Fragmin injections

[KerryMorrill]

Hi. I accidentally hit a vein this morning when I was injecting my fragmin and have ended up with the biggest bruise on my leg. I am anxious that I injected into my vein. Am I right to be worried and need to report it or it this quite normal?

[MaryF Administrator]

I notice you have just joined, I suggest you ring your GP or out of hours medical service to seek advice, they will reassure you. Do you have a diagnosis of Hughes Syndrome/APS?

MaryF

[KerryMorrill in reply to MaryF]

I have APS. The rest have bruised which I know is normal but obviously because of where I have hit it's created a massive purple bruise.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to KerryMorrill]

Oh dear, do seek advice, if you are worried, are you in the UK? As if so dial 111. MaryF

[HollyHeski Administrator]

Hi, yes Ive hit veins before, do not rub, applying ice may help. The bruising can be massive & last forever, I was told it wouldnt cause a problem but do mention to your GP/nurse if you are concerned. Dont inject there until fully healed.

[HollyHeski Administrator]

Oh forgot to mention, I stopped injecting into the thigh as the bruises were always huge & seemed to hurt more. Also I am a swimmer, hated the look of being beaten up!!

[debbiemoll]

Hi

Althoug I have injected fragmin on and off for decades and never hit a vein, I think if I had ad you deacribe, I would definitely check it out with the doctor. I think it is better to be safe than sorry and doctor can give you advice. Then you will know for the future too

All best

D

[daisyd]

Morning just a thought why don't you inject in your abdomen, that's is where you do it with Clexane, I would have a look at your information leaflet to see if it mentions it

[HollyHeski Administrator]

You can inject abdomen (away from belly button), upper arms (cant do this alone) or thighs.

[Manofmendip]

I inject into my lower abdomen. I do occasionally hit a vein. If I do I just apply a bit of pressure with some cotton wool until the bleeding stops. I have, very occasionally, had it bleed again later in the day, when I repeat the cotton wool and pressure until it stops.

Dave

[diane1428]

I have aps also and when on fragments inject into abdomen. I bruise terribly which is why I'm on warfarin now. I find it much better and much less painful. Some of by bruising lasted 18 months and I've one that has lasted2years though is now fading fast. Consider warfarin and talk it over with your doc. Get yr bruising checked asap just to put your mind at rest

Best wishes diane

[Lure2 in reply to diane1428]

Hi Diane,

You must have been unlycky with Fragmin shots.

Most of us here find Fragmin shots easier as it is very difficult to keep the Warfarin at the right therapeutic level all the time and test often enough to know the INR is ok.

I am on Warfarin and selftest since 5 years. I feel best when I have an INR of 4.0 in veintests. I have Lupus Anticoaglant which can make it more difficult to get the INR steady. I selftest every second day otherwise I could not be on Warfarin as my INR goes up and down quite a bit.

I also take Fragminshots if my INR is too low. I find it easy to inject on my abdomen. I was instructed by APsnotFab (Admin here) how to do it best.

If you are going to have Warfarin again see to it that you keep the INR high enough and steady otherwise you will continue to get clots or what you get. If you have Lupus Anticoagulant it could make it a bit difficult to selftest. For me it is a rather big difference between the vein-test at a lab and fingerprick-test with my CoaguChek XS and that is of course very important to doubletest to find out if you also will have different results.

I talked to my blood Specialist (Hematologist) yesterday on telephone about going over to Fragmin perhaps. She said that Warfarin is better. I will have a talk again with her about this and what she meant. I know that prof Hughes has said that Warfarin works well with APS which I also believe. If so it must be high enough! We do not bleed from APS but clot. (See prof Hughes response to "Nov question of the month" and his "December blog".)

