Oh ok from what I can tell Lovenox and Clexane are the same drug. Interesting.

Oh, the first shot is so intimidating. I wonder if you had a nurse or clinician watch you inject yourself as a trail run, to reassure you that you're doing it ok, it might make you feel more confident.

Otherwise, I think if you just focus, take some deep, calming breaths, grab some belly fat (not that you have belly fat- grab some skin) and just make sure you insert the needle straight (not on an angle) and all the way. Push the plunger all the way making sure you're not pulling the needle out while doing it. Because your reflexes make you want to do that. After you do the first few, it's a piece of cake.

I have total confidence that you can do it. It's just psyching yourself up for it and sort of talking yourself through it.

Piece of cake, hey I want some!!!!
Yes, RMB is so correct, if we could only shut the brain down, it would make things so much easier!!!!
Like I said, ask for some saline injections that you can practice with in front of a nurse (they are better then Dr at things like that).
In Canada we call it Fragmin it's all a lmwh(low molecular weigh heparin) it's the equivalent of Lovenox and Clexane...

Yep...been there...

...Dr. told me that if the clots remained...I'd have to get an inferior vena cava umbrella....I thought to my self....HHHHHHHeeecccKKK no.

So, just before I'd give myself the injection...I'd think about that umbrella...I'd think to myself..."It's either this little sting...or a big ole' complicated umbrella"...

...it worked every time...

Clexane (UK Australia) is Lovenox (North America and Europe), a product of Sanofi Aventis Pharmaceuticals. They are both the product enoxaparin.

Fragmin is a product of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

All products are low molecular weight heparins (LMWH).

JennyMay, I had been on Lovenox shots for six weeks following my hip replacement. For me, since I'm a Coumadin for life patient, it took that long for my INR to reach my target INR range. If I can do the shots, anyone came; I'm a big baby.

It's really pretty simple once you get past that whole needle thing. Usually, there is a start kit that comes with a DVD that you can watch that shows you what to do (I know Lovenox does some would assume Clexane also does). If you are not comfortable doing it, your BF can do it with no concerns about hurting you. The key is pinch the skin and keep it pinched until the needle comes out.

Regards,
Tom

I felt the EXACT same way. Infact, the first time I was on lovenox injections, I had my mother-in-law do it. I was recently put back on Lovenox and was able to do it myself.

My best advice to you is to make sure you get as close to your belly button as possible. (I think no closer than 2 inches is what the packet said.) The further out you go, the more muscle you reach. And for me, going slow, not fast, helped. It usually started to sting about 30-60 seconds after the injections so I made sure to do it in a bathroom. I sat on the toilet. Don't rub the site...it makes it bruise worse and STING HORRIBLY!! (I just got done with my second round of injections a few days ago!! Still bruised!!) I know, I hated it too!! Good luck... Don't worry, you'll start to get used to it shortly!! Then you'll be done with it!!!

I am lucky. I have a loving wife that gave me my Lovenox shots. I suppose that if I had to, I could have done it myself, but thanks to God I did not!!!

Last Dec there was no way i could give myself my fragmin injections. I wasn't just one injection but 2 injections as I was on a high dose(23,000)
So this week when i was diagnosed again with clots while on coumadin they wanted me on the fragmin. I had to show both the dr and nurse right in the er I could do it. Mind you that was just one dose of heparin. And did i ever bruise.
Unfortunately i won't be injecting myself for the next year. The cost of the meds is beyond reach for me.

I was on Lovenox for 8 months during pregnancy. For the first month, I had my husband do the shots twice a day. My doctor told me I'd have to suck it up someday and do the shots myself. I really hated having to rely on my husband's schedule. One morning he left for work and I just decided to do it and from then on I did them myself. It actually hurt much less when I did it to myself. I would just pinch the side handles and stick the needle in. The needle wouldn't allow me to go in too far.

Good luck!

I was on Fragmin for five months and my husband was kind enough to do the shots. However, one day he wasn't home in time to give it to me and I decided to do it myself. It took me nearly an hour to get up the courage. Once I was able to do it, I realized it was much easier for me to give them to myself and didn't hurt as much. Needless to say, I have been able to give myself injections since. Don't be surprised if you bruise a lot. I had egg size bumps from my injections and my stomach was covered with bruises. If I was able to do it, I am sure you can too. I used to faint when I got a needle, but after this ordeal, and being a pin cushion for months, I can give myself needles, watch others get them, and probably give others needles. Enjoy your trip and don't worry about the injections.
PS - I gave my shots to myself a couple hours before flying and did it in the washroom at the airport.

Just to the side of the belly is best if you have a little padding there. Pinch a fold in the skin between thumb and forefinger, stick the needle in the top of the fold, release the fold while gently continuing to push the syringe, and push the plunger. Done.

