Anyone else on Clexane?

[confuddledDOTcom]

This is my 4th pregnancy taking it and it seems each time it gets harder to find places to put it. I'm relying heavily on my belly/ section overhang which I haven't really done before, but my old fall backs are now unusable. I've only been on them two weeks and already my belly is a mass of bruises, I don't know how I'm going to get through the next 4-5 months trying to find places to put it

Anyone got any tips for it hurting less or just want to share in my misery?

I've been on it now for 26w and another 7 to go - I had to start jabbing as soon as I got the BFP this time around. I'm sick of it.

The first couple of weeks were hell on wheels, especially as DH was doing the jabs again (he did them the first time thanks to me going all wibbly every time I saw the needle ) but I had to take responsibility and do them myself cos I went away without him for 3w! The first one was the worst in terms of taking half an hour to psych myself up to stick the needle in but LUCKILY I found a completely painless spot (beginner's luck) and then it wasn't so hard after.

So now - I've had a few horrible bruises but I'm very picky about where I stick the needle in - if it hurts my skin as soon as the needle touches, then it doesn't go in. If it hurts/stings as soon as the needle has just started to go in, then I take it out and go elsewhere. I'm doing it either side of my bump - I no longer have enough loose flesh to pick it up between my fingers, like they suggest - so I just find a relatively numbish spot, stick the needle in, to its full length and then inject the Clexane slowly. Occasionally I still make a mistake - yesterday morning I hit a vein and it bled straight away - but mostly it's working ok. I swap sides every day unless I've created a bruise, in which case I stay on one side a bit longer. I'm going further and further round to the side now - the middle is too sensitive.

I also always release the plunger before I start - while the cap is still on, just push the plunger a little way so that it doesn't stick, and then bring it back up to the same level so you don't lose much when you take the cap off the needle.

You probably do all of that already - but if not, I hope that something there might help.

I was told I'd have to stay on the Clexane for 3m after having the baby as well but that's because this is Australia and they think it's "easier" that way - I told the consultant in politer terms "fuck that, put me on the rat poison, I'll take the weekly blood tests over daily stabbings any time!" I think 34-5w of stabbing is plenty. Can't wait for it to finish!

Can't it go in your shoulder? (I'm not a doctor)

I sympathise. I had to do it for four pregnancies Tis not fun. My stomach would end up covered in bruises from it and I'm a nurse lol. No tips as I never found a way to prevent it bruising and stinging but the kids at the end of it are worth it!

I know there's a way to have the hole that's easier but I can't remember it. I do trial sticks too, last time I looked like I had measles or something because I had red spots everywhere where I had failed attempts! Last night I only touched the skin and sent the blood spurting! I have a bit that sticks out from my overhang over my one hip which is pretty much numb so it's great for using. First time I used my legs, occasionally my bum, second time my bum occasionally my legs and overhang, last time it had to go in my overhang mostly because the other places wouldn't take it.

milk, it causes bruising so the fattier an area is the less it bruises. I'm not skinny but I don't have enough fat on my arms to consider it. I see the MWs do it to other people and cringe. I once woke up to find a MW about to jab me! I quickly told her where to go

Can't use the shoulder, it's supposed to go in fatty tissue, not into muscle, so arms aren't a good place.

I got DH to put it into my thighs last time but the bruising shadows lasted for weeks - so horrible. And this time around I have more spare flesh on my belly than I did last time so that's where it's going. But yes, the muffiny areas are the best, below what was once my waist at the front of my sides.
ABOVE the waist is a seriously bad place to try IME - DH did one there, hit a blood vessel, I got a black bruise that was about 5" in diameter (and can still see the shadow, 5m later! )

Oooh I sympathis, here is what worked for me.

Are you using the Clexane that comes with a retractable needle? I found those hardly ever bruised me and the more tradtional ones that required a sharps bin gace me awful bruises so its worth asking when you file the prescription.

I found the area below my belly button bruised more than the area above.
If there is resistance, give up and try and somewhere else, you have probably hit a muscle
Go in at exactly 90 degrees and don;t touch the area afterwards
In every pack of 10 there are 1 or 2 duds in my experience that are just quite blunt, if I got a real dog one I just discarded and started again.
I still get the odd bruise but nothing dramatic.
Good luck and it will be worth it in the end!

Farfalla - what retractable needle Clexane? Never seen it, been offered it or known it exists!

thumb I was given clexane in a prefilled syringe that is spring loaded, when you have finished pushing down and all the liquid is in, the needle retracts back inside so you are left without a sharp needle sticking out.
I don't know what the official name difference is, it seemed arbitrary which ones I got when I filed the prescrioption, the actual product is the same, I always asked the lady at Boots to order the spring loaded jobs. Might be worth asking as I found the difference in bruising was huge.

That sounds a bit like the ones they use to deliver insulin, which I always thought would be more sensible.
Don't know if they'd have them here (Australia) but I'll ask - thanks for raising awareness! :)

Have you been using your thighs too? I switched between belly (alternating sides) and thighs during pregnancy. All areas were 'tired' and itchy towards the end - was using E45 anti-itch cream to help with that - but it did give me a chance to switch sites. Was on Fragmin.

The retractable ones are odd at first, but pretty cool. When they're empty you press the plunger again and a sheath comes down over the needle so no chance of stick injuries. They require a bucket rather than a bin though. I get them from the hospital (I'm there 1-2 weeks so might as well rather than messing about with going to the GP as well). They're different from insulin ones, I know some people refill insulin pens with heparin because they don't hurt as much. Can't say if they make a difference because I only used the old style ones for about 3/4 of my first pregnancy.

I thought it was just me that found some just aren't right. Feels like they're not smooth and catch on the skin.

I'm only able to use my stomach now (especially section over hang, my haematologist just told me not to put it too close to my scar! Like I could lol) I started this time going R belly, L belly, R bum, L bum, R leg, L leg which meant each would get done about once a week but it wasn't working that well.