Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

Hi NHNM, I don't know about Lovenox and its effects, but I can say that ablation was an easy procedure. Mind you I was under anaesthetic as the surgeon wanted to to trial various medications in my heart to pick the best after he had completed the ablation for atrial flutter. I hope someone can reassure you about the medication. I know I am very cautious about any new medication and search the Internet to find info and ask my doctor oodles of questions. i wish you well with your procedure. God bless you and I pray for peace for you and success.

Some doctors just like you to take the Lovenox. Mine did not, thankfully. I just took the coumadin.

Lovenox, a blood thinner, is used following many surgeries that require blood thinners to prevent clots from forming. They usually give Lovenox and coumadin at the same time until you reach the desired INR level and can sustain it on coumadin only. I gave myself the injections for about a week after my ablation last February. I was not taking coumadin before the ablation, but had to take it for the first three months following the procedure. The injections were not pleasant, but not too bad.

My husband is required to take insulin injections four times a day and so I didn't feel too bad about doing the Lovenox injections for a week. All of the post-op stuff was very worthwhile as I am a-fib free now.

This is all very scary and I sympathize with you. However, living with a-fib can be scary too. I, too, wish you peace and success with your ablation.

Hi. i had an ablation and spent four days in the hospital getting 2x daily lovenox shots with the oral coumadin , It was the worst part of the whole experiance getting those shots. but what helped was to breathe deeply from the belly and a long exhalation. I find that helped a lot. I hope that helped.

Thanks folks
I had heard that if you inject it v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y it is OK.
It's frustrating that some EP "insist" (well they can't force you I guess) and others don't. Same as post procedure meds. One said Maltaq in addition to current meds for a few weeks, the other EP said no. But there is an art to medicine, I know, and differences of opinion.

I also had to take it and found for myself if I put cold on the place I was gonna give myself the shot...it helped me alot. I had to do it for a little over a week. I hated it too but it is easier than a-fib.

Just had ablation on Tuesday. I too have to take shots of Lovenox and I take a coumadin as well. My wife gives me the shots. I have to do this twice a day for 5 days. Other than a little burning after the shot, I seem to be tolerating it pretty well. I'm still in the recuperation stage and I'm a little tired. Will post my experience with the surgery under another topic.

I have one more "Love"nox treatment to go. Do you believe this costs $90 per vial! (OK, $50 total with insurance) and I only had to do it for 3 days. I have a tip - iPod!
I put a nice relaxing tune on, put me headset on, and then do the Lovenox. It's all over before the song is over! This has helped! : )

My husband taught me a trick he does when he gives himself insulin injections four times daily. Place the needle very gently on the skin you have cleaned with the disinfecting wipes. Move the needle around ever so slightly until you find a spot where you cannot feel the needle to give yourself the injection. There are apparently spots between nerve endings that do not hurt as much. It worked for me while I was using Lovenox!

Thanks for the tip! This is what we can do to help each other. Even tho I finished with Lovenox today, I felt tense and naseous before it. Another tip I learned was to push the needle in slowly right thru the skin (rather than jab it like a dart, the way they teach you), and pinch hard. I hardly felt it at all that way, although the medicine itself stung for about a minute. I do feel badly for people who have to do this every day but it isn't really all that bad. 3 out of 10?