Harm Reduction How can I tell if I've collapsed a vein?

[doppelganga196]

That says it really.

I used to i'v into my right arm (even though i'm right handed) right into a vein on the outer side of my forearm, now it looks quite sort of bumpy if a tourniquet is applied.

I've not shot up in weeks now but last time i did i tried to register in that vein, the very same i first did heroin i.v, & i've only done it a dozen or so times, i couldn't flash it.

How can i tell if it's collpased?

 

[PeacePipeChief]

id guess that its collapsed if u cant register when its definetly in , and the vein looks retarted . hopefully someone else can help .

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Yeah, if you can't register there at all and you can't really see the vein anymore, it's just scar tissue, then it's likely collapsed. It might just be damaged. Either way, find a new spot, start rotating your veins and learn proper injection technique to avoid this happening in the future. You don't want to end up like me where I have really poor circulation and if I needed a life-saving IV in the hospital they would have to cut my flesh open and peel back the skin to try to find a vein.

 

[HaZeX]

Yeah, if you can't register there at all and you can't really see the vein anymore, it's just scar tissue, then it's likely collapsed. It might just be damaged. Either way, find a new spot, start rotating your veins and learn proper injection technique to avoid this happening in the future. You don't want to end up like me where I have really poor circulation and if I needed a life-saving IV in the hospital they would have to cut my flesh open and peel back the skin to try to find a vein.

Im pretty sure they would attempt a picc line in the neck first...no?

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Im pretty sure they would attempt a picc line in the neck first...no?

Yeah, you're probably right, that's what they told me in the ER when I was in a neck and back brace and they wouldn't have easily been able to use my neck. I assume that would normally be the first thing they tried. I was just distressed because no one could find a vein to administer an IV and they just gave up. I asked what if it was necessary to save my life, what would you do. They were like "Don't worry, you wouldn't be without options, we could cut your skin to expose the vein if need be." I do have very difficult to find veins in the neck as well though, although I never used that area to inject myself thankfully (although I have to admit I did try once in desperation). I haven't used IV in years and my veins never recovered. Any time I have to get blood drawn it usually takes about 5 different lab techs and 3 days of trying, or they just give up.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Yeah, you're probably right, that's what they told me in the ER when I was in a neck and back brace and they wouldn't have easily been able to use my neck. I assume that would normally be the first thing they tried. I was just distressed because no one could find a vein to administer an IV and they just gave up. I asked what if it was necessary to save my life, what would you do. They were like "Don't worry, you wouldn't be without options, we could cut your skin to expose the vein if need be." I do have very difficult to find veins in the neck as well though, although I never used that area to inject myself thankfully (although I have to admit I did try once in desperation). I haven't used IV in years and my veins never recovered. Any time I have to get blood drawn it usually takes about 5 different lab techs and 3 days of trying, or they just give up.

Wow. That's horrific to think about.

 

[RorerQuaalude714]

Yep, a "cut down", it's not pretty, but it's sometimes a necessary procedure to save a life. Mind you, it's the absolute last resort.

 

[doppelganga196]

I can still see the vein, it's just that if i see the vein say it used to look like a worm under my skin when it was healthy now it looks like a worm that's stuffed full of peas...

So, not that i'm planning on i'ving i have to say i doubt i'll never do it again.

 

[HaZeX]

Yeah, you're probably right, that's what they told me in the ER when I was in a neck and back brace and they wouldn't have easily been able to use my neck. I assume that would normally be the first thing they tried. I was just distressed because no one could find a vein to administer an IV and they just gave up. I asked what if it was necessary to save my life, what would you do. They were like "Don't worry, you wouldn't be without options, we could cut your skin to expose the vein if need be." I do have very difficult to find veins in the neck as well though, although I never used that area to inject myself thankfully (although I have to admit I did try once in desperation). I haven't used IV in years and my veins never recovered. Any time I have to get blood drawn it usually takes about 5 different lab techs and 3 days of trying, or they just give up.

