Lumps from giving my mom's blood thinning injects

[Shokuroku]

After my mom gave birth to my second brother, they found she had a blood clot in that specific area.

I've been giving her the blood thinning injections for about three weeks now, under the skin and in the stomach like the nurse told me too, using the opposite side each day. The problem is that lumps are getting more frequent and I'm worried about it, especially because it hurts her and I want to make sure she's getting all the medicine she needs.

I'm diabetic myself and have been told when I get lumps, it means I'm not getting all my insulin. Any advice?

Can I do it in her thigh? The nurse never told me to do it there, only stomach.

Can you check with the nurse? Fwiw I'm on thinners at the moment and the leaflet I was given showed the areas as a u-shape around the navel, the front outside thigh and just above the bum on my back as the areas to use. I swap between tummy and legs.

Are they lumps oe bruises, what angle are you going in. What's the name of the injection

I had blood thinning injections during 2 of my pregnancies and they could be given in the stomach or thigh

When I had to inject myself with Heparin for the same reason I always did it in my thigh (I was told I could). It hurt far less than injecting into the stomach. However this was over 20 years ago - I suggest you contact your nurse just to check it's OK to change location.

The secret is for your mum to lean forward, grab a roll of fat and to inject into that. Is that how you are doing it?

Is it a sub cut injection? What angle are you using?

I inject heparin daily and get a bit of scar tissue which is little lumpy, it goes away when I change sites.

I do not think I can talk with the nurse, no. I was simply taught how to do it right out of the hospital the night she was discharged and that's it.

The leaflet given did say it could be given in the thigh, but since the nurse didn't mention the thighs, I didn't just in case. My mum ended up throwing that out too...

I wasn't pinching because I didn't want to hurt her, especially when she was just out of hospital and still sore from surgery.

The nurse said I didn't have to pinch so that's why I figured it would be okay not to. I do it under the skin from the right sides as I'm right handed, it's a bit of a struggle to do it like that but it was not leaving lumps like it has recently.

Lumps, I think I noticed some small bruising but nothing major. And the lumps do clear away.

I'm just going in from under the skin from the right like the nurse instructed me to do. As for the type of medication, I would have to get back to you later as it's kept in her room.

Lumps and bruising is quite common with these injections unfortunately. Try to alternate sides and include both thighs if you can. That way, you will be returning to a pre injected site every 5 days and it allows time for that area to recover.

Does your mum have MH issues or PND?
Why can’t you discuss this with her, and she contact her doctor if concerned?

How old are you? You sound very caring but very naive.

Lumps at the site of injection are very common and usually nothing to be concerned about.

You don’t need to find a leaflet- just Google ! The NHS website is helpful.

I’m surprised your mum has been given no aftercare in light of her thrombosis or a point of contact? Is she engaging with a health visitor? Are you in the US?

Why are you looking after your mother, does she have any medical follow ups? Have you access to a doctor or nurse?

.This information leaflet may be useful, It includes possible side effects- lumps at injection site are usually harmless particularly as your mum’s are disappearing quite quickly afterwards.

Also information on other measures to take such as the importance of moving around as much as possible, doing the light exercises your mum should have been given and/or using compression stockings.

I hope you’re ok.
Do reach out to the hospital your mum had her surgery in, your gp or health visitor if you have concerns about your mum’s welfare. You shouldn’t have to worry alone.

The trick is to avoid injecting into a bit that is still sensitive from a previous injection. I used both thighs as well as my tummy. I did get a lot of bruising from it over time though and some lumps.

When you say 'just under the skin' do you mean going in at 10- 15 degree angle? This could be the problem, I always give myself them at between 45 and 90 degrees (I have plenty of fat so 90 degrees works well for me)

That diagram may be misleading. Anticoagulants such as heparin should not be injected into the muscle.

I don't think I she has MH or PND. All she takes are iron tablets twice a day and the needle.

I am 23, and I have mentioned to her to try get a follow up appointment or see about an appointment with a nurse at least but knowing my mum she probably won't and just leave it.

Because my dad won't go near needles and my younger brother (20yrs) won't take responsibility for that so I have to do it.

Have not been contacted with a follow up as far as I know.

I'm not in the US, no. On the night she was discharged from hospital, they just taught me how to inject and about her other medications she's been taking.

I believe I did see a nurse once now that I think about it, I think a couple of days after she came home but it's been 3 weeks since she showed up.

The name of the injection is Inhixa, enoxaparin. I've looked into it and it said it's best to do in the stomach only.

I've already been doing it there for 3 weeks and they expect me to keep injecting there for 6.

You sound like a caring daughter but I’m not sure why you’re the one supporting your mum when your dad is there?

You we’re taught about your mums medications and how to inject her before discharge as if you’re her carer?

Is there a reason your mum can’t be responsible for her own medication? It’s very good of you to help with injections but again, your mum could probably take over those herself?

You could also speak to your dad about being more involved in your mum’s care while she’s recovering from her CS.

I wondered if you were American because you used “mom” and I didn’t want to sign direct you to UK help. Obviously, 111 can be used if you’re concerned about your mum’s welfare.

You could encourage her to engage with her health visitor (?) and booking a 6 week post parttum check is advised.

It sounds as though you are doing the injections correctly. So try not to be overly concerned x

I have been injecting Enoxaparin now for 4 months.

I take a roll of stomach and inject at 90 degrees to that. Make sure you’re injecting really slowly and leave the needle in for at least 5 seconds once you’ve emptied the whole vial before pulling it out and always rotate the site of injection between the left and right hand side of her stomach.

As I said, my dad won't go near needles whether or not my mum would need them and my mum was the one who would do my insulin when I was younger. It fell to me as he said he wouldn't do it when we went to pick her up, even left the room while I was taught how.

My mum is registered blind, so she wouldn't be able to do it herself so I'm the one who would have to do it. As for the American slip up, I spend a lot of time over there as my fiance is American. I'm still here for now but will be moving permanently in a year or two from now.

I'm just worried about the pain and there's times when the needle doesn't like going in as well. The lump this morning was particularly bad so I begged her and even my dad make some sort of appointment for her. They said they were busy so I will have to try again tomorrow.

If I can inject into her thigh it would be a lot easier to move spots for her injections and give her tummy some time to recover.