I noticed that there was no comments:( I know I have read about others that are Lovenox lifers and I wanted to write so it would go to the top of the list and people might see it and comment. I am not on lovenox any more, but I know it was a pain in the butt for the 2 weeks I was on it! If no one comments, feel free to vent to me! I may not completely understand, but I am a good listener:)

Thanks so much for your comment and for "bumping" the discussion so others may see it!

I have made it through 3 boxes so far! That's 30 shots, 15 days! It gets easier each day and I am bruising less...

My hematologist is still working on figuring things out. Hopefully we'll figure out a way to get me back on coumadin or on a different medication before too long...

Well I wish you the best of luck! I don't know about you, but I was scared of shots before the PE, but now that I had the lovenox and blood drawn every Monday for almost 2 months, I am not that scared anymore. I think if any thing, the PE made me a better person and stronger:) Hope you have a great day!

I had avoided shots whenever I could prior to going on Lovenox. The idea of giving myself a shot in the stomach was something I didn't think I could do. I found out that my initial reluctance changed and once I started, it got easier to do. Well almost. I bruised very easy and after two weeks I was finding it hard to find an unbruised area. I was extremely anxious to get off the shots as they were becoming more and more annoying.

It's odd that I found it so hard to give myself shots. I had been a regular blood donor for over 40 years and recently scarring in my veins in my arm had started causing more and more minor pain. I think it was easier because I didn't have to stick the needle in myself and I was trying to do something for others. All I had to do was show up, lay down and stick my arm out.

I know I wouldn't want to go back on Lovenox but now I know I could. It'd take a bit to get used to the idea but I can do it. Beecute, you've got guts. :-)

I hope that another medication can be found or that they can find out how to make coumadin/warfarin work.

Oh, and that's quite a cute dog you've got there!

Hello,
I have been on lovenox 2 x 120ml injections daily. It was hard at first but got easier. I prefer it over the coumadin. I also clotted on the coumadin numerous times before they decided to change me over to the lovenox. I have also clotted on the lovenox but on the lower doses and single doses. They have know also added plaquenil to my daily meds since I obviously need more than just a blood thinner. Have you been diagnosed with any underlined disease. I have been diagnosed with primary APS.
Diane

How do the Lovenox lifers manage to afford the drug? It is VERY expensive! I have a hard enough time trying to pay for refills on usual run-of-the-mill generics and a few Name brand drugs...I am on 14 different medications since I got home from the hospital.

I think they are working on bringing other drugs to market to take care of the "Coumadin failure" patients, but you know the FDA will take awhile for them to hit the market.

dianeggg, I was tested for APS twice. It seemed likely since I was clotted on coumadin. I have a prothrombin gene mutation. That's all (or all medical science knows about thus far.)

codinqueen, I am very very fortunate to have a great health insurance plan through my employer. I have a $50/month co-pay for about $4000 of Lovenox.

i was on lovenox for life also...until i got a brain bleed and almost died. since the bleed i have lost most of my short term memory. just be careful not to hit your head. i slipped on my daughters kitchen floor...and almost died.

was in the hospital this weekend for 2nd PE - my INR dropped to 1.4 on 10 mg. daily warfarin. They think I might be coumadin resistant. I am going to Mayo Clinic tomorrow - hopefully for some answers. I am going to make sure they follow me closely on the INR levels. They let me go sub therapeutic for 3 weeks. My lovenox shots are about $100 each.

I have been using Lovenox for most of the past year. I don't seem to be able to tolerate coumadin.I really don't mind the shots. I figure there there are millions of people out there injecting insulin several times every day, what's a couple of Lovenox shots a day? I haven't had any problems with excess bleeding or clotting, even with shoulder surgery in June. I did read that you should have a bone density scan, as Lovenox can cause bone loss with long term use. I am having mine next week. And I do enjoy eating without worry all the foods that can affect people using coumadin.
I meet my entire insurance deductable for the year with my first months worth of Lovenox. Then I have a very reasonable co-pay for the rest of the year. I couldn't afford it without that coverage.

Hi, I am also on Lovenox for life. I have been on it since April when I had my initial PE. I had more PE in July, had to have an IVC filter put in and since found out I have Factor V Leiden. I got the PE at the beginning of my pregnancy, and I am now 38 weeks pregnant. I was put on Lovenox because Coumadin isn't safe during pregnancy but Lovenox is OK. My hematologist told me I will have to be on blood thinners for life and she can put it through for me to stay on Lovenox because I want to breastfeed and that also is not safe on Coumadin. I am very surprised anyone's insurance won't cover Lovenox, I don't even have insurance only through the state and it is covered.

I am also a Lovenox lifer but I just got switched to the generic. Let me tell you that has helped alot. It was $3600 and my insurance only paid 80% so I had to pay $721 a month. That is more than I pay in rent. Well now I only have to pay $250 a month so it helps so much. check into the generic.

dmott, are you in the US? I just called to refill my Lovenox, and they said the generic isn't available yet?

I am not on Lovenox for life, although have had to use it in the past and will be using it again for a medical proceduer that I need to stop taking my Warfrin for. Retail pharmacy will cost me $467, mail order pharmacy will vary from my $65 copay fo name brand or $0 for generic. Both were listed on my mail order pharmacy website. I also called to confirm my coverage because it seemed really high for retail.

i recently had my second bout of bilateral multi pulmonary embolisms while on plavix. i was on plavix because i had several hemorrhaging episodes while on caumadin and was chronically severely anemic. after the last hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia, plural effusion and pericarditis and severe anemia while on coumidin it was decided to be a failure. i was put on plavix at the same time i have had a filter in place for four years ago the first clot was the result of a known source from an artery nicked during surgery. i lived my life assuming i would never get another clot. haha. Three weeks ago i went to er after weeks of thinking these are the worst asthma attacks i have ever had. my Sats were dropping in the low 70's when standing and normal when sitting, what a surprise to find out my lungs were full of clots. all i heard is don't move off that bed.. after a great deal of discussion in the hospital it has been determined that at least for the immediate and foreseeable future i am on lovonox twice a day. i have no benefits that can cover those expenses or at least i thought i didn't. God bless our military. I served in the air force 30 years ago and called the Veterens medical facility and they agreed to cover the cost of the lovonox for the foreseeable future. Usually the Va does not have the reputation of moving quickly. But when i explained i was in the hospital and was not allowed to leave till i had the medication in hand they had approval in three hours and medicine on my doorstep in 24 hours. I know the cost and consider myself very blessed to be awarded benefits for serving our country so many years after the fact. they are to be commended and my gratitude for their help is beyond words. but with that being said i don't know what i would have done with out them i fell in between every crack in our medical system and would have had to go home on coumadin knowing how many times i have hemorrhaged on it and knowing know i have a genetic predisposition to clot. So for now they say find spots on the stomach without scars for the injections that is is the hard part after three huge pregnancies there is not a spot to be found that is not scared with stretch marks. the injection don't seems to hurt as much in uncared areas. as with the rest of us we will do what ever it takes to stay alive for our sakes and our families sake.