Anticoagulant injections

Hi GrannyA, it's over 18 months now since my surgery but I will see what I can recall.

I had to give myself an injection once a day, just for a few days.  A nurse showed me how to do this before I left the ward.  There was an individually packaged injection to use every day.  I was given a little plastic tub to store the used sharps, and when I went back to out-patients for my next appointment I took the tub of sharps with me and they got rid of it.  Actually doing the injections was not hard as it was a short needle i.e. doesn't stick into you very far, from what I recall I had to pinch up a bit of flesh on my thigh and stab.  Some people find that it stings but it didn't cause me any trouble.  It was kind of like sticking a drawing-pin into yourself and it only lasts a moment.  I was given a card to carry with me stating that I was using anticoagulant and what it was, in case I needed medical attention somewhere I suppose.

I had the stretchy stockings all the time for a month and I found them more of a drag.  I was given 2 pairs, so every day I could wear one pair and wash the other pair.  Getting them on can be a struggle as they are so tight.  Mine had a hole at the toes, so the way the nurse got them on was to put a plastic bag over my foot, slide the stocking on over that, then pull the plastic bag out from the toe-hole.  Later on someone gave me a little slippy nylon bag which did the same function i.e. the stocking slid on over it then I pulled the bag out of the toe-hole.  A nurse put them on me before I went to the operating theatre and she measured my legs to get the right size for me.  When I got home I realised they were a real restriction on my wardrobe.  It was cold October-November when I was wearing them and my jeans wouldn't fit over the stockings so I was stuck in a dress and stretchy leggings or trackie pants.  Because of the toe-hole I had to wear an extra pair of socks over them which meant most of my shoes were too tight except one pair of loafers.  Hmm, glamorous.  To be fair, it was a trivial matter after all the worries I had leading up to my operation.  By the end of the month one leg got a little itchy where the stocking would sometimes wrinkle and rub a bit, but it beats having a thrombosis.  I still have my stockings and I wore them on the plane when I went on holiday a few months ago.

Not long to go now until your operation.  Have you got home organised, and hopefully someone to help out while you recover?

Dear Granny A

i had my operation on 18th October. I had a very dry and itchy skin. It is good idea to keep a cream with you. It helps

I had a very bad experience with the pain management. I had to ask them to adjust the madication many times. It is good idea to talk and ask help on time so it does not get worse. 

I had a very big surgery but I was encouraged to get up next morning. I was encouraged to walk . The movement helped and I felt less stiff. I also took a small travel cushion with me to hug. Sometime I left between my legs. It helped me to be bit more comfortable. 

I did not like hospital food. My family and friends cooked food for me almost every day. I must say I enjoyed. I ate healthy and tasty food. I was advised to try to eat high energy food for first few days. 

We did a big shop and filled the freezer. That helped for few weeks after the surgery. I live with my husband and have been a carer for him for last 4 years. He relied on me a lot. We  somehow managed. My daughter took some time off and looked after me. It is good idea to take help and support from family and friends . It definitely helped me. My two brothers and sister came from Canada and stayed with my daughter in London. That really helped me emotionally. My brothers stayed for two nights but my sister stayed with my daughter for two weeks. Some of my friends visited me to hospital and home on a regular basis. 

Once I got little better I joined art classes which are run locally by two artist. I try to go to local groups where I am able to talk to other ladies. This has helped me a lot. I used to get very anxious. 

I hope the surgery will go well and you will have a good recovery. 

Lots of love and prayers 

Rahman

Ah the lovely injections and stockings. , it seems everyone is told different how long to have the stockings on and whether to have injections or not and different lengths of time. I had the stockings on for six weeks in the end, so an extra pair comes in handy so you can wash them, so worth asking. I was told at first four weeks or until I am mobile, I got a bit ambitious and took them off when I was as I thought mobile and my left leg swelled up, so I had to have them on a bit longer. The injections well I have to say I was glad I only had them a week I was terrible at giving myself injections, even those the nurse at the hospital gave me great intrusions when it came to me all instruction went out the window I was really surprised how I ever got any of the drug in me. I was surprised how hard its actually is to do as well. So maybe worth you doing an injection with the nurses present just to be sure you have got the best way of doing it.

Thank you Little Runner. That's good to hear about the injections. I'll just have to get used to doing it to myself. I can see that the stockings could be a pain. I said to my husband that I bet we get a heat wave when I've to wear them. I'm hoping it is only for two weeks. I'll try and get a spare set from them. 

Home is all organised. My husband and I are both retired and I often have problems with my back so the poor soul is used to running after me. Our son and daughter and families live very close too so we are very lucky in that respect. 

Thank you again 

Thank you Rahman.  I already have really dry skin so I'll be extra vigilant. I've spoken to them about pain management as codeine/cocodamol make me sick. I am asthmatic and have CKD (chronic kidney disease ) so ibuprofen is also out. 

