Question:
blood thinning shots?

IVE HEARD THAT SOME HAVE TO GIVE THEMSELFS HEPARIN SHOTS AFTER SURGERY TO PREVENT BLOOD CLOTS AND IM WONDERING HOW COMMON IS THIS?    — sl1pp1nghalo (posted on March 17, 2009)

March 17, 2009
My dr has all of his patients give themself a shot twice a day of blood thinning meds. wasn't heparin but something else. I cant' think of the name since its been 13 months and its not a common med. It wasn't that bad to do after the first couple. Its just a preventive measure to help prevent any type of clots.
   — crystalking

March 17, 2009
I got a Heparin shot before my surgery. I'm not sure of if I received one after..
   — Lori S.

March 17, 2009
After RNY surgery I ended up with a Pulmonary Embolism. A blood clot that traveled to the lungs. There is only a 1% chance of that happening. I had to give myself Lovenox shots in the stomach to thin my blood until the Coumadin pill(blood thinner) could build up in my system to thin the blood. I have to go to the clinic and get my finger pricked to check my INR and make sure my blood is at the right place. I have to do this for 6 months. Only because I had the PE. The preventative measure they did for me, was before surgery they gave me the Heparin shots in the stomach to help while I was in surgery.
   — ready4me_now

March 17, 2009
Hi Glenda, It depends on your surgeon. I had heparin shots post op only while I was in the hospital. I had a traditional open RNY performed. You may want to ask your surgeon if wearing anti-embolism stockings post operatively would help as well. Good luck-Barb
   — babs71958

March 17, 2009
I had to do the shots for a couple of weeks for blood thinning after my RNY. In the hospital I wore the hose and had special things hooked to my legs that inflated and deflated to help prevent clots. This is very important so just bare with it and do what the Dr says. It is not as bad as it sounds.
   — ceecee127

March 17, 2009
My surgeon and the three others in this practice all set this up as a regular postop care. The med they use is called Arixtra and it's a shot once a day for two weeks.
   — Shirley D.

March 17, 2009
I had three of these blood thinner shots in the stomach while in the hospital.... one before surgery, and two after. I didn't have to continue them at home. The nice thing is, that I couldn't even feel the needle going in, but after a minute or so, the meds kinda stung for a couple of minutes.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

March 17, 2009
They gave me Lovenox injections to do at home, once a day in the belly. Had to have the husband do it because I just couldn't! LOL I thikn it is a good idea because, especially when you are heavy, and you end up in bed for a while after a surgery, you have a chance of forming clots. I was pretty large and already had a heart condition so I may have been a prime candidate for the Lovenox. I did not like the ugly bruises it left on my belly that itched when they were healing but it was better than getting a blood clot I am sure!
   — ImanAbdulaziz

March 17, 2009
It is very individual and is based more on the patient than the surgeon. My surgeon does not routinely use Aristra or Lovenox but put me on Aristra daily shots for 1 month post op because I have advanced venous stasis (blood in veins stays stagnant with poor flow therefore much easier to clot). I agree with above posts, if your doctor reccomends them then do them, if they do not then you probably aren't at a high enough risk to warrent the expense and hassle of the shots. (My insurance covered my surgery less a $3000 deductible, then when I got to the pharmacy I found out I had a seperate $2000 pharmacy deductible so when I got the bill for the Aristra it was over $1600. I am sure it is protecting me from clots in the legs and lungs but that unepected bill just about gave me a heart attack :)
   — hapkidodoc

March 18, 2009
My sister-in-law had RNY and had to give herself Heparin shots at home. I just had RNY done on 2/9/09 and didn't have any after I left the hospital. Maybe it depends on the doctor, I'm not sure. Good luck!!
   — jeannefitz

March 18, 2009
Every surgeon/hospital is different. Both mine required twice a day while I was in the hospital. Out of everything done to me in prep for and post surgery, they were the most uncomfortable shots given. I had bruising for several weeks after the shots. Not a huge deal, but they do hurt a bit when given.
   — jammerz

March 18, 2009
I got heparin shots 2-3 times day in the hospital after surgery. I remember them distinctly because they left huge black bruises that took MONTHS to go away...My entire abdomen were covered with the bruises! I didn't think they'd ever go away...Plus they used compression stockings on my legs as well...at home though...nothing...I was just told to get up and walk often for circulation and I did! No troubles!
   — .Anita R.

March 18, 2009
I did Lovenox injections once I was released from the hospital...I assume they were administering something during the four days in the hospital. I had such a horrible reaction to the pain meds that they were switching meds around, so I can't be sure, but I'd imagine they were. I did the injections for seven days after my release, twice a day. That is typical for surgeries done at UCDavis Medical Center in Sacramento, CA, but it sounds like it varies for people. I injected them without trouble. I got TERRIBLE bruising, which I'm sure was due to the thinned blood. I had been used to administering insulin shots to my abdomen, so I had no trouble at all, but they'll help you in the hospital to learn how to do it and you'll learn it's not as bad as it seems like it might be. You may not be worried about it, but just in case, there's my two cents.
   — rachieo

March 18, 2009
Hi. I had VSG in 10/2008 and I had the Lovnonex (sp?)shots. I can also tell you that I bruised after the injections so I found if I put a ice cub on the injection spot right away for 10 seconds or so, no bruise! Hope it helps.
   — chell1957

March 18, 2009
Using blood thinners to prevent DVT (deep vein thrombosis)is considered the standard of care for all post-operative patients, unless you have some contraindicated condition. Lovenox is the most common but Heparin can also be used. The best prevention of DVT is anti-thromboletic stockings, sequential compression devices (placed on your lower legs) and early ambulation. All patients need to ask their doctors what they do to prevent DVT and if they do nothing, it should be a red flag. I am having RNY on April 13 and made sure my surgeon follows best practices for DVT and surgical-related infection prevention.
   — Nancy W.

March 19, 2009
I was given heparin every 4 hours after surgery until I went home. I had no problems except all the pretty bruises!
   — brindledanes

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