Fragmin (anti-coagulant) injection after a 15 minute general anaesthetic - is that now just the protocol?

[GlomOfNit]

Just that, really. I had a hysteroscopy under GA recently and they kept me in for 4 hours afterwards in order to give me a Fragmin jab. I wasn't expecting to need anything like that as I was literally under for 10-15 minutes (and walking around the ward to go to the loo, etc, about an hour after returning from Recovery). Was it because I'm 51 and overweight for my height (BMI 29)? Female? On HRT? I've never had a PE/DVT or anything like that. I thought blood thinners were only given after much more lengthy surgery/anaesthesia.

Obviously I consented because I'm not the expert here, but wondered if it was a bit overkill (it fecking stung! and kept me in two hours longer than I'd been told I had to be there, apparently)?

I doubt it was for no reason. There must be a slim risk of clotting from what they did to you and how you presented. You should always ask what things are and why they need to do it at the time. I had to have one every day in my stomach for five weeks when I was in hospital. My teeth were in a bad way and when I brushed them my gums bled so much! Because of the blood thinners. Which was weird.
I hope you're feeling recovered now anyway x

thanks for your reply - I did ask why, and the only response I got eventually was that it had been ordered in by the gynae who did the procedure (she hadn't mentioned me needing one when she talked to me beforehand). The woman opposite who had an equally quick GA (but I think for a different procedure) also got one so I wondered if it was just the protocol for this department.

It's a tiny issue really, just wondered why. And thanks, I'm feeling ok now.