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PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 6/18/2009 2:13:58 PM
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ceciliaf
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/18/2009
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Hello everyone,
I would like to start by telling you a little bit about myself.
I am almost 38 years old, been diagnosed 1 and 1/2 years ago with Pulmonary Embolism, I had blood clots on my both lungs.
As of today I am almost 6 weeks pregnant. I started yesterday to administer the Lovenox 40 MG into my belly, twice daily. I have to admit that it is not a pretty site, I bruise pretty easily, plus those injections hurt. I guess I will get used to this pain in time. I have to do those injections for the rest of my pregnancy.
I am just wondering if there are any other women out there that are in my situation, have been into my situation or know of anyone that has been into my situation.
God Bless you all!
< Message edited by ceciliaf -- 6/18/2009 2:23:44 PM >
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 7/8/2009 2:37:43 PM
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Hazel2
Posts: 482
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Ceciliaf, I'm guessing you got my last post in the Lovenox thread I started? It seems we are the only two ...
On the injections, I have become surprisingly immune to them ... firstly, I make my husband do it because the thought bothers me. That helps me a ton because I can just "lay there" tee hee hee. He has gotten quite good at it to where I sometimes don't feel anything! I occasionally bruise just a bit around the site ...like a little circle maybe half the diameter of a dime. I usually don't bruise at all. I bleed sometimes, too! And sometimes he says the lovenox comes back out a bit ... yuck! I avoid all of this nastiness by not looking.
Did you ever ask your dr why 2x daily? I am curious if he repeats what my dr told me about the placenta soaking it up ... we arbitrarily decided to forego the night injection and I'm only on the profolactic dose of 30mg.
We also are facing a new issue ... my OB wants me on heparin starting today (in case I go into labor early) but my hematologist thinks it is unnecessary (but he doesn't know much about obstetrics and the chances of "going early"). Because it is a 3x daily injection and because heparin clears so fast from the system, it introduces new problems for me ... I don't inject myself so we'd be relying on 2x and heparin coverage is just not as good. I am sort of rejecting my OBs requirement by continuing with lovenox instead. My OB appt is today and if she asks, I am going to lie outright about starting heparin. Maybe she won't ask. I am upset about this.
I'm not sure what to do ... if I go into labor early or my water breaks, I'll have to confess I lied about the heparin. The reason is because lovenox takes 24 hours to clear the system so no epidural is possible until after that time frame. I'd have to tell her I'd had a lovenox injection (I mean, if it had been much less than 24 hours) or risk paralysis or some such terrible thing. The alternatives ...
1) tell her I'm not switching on the advice of my hematologist ... I think she would be angry with me and escalate to possibly dropping me as a patient.
2) stop lovenox and "wing it" these final three weeks ... this is probably fine, considering, for me, lovenox is purely insurance against a clot ... I have no clotting abnormalities.
Aurgh. I thought I had nothing more to write on this subject, but apparently I do!
_____________________________
Will you please remember my husband, John, in prayer He is not saved. Thank you and God bless you!
"Be kind. Everyone you meet is in the midst of a great battle" Plato
I sometimes blog at defrazzled.blogspot.com
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 7/8/2009 2:54:40 PM
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Hazel2
Posts: 482
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Ok ... if anyone is reading this thread at all, I just spoke to my darling husband who can really come through for me at times.
I started by saying "do you have time to talk for a few minutes? I really need advice ..." He listened thoroughly and we decided, if asked, I will say "my hematologist advises against Heparin because of difficulty of regulating its levels in the blood. We decided to continue with the lovenox" This is all true so I avoid lying!
John said if the OB is insistant, I will say that I have the prescription (I do) and will consult with my husband again.
I was just so grateful he focused long enough to discuss this with me ... not to make him sound horrible. He is launching a business and is under considerable strain ... talking to him on the phone during the day is a challenge even when it is HIS call to ME. But I've been feeling so alone in all of this and vulnerable. I really didn't want to lie ... I will admit that is because I didn't want to get caught, but still!
