What's up fellow blue lighters hope you're having a good day on this ugly spring day (in Columbus at least)! I myself was until about 30 minutes ago...
So I did a normal-for-me sized shot of some China into my right arm. Veins are pretty healthy right now and they have been since I cut way down on my H usage. I was able to hit a spot I typically don't, reason being so I can rotate as much as possible and not hit the same vein before the wound heals, just standard harm reduction. When my veins are bad I can pretty much only use crook in elbow vein and or big one on bicep and I think that at this point there is so much scar tissue in both crook veins that idk if I can even shoot into either one anymore. The vein I hit is probably 3 inches down from the crook, it's on my inner arm and it's significantly smaller than my massive crook vein. I've shot around this area before but not if this vein specifically (when my veins are in good shape I have countless veins in my forearms, I have pretty low body fat and work out regularly and again; I try to rotate as much as possible so I hit these veins whenever my blood pressure isn't so low from the dope that I can't hit them). Sorry about so much talk about the veins in my arm, just tying to give good background info.
I did the shot, about 3 points of a nice light tan China and it felt like it normally does. There was no pain like there would be from a missed shot turned into a skin popper. The needle was a fresh one as always, injected slowly, double filtered solution as usual, pulled needle out slowly. I used clean water, waited for solution to cool before injecting, did not need a tourniquet, shot this same batch yesterday so I know it's clean and of at least decent quality, cleaned spoon with alcohol and rinsed twice before using it to mix solution, cleaned injection site with alcohol, etc. So I'm pretty sure there was no contamination and I used proper technique so those things should be ruled out as the cause of my problem...
I played the same post-shot song as always (You might think he loves you for your money but I know what he really loves you for its your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat, by Death Grips). As soon as the song ended and I stopped air drumming I put my arm down on my center console (did this in the car) and my arm felt numb. Like it does when your leg falls asleep but there's no tingling, just numbness. I also noticed that the injection site had turned red without any visible swelling - a small oval shaped patch about 3 inches long and probably 2 inches wide. Only the bottom half of my arm is numb, the part that touches the console when you put your arm on it using is as an armrest. The numbness is only from the elbow to the hand.
I've heard of stuff like this happening and it goes unattended and results in bad things...even amputation. I'm aware that this is rare and probably won't happen but should I go and see a doctor immediately? If not how long do you think I should wait before going IF the symptoms continue or worsen? Also I know that I did not hit an artery, I've done that a couple times before from going too deep and I didn't get the sharp tingly pain in my hand, the unique histamine reaction or the racing heart. Dos anyone know what's happening to my arm? Kinda concerned...and it's been an hour since injecting and still feels the same. Took 30 minutes to write this while driving. I know...I'm a dick for texting while driving but whatever I was also working as an uber driver while speed balling not too long ago.
BTW sorry for any typos, I suck at typing on iPhones. I tried to fix as much as possible though. And thanks in advance for any help, I'll stay online and give updates.
So I did a normal-for-me sized shot of some China into my right arm. Veins are pretty healthy right now and they have been since I cut way down on my H usage. I was able to hit a spot I typically don't, reason being so I can rotate as much as possible and not hit the same vein before the wound heals, just standard harm reduction. When my veins are bad I can pretty much only use crook in elbow vein and or big one on bicep and I think that at this point there is so much scar tissue in both crook veins that idk if I can even shoot into either one anymore. The vein I hit is probably 3 inches down from the crook, it's on my inner arm and it's significantly smaller than my massive crook vein. I've shot around this area before but not if this vein specifically (when my veins are in good shape I have countless veins in my forearms, I have pretty low body fat and work out regularly and again; I try to rotate as much as possible so I hit these veins whenever my blood pressure isn't so low from the dope that I can't hit them). Sorry about so much talk about the veins in my arm, just tying to give good background info.
I did the shot, about 3 points of a nice light tan China and it felt like it normally does. There was no pain like there would be from a missed shot turned into a skin popper. The needle was a fresh one as always, injected slowly, double filtered solution as usual, pulled needle out slowly. I used clean water, waited for solution to cool before injecting, did not need a tourniquet, shot this same batch yesterday so I know it's clean and of at least decent quality, cleaned spoon with alcohol and rinsed twice before using it to mix solution, cleaned injection site with alcohol, etc. So I'm pretty sure there was no contamination and I used proper technique so those things should be ruled out as the cause of my problem...
I played the same post-shot song as always (You might think he loves you for your money but I know what he really loves you for its your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat, by Death Grips). As soon as the song ended and I stopped air drumming I put my arm down on my center console (did this in the car) and my arm felt numb. Like it does when your leg falls asleep but there's no tingling, just numbness. I also noticed that the injection site had turned red without any visible swelling - a small oval shaped patch about 3 inches long and probably 2 inches wide. Only the bottom half of my arm is numb, the part that touches the console when you put your arm on it using is as an armrest. The numbness is only from the elbow to the hand.
I've heard of stuff like this happening and it goes unattended and results in bad things...even amputation. I'm aware that this is rare and probably won't happen but should I go and see a doctor immediately? If not how long do you think I should wait before going IF the symptoms continue or worsen? Also I know that I did not hit an artery, I've done that a couple times before from going too deep and I didn't get the sharp tingly pain in my hand, the unique histamine reaction or the racing heart. Dos anyone know what's happening to my arm? Kinda concerned...and it's been an hour since injecting and still feels the same. Took 30 minutes to write this while driving. I know...I'm a dick for texting while driving but whatever I was also working as an uber driver while speed balling not too long ago.
BTW sorry for any typos, I suck at typing on iPhones. I tried to fix as much as possible though. And thanks in advance for any help, I'll stay online and give updates.
I've made my rounds in the rehab circuit myself so trust me when I say you sound like a pretty sharp person. Never let anyone, including the demons in your head, tell you that you can't do something. You've got a good theory about the US don't get me wrong, you should try and get some local exchanges to implement your ideas and educate users. That in itself would be amazing. Back to the topic though if anyone finds themselves in the situation that the OP was in its always best to err on the side of caution and not let a little slip up get out of hand and turn into a major health issue. Got to look out for number one first and foremost when it comes to our particular type of recreation!