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Hi Amy, I've heard that if you rub ice on your stomach before you inject yourself, it helps with the burning. I've never tried this myself, but I guess it makes sense.

I started Lovenox a few weeks ago. I had a m/c last year and another m/c a few weeks ago. Unbelievably, I was carrying twins and only lost one. So far the other p/g seems to be viable. I wish I could say I was excited about the thought of being p/g, but I am more fearful than ever. I'm just trying to take one day at a time. Hope all works out for you!

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Thanks for responding. I have been on the Lovenox for 2 weeks now and the bruising...jeez! I go to the Dr. tomorrow to see how big and how many follicles I have and then I will know more info about the IUI.

Hope all is well with you.

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Amy:
i've been on lovenox for 30 weeks- i don't use it in the stomach area- the thigh or bottom are relatively fine- the stomach area seems to be more sensitive although i've never tried it b/c i don't want to--- dr said it is fine for any of those 3 spots. I usually kind of pinch a small area in the thigh & inject slowly- the bruising is less if you do it that way- i didn't used to pinch an area & i had more bruising. My husband does it in the bottom for me. Just don't rub the area afterward- you are not supposed to from what everyone says & from what the Dr says too. Good luck.

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My Dr. said the absorbtion rate was different when you inject your bottom. I have not tried the thigh. I am on 40mg/day, too. I also found out that I have Mthfr with the gene mutation on both copies of the gene. Ugh...

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I personally would suggest getting off of it but I'm not a doctor. I had the same problem and the docs kept me on it. I had severe complications and my baby did too... I had a really bad experience and wished I'd stopped when my symptoms got like that.

I have talked with many naturopaths who recommend Vitamin E - the biologically active type. You can consider 400 IU of natural Vitamin E per day and be sure you are walking for circulation If bed rest, be sure you do stretching and movement in bed to help with circulation. You can always go back on it if you get a clot.

Lovenox if I read correctly is a Class B drug, meaning not intended for use in pregnant women - I put a posting on the other site here in shared journeys with alot of info about it from my reading.

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Hi Amy and fellow Lovenoxers,

I just found and joined your support group. What a blessing for me at such a stressful and painful time to know that I'm not the only one who is fearful.

I started the Lovenox earlier this week after the regular 2 weeks of ivf fertility treatment. Had the embryo transfer yesterday. This was my second ivf (1st one in 01, got hyperstimulated, had low progesterone and miscarried after 2 weeks).

It's only been a few days, but I cannot imagine getting injections twice a day for 9 months. I'm such a chicken; that my husband has to give them to me. I have so much admiration for anyone who does it to themselves.

I think Leea got it right when she said, that it has to be taken "one day a time."

Katherine

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I understand your concern. My infant had hemhorrage.
We think I did too but we know for sure the baby did.

If you are on Lovenox twice a day, please SERIOUSLY consider getting another doctor if he won't test you regularly to determine therapeutic levels and don't settle for less. If you are over-dosed on this drug, there can be serious consequences and most doctors haven't read the fine print. In the section of fine print on "Oh by the way, Pregnant women with Prosthetic heart valves" Doctors say, "My patient doesn't have a PHV, no problem and don't read on in the document about the double blind on pregnant women without PHV... the very, very fine print. Here is the fine print...

I just want you to know the facts b/c there are alot of moms on this site saying great things about their successes but this wouldn't be on the newer versions of the drug label if the drug company didn't know something about this drug.

I had a very bad experience on this drug and since my pregnancy alot of information has since surfaced, including this on the newer drug warning labels:

FYI:
" Human Data -There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

A retrospective study reviewed the records of 604 women who used enoxaparin during pregnancy. A total of 624 pregnancies resulted in 693 live births. There were 72 hemorrhagic events (11 serious)in 63 women. There were 14 cases of neonatal hemorrhage.Major congenital anomalies in live births occurred at rates (2.5%)similar to background rates.1

There have been postmarketing reports of fetal death when pregnant women received Lovenox Injection. Causality for these cases has not been determined. Insufficient data, the underlying disease, and the possibility of inadequate anticoagulation complicate the evaluation of these cases."

http://www.rxlis
t.com/cgi/generic/lovenox_wcp.htm >

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After being blasted by another mom in another chat, I want you to know that I am not trying to scare you, but I am a proponent of testing with this drug on a regular, routine basis. Testing for this drug (I think it's the ENOX test but there may be a different one now) is as important as testing the INR with anticoagulation in non-pregnant women. Lovenox was falsely advertised as therapeutic from dose one. That court document is on the 'net if you google Aventis & Lovenox and lawsuits. Or at least at the time of thi wriitng its out there. There are refernces to Lovenox babies: some good. Severe bruising, lethargy, and bleeding just might indicate an overdose depending on you and your body. If you are bruising that badly then you need to be tested and you need to ensure as your own advocate that your levels are therapeutic and not too high. Your doctor can look into what tests are right for you and may decide with you that adjusting the dosage for the time being is prudent. Your dosage may or may not need to be reduced. The drug warning label says something along the lines of "hemorrhage can occur pretty much anywhere at any time" - if that hemorrhage is in the placenta, with a kicking baby, there are risks not just to you but then to the baby. So, all I'm saying is that with testing, you will probably discover you need to cut it back a little bit to be on the safer side.