Wow man, thats horrible. I can't even begin to think about it. +1 reason Ill never IV.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Wow. That's horrific to think about.

Yep, a "cut down", it's not pretty, but it's sometimes a necessary procedure to save a life. Mind you, it's the absolute last resort.

Wow man, thats horrible. I can't even begin to think about it. +1 reason Ill never IV.

Yeah, it's pretty awful. I wish Bluelight had existed back when I started using. I'm sure some of my problems would have at least been decreased if I didn't naturally have small veins and never used the same needle multiple times (I knew it wasn't a good idea but syringes were much harder to come by in those days and I didn't have experience with other ROAs and personally knew 2 people who were put into comas with brain damage from smoking heroin, a common problem where I live, so I was hesitant to switch to that ROA). But I might not have quit heroin if I didn't get to the point where my veins were absolutely impossible to hit, so I guess one good thing came out of it at least.

I was actually really happy to hear that at least there was something that could be done if I needed a life-saving IV and they couldn't find a vein. Because, no exaggeration, lab techs/nurses/paramedics are always giving up in frustration when they try to get any blood out of me.

I can still see the vein, it's just that if i see the vein say it used to look like a worm under my skin when it was healthy now it looks like a worm that's stuffed full of peas...

So, not that i'm planning on i'ving i have to say i doubt i'll never do it again.

Yeah it sounds like bad scar tissue and/or a possible collapsed vein. You could try going about an inch or 2 above that spot on the same vein and see if the vein is still heathy there. But best to leave that one alone and do lots of research on best IV techniques. Make sure to properly filter your dope, rotate your veins, and never use the same needle twice, even twice in a row.

 

[Albion]

Aren't picc lines supposed to feed into the heart only? When I had mine, I had to go for x-rays specifically to see if it had slipped up into my neck instead of down into me heart. Just me 2 pence.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Aren't picc lines supposed to feed into the heart only? When I had mine, I had to go for x-rays specifically to see if it had slipped up into my neck instead of down into me heart. Just me 2 pence.

Yes, a PICC line goes from wherever they insert it to the heart. That is where blood goes anyway, like when you inject something into your arm it travels through the veins to your heart and then gets pumped to the brain and body. A PICC line is just a long tiny tube that is inserted into a peripheral vein, (usually first choice is in the arm), and advanced until the tip ends in a large vein near the heart. In your situation they wanted to make sure it was actually terminating near the heart. But I think you are correct that the neck is not a suitable insert point for a PICC line (it's more dangerous and that type of line would be called a CVC not PICC). But I assume they would try a regular IV in my neck (assuming my neck was accessible) before slicing my arm open (hopefully!). A PICC line is usually for when someone is going to need very prolonged/repeated IV.

 

[BASEjumper]

Yep, a "cut down", it's not pretty, but it's sometimes a necessary procedure to save a life. Mind you, it's the absolute last resort.

Where exactly are you getting your information?

The last resorts are Endotracheal & Intraosseous (ET-Tube w/ meds & EZ-IO Drill), the later being the more popular. You wouldn't get a PICC line unless you were going to be at the Hospital for a few days/longer or the medication needed specific placement in proximity to the Heart.

~ KAS
EMT-Paramedic

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Where exactly are you getting your information?

The last resorts are Endotracheal & Intraosseous (ET-Tube w/ meds & EZ-IO Drill), the later being the more popular. You wouldn't get a PICC line unless you were going to be at the Hospital for a few days/longer or the medication needed specific placement in proximity to the Heart.

~ KAS
EMT-Paramedic

They drill into the bone!? That sounds really creepy. I certainly hope it never gets to that point for me.

 

[deutchex]

fuck iv-ing - too scary

 

[tricomb]

I agree. But if done, must be done correctly, or else it's even scarier. Properly micron filtered shots and injection technique lower, but do not eliminate certain risks of intravenous drug abuse, particularly the physical trauma of injection of foreign particles, repeatedly over time.