Maybe I will go as far as to say I want to discuss the potential risks of continuing Lovenox in regards to what would happen if my water broke, etc. So what would the course of action be for someone like myself who requires a cesarean but who is on lovenox ... surely there must be medical alternatives? Like general anesthesia or ...? If I, as a patient, am willing to assume those risks, should I not be able to choose to continue LMWH?
This leads me to think that I should BRING UP THE TOPIC myself today in my appointment!
_____________________________
Will you please remember my husband, John, in prayer He is not saved. Thank you and God bless you!
"Be kind. Everyone you meet is in the midst of a great battle" Plato
I sometimes blog at defrazzled.blogspot.com
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 7/16/2009 1:12:37 PM
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ceciliaf
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/18/2009
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How did the appointment go? How do you feel?
I know the Lovenox has a high risk of paralysis if epidural is performed. I didn't go that far yet, discussing about delivery, I am only nine weeks pregnant so far.
I am surprised your hematologist said the Lovenox it is absorbed by placenta, I will ask my hematologist again and I will let you know and also on the 23rd this month I am scheduled to see my high risk pregnancy doctor. I will definitely have lots of questions for her.
About the injections, they do hurt way more at night than in the morning. Do they give you any nausea or vomiting?
I have to admit that I have never been so miserable in my entire life. I am sick 24/7. I can't do anything from start to finish...I can't eat, don't like anything, I don't like to drink water, it tastes horrible. I have this awful taste in my mouth and I feel like I will trow up any minute. And boyyyy...I do!
I have tried everything I read on line, nothing seems to ease the way I feel. It is crazy!
I am thinking maybe the injections makes it worst, I read as side effects nausea and vomiting. I am just praying that it will be for only few months and not the hole pregnancy.Let me know how you are and what your doctor told you regarding the delivery.
Have a wonderful day!
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 7/16/2009 9:39:16 PM
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Hazel2
Posts: 482
Status: offline
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I never had any issue with the Lovenox injections but I am now on heparin which considerably less pleasant. I dread my 2x/day injections ... John is getting better at it and trying very hard to make it not so bad for me xoxo. I never had nausea from Lovenox but heparin is nasty ... I can feel a pooch of medicine under my skin and tonight I walked around a bit right afterward and it really felt like liquid sloshing around in there ... so yucky. It is enough to turn my stomach, yes. I have split my belly into four quadrants for heparin injections ... four (two days worth) isn't enough for the soreness and bruising to disappear before it is time to reuse the quadrant. It super stinks but I will be done in 1.5 weeks. I am going to stop the injections 24 hours before my cesarean so my last will be the morning of the 28th. I will take my chances against a clot in that 24 hours. I am to the point of being beligerant about it.
It sounds like, for you, Lovenox is just one more thing to make your early pregnancy even less fun. Poor girl! I think you will find your second trimester a refreshing change of paste. Check out my blog for a viewpoint on the final stage of pregnancy ... 
Yes, please ask your dr about the placenta thing ... my dr continues to give me advice that is in opposition to what I get elsewhere. The latest ... he wanted me to inject heparin 3x per day ... I told my OB this and she said "oh that's odd ... we have never dealt with anything more than 2x per day". We have decided to inject 2x per day ... in terms of livability, that is plenty.
You will probably find relief comes in four or so weeks for you. For me, I had overnight relief from nausea and exhaustion with my first two pregnancies but this time, I didn't feel complete relief from that until 28 weeks or so. Don't be discouraged! At the end, you will be willing to do it all 20 times over to have that little baby. It's crazy but true.
_____________________________
Will you please remember my husband, John, in prayer He is not saved. Thank you and God bless you!
"Be kind. Everyone you meet is in the midst of a great battle" Plato
I sometimes blog at defrazzled.blogspot.com
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 7/27/2009 12:53:47 PM
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ceciliaf
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/18/2009
Status: offline
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Tomorrow it is the big day for you. I can't wait to hear from you. I know you will be busy ..but when you have little time let me know how you and the little one are.
