Hey guys, I am having circulation problems in my hands, and thought I would post my problem here in hopes of understanding what is going on. I am finally seeing a doctor for the problem, but I was also hoping other people here could weigh in to give me some additional perspective.
About six months ago I started banging H, after steering clear of hard drugs for 10 years. I saw where things were headed and got back on Sub about 2 months ago, but now that I'm off the H, I realize I may have done some damage. When I first fell off the wagon, I only had one syringe and it was probably too big to be using regularly. I started jamming this thing into the cephalic veins in my forearms (alternating), and after about 1.5-2 weeks I couldn't find the veins anymore, just lumps where I had been stabbing myself. At this point I got wise and ordered a box of 100 31 gauge on the internet, but apparently I had already fucked something up.
The veins did not reappear for several weeks. Now, during a typical day they will sometimes disappear for a while, and nothing is left but a lump (this always happens with both in sync) but then will reappear again. They can be brought out reliably by a hot shower or exercise. The veins look somewhat different than they did before, slightly enlarged for about an inch along their length where I was sticking them. However, they are definitely not blocked, at least when they surface, because if I raise the veins above my heart they will immediately shrink, then fill up again when I lower them below my heart. However, just because they are bulging on the surface does not seem to help much with the circulation to my hands.
This is the shitty part, the circulation in my hands is terrible ever since this happened. They get cold easily and have taken on a bluish/reddish cast. They will change to a more normal flesh tone if I raise my hands above my head, but when I lower them I can see them change color. I get various aches and pains in my hands and forearms, and more rarely in my upper arms or even shoulder. The skin in the hands sometimes feels like it is burning or itching, like I have a tight rubber band around my wrist, cutting off the circulation. Nothing extremely painful, but it bothers me a lot as I am constantly aware of my hands now. It is better in the morning and worse in the evening, after my hands have been hanging down all day, so I try to keep them elevated whenever possible.
I guess the reason I'm posting this is to check if anyone else has had similar problems. I've read a lot on the internet about collapsed veins and missed hits, but very little details on poor circulation in extremities. I don't know if what I'm experiencing is to be expected from a damaged or collapsed vein, or if it could be more complicated. I thought it could be a deep vein thrombosis, but that seems unlikely to afflict both arms at once.
Thanks for the advice and sorry for the long post, this is really worrying me. I just had a test called an ABI, where they measure your blood flow in the arms and ankles with a little pen that uses the Doppler effect or something; I'll post if I get any more info.
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
WTF AM I DOING WRONG?????? PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME.......feet red and on FIRE
...as soon as 1st drop of blood shoots into the rig its clogged..the blood is almost instantly hard. anybody...have u heard of this??
