Congratulations! You've reached the point that every patient dreams of. You're ready
to go home. And what a relief that must be. It means you've completed the first stage
of your recovery. Although you can now continue your rehabilitation in the comfort of your
own home, you should be aware that complications can still develop and you must take the proper
precautions. One of the most serious of these complications is a blood clot, which is why
your doctor has advised that you continue to take lovinox at home. Your doctor has given
you a prescription for lovinox, the same anti-blood clot medication you've been getting in the
hospital. When you fill your prescription, you'll get the prescribed number of ready-to-use
syringes of lovinox like this. Lovinox comes in different dosing sizes, so your packaging
a needle may be a different color than this one. If you have any questions regarding your
dosing regimen, please do not hesitate to call your physician. You'll notice that the
needle is only about half an inch long, just enough to penetrate the layer of fatty tissue
under your skin and extremely thin to minimize discomfort. Lovinox is injected into that
inch of pinch on either side of your belly button, here or here. You probably remember
the nurses giving you these shots in the hospital so you know that they're not painful. All
you feel is a little prick of the needle at first. Now that you're at home, you'll have
to inject lovinox yourself, or you can have a spouse or other family member do it for
you, but there's nothing to be nervous about. The procedure is simple. Just follow the step-by-step
instructions outlined here in your continue care patient guide. Your doctor or nurse will
make sure you understand each step thoroughly before you try it yourself, so relax. Now
in addition to your lovinox prescription, you'll have this continue care kit, which
includes everything else you will need. There are foil-packed alcohol swabs for cleaning
the injection area, and this container called a sharps collector for safe disposal of the
syringes, this patient guide I mentioned earlier, and this video, which takes you through all
the steps. In the back of the patient guide, you'll notice an injection record form that
you'll need to complete after each injection. After you have completed your dosing regimen,
please sign this form and give it to your health care provider. You'll be taking lovinox
once or twice daily, as your doctor has prescribed. It's important to try to take each dose at
the same time each day. Don't skip any doses or take any more than prescribed, and continue
the injections for exactly the number of days your doctor has specified. Now let's review
the procedure. First, wash your hands well with soap and warm water. This is to guard
against infection or other contamination. Then you'll need a place to sit or lie down.
A lounge chair or recliner is good, or a bed propped up with a pillow. What's important
is that you can relax comfortably with your body firmly supported, yet still see your
stomach and what you're doing easily. Your continue care kit should be within easy reach
too. Have your sharps collector ready and open. The injection can be given on either
side of your stomach, as long as it's at least two inches away from your belly button. Be
sure to avoid any scars or bruises. Choose the right or left side. You should alternate
sides with each shot, and use one of the alcohol swabs in your kit to clean the area. Let it
dry while you remove the needle cap on your Lovenok syringe. Just pull it straight out
with a slight twist like this. Each syringe is pre-filled and ready to use. You will notice
that each syringe has a bubble inside. It's okay for you to inject this bubble. Don't
try to squirt out the bubble, as you may lose some of the drug and not get the full dose.
Now hold the syringe in the hand you write with, and with the other hand gently pinch
the cleaned area to make a fold of skin. This way the needle enters soft fatty tissue and
not muscle. It is important not to inject your muscle. Fortunately, most of us don't
have any trouble finding an inch of pinch on our stomach. Now hold the needle perpendicular
to your body and gently insert it straight into the fold of skin. It will enter easily.
When the needle is all the way in, press the plunger. Remember to keep holding the fold
of skin until the syringe is empty. Then pull the needle straight out again and let go of
the skin fold. You're done. Now that you're done, your final step is to dispose of the
Lovenok syringe. Simply place the empty syringe needle first into the sharps collector. Use
two fingers to push down both tabs until the lid clicks shut. To avoid accidental needle
sticks to yourself or anyone else in your household, keep it in a safe place out of
the reach of children. That's all there is to it. If you have any questions at all about
the proper technique for self-injection, talk to your health care professional before you
try it. I know that all of this may seem like a lot to remember now because it's new to
you. You'll probably want to review this tape and the printed instructions in your
continue care patient guide a few times. Talk to your medical advisors too. The more you
know, the more confident you will be. And that's half the battle. Once you've tried
the technique for self-injection, you'll find that it's easier than you think. So stick
with your Lovenok's medication as prescribed by your doctor as well as the diet and exercise
he or she has prescribed. And you'll be back to leading an active, independent life. Please
follow your doctor's instructions regarding use of the medication and any laboratory testing
your physician may have ordered. If you experience any side effects, contact your health care
provider immediately. For more information about the use of Lovenok's or the proper technique
for self-injection, consult your doctor or other medical professional.