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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

46 Replies

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  • angela1988
    angela1988 debbi1949

    Posted

    Im in UK.

    Had flotron bootees post op until fully mobile in hospital.

    No TED stockings at all.

    However from day two post op lmwh Tinzaparin injections and for four weeks daily once home too as vte prevention.

    Plus you must must must move and do exercises for clot prevention and your new hip.

  • Catherine456
    Catherine456 debbi1949

    Posted

    Hi depends how on your doc. Mine just had me take an aspirin daily for 4 weeks until I saw him for follow up....good luck
  • HollyHop9
    HollyHop9 debbi1949

    Posted

    Basically it varies depending on the surgeon. We are in the Boston area  and my hubby had Warfarin for 1 month plus TED stockings in the daytime only for the first two weeks. A friend who had a THA at the same hospital but with a different surgeon had  Lovenox injections once a day for 18 days. Make sure your surgeon and his team know that you have a needle phobia, there are plenty of oral anticoagulants they can use.
  • Snowgirl79
    Snowgirl79 debbi1949

    Posted

    I had a THR 8 weeks ago...never took anything before and only 2 aspirin a day for 6 weeks after...
    • debbi1949
      debbi1949 Snowgirl79

      Posted

      ok, wow, I'll just st have to wait and see! thanks to everyone!
  • AnnieK
    AnnieK debbi1949

    Posted

    I'm in the US, and I had Lovenox injections everyday for 2 weeks after surgery, self-injected once I got home. Yes, everyone gets bruises, although I found that they didn't really hurt going in. I understand that the reason for preferring injections over oral blood thinners is that if you start to have uncontrolled bleeding, stopping the injections works faster to get the med out of your system than the oral medication.
  • bini31328
    bini31328 debbi1949

    Posted

    Hi - I'm on uk and had a months worth of self injectfing tinzaparin and 6 weeks of wearing TED socks - brothers pleasant but better than a clot , Am sure if you let consultant / pre op nurse know of your needle phobia they can come up with Xmas alternative option such as tablets etc . All the best for your op xxxxx
    • bini31328
      bini31328

      Posted

      Writes neithers pleasant not brothers sorry !
  • Milvain34
    Milvain34 debbi1949

    Posted

    Wow what a diversity in replies.  I am in Alberta Canada and had 6 weeks of injections.  My poor stomach looked silly with the bruises.  Never had to wear special stockings.  It really does depend on who your doctor is.  Doing it at home was better because they woke me up at 3 a.m. To do it in the hospital.  It's not the worst thing to have to do.  Just a little something along the way.
  • noplaybarbie
    noplaybarbie debbi1949

    Posted

    Hi Debbie, yes I am in the USA, and I am so darn happy today was my last injection. I hate those things...
  • gillyb74
    gillyb74 debbi1949

    Posted

    Hi

    Over here in the uk - we don't have the blood thinning injections anymore nor do we give @cumaden" or warfarin as it's known here as it's far too harsh . Now post surgery we are given a new type of anticoagulant called "dabigatren" which works on the clotting pathway in the body differently. I had to take 220mg every day for 28 days post surgey. Had no probs at all with it no excessive bruising or bleeding or any side effects whatsoever. It's a fab drug - but also more expensive than the standard anticoagulants. Perhaps ask your surgeon about it - it's defo the drug of choice here x

    • bini31328
      bini31328 gillyb74

      Posted

      Hi Gilly - we do have injections in UK - I had to self inject for 28 days , and its fairly common - its just down to Consultant preference I think . You can get localised bruising at the site of injections , anticoagulant tablets wouldnt cause that but cant be given to everyone and  blood clotting levels should be monitored. There are a number of NOACS ( new anti coagulants) that are gaining in popularity but I think injections are often used as they and their effects cab be terminated very quickly if need be , wheteas tablet treatment may require administration of an antidote. I agree re warfarin , as far as I know its not ysed for post op purposes here , in fact if you are on it anyway its stopped for a week pre op then you have dabigatran or injections for a month post op before restarting it. 
    • jennifer86394
      jennifer86394 bini31328

      Posted

      I'm in the UK and am going in for my op on Saturday and have already been told I will have to inject myself every day for a month .  As you all say it varies from doctor to doctor.  
    • gillyb74
      gillyb74 bini31328

      Posted

      hi Bini - i know we still have the injections, and its mainly to cost, but the new NICE guidelines suggest the use of the noacs (dagigatran), but it depends on heath of the patients - the new noacs work on different clotting cascades in the liver, and do not require regualar INR testing like warfarin, however the noacs are not reversible and there isnt an antidote for them, so this has to be taken into consideration. I had the dabigatran, and had no problems whatsoever. Its a good thing that i automatically got offered them as there is no way i would have injected myself haha x
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