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Thank you Katherine! I am seeing my hematologist next week and I will ask him about this. I am getting used to the injections.

PrincessB- I know the risks and staying on Lovenox is my choice. Please post your negative comments elsewhere. This is a difficult time for me and I need positive comments.

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Princessb

Thank you for giving us some alternative research sites. but I must say that when I read some of your posts they come across as hostel. If a women looks at all the info and still decides to take the lovenox it is not a personal attack. I feel like you have made it your mission to inform people and that is great, you are taking what happened to you and your baby and trying to make something good of it. But I will say that this is a support group for women who have chosen to take the drug. I wish you could respect that.
Julia

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Hi everyone,

Are you guys having any side-effects from this medication? I just got diagnosed last night. I didn't sleep, b/c I kept waking up and thinking if I want to have kids with so many factors and being high-risk pregnancy. Do you guys have to be on bed-rest? I heard that it might effect your bones? Dr. said it could soften bones? HELP!
LOL

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I was just diagnosed with the lupus anticoagulation inhibitor and am 5 weeks pregnant and just started lovenox. The injections burn and I am very concerned with any side effect for myself, but especially with the pregnancy. I have had 2 miscarriages in the past 6 months. I am praying everything goes right this time and the lovenox is the answer to our prayers.

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trying again-
The only side effects I have had is the bruising. But if you inject slowly and steady, most of the time you will not end up with a bruise. I'm kinda a baby..lol...I ice the injection site so the needle doesn't hurt so bad! ;) I don't know if I will have to be on bed rest because I am not pg yet, but I do belive that you can have a very healthy pregnancy without bed rest. Eveyone's circumstances are different though. I have heard nothing about it effecting bones. I understand your feeling that the pregnancy may be too high risk and I, too thought about this a lot and I waited until I was ready to be challenged with this.

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[quote author=amyjoy link=board=13;threadid=3802;start=0#33608 date=1174328355]
trying again-
The only side effects I have had is the bruising. But if you inject slowly and steady, most of the time you will not end up with a bruise. I'm kinda a baby..lol...I ice the injection site so the needle doesn't hurt so bad! ;) I don't know if I will have to be on bed rest because I am not pg yet, but I do belive that you can have a very healthy pregnancy without bed rest. Eveyone's circumstances are different though. I have heard nothing about it effecting bones. I understand your feeling that the pregnancy may be too high risk and I, too thought about this a lot and I waited until I was ready to be challenged with this.
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Hi AmyJoy, thanks for responding. have you thought how you will deliver? I wanted to deliver by c-section, is that out now?

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I asked the hematologist about this and he said some women pass a plug and soon after (2 days usually) will go into labor. So he said the 2 days before all Lovenox would be stopped. Now some people get switched over the Heparin during the 3rd trimester and he didn't say anything about this, so I'm going to ask at my appt. that is on the 30th. I don't know how I"m going to deliver because I'm not pg. I did my 1st IUI last week, but I have thins feeling it didn't work. :( I will find out for sure the 27th when I go for a blood test. I think this is a concern to discuss with your Dr. and decide on the best way for you. I think it comes down to the circumstanes though, too.

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Thanks for the ifnormation. I have an appt. with my reproductive endecronologist (sp?) on the 12th, so I will make sure to come back and post what he said. I would like to try again....my husband is nervous. :)

do you have to start these meds before or after you get pregnant?

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With regard to bone loss, my doctor (a high risk OBGYN clinic who specializes in women with these kind of conditions) said lovenox can cause decreased bone density and told me to take Vitamin C 1500 mg and vitamin D 400 milligrams to counteract the bone loss. I just started taking Lovenox on Friday so it's new to me. Also, my doctor told me to only inject it in the stomach because they want it to absorb slowly and according to my doctor studies have shown if you inject it in other parts of your body it absorbs at a different rate.

Heather

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Heather- my Dr. told me that about the absorbtion rate, too.

Trying again- I started the meds 2 weeks before ttc. But, my situation is a bit different. I have been on coumadin for years and need to stay on some type of blood thinner to keep myself from forming clots, let alone having a safe pregnancy. I know reading some info on here that some women started when they found out they were pg or pretty far along into pregnancy. This is something to definately discuss with the Dr. Yes, please post how your appt. goes! I

go for my pg test next week on the 27th. But I don't think the IUI worked. I just have a feeling. But one day at a time, right? I had a progesterone test today and the level was above 20! So I am happy that I know that my progesterone levels are good enough to support a pregnancy even if this cycle was a bust.

