Is there a good way to go about this? [Edited by moderators] Mine at the mo is the opposite of simpatico. I tell myself she's hardened by the job but am not sure [edited by moderators].
Would anyone be able to tell me whether these bruises are normal with clexane?
Cheers
Candy
xx
Hi Can't help with the bruise except 'ouch that looks painful' but can advise on the change of consultant. I had same issue at another hospital, felt like a number/piece of meat so I went to PALS and they sorted the change for me. You just need to explain why you would like to change (give them an idea of how your current Consultant makes you feel) and they should be able to do the rest. One size does not fit all and you need to have a Consultant who you feel has your best interests at heart. Mine gives me a hug etc (well not lately .....). She felt like a friend. I now have another Consultant because she referred me to another hospital for a trial drug and yet 6.5 years down the line I still get messages from her through my current Consultant. I feel valued, that I am important to both her and my current Onc. I wish you well. Big hug, Kathy xx
Hi there. Yes I’m afraid it’s normal for clexane. I had to use it twice a day for 12 months and I was black and blue.
Yes it can produce bruises like this are you doing it yourself? The needle is supposed to go in at 45 degrees from memory and it is possible to do it gently x
Hello candyapplegrey
Thank you for your post. I'm sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time at the moment.
In addition to the helpful replies that you've already had from other members, you may also wish to look at our pinned post on getting a second opinion, which you can find at healthunlocked.com/ovacome/... If you seek a second opinion, you can if you wish then ask to transfer your care to the consultant who provided the opinion.
As the other members have mentioned, bruising is a recognised side effect of Clexane. You can read more about its side effects at drugs.com/sfx/clexane-side-... If you're concerned about side effects or any other symptom, it's important to seek medical advice from your team or your GP or, if you need urgent advice, NHS 111.
If there's anything that we can help with, please get in touch with our Support Team.
Best wishes
Julia (Ovacome Support Services Officer)
Thanks, Julia. Yes, it's not really that I need a second opinion, it's more that the consultant acts like she's doing me a favour by deigning to talk to me. I asked if my sister could be on speakerphone and there was eye rolling before she'd allow it. No one's allowed to come with me and I did check in advance if they could include my sister like this. Oh well.
Candy
x
Yes but a second opinion could test drive your new Consultant as Julia pointed out so could work X
I know that one - my first oncologist at my treating hospital (female) was really impatient and had no truck with lots of questions. But there was another oncologist on the team, and I asked to see him instead, he was much better.. she's now off on maternity leave anyway, Is there more than one oncologist on the team at your hospital?
miriam
Hello Candy yes normal for clexane I was on it for 6 months and was doing them myself, was also black & blue at the end of it . My husband did a couple as I think he wanted to be useful but on the 2nd one he hesitated ouch ! That hurt 😃 went back to doing it myself !
Xx
Thanks, Spirit. Well mine are being done by district nurses and they handle it fine - I get the bruises without the pain but sometimes by health care assistants and they hesitate, take ages and it really hurts!
Candy
x
Oh lord, do them yourself, I hate it when someone else does mine, always end up with lots of bruises when they do...
Miriam
Try gently rubbing Arnica cream frequently over the bruising.
You should definitely change Consultant if your not happy, you need to trust them. I would do a bit of prior research to find a better one if you can. Good luck Sue xx
I was doing clexane injections for nine months ,sometimes so many bruises it was difficult to find a spot to inject, try putting an ice cube wrapped in a piece of kitchen roll on the spot you're going to inject for couple of minutes, helps a bit.
No experience with a consultant like yours ,I'm lucky ,good luck with finding a good one. Xx
There's some tricks with doing clexane injections - I've been doing them since 2013 and am well practised and rarely get bruising. I don't know what dose you're taking - if you've had a clot it will be the larger dose of 100mg, and its a bit more difficult to avoid bruising with that. I assume the syringes are the large, pre filled ones with a spring inside rather than the smaller ones without a spring? Technique's different depending on the syringe, so if I assume you're using the spring loaded ones, here's a way to do it with as little bruising as possible. You need a mirror and bright lighting... stand in front of the mirror and examine your belly closely - you're looking to avoid any veins, capillaries or obvious blood vessels, as well as previously injected areas and bruises. When you see a spot, pinch it up (sort of pinch an inch, but slightly less than an inch) with one hand, then insert the needle with the other hand, not at an angle but straight in. I never push the needle in fully, I insert half to two thirds of the needle, then slowly press the plunger till its in, withdraw it and let the flesh go from the your other hand at the same time as removing the needle. Do not press on the area (unless it bleeds) with anything at all, leave loosely covered if you want, but not so any clothes are in close contact with it, and especially don't put on jeans with a belt or something like that straight away, nothing that might press on it, wait at least one hour, longer if possible (I do mine at bedtime, for this reason). Use the opposite side of your belly for the next injection (hopefully you're not doing them twice a day). If you bleed, use a clean pad and hold it on the area, pressing lightly with only one finger just long enough for the bleed to stop - usually only a few seconds. Not pressing on the injection site is particularly important...but unavoidable if there's a bleed.
They may not have given you pre injection swabs like Sterets - they now say they're not necessary for this type of injection (sub cutaneous), but I've always used them, I buy them off Amazon, and swab the area I've chosen first. Probably being over cautious, but the last thing I want is some sort of skin infection...and I clearly recall, 40 years ago when I was pregnant, having to do these injections and I was given swabs to use as well back then... a right performance all those years ago, you had to draw the right dose of heparin out of a small bottle yourself with one needle, take that off and fit a smaller needle and then inject...
It's a lot easier to do these injections if you're carrying extra weight - now I'm so thin and have to avoid my enormous hernia, it can be quite hard to find places! If you're using the small syringes without a spring, let me know - there's a slightly different technique for those.
Miriam
Hi Miriam, Thanks. I'm still reading this. My clexane is post-op for 28 days. I'm hoping that then it will be over. I have a problem with my thumbs - had an op on right one in Feb and left will probably need same thing. It just means that I have trouble gripping anything small. We couldn't even get the cap off the needle. My sister managed it eventually - it flew in one direction then the needle stuck in her t-shirt. Then I tried to get rid of air bubbles and lost the medicine. She tried to inject me but it was really painful when she did it. Your advice is great though. The district nurses are doing it at the mo but are not used to this type of needle - they use retractable ones.
Candy
xx
Oh well, if its only for 28 days, that's not such a problem if the nurses do it - bit painful, but not a long term problem! By the way, sometimes the caps are really hard to get off, I've got a pair of large pliers in the drawer in the bathroom if I get any shots like that...
Miriam
Now, having had an infection and a blood clot, I'm on the bigger dose for 6 weeks. Grr.
C
x
I had to inject Clexane daily due to having a clot and my bruises looked very similar to yours, so probably quite normal? Good luck with changing your consultant, hope you find one you’re happy with ❤️Xx Jane
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