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Blood thinning injections or pills after in USA?

Posted , 17 users are following.

debbi1949
debbi1949

I'm in USA and was assuming I would be taking cumaden or some such blood thinner in pill form after hip replace next month. I read some of you are injecting yourself for a couple of weeks. Is that in UK only or USA too? I have a needle phobia! Thx

1 like, 46 replies

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  • sarah1996
    sarah1996 debbi1949

    Posted

    I have a huge ohobia of needles but had no choice but to inject myself, its either that or risk blood clots.

    Although i think i did a very bad job of it. Ended uo often bleeding, bruised and getting black marks dotted all over my stomach, but think thats because i bruise like a peach. Im in the UK but i assume it should be the same everywhere. And you have to wear the TED stockings for 6 weeks. I was told your not even supposed to take them off at all x

    • debbi1949
      debbi1949 sarah1996

      Posted

      Thx Sarah, but know we need them, but I assumed it as pills......I shouldn't assume anything I guess
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 debbi1949

      Posted

      It may be different in the US. Do you not get the oppatunity to speak to anyone before the op?

      I know a lot of hospitals here including mine offer a 'hip school' befire your op to give you as much detail about hip replacements and recovery as they can x

    • debbi1949
      debbi1949 sarah1996

      Posted

      Yes, my hip class is next Thursday. I'll ask then. Thx
    • HollyHop9
      HollyHop9 sarah1996

      Posted

      Hi Sarah,

      You didn't do a bad job, everyone gets bruises with the injections and you can also get sore lumpy areas. A few years ago I had to do the injections twice daily for 6 months (nothing to do with surgery, I had an unexplained  pulmonary embolism and then had another when they first tried to transition me to oral meds so had to stay on the injections) and although I got pretty good at doing the jabs, it became really difficult to find somewhere to inject. Sounds like you did just fine!

       

    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 HollyHop9

      Posted

      Hahaha many times i tried to stick it in and it wouldnt go in the skin so i had tk give myself a pep talk to try again. Really wasnt fun haha 😂
  • fiona_08868
    fiona_08868 debbi1949

    Posted

    I am in Canada and had my surgery May 9th. My surgeon had me take one Warfarin pill the day before surgery and then for 6 days after. In addition it was seriously emphasized that we must do our foot pumps every hour religiously. I'm doing very well and have no signs of any issues. I have followed all instructions religiously and it appears to be paying off - that and a very good surgeon!
    • debbi1949
      debbi1949 fiona_08868

      Posted

      Thank you Fiona, that's kinda the way I pictured it! Relieved now!
    • fiona_08868
      fiona_08868 sarah1996

      Posted

      Yes every hour for at least the first week but even after that it should be regular according to my physiotherapist. Why take a chance-it's easy and quite frankly I'm feeling good and getting bored - another little exercise to do.
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 fiona_08868

      Posted

      But what are they? I just had like vibrating shoes on when i came out of the op and they were taken off me the next day haha
    • fiona_08868
      fiona_08868 sarah1996

      Posted

      Very easy, literally just pulling your foot up and then pushing back down quickly from the ankle. No vibrating shoes!
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 fiona_08868

      Posted

      Ohh right. I wasnt told to do anything like that. Its mad how things vary from hospital to hospital and country to country
    • linda38528
      linda38528 fiona_08868

      Posted

      Very interesting Fiona. I live in Ottawa and had injections to take. I will investigate for my next THR.

      Thanks for the info (yet another example of the amazing variety of methods associated with this operation).

      L

    • linda38528
      linda38528 fiona_08868

      Posted

      These really helped me at night - kept up circulation and helped reduce the cramping and tightening of muscles, etc.

      We were meant to do them 5x in each direction, then rotate the ankles 5x in each direction.

      L

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