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Hello All,
I am 5 months pregnant and find comfort knowing that I have found this site. Prior to the pregnancy, I was diagnosed with have thyroid problems. I broke my ankle and becuase of the cast being too tight, I ended up with a blood clot in my calf. I was on coumadin (blood thinner) for 7 months after. Once I found out I was pregnant, I made the necessary appointments to make sure I would be closely monitored. But before the appointments came, I went to the hospital with leg pain. Sure enough, I had another clot. I am told that because I previously had one, that I am prone to getting more, especially while being pregnant. I started the lovenox soon after and have to inject myself 2x a day. It is getting harder now that my stomach is more sensitive with the baby. The bruising is something to get used to as well. On top of all of this, I have a septum uterus. The best way that I can explain it (for those of you who don't know what a septum is), it is like having 2 uterus because my uterus is split into 2 by a wall (somewhat like a nose. the septum is the wall that separates the 2 nasal passages). The baby is on the left side of my uterus. The fear is that the baby will run out of room to grow in and I may miscarry or deliver sooner than I should. I just pray that all will work out in the end and keep reminding myself that this is all worth it because there is a baby that will make it all worth while. I am very glad that there are forums like this. I don't feel so alone anymore.
Best,

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[quote author=autumnsky007 link=board=13;threadid=3802;start=15#33750 date=1174561804]
Hello All,
I am 5 months pregnant and find comfort knowing that I have found this site. Prior to the pregnancy, I was diagnosed with have thyroid problems. I broke my ankle and becuase of the cast being too tight, I ended up with a blood clot in my calf. I was on coumadin (blood thinner) for 7 months after. Once I found out I was pregnant, I made the necessary appointments to make sure I would be closely monitored. But before the appointments came, I went to the hospital with leg pain. Sure enough, I had another clot. I am told that because I previously had one, that I am prone to getting more, especially while being pregnant. I started the lovenox soon after and have to inject myself 2x a day. It is getting harder now that my stomach is more sensitive with the baby. The bruising is something to get used to as well. On top of all of this, I have a septum uterus. The best way that I can explain it (for those of you who don't know what a septum is), it is like having 2 uterus because my uterus is split into 2 by a wall (somewhat like a nose. the septum is the wall that separates the 2 nasal passages). The baby is on the left side of my uterus. The fear is that the baby will run out of room to grow in and I may miscarry or deliver sooner than I should. I just pray that all will work out in the end and keep reminding myself that this is all worth it because there is a baby that will make it all worth while. I am very glad that there are forums like this. I don't feel so alone anymore.
Best,
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Hi AutumnSky,

Man, you have so much going on right now, don't you? I wish you the best and will keep you in my prayers!

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Trying Again,
Thank you for the nice words. I hope to hear good news from you soon in your efforts. All will work out in the end.
Best

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Autumn- you do have a lot going on! Unfortunately, with having 2 blood clots you are at more of a risk, especially 6 months after delivery. As your body makes more estrogen and such, you are at risk, too. Can you try injecting in your leg or upper arm? My Dr. said that is an option. But, you are 5 months along! YAY! :) That is a good sign. I will send lots and lots of positive thoughts your way!

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Amyjoy-Why do you say 6 months after? This is new to me. Right now I am injecting myself in the inner thighs. It's quite bruised there now, so as of this morning, I tried the front of the thigh which the Dr. said was ok. I'm very sore right now. :)
I might have to go to the arm once the legs have gotten to the point where they are too bruised. I try to alternate so no to irritate the area so much, but with 5 months worth of shots and no time to give the body time to heal, what can you do?

Thank you so so much for the positive feedback and I truly look forward to keeping in touch.

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Autumn- I don't know why 6 months after. My Dr. said the 6 months after carry the most risk. I asked him why and he didn't know either, but the research shows that after birth is the most common time. I know he sees many patients that have had a blood clot after they give birth.

I have noticed (someone on here told me this) that the slower you inject the medication, the less you bruise. And that's been true so far. I have one bruise on my stomach right now. Sometimes I think it just happens. But one bruise is not bad!

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Thanks Amyjoy. I will definitely talk to my Dr. about the 6 months. I just gave myself the shot. I actually inject myself slowly too. It does seem to bruise less. I've been trying to read the past entries, but haven't been able to go through all of them. Do you have children?

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guys, can someone, or all, talk about this bone loss thing with the use of this medication? To be honest it has us rethinking if we want to take the risk. Any help would be awesome!

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Also, can you not give natural child birth, nto that I want to. Why do they have to inducing you? Can you still have a c-section?

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The lovenox blocks the absorption of calcium so you just have to take extra calcium why on the lovenox. If they also have you continue taking aspirin I know you can even buy aspirin with calcium so you don’t have to take an extra pill.

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ok, so it doesn't deplete your bones of calcium, just blocks the absorbtion of normal amount of calcium intake?

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Trying Again,
Regarding your question about c-section...
My doctor told me that they prefer I deliver vaginally instead of c-section because the c-section is more dangerous than going natural. He mentioned that the delivery would be planned and that I would be admitted a couple of days before the planned due date in order to reverse the blood thinner. Once that happens, they would induce. Hope this helps.

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man, I was hoping to do c-section.

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