Heparin

[Elfie1]

Hi all, to anyone who is having heparin injections, do you find that you have lots of lumps under the skin? I've been using arnica cream but it doesn't really help. Can anyone recommend anything else?. Thanks elfie.

[Hidden]

I too develop bumps; they go away after a few days. I try to avoid them on subsequent injections. I have never treated them with anything.

[MaryF Administrator]

Hi, I used to inject a lot of 'Fragmin' through all my pregnancies and beyond, the lumps always went away on their own, but I was also a fan of long long soaks in the bath! MaryF

[Ozchick]

As the others said the lumps do vanish after a while. when I had them I would inject on both thighs as well to give tummy a rest but then i tend to look like a battered wife with all the bruises!!

[ppy1310]

Hi, Yes I had lumps as well two small and one large, they eventually went took about just under two months. My hematologist did not seem worried about them. They were on my tummy, so tried to avoid injecting too near them. All the best

[Manofmendip]

I inject Fragmin and I get the lumps, which go away on their own. As other's have advised, avoid the lump when injecting, until he lump has gone.

Dave x

[Yissica]

I had these regularly when I was injecting through pregnancy and last year whilst waiting for warfarin to start.

The lumps are mini haematomas (blood clots under the skin). They are where you have bled at the injection site. Make sure you don't rub the area after injecting and ensure that you have the injection needle at the correct angle.

From Gateshead hospital advice sheet for giving heparin:

How do I inject myself?

1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water and dry with a clean towel.

2. Make sure you have your syringe with needle attached, the yellow bin and gauze.

3. Choose a suitable site for injection (the nurse will advise you of this before you are discharged)

4. Remove the cap from the needle

5. Gently pinch up the skin into a fold using your thumb and index finger (to lift the fat layer away from away from the muscle.

6. Holding the syringe the way you would hold a pen or pencil, insert the needle into the skin at a 90 degree angle to the pinched up skin (the needle should be completely inserted by the skin).

7. Inject the medication slowly.

8. Once all the medication has been injected, keep the needle in place for five to ten seconds to ensure all the medication is absorbed

9. Remove the needle quickly and apply pressure to the site but do not rub.

Tips

We recommend for you to use a different injection site for each injection. For example if you use the left leg thigh for your first injection use the right leg thigh for your second.

Give injections at least 1.5 inches (3cm) away from the last injection site

If you are giving the injection into the thigh try to keep your leg muscles relaxed

Try to keep the needle straight as it goes in and comes out.

[tim47]

Yes, mentioned the bumps, the brusing, and the 'shadows' of the bruising, that seem to last for months. Not regarded as a great issue and quite normal. Thankfully I only inject occasionally when needed.

[Elfie1]

Thank you all for your advice, I have to injection twice daily a day I'm beginning to look like a chess board ha ha. I will ask the consultant to round off the dose so it can be given in one dose. Thanks mary I shall take your advice, it's a Google excuse to have an extra long bath. Thanks again. Elfie

[mozelle]

I had to inject with Lovenox in my stomach (a form of heparin) for 30 days until they could regulate the Coumadin when I was started on it last year. Yes, lumps, black and blues, etc. but they go away. I had to inject in a pattern: first day, top left of stomach, second day, bottom left, third day top right, fourth day, bottom right, and so forth. This way you do not hit the same area for a few days. I don't know if you are self-injecting, but this is the way they advise you to do it.

[Elfie1]

Hi mozelle, I am self injecting, I must admit I 'm not always the most patient person and tend to inject too quick to get it over with so I will take note and do it slowly. Thank you for your answer. All the best elfie

[SaraB]

I inject with fragmin daily in my stomach and front if thighs in rotation and have done this for 5 years so far. I get big lumps and large bruises as I just seem to be unlucky. I've even been in for the nurse to inject and it's the same result. I've tried practically everything to reduce the bruising and lumps. It is all very personal but I found two things that work. Applying Argonne renewing body gelee on the injection site straight after the injection without rubbing. I apply another lot at night. It's not cheap but the pot lasts quite awhile. It reduces but doesn't get rid of them. The other thing is salt water. If I swim in the sea they reduce dramatically. I'm yet to find a suitable sea salt product that works as well but I'm still looking. This may or may not work for others but it does work for me.

[Elfie1 in reply to SaraB]

Hi saraB thanks for your advice , i'll try that gel as for swimming in the sea , i think i'll give that a miss i might catchsomething horrid in our scarborough sea ha ha all the best elfie

[charlie2010]

Yes my hubby had this but he is on tablets now