Best wishes from Kerstin in Stockholm

[diane1428]

Hi

You are right in what u say. I guess I'm lucky with my haematologist. My theumy consultant said I needed an inr of 3.5/4 then changed his mind to 3. Not enough

My haematologist has left it upto me. I'm tested every. Week/fortnight as I feel necessary and I alter the warfarin as necessary

It works very well for me. Not completely happy that I can't rely on my rheumy but have an appt next month with a new one

Have a good long talk with haematologust/rheum n gp before deciding

Best wishes diane

[Lure2 in reply to diane1428]

Hi Diane,

Before you decide about Warfarin (which is more difficult to handle I believe) print of prof Hughes responce to "Nov question of the month" or his "December blog" and show it to your Specialists.

Test often and try to get an INR of at least 3.5 - 4.0. I am triple-positive with high titres and then it can be difficult to handle the Warfarin. Are you triple-positive perhaps?

I can not understand why the Rheumatologist changed his mind to a LOWER number of INR!? Are you sure he knows about APS?

Kerstin

[diane1428]

Hi

Thanks for your reply

I have worried myself over my consultants turn about face regarding my inr levels. He is one of the top ten specialists in the country so never thought i would have this problem

My gp decided that perhaps we needed another consultant and as stated I'm going to see one in February

I now know what to say and do. I have been very disappointed in my last consultant and when my gp told him he got back and said he had treated me exceptionally and diagnosed me very quickly and he did though after telling me I had had lupus and aps since I was 18, I was not impressed with the medical fraternity as I was then 58.

However after 6 months I was put on warfarin and 4 years later I can now manage it on my own as long as I have regular checks

I have found warfarin great for me with no side effects and a lot of my aps symptoms have gone Anyone thinking of going on it shouldn't worry but must think bout it carefully and ask all questions via consultant gp

[Lure2 in reply to diane1428]

Hi Diane,

Good for you. Perhaps you do not have Lupus Anticoagulant either then you could think of selftesting later on.

Hope the new Specialist has a great knowledge of autoimmun illnesses!

Good Luck and let us hear how it goes for you.

Kerstin

[diane1428]

Thankyou

My last consultant wouldn't let me selftest as he said it wasn't accurate enough. To be honest I know how I am within 10 mins of getting up in the morning. My main problem is when I'm put on steroids to give me some relief from pain my one goes all over the place then I have blood tests every 3 days. Pain but at least I'm checked. Regards diane

[Lure2 in reply to diane1428]

Hi Diane,

If you have read what prof Hughes says here (I wrote about it earlier today) you have understood that it is exstremely important if we can handle Warfarin that we go high enough to find release from our symptoms.

Hope the new Doctor will go your way here. If he knows autoimmun illnesses he will also know if you need something else for your pain.

Ask him also to take bloodtests as you bruise easily. Fantastic what is be found in our blood to know our status etc.

Kerstin

[Womanfriday]

Hi Kerry

I'd be very surprised if you actually injected into a vein if you were injecting into subcutaneous fat layer - sounds like you snagged a capillary which caused the extra large bruise, which I sometimes get.

Unless you start to get pains elsewhere in your body, especially your head or stomach I shouldn't worry too much, but of course, as ever, see your GP or head to A&E if you get any strange symptoms

Hope it settles

Debbie

[diane1428]

Hi Kirstin

I havent been able to find yr link to read dr Hughes on inrs. If you have time can you send it over again. I would be most interested to read it

Best wishes diane

[Lure2 in reply to diane1428]

Now I will try to explain in English (I am Swedish!) ........ press the "Search" button on the right hand side on the top of the page and then press the "Return" botton on your computer (I am not sure of the name ...!) Hope you find it. (big one on the right)

Kerstin

[Lure2 in reply to Lure2]

Hi Diane,

I understand you have difficulties to find an answer as I did not tell you to put your question there. Sorry about that.

I am sure you will find it now with the help of Wittycjt.

Kerstin

[Wittycjt]

Diane go to the search box at the top rt side of the page, type in "Hughes question of the month Nov", hit return and it should pop up. Good luck let us know how you make out, Cindy