I have added a cushion to my list!  My experience of hospital food isn't great but all going well I shouldn't be in for long. I'm lucky in that my husband is fit and well and is used to running after me when my back plays up. Our children live close by too. 

I think art classes would stress me out lol. I'm useless at art! I do family history research as a hobby so I'm hoping I am able to do some of that. 

Thank you for your good wishes 

Thank you GBear. After I got home from my mastectomy I didn't have stockings or injections so it was a bit of a surprise today. 

My CNS said to try and make sure I was properly awake when I was shown how to do the injections and to ask to do one supervised before going home.

I'm getting the feeling that both the injections and the stockings are 'yet another thing' sent to  try us with this diagnosis. 

The CNS also talked through all the things that might not go to plan during surgery just so I'm aware. It wasn't a great story line!  Just let's say sleep wasn't my friend last night! 

We're trying to plan things to do this next week to pass the time before my surgery. At least there is the French Open tennis on :-)

Thank you again

Hi GrannyA

I am also very new to this wonderful group I only started posting & reading other ladies experiences since last Sunday & it has been the best thing I have done 

I had my Full Hysterectomy on 20th May so it is still early days post surgery . I was lucky to have Key Hole Robotic Surgery & I came out on the same day albeit a very long day . I was given 4x200ml Pre Op drinks to have at my pre admission appointment 2 u drink the night before & 2 u drink very early the morning of ur surgery 

I had to be at the Day Surgery Ward by 7.am I went down for my surgery at 9.30am & oh boy did I struggle to get the stockings on ! Well let’s say I am a larger lady & my calf’s are large so they kept rolling down so when the anaesthetic saw they were so tight she cut the top of the stockings so we could roll them back up & then they stayed up I did say to her what a sensible lady u are !! 

I only had to keep my stockings on for just one day as when I was discharged that night at 8.pm when I was getting dressed the Nurse said I could remove them .

As for the injections I have to give my self 2 a day one in the morning at 8.am & one in the evening at 8.pm  I was shown on the ward by the Nurse how to do them I have to pinch together the skin at the bottom of my belly hold it tight & inject into the fatty tissue it does not hurt it is just the thought of doing them that gets to me I must say I surprised myself . The only thing the bottom of my belly is all bruised I am surprised how easily & large the bruises are from one injection as I do them as gentle as I can .

I wish you all the best with ur surgery on the 4th June it does come round very quick I still can’t believe I am already over one week post surgery . The one tip I will say & everybody told me is u must rest & take it easy even though u want to do simple things ur body will let u know & I have found just walking around the house is comfortable I still don’t like sitting I tend to lay back on my sofa & recline my legs up I personally find this more comfortable than lying on my bed . I have decided to hibernate for 6 weeks not driving the car doing on-line food shopping for essentials as I packed the freezer full before & done some home made batch cooking to freeze for easy meals like Shepard pie & Lasagne 

Hope this will be of some help to u GrannyA & do let us know how u get on sending love hugs & best wishes xx

Hi GrannyA,

Not much I can add to the information about the lovely stockings!!!! I wasn't told how long to keep them on for, so went for two weeks!! That could be something to ask about. You don't want a DVT on top of everything else! My husband did my injections. I just held the skin for him!!! I think most women here have done them for 4 weeks, but because we may have a clotting problem in the family I had to do it for 6 weeks!! Although you are black and blue afterwards the bruises still fade pretty quickly!!

All the best xxxx

I wasn't told to wear the stockings at home at all!  I unfortunately hadn't found this forum until I was about to start radiotherapy so had already had my surgery otherwise I would certainly have asked at the hospital. I wore them in hospital for 5 days so better than nothing I suppose.  I am overweight and on medication for raised blood pressure so would have thought they would have taken all precautions to prevent a DVT.  As for the injections, I absolutely hated those!  I had been given a few in my thighs by the nurses and had massive black bruises and was told to do mine at home in my stomach which was mostly better, only a couple hurt.  I wasn't given anything to put the used sharps in and had to use an ice cream tub at home and then couldn't dispose of them!  A phone call to the doctor's surgery and they said yes they could be taken there, so my daughter duly took them only to be refused with a shocked no we don't take those!  Eventually she took them to work - she is a tattooist and their's are collected regularly!  But I was surprised that no advice had been given when I was sent home from hospital, or a receptacle.  

I hope all goes well with surgery and you are soon home and recovering and resting!

Hugs, Lesley xx

Hi,

Poppysmum has just reminded me.

Although I had a box to put the sharps in I couldn't get rid of it!!! The doctor raised their hands in horror. In the end I had to ring the local council to make a special collection, and even then I had to actually hand it over to them!! I was very cross about it all at the time. I was very nearly considering leaving the box in the public toilets where sharp boxes are provided. The hospital might have taken them but it was quite a trek back there. Check how you can get rid of the box!!! I  thought it was quite ridiculous considering how many people must need to do this!!

XXXXX