I went to my blood cloth specialist and I asked questions, I told her about you also..what we have discussed. She said once again that the Lovenox doesn't go through the placenta and that it is perfectly safe for the baby. I take 2 injections per day because of my high risk of clotting. I had blod cloths on my both lungs and also I have 2 coagulation factors so the risk it is greater for me. I made the blood cloths while I was on Nuvo Ring, so the estrogen eliminated from that birth control ring helped the blood cloths develop. She explained how the hormone levels do increase during the pregnancy and also the estrogen levels. As I advance into the pregnancy they will need to check if the Lovenox dose needs to be increased, depends on the blood tests. She said she had many cases like me before and the mom and baby were ok. I am praying that everything will be ok with myself and this baby.
Ohhhhh...I hope and pray that all this nausea and vomiting or maybe at least the awful taste from my mouth will go away soon.
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 8/3/2009 11:35:02 AM
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Hazel2
Posts: 482
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Hi! Well I had my baby and everything is fine! I had problems with healing after my last cesarean ... I think due to lovenox ... but this time, no problems! At least not so far. If I wasn't nursing, I think I could switch to cumadin which is oral but lovenox doesn't really bother me much. I'm hoping to nurse at least for a few weeks more.
I'll go back on aspirin after my six week post natal/post op period. No more LMWH unless we decide to have more babies!
_____________________________
Will you please remember my husband, John, in prayer He is not saved. Thank you and God bless you!
"Be kind. Everyone you meet is in the midst of a great battle" Plato
I sometimes blog at defrazzled.blogspot.com
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 9/8/2009 12:21:55 PM
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ceciliaf
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/18/2009
Status: offline
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I am so happy that everything it is ok with you and the baby. It gives me hope that everything will go ok with my pregnancy too. I am only eighteen weeks pregnant, long way to go..but I am positive about it.
The Lovenox injections are getting so painful because I have so many veins, it's hard not to hit one. Those hurt and bruise, but it's all for a good cause. :-)
They want to put me on Cumadin as soon as I give birth for 6 weeks, the doctor didn't talk about breast feeding yet, but I would love to be able to do that.
God bless you and your family.
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 9/28/2009 2:30:12 PM
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ceciliaf
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/18/2009
Status: offline
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I am 5 months pregnant. So far everything goes well, besides the fact that the placenta grows on my cervix almost. Still on Lovenox 40 mg twice daily. I didn't find anybody that it is closed to my condition yet.
God bless all of you!
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 10/21/2009 2:15:31 PM
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ceciliaf
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/18/2009
Status: offline
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I am 5 months and 3 weeks now. So far...everything it is going well. Praying that it will stay that way.
God bless you all!
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 10/23/2009 2:57:52 PM
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Hazel2
Posts: 482
Status: offline
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Hi again! I'm sorry I sort of disappeared ... just trying to deal with my totally insanely crazy life with three little kids. Claire turned 3 on Sep 30 and Ava turned 2 Sep 27 ... Harriette is now 2.5 months.
I am so glad your pregnancy is progressing well ... having a medical issue makes pregnancy so much more of a project. The good thing is, you know just how much longer you need to go. God has the perfect ending already sorted out : ) : ). If you need encouragement, please feel free to email me directly at lisa@gozhang.com ... I'm just not able to come here very much right now and manage the rest of my life at the same time.
Blessings,
lisa
_____________________________
Will you please remember my husband, John, in prayer He is not saved. Thank you and God bless you!
"Be kind. Everyone you meet is in the midst of a great battle" Plato
I sometimes blog at defrazzled.blogspot.com
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RE: PULMONARY EMBOLISM, LOVENOX AND PREGNANCY - 11/6/2009 10:25:54 AM
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ceciliaf
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/18/2009
Status: offline
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I am glad to hear you are doing well. I kind of realized you must be busy, it's not easy with 3 little ones. I have no idea how you do it. :-)
I am 26 weeks, everything seems to be going well.
I am having trouble deciding on the swine flu vaccine and flu vaccine. I was offered both 2 weeks ago and i refused both. Few years back i took first time the flu shot vaccine and i was sick that hole year, i have never tried the flu vaccine shot again. Now that it was offered to me...i am thinking ...what if the same thing will happen again? About the swine flu vaccine..i don't trust it yet, it's new..what if in few years they came back with some kind of side effects? Yesterday i have been to the doctor and they were out of the both vaccines so i can still think about it.
My only worry right now it is this little baby girl that I am caring.
God bless!
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