Pics of bruises from blood thinners

[thunderonlyhappenswhenits]

Been injecting blood thinners (Inhixa) since I was about 5 weeks, I'm 11+4 today. Always bruise every single time they just don't go away, which I think is normal with blood thinners ? But they appear really mottled today. Looks like a rash of bruising. For the last two days I've had a lump under on of the injection sites too that's been painful.
I've got Covid atm so don't know if that's making them appear worse ? Or if it's my belly stretching as I seemed to have developed a permanent bump now rather than just bloating
Anyways do these look like they need seeing too or just normal bruising ?

I think sometimes it really does depend on the individual.
My friend was on Clexane & bruised every time. I’m on the same as you Inhixa and am barely bruising at the moment but I’m still very early?
Do you pinch the skin to inject? As that is what my friend did whereas I was told not to pinch and I’m wondering if the pinching perhaps causes you to bruise more?

It’s so rubbish having to inject!! Just hope it’s all worth it 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

So strange the different advice, I've always been told to pinch as that way the liquid gets into the muscle fibres rather than just the fatty tissue ! Maybe it is causing it to bruise worse...
just looks bloody awful doesn't it !!

I always bruise like that on the clexane injections. Don't rub the area after you've injected as it makes the bruise worse (spreading the liquid around I guess).

I had bruising like that with clexane. I can’t remember if I was told to pinch the skin or not! Don’t be tempted to rub even if it stings.

It will be worth it xx

These injections are just under the skin aren’t they. Not into the muscle.

I also had injections my husband did in my upper bum to go into the muscle. I once did it myself on my thigh (he was away) and it was awful. But the clexane injections were ok.

I had one that was that bad, went to the GP who was impressed but not worried. Hopefully the same for you - but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind having a look if you’re concerned?

Have you tried putting some ice on the bruising to help ease?
It may be worth speaking with your doctor if you’re concerned but to be honest they told me to be prepared for bruising!
I’ve been lucky so far but anticipate it may get worse (if.. all being well) I start to stretch xx

No haven't tried ice didnt think I need it as thought ice would be to numb the area ?
I just wondered if they looked normal I guess as haven't seen anyones bruising from them before so don't know if mine are abnormal! They do look stretched now though that seems to have happened over night

Btw forgot to mention I never rub where I've injected as I know it makes it worse

The clexane bruises take forever(!!) to go….seems normal to me but I am obv not a medic.

The injection isn't supposed to go into the muscle, just under the skin. Were you not shown how to do it?
The 3rd photo looks as if it might be the beginnings of an infection. Are you careful about hand washing etc?
Can you email the photos to your midwife?

They look like mine, mine were done by nurses in the hospital. They took bloody ages to go as well. I think they look totally normal, but I don't have any medical training.

@endofthelinefinally

The injection isn't supposed to go into the muscle, just under the skin. Were you not shown how to do it? The 3rd photo looks as if it might be the beginnings of an infection. Are you careful about hand washing etc? Can you email the photos to your midwife?

I'm just repeating what I was told about muscle fibres, they're not going to go into the muscle with subcutaneous needles anyway they're way too small. Never been shown only had video tutorials to follow but I'm pretty confident at doing injections as I've done them on and off since 2020 with ivf. Hold needle at 90degree angle, pinch skin, inject slowly, hold there for a further 5 seconds then take out slowly and release skin, is my method, does this seem right ?

@thunderonlyhappenswhenits If you put ice on as soon as you’ve injected (timing permitting) it should help reduce the swelling, ice also helps reduce the bruising quicker xxxx

I didn't manage to get through to the midwife so tried the gp and had missed the cut off for a phonecall today so will have to try Monday morning

I had to have blood thinning injections after birth due to losing over 1ltr of blood during birth.

I was told to pinch my belly to inject and also bruised. I only had 10 days worth, my last injection was last Saturday but ive still got a bruise on my belly. Its slowly going but its a yellow colour now.

I do mine in the tops of my thighs, they bruise MUCH less. My belly always bruised badly despite doing it slowly and keeping it at 90. Degrees etc

For some reason the thought of doing it in my thighs makes me cringe !! There's much less fat there!

Mine look exactly like that. I wouldn't bother the doctor.

Nurse here, sounds like your injection technique is spot on, agree that needle most likely not long enough to hit muscle either unless very thin. Would recommend not rubbing the site to reduce bruising, rotating sites which it sounds like you are doing. Perhaps switch to thigh area for a week or two and give the tummy a rest if you feel like it’s getting irritated.
Don’t stick needle in too fast, apply gently pressure to ease it in, dispense contents and after 5 seconds withdraw quickly. If you are using alcohol wipes to prep the area, allow it to dry fully before injecting, injecting into a damp site can increase risk of irritation and can increase pain

Can pregnant people use arnica for the bruising? If so, there's your answer. It reduces the time you have the bruise and helps the blood in the bruise to break down.

Yes those look normal. I did Clexane during pregnancy and it depends a lot on injection technique. Mine were actually worse in the beginning because DH did them and he just jabbed it in like a flu shot.

The best trick I learned from YouTube was to use an ice pack to thoroughly numb the area for 15mins. Then pinch some fat between your fingers and insert the needle as slowly as you can. It sounds squeamish but it actually hurts a lot less so you get used to the method quickly. Then inject the fluid as slowly as possible and remove the needle as slowly as possible. Replace the ice pack on the injection site and leave it for at least 10-15mins.

This method works incredibly well to reduce bruising. I managed a few shots without any bruises, and the rest were pea-sized instead of grapefruit size.

I also use inhixa injections and my buMp looked like yours with bruises turns out I was injecting them wrong had a midwife at the hospital
Show me how she said pinch the skin put in the injection while holding it like a pen release the skin and push the plunger down with your opposite hand and I haven’t bruised very rarely since give it a go worked for me as mine was sore like yours and forming lumps

I've been on injected blood thinners for over 2 years now and sometimes bruise just like that sometimes and other times just a little speck at the injection site (both pre and during pregnancy!) - it seems totally random as my technique is always the same, so I think it's just one of those things. Do you alternate the sites? So one day left side of belly the next right side of belly? I found that helps (and I also inject insulin 4x a day!). Fair warning, my bump (at 34 weeks) looks terrible for bruising, as things stretch more, but none of the midwives/obstetrician/anticoagulant consultants/sonographers have been in the least bit concerned.

Personally I wouldn't worry unless it becomes hot to touch/very painful.

@loopylindi

Can pregnant people use arnica for the bruising? If so, there's your answer. It reduces the time you have the bruise and helps the blood in the bruise to break down.

Pregnant people?