abscess

[Intrinsic man]

Abscess?

Hello all,

This past Saturday I did something quite stupid. I only had a small amount of tar, in an attempt to salvage it I used one of my friends lightly used needles. I flushed it out with water, filled it with bleach and shook it up a couple of times as well as hydrogen peroxide hoping to effectively clean the syringe for use. I sure hope this was enough.

Anyways, I've only used a needle once before so my friend had to do it for me. We had issues registering and ended up missing nearly the entire shot. A circular bump about the size of a quarter formed around the injection tion site and then the area swelled up, it was rather tender and painful.

Anyways, it is now four days later and there is a bump on the injection site about the size of a pea maybe ssmaller. It is barely visible but I can feel it, it's kind of hard like scar tissue or something and is only slightly tender. I'm fairly certain this is an abscess but since I never shoot up I only know what I've read I have no experience. Aside from some slight tenderness this seems to be a "sterile abscess" as it does not show any signs of being infected.

I really would like to avoid going to the doctor over this... does this sound like a sterile abscess and if so, how can I get rid of it and how/when do I know when it's critical to seek medical attention? Also, was my sterilization of the needle prior to use sufficient?

Thanks in advance everyone.

Edit: I have some left over amoxicillin, I took one this morning and will finish what I have left to prevent an infection from occuring.

 

[.:Holy::Toast:.]

Go to the fucking doctor dude
Seriously this is how people get chunks of their arm cut out, it's not worth the slight embarrassment of telling your doctor you used a needle

 

[Snakevillon]

Size of a pea sounds fine to me

 

[bunge]

If theres no pain and/or swelling then theres no infection and your likely not in any immediate danger.
Having said that, if your in any doubt then see a doctor.
And please in future use fresh needles (or avoid any I.v use full stop) and rigs.
Also, while bleach and hydrogen peroxide will kill bacteria and a good portion of viruses, the real nasty stuff could easily survive that treatment.

 

[mareseatoats]

I'm sorry about what happened, and I hope you will make it through.

On the other hand, reusing someone else's cleaned out used-before needle, is like using rinsed out toilet paper someone already wiped their dirty arse with. It still doesn't make it ok.