I had to give myself injections of Arixtra (different drug, same idea) for about 3 months. Rather than watching a video or having someone describe what to do, I had a nurse--a good one--watch me as I did it. That way, since I had never even held a syringe before--and like you, was a little uncomfortable with the whole idea--I was sure to understand the hand/eye/skin sensation properly.
After that, I was on my own. And I became very pro-active. This was my life I was saving, after all. And here was something I could do to help myself get better (and stay that way). And because of that, I actually found it empowering. It became a sort of ritual, like flossing or tweezing nose hairs: find some skin, clean the skin with alcohol, prepare the needle--easy; they're pre-loaded--aim and fire. It hurt some, sure--but nothing like having a clot.
You can do this. It will help you to be healthy and it will give you the courage to stay that way.

Now more2be, why is it you have to have your own way of doing this, everybody else has been told "release the fold AFTER you have taken the needle OUT?"

This is copied from the Fragmin site...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEFORE YOUR RELEASE FROM THE HOSPITAL,
YOUR DOCTOR OR NURSE WILL SHOW YOU HOW
TO GIVE YOURSELF THE FRAGMIN INJECTIONS.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOLLOW THE
INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY. IF THERE IS
ANYTHING YOU DONT UNDERSTAND OR WOULD
LIKE CLARIFIED, MAKE SURE TO ASK YOUR
DOCTOR OR NURSE FOR MORE INFORMATION SO
THAT WHEN YOU GO HOME, YOU ARE
COMFORTABLE SELF-ADMINISTERING FRAGMIN.
Please note that there are many different types of syringes that
you can use with the multi-dose vial or the ampoule. The
instructions in this package insert describe and illustrate
injecting Fragmin using the prefilled syringe with safety
needle device. The syringe with a passive safety needle
device illustrated in this package insert is not the type of
syringe that you should use to extract Fragmin from the multidose
vial or ampoule.
FRAGMIN is available in ready to use, prefilled syringe with
safety needle device.
Each syringe contains the required amount of FRAGMIN for
one injection. Avoid pressing on the syringe plunger so as not
to lose any of the syringe content.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR INJECTION AT HOME
IMPORTANT: REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUAL SYRINGE
FROM BLISTER PACKAGING
Do not attempt to remove the syringe from the blister packaging
with your fingers. Please proceed as follows:
1. Peel off paper backing completely from the blister packaging.
2. Rotate the packaging so that the open side is facing downward
one or two inches above a flat surface, such as a table.
3. In order to release the syringe, pull the sides in the middle of
the blister packaging apart to widen the blister cavity. This
should cause the syringe to fall out of the blister.
4. Pick up the syringe by the body
Proper subcutaneous (skin) injection of FRAGMIN is essential to
help prevent pain and bruising at the injection site.
The preferred site of injection is the lower abdomen. However,
FRAGMIN may also be injected into the side of the thigh,
provided care is taken not to inject into the muscle tissue. Select a
different site on the abdomen or thigh for each subsequent
injection.
Prior to injection, wash your hands and cleanse the selected site
for injection with an alcohol swab.
01000008117045\ 1.0 \ Approved\ 31-Aug-2009 15:24
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ
FRAGMIN (dalteparin sodium) Product Monograph Page 46 of 47
Remove the needle shield. Please note that a firm pull is
needed to remove the needle shield. To ensure delivery of the
full dose, do not remove any small air bubbles from the
prefilled syringe before injection.
The needle must be inserted into a skin fold created with your
thumb and forefinger. This fold of skin must be maintained
throughout the injection.
Using your dominant hand, hold the syringe like a pencil
between your thumb and middle finger. insert the needle into
the skin fold vertically, as far as it will go. Once the needle
has been inserted, the needle should not be moved.
If you are self-injecting, press on the plunger using the
forefinger. If you are injecting someone else, use the thumb
to press on the plunger until the entire dose has been given.
The needle guard will not be activated unless the entire dose
has been administered and you remove downward pressure on
the plunger.. When you have injected all the content of the
syringe, remove the needle.
Then, let go of the plunger and allow the syringe to move up
inside the device until the entire needle is guarded.
Press a cotton swab on the injection site for 5-10 seconds. Do
not rub the injection site.
Dispose of the used syringe/needle guard assembly in
approved containers in a safe manner and ensure that it is kept
out of the reach of children.

ooo totally sympathise! its stings like mad!! My advise would be to do it the fattest bit of your tummy! Pinch where you want to do it as it doesnt hurt as much and dont rub it afterwards.

After you hae done it a few times its easy peasey!

Good luck

x

... and Jenny will do it a total of ummmmmmm, two times, once before the flight to Hawaii and once before the flight back to Ozland.
Yes, easypeasy... lol