into the bloodstream for that reason but have a longer half life than regular Heparin. This negates the advantage of the drip which has the shorter half life and is more easily controlable.

Could I take the Heparin that comes in an IV bag and inject it subcutaneously and have an effective ACT?

Thanks

Jerry

What ever you do, don't inject yourself with heparin, especially out of an IV bag. This is for numerous reasons. One, you can't guarantee that you're giving yourself the same dose. Eventhough it's measured out in units/cc. Also, you can't keep track of an accurate PT/PTT due to the very short half life of heparin. Finally, once you pull your first dose out of the IV bag of heparin, it's no longer sterile. So you have an increased risk of infection!
Please, for safety reasons only use lovenox! It lasts longer and has a more predictable half life.

 

[twinmaker]

I just got home several days ago after being in the hospital with a Heparin drip. I've tried Lovenox on several different occasions, and I have had some pretty bad reactions to it. The last time I used it, I said, "never again". I know the vast majority of people do just fine on it but not me. Anyway, it was boring in the hospital but I came home with just a few bruises on my arms (but no pain). It was worth it for me. Unless they come up with something new I will continue to go into the hospital and use the Heparin drip. LINDA