Heparin Reaction?!?

[SandyRN]

:confused: Ok, I was on about the 3rd or 4th day of my period and I did a heparin/lidocaine/sodium bicarb instill. The next morning my bleeding had become so bad that it was like the first day of a REALLY bad period, not day 4! I'm wondering how much of the instills really are systemic now, and if I should be a bit more careful how long I hold it, etc....It had to be the heparin, because this never happens to me any other time.

Anyone?

[Babs RN]

Hey Sandy,
I had already had a hyst by the time I did instillations but if your membranes in your bladder or thin, it makes sense that you might be absorbing some. I do know that the half life of systemic heparin is about 8 hours.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug:

[SandyRN]

Thanks Barb. It does make sense......it's also very scary.

Hugs!

[Dixiefireball]

sandy the first few days i did take my heparin and marcaine to help numb my bladder up because of all those painful cramps and the longer i held it the better but the third threw fifth day i wouldn't take one because i notice if i did it made my period last for seven days instead of five. after the fifth day i could go back to normal treatments with no problem. I hated doing it that time of mth because of the mess but it really helped me with those cramps.
I don't know why it made me bleed longer because I know since the heparin was going into the bladder it doesn't act as a blood thinner but it could of been because i was all messed up down in that area and i was boarder line cancer? what ever the reason was that is what it did to me.
now i can take them normally and not have to worry about that since the hy.
I hope you start to feel better soon.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[Kathi]

Heparin is a blood thinner, this may be why it increased the flow. Kathi

[SandyRN]

I know that heparin is a blood thinner, I've used it at work many, many times. What I was wondering is how much of it actually gets into our bodies, not just the bladder. Thats why I said I knew the heparin caused the flow to increase, but I was told it's not systemic.....apparently it IS systemic to a certain extent......and it worries me to put anti-coagulants into my bladder along with lidocaine that can effect the heart, etc.

That was my point.

Rhonda, I was told as well it doesn't act in it's usual way in the bladder, but apparently we DO absorb some of it through our bloodstream, or bladder walls, or something.....it's a little unnerving.

Thanks.....Sandy

[karen10300]

I take 5 mgs. of coumadin daily, which is a blood thinner, so this was a big concern for me with doing heparin instills. I questioned my uro-gyn about this extensively, as to if it would affect my PT/INR (blood thinning)levels and he said that it wouldn't. I also talked to my doctor who watches over my coumadin levels ( he's a MD and also has his pharmasist license) aand all he does is takes care of us on coumadin and he also said that the heparin wouldn't affect the blood thinning levels. That's what they say but who knows for sure and I wonder how many actual studies they have really done on people with IC who do the heparin. Did they test everyone's PT/INR levels after a heparin instill?

[Sarojini]

I think you probably absorb small amounts of heparin through the bladder wall -- while it may not be "systemic" per se, it may pass through the wall and wander over to the uterus, where the blood thinning effect could likely become quite apparent.

I do these instills and have never noticed increased flow, although I am on birth control pills so my period is very light anyway. Next time, I will pay attention to changes in my flow after an instill and let you know the result, kay?

[Dianne]

I came to the conclusion we absorb more in instills than I thought. I get very bad esophageal spasms from elmiron oral. So I tried instilling it. It didn't take long, maybe a couple of weeks before I started having esophageal spasms after I instilled it. So I quit. After about a week, they left again.

[Dianne]

P.S. Same reason I'm concerned about instilling solu cortef weekly. But I haven't found anything else either.

[SandyRN]

karen, no...I didn't have any pt/ptt/inr tests done, but I'd be very willing to have one done. I know what all the doctor's and pharmacists say, but we're the one's who know our bodies and see the reactions that we get from our meds.

I know I'm not crazy here because by that time in my period I'm spotting, I'm NEVER having that huge, huge mess. It scared me a little to be honest.

Jen, yes, please do your scientific experiment at home for me during your next cycle, and maybe we can come to our own conclusions......well, you can, you're the scientist :wink:

Dianne, I can understand your concerns with the solu cortef....I'd probably worry too. I think being a nurse can be a curse sometimes.....In my case I know just enough to make myself worry more!!

Thanks for the feeback guys.....I'm not sure if it eases my mind or worries me more.

Hugs and happy thanksgiving to everyone!

Sandy

[karen10300]

I've still been pondering this heparin thing. When I think back (or actually stop to think) LOL, my pt/inr has been running a little higher than they did before I have been using the heparine instills. I know food plays a role in this for me as to my pt/inr running different. But before the heparine instills I was always between 2.5 and 3. All this summer up until now, I've been running 3.1 - 3.3. Also these instills must get into our systems somewhat because I do the DMSO now along with heparine. With the DMSO, you get a funny taste in your mouth and your body also gets a smell from the DMSO. So that suggests to me that this medicine must get into my system somehow from the instill. Does that make any sense to anyone or am I way off here?

[navemj]

Sandy,
My doctor told me to only hold it in for twently minutes. I have been holding it longer, and now my bladder is in a flare! Not sure if it would make your periods stronger. Good luck!