Shots? At home?

[beachbum]

I was talking to someone the other night that has had a TKR and she mentioned that she had to give herself injections at home for a week after surgery. :shk: How many of you had to do that? I HATE needles (I'm the first one to put on the big chicken suit if someone even mentions needles) so this idea is just not working for me! But, I do have a friend who is a nurse who would come do it for me. I will be asking my OS when I see him next, just wondering how common this is.

 

[Surfsister]

I think most of us had to do it. If I recall, it was actually one shot in the morning and another in the evening. It actually wasn't as bad as it sounded. You just pinch some of the fat in your abdomen and do the injection. I think, though, there are others who just couldn't bear doing the shots and ended up with prescriptions from their surgeons. You need to ask. Truthfully, though, the pain from the TKR makes the shots seem like nothing.

 

[Judles]

Hi Beach!! I never even found Bonesmart until almost 2 mos out from my RTHR so I never heard of the LOVENOX shots! My OS never told me about them so when the attending doctor of my rehab wanted to give me a shot.....I flat out refused them! Sounded like rabies shots,actually! I took coumadin and had my blood monitored weekly!
Thank G-D I have made a truly astounding and remarkable recovery! I wish you the best!! Knowledge IS power!! :sct: :sct: :evil:
:thmb:

 

[joeP]

hi, i had to take 1 shot in morning and 1 shot in evening of lovenox , i just finished yesterday. 18 days i had to do. I dont like needles and the thought made me quezzy but then i thought , this stops blood clots and i dont have to go get blood work done if i inject. Its just a tiny prick and no pain. No worries cause it only helps. Joe

 

[cotton1958]

I have mine filled and ready!. I was told, give them myself, have someone around give them to me, and if that wasn't going to happen, someone like a visiting nurse would have to come by. So I will become a victim of a family member.:pzld:

 

[Texas]

You thread title is to funny, Yes I had the lovenox shots for 21 days I did some but mostly my husband........My tummy had a bunch of lil holes make sure you move the spot around a lil..Its not bad it doesnt go in very far it stop you at a certain point. Hang in there....)

 

[beachbum]

OK, I'm so having my friend come do this for me! My husband made that little evil chuckle :hehe: when someone suggested he could do it!!! Uh, that would be a NO WAY! My os knows how I feel about needles (the synvisc was lots of fun) so I know he's just going to let me find out about this at the seminar I have to go to at the hospital.

 

[Texas]

OOOHHH me either didnt like those they really really hurt me, I wouldnt do those again,.......Glad someone will help ya........ Good Luck........

 

[cindy88fan]

I didn't have to do that after surgery. I took Cumadin and had my blood checked once a week. I don't mind needles at all. I'm one of those that can actually stand there and watch the needle go in me. But to give it to myself...Don't know if I could do it.


Best of Luck!
____________
BTKR 7/20/09
Cindy

 

[FrogFeathers]

I didn't have to do shots at home either. In fact, I was on the heparin stuff for four days. Once the IV was out, they stopped giving me blood thinners.

I have, however, given my husband heparin injections. There's a long and detailed story as to why (it was leading up to an experimental procedure which FAILED as I knew it would). But, for the six weeks, I had to give him twice-daily injections. He hates needles with the fiery passion of a thousand white-hot suns. Yet he endured, hoping the procedure would work.

I too, chuckled evil-ly, when I found out I'd be doing the injections. But it isn't as fun as it seems. I had to pinch up the fat bit, then plunge the needle in, then inject it. I could feel the plunge-into-the-skin vibrate through my fingers, and when I pushed the plunger on the syringe, I could feel it flowing into him. It grossed me out- and I'm NOT easily grossed out.

Good luck... and remember to laugh (we did). Without laughter, we'd all go insane.

 

[Judles]

Just NOT while you're having the shot! (0)

 

[Linda2]

I didn't have shots--just aspirin.

