Administering Dalteparin at Home
While hospitals provide this medication for a specific duration, some patients need to complete the full course at home.
The English version of this topic is here
এই টপিকের বাংলা লিংকের জন্য এখানে ক্লিক করুন
While hospitals provide this medication for a specific duration, some patients need to complete the full course at home.
🤔 What’s the purpose of this information?
This article is intended for individuals who are either taking Dalteparin or have been instructed to do so after being discharged from the hospital.
Dalteparin Awareness about this drug remains quite low. Not surprising, considering that scientific understanding of thrombosis developed relatively late. Let’s dive into the details so you can stay informed.
💊 Why are you prescribed Dalteparin ?
Dalteparin serves two primary purposes:
Preventing blood clots
Treating existing blood clots These clots may manifest as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs or pulmonary embolism (PE) in the lungs. Even if the hospital initially administers the drug, some patients must continue the full course at home.
🫢 How do you take Dalteparin ?
Dalteparin is administered via injection. Before you leave the hospital, either you or a trusted relative/friend will learn how to perform the injection. This article aims to enhance your understanding of the process. Optimal injection sites include:
✅ Around your belly button
✅ Upper outer thigh
✅ If you’ve had surgery in that area, avoid injecting too close to the wound or bandage.
💉 Self-injection tips:
Inspect the site: Before administering the injection, check the site.
Clean hands: Wash your hands thoroughly.
Rotate sites: To prevent soreness, inject in different areas each time.
📝 Using a Pre-Filled Injection: A Jolly Good Guide
1️⃣ Step 1: Find a comfy spot and recline so your hands can easily reach your stomach or legs.
2️⃣ Step 2: Choose your injection site:
It can be on the skin around your abdomen or the outer side of your left or right thigh.
Your tummy is usually the bee’s knees for injections because it’s got the right fat layer.
Avoid your arm—injecting there might hit muscle instead of fat. Ouch!
Remember to rotate sites each time for a jolly good experience.
3️⃣ Step 3: Unwrap the syringe:
Some syringe packets have an orange plastic needle trap hanging off the main part. Move that trap away from the needle before removing it.
Not all syringes come with this fancy orange contraption, mind you.
4️⃣ Step 4: Remove the rubber needle cover:
Be gentle, like sipping afternoon tea with the Queen.
Avoid bending the needle accidentally. No need to reattach the cover—it’s not a hat!
You’ll spot an air bubble in the syringe. It’s there for special reasons, but don’t inject it. We’re not making fizzy medicine.
5️⃣ Step 5: With one hand:
Grab the syringe. Use your thumb and index finger to pinch a fold of abdominal skin.
Aim for at least 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of skin and fat.
Inject in the chosen spot, and remember: it’s not a dartboard!
(Note: Your syringe might look different from the one in the picture, but that’s just the British way of keeping things interesting.)
6️⃣ Step 6: Steady on! Hold that syringe firmly until it’s ready to jolly well enter your skin. Make sure the needle slides in at a right angle. Pinch those folds of skin—you’re practically folding a paper crane! Once you’ve done the deed, press the plunger. The piston will whisk the medicine through the needle and into your tissue. When all’s said and done, withdraw the needle like a gentleman leaving a soirée. If there’s a spot of bleeding, hold it gently—no vigorous rubbing, mind you!
7️⃣ Step 7: Now, about that Needle Trap. It’s the orange plastic bit dangling from the syringe’s main body. Remember when you removed it back in step 3? Well, it’s your trusty needle-bending companion. If it accidentally takes a tumble, find a solid surface (like a proper table) and gently coax the needle into the trap. You’ll hear a satisfying click, like a cricket joining the chorus.
8️⃣ Step 8: Dispose of your used syringes in the yellow plastic sharps bin. You can buy it cheap from pharmacy. Keep it out of reach—no peeking, little ones! When the bin’s brimming with sharps, trot over to the surgery hospital, and they’ll handle the disposal with all the finesse of a royal tea party.
😧 Possible Side Effects of Dalteparin:
Ah, yes, Deltaparin! Some side effects to be aware of:
Swelling at the injection site
Soreness
A wee drop of blood post-injection
Rare as a unicorn sighting: injuring yourself while administering the jab (but let’s not tempt fate, shall we?)
🏡 Keeping Dalteparin at Home:
Pop those syringes back in their package until showtime. Store your Dalteparin syringe at a cool room temperature (25°C or below). And remember, keep 'em out of reach of curious kiddos—they’re not cricket balls!
😱 Missed an Injection?
If you’ve missed a dose, don’t panic! Take it as soon as you remember.
Below, a jolly useful video awaits. Click the link, and it’ll whisk you away to YouTube.
🙅🏽♀️ It is good to know that you are taking this injection to prevent any of these problems.
➡️ DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis):
Keep an eye out for
Pain or swelling in the legs
Feet feeling hotter than a scone fresh out of the oven
Red feet
➡️ PE (Pulmonary Embolism):
Check for:
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Coughing up blood
Sudden loss of consciousness
However, in some cases, DVT or PE can sneak in without a fanfare of symptoms. So, if you or anyone experiences any of these signs, don’t dilly-dally—head straight to your local accident and emergency department.
This is an impartial , unsponsored health information. For public awareness and not a replacement of Medical Advice.
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