I've just been for my appointment with the Haematologist down at the hospital to get started on the Fragmin injections. It's a depressing place, the Oncology Clinic. I assume most people are there with serious cancer-type illnesses and I feel as though I shouldn't be there, too happy or too not ill or something. The staff are very nice though, and I saw a different Dr than the last time, who inspired confidence none the less.
He explained that my dosage of Fragmin will be low, and the bleeding risks are less than they used to be as it's an 'improved' drug from the old style Heparin. It's called a 'prophylactic' dose - preventative. He asked me to go to my family doctor in a couple of weeks and get a CBC blood test done to make sure that I don't suffer with a rare side effect of my platelet count going too low, but other than that I should be fine as long as I take care not to bruise / cut myself. They want me back in June to discuss the delivery of the baby. He explained that they'll ask me to stop injecting the Fragmin around 24 hours before it, and that they'll start me back on it within 12 hours of the c-section. He said the time frame of not being on it is too small to worry about developing another clot. He also said that after the birth I'll be started back on Warfarin / Coumadin for a couple of months to prevent any further clotting. He handed me a prescription for 6 mths worth of Fragmin and I left.
Took the prescription to Shoppers Drug Mart and they, as expected, didn't have any stock, but they'll get some in for tomorrow. They had some half the strength I require but I turned those down because I really don't want to be giving myself 2 injections per day, 1 creates enough bruising thank you!
Posted by katie at February 10, 2004 03:12 PM