 

[Josephine]

Lots and lots of people have to do it. I remember last year when my good friend's husband had a THR and needed them. They got no instruction from anyone (they live in Spain and don't speak the lingo!) so it ended up with me trying to teach her how to give them. I sent her an instructional video off VideoJug but she only has dial-up so couldn't view it. So I looked out some images on Google but she still couldn't get it. In the end, I got on the phone and while her husband held the phone to her ear, she gave the first jab under isntruction from someone who couldn't see what she was doing! Her husband said the first was a bit tender but she soon got the hang of it. Actually, the needles are so very short, fine and sharp, you'd feel more from jagging yourself while doing embroidery!

 

[dcdowden]

I've had two hip replacements and am now 10 days out on a knee replacement. I was in the hospital 4 days with the hips and did not have to take the lovenox shots because the coumadin had brought my PT/INR level up over 2. But this last time with the knee, I went home after 3 days and I had to take the lovenox for a couple days at home until my PT/INR got over 2. The shots were really quite easy - it is a very small needle that you barely feel. The nurse just told me to push the needle in quickly with a sort of jabbing motion. My wife didn't want to do it, so I did it myself. It was much easier than giving our cat sub Q fluid injections for his chronic renal failure.
Doug

 

[Pat29627]

My doctor just had me take an aspirin a day. Thank goodness since I don't do shots. I had to give my cat one years ago. The vet had shown me to do it in her thigh. I felt the needle hit the bone when I gave the shot....she screeched....I still remember how that felt. No, I don't do shots!

Pat

 

[cotton1958]

I used to have to give my Bichon shots up in the fat of his neck for diabetes. I stuck myself a few times. I just don't think I could do it....we'll see.

 

[Clunker]

I don't care what anyone says ,them shots SUCK. I like most others don't like shots all that well.
And the day after surgery when the nurse says,oh Mark,we are going to give you a small small shot. I remember my exact words,you best be talking booze?? She says,,it's just a tiny NO feel needle. I said,well,then prove that on yourself once,,and I will become a believer.
She says,,I have to teach you because you will be doing these at home. ,so do you want me to pinch a lil roll on your belly and show you??
I said,,ummmmm,,lets pinch a little roll on you,and I will learn that way. Well we got through the first one and it didn;t hurt all that bad.But then found out I was to give these to myself for 20 days. I am not very proud of my behavior at the exact time she told me this,but that's a whole nother story.
I could write a book about them day-um shots, I would get beads of sweat on my head long before I would ram that NO hurt needle in me. She must have given me the HURT needles ,because mine did. And the worst was,,,I stuck that needle in me,,more then once, and would get so excited to get it over with,would forget to hit that stupid plunger thing. And then guess what?? Yup,,you get to do it all over again.
I am not to sure I would not just take a BOTTLE of aspirin a day,before I would go through all of that again.


But for you people that are just starting these shots,
don't worry about it,it's a NO feel needle.The days will just fly by. Matter of fact when your done with the shots,you will kind of miss them,I know I sure did.Good luck now!

 

[Linda2]

I give myself two shots every day before meals to help control my diabetes. It's not insulin, it's a wonderful drug (for me) called Byetta. That first day the needle looked like a knitting needle to me--and not that fine a gauge! However, it really is no big deal at all. I can even give myself a shot when we're out to eat right in the booth without anyone noticing--obviously the conditions must be right. It really doesn't hurt.

 

[Clunker]

Hi Linda,
When you mentioned that you give your self a shot even at the dinner table. Reminded me of when I was travelling one time,and my boss at the time says,do you mind if I give myself a shot. I was driving down the interstate,and he just jabs this needle into his leg. I about ran in the ditch, thinking,what is WRONG with this guy?? I watched him very very close while driving, after that lil heart pounder!:hehe:

 

[Judles]

Woulda been nice to have a little advance warning on THAT one, Mark!!! Ugh!!! (0)