Herparin Shots?

This inflatable calf things they have me on are just the worst! When I asked my OB about them yesterday he said my alternative is heparin shots. I said no at the time but now 24 hours later I'm thinking that doesn't sound too bad. After IVF I am not a chicken about giving myself my own shots. But I wonder about side effects, effects on the babies, risks etc? Anyone else had to do these?

I have a prothrombin gene mutation that makes me slightly more likely to have blood clots. Thanks!

 

I was on the heparin shots for my ds's pg and for the twins. I did one in the morning and one in the night. They go in the belly and honestly its not bad at all. I am suprised with that gene mutation you weren't on the shots anyway.

The only downside I had was SEVERE bloody noses. They would last up to 3 hours and would be pretty bad. I hated that part. You can bruise much easier too. I dont' think there were any other bad side effects. Its worth it if there is a risk. You can clot anywhere, not just in your legs, so I would def get more info from your dr. I assume they are checking your clotting numbers while you are in the hospital anyway!

 

When I was in the hospital getting my cerclage and starting bedrest, they made me wear those leg balloon things. I hated them! I'm thankful I don't have to do the heparin shots you post about. . . It's hard enough to be pregnant with twins without that. All my respect to you. . .

 

I'd say go with the heparin because of the risk of clots. When pg with the twins, I developed a blood clot in my leg (DVT) and part of it traveled to my lung (PE). I ended up in the ICU on a breathing machine for several days, and was on Lovenox (a type of heparin) shots twice a day until delivery. And I stayed on a pill form blood thinner for 6 months after that which required blood work about once a week. I am hetero for Factor V Leiden, but I didn't know it until I developed the clots.

The shots are the little needles like IVF shots. I thought the medicine burned a lot going in. I bruised a lot but had no other side effects. One other thing to consider is that you have to be heparin-free for 12 hours before getting an epidural. So I wasn't able to have my epidural until I was dialated to 8 1/2. Lovenox is also very expensive. My co-pay was $125 for a 1 month supply.

Are you on bed rest for an extended period of time?

 

I'll be here in the hospital til Tuesday at least based on my next 24 hr urine test. My mom had a PE after surgery last fall and it was just recently that she was tested for the gene mutation. When she came back positive my doc thought I should be checked and the results just came back on Thursday. So this is all new to me. I got my first shot and it was no big deal. I could do them at home if they'd let me. I am loving not having those calf things on anymore. Maybe I'll get some real sleep tonight!

 

QUOTE(2B2G @ Apr 27 2008, 02:06 AM) [snapback]741538[/snapback]
I'll be here in the hospital til Tuesday at least based on my next 24 hr urine test. My mom had a PE after surgery last fall and it was just recently that she was tested for the gene mutation. When she came back positive my doc thought I should be checked and the results just came back on Thursday. So this is all new to me. I got my first shot and it was no big deal. I could do them at home if they'd let me. I am loving not having those calf things on anymore. Maybe I'll get some real sleep tonight!


I didn't end up on the shots before delivery, but was on IV heparin because I developed a fairly extensive clot in my leg. Which actually worsened on the IV (I'm the only person both professionally and personally that I've know this to happen to) and then had to do the shots and blood thinning pills for 6 months post delivery. They also had to put a filter in my inferior vena cava to prevent the clot from traveling to my lungs (PE pp mentioned) during my section and I've got that for life. And also, IV Heparin has a shorter half life than Lovenox does so it was only 6 hours heparin free until my section.

So, short story long, I'm glad they started you on the heparin shots, definitely worth preventing the clot from happening! And my ob said that if I ever decide to get pregnant again, they'd start me on heparin shots prophylacticly (sp?) to prevent another clot from happening. I don't have an gene mutations (tests came back negative for all of them) so maybe that's changed!

GL! Hopefully they'll let you go home after your 24 hour urine, the shots are easy to do at home.

 

I had to give myself Lovenox for a about 5 days ( totally not pregnancy related. I had a heart valve replaced and i am normally on Coumadin (blood thinner) to prevent clots but i was in the hospital for a medical procedure which i needed to be off Coumadin and had to give myself the Lovenox shots until the Coumadin was back at the appropriate levels again.) Anyway, if you are not squeamish about giveng yourself shots (and it sounds like you are fine with it) then the shots are nothing. I personnaly could not give it to myself. Just couldn't force myself to to it to myself! My DH had to do it, but the shot itself is painless. The serum has a little bit of a sting. And I had a lot of little bruises all over my abdomen from it. but it doesn't hurt. You may want to consider it.

 

I have had 2 knee surgeries and after the first one I ended up with a blood clot, so I am having to give myself Lovanox shots every day. From what my Dr told me, there isn't really any risk for the baby(s). It is actually safer to be taking the shots than to chance getting a clot taht could hurt them. I was also told by the Dr that you HAVE to give them in your stomach/abdoman area...this way it is very close to the baby. It doesn't really hurt that bad, although it does sting a bit right after I give myself the shot and sometimes I bruise and sometimes I don't. HTH.

ETA:
QUOTE
Lovenox is also very expensive. My co-pay was $125 for a 1 month supply.

Mine was going to be $75/month ($25 /copay x 3) b/c normally the insurance does not allow more than 10 shots/Rx...but (after a suggestion from the Pharmacist) my Dr is going to call them and get it to where I am authorized to get all 30 in one Rx ($25). The Pharmacist said that she has known patients before that were on it for an extended period of time that were able to get that authorization. The normal price (according to my paperowrk I get with the Rx) is $350! :icon_eek: Thank goodness for insurance!!!