help injections hurt

[IcyAngel23]

Has anyone done the heparin injections? I inject 3x a week into the abdomin. I just started. The injections don't hurt but I'm getting alot of bruising and pain in that area. I'm just wondering if it helps in the long run. I was on heparin instills but my bladder and urethra didn't co-operate together. This is suppose to take the place of oral elmiron cause I"m allergic to it.

Kristin

[ICNDonna]

I haven't heard of actually injecting heparin. Let me know how it works.

Donna

[angelaharrell]

Oh my goodness, sounds painful to me. I haven't heard of the injections either. Could you please elaborate on this subject a little?

[Sarojini]

Sounds rather painful. Also, I'm not surprised you are bruising as heparin is a powerful anti-coagulant (blood thinner). They use it in the hospital via injection to dissolve clots in the body when someone's having a stroke! PLEASE make sure to inform any other doctor, including those in the ER if something unexpected happens, that you are doing this. It could be a matter of life or death if you need emergency surgery.

[Babs RN]

I injected heparin twice a day during my entire pregnancy so I can feel your pain. You're right, it does get sore and bruised after a while. The one thing I did that helped was iced the area for about 10 minutes before I injected.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[IcyAngel23]

Barb-

Thanks for the tip.

The hep. injection are an old treatment. They used them before Elmiron. I'm allergic to elmiron so Dr. Parsons in San diego (the dr who pioneered elmiron)put me on them. I live in Chicago but Dr. Parsons is overlooking my care thru my dr here. I do go to San Diego as well because my bro is a marine stationed there. So it works out. My uro here never heard of the hep injection treatment for IC before.

Kristin

[Babs RN]

Kristin,
Is your bro at Camp Pendleton? I live about 2 1/2 hours north. If you're headed this way(at least till this summer)let me know.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[Dianne]

I tried it and found the heparin shots burned too bad to continue, just like it did my bladder, only the skin. I toughed out about 3 of them and couldn't stand the pain. It also hurt my bladder passing through. One can't stay on heparin long term but I think the old treatment was to put people on heparin shots for 3 months out of the year or something, get a remission, then stop them and later restart when symptomatic. It's almost like I'm allergic to it or something. To avoid the bruising, when we used to give it in the hospital before lovenox, we drew it up, then changed needles so that there wouldn't be any heparin on the end of the needle (from when we drew it up) which going through the skin would cause the bleeding/bruising. I didn't see bruising if we changed needles between draw up and shoot.

[IcyAngel23]

Barb-

Yes he is at Camp Pendleton but he is leaving for Iraq in Feburary. I'll let you know if I'm headed that way soon.

Dianne-

It burns a bit right after I inject but it goes away after a little bit. My dr told me to use a liquid to relieve sore muscles and arthritis on the site to prevent bruising and pain. It works awesome. I got it at Walgreens they have many different kinds. Mine was $7.

Kristin

[tigger_gal]

wow I was going to say I didn't know either.. thanks for the input ;)

omg now I sound like the lil short circurt dude.. input, input, I need more input.. :biglaugh:

[Dianne]

Mine burned the skin for about an hour. I'd put ice on it. But that was nothing compared to when it hit my bladder later. I just can't handle sodium.