Alec.Baldwin
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2011
- Messages
- 4
Hello- This is my first post, and I want to say this forum is a GODSEND. Lacking much of a social circle around my habit, this serves as a surrogate community for my adventures. This is the first time I have encountered a problem where I couldn't find a definitive answer to my question, so here goes my first post.
I shot a speedball last night and in retrospect I think it may have been an artery shot. I'm just a little confused because I've been close to hitting an artery before and have recognized all the tell-tale signs and pulled out forthwith. However, last night I did a shot about an inch away from my elbow and here's how it went down:
I felt some circulation, so I went in, and going in took a little more pushing than usual but I got it without too much effort. Pulled back the plunger and it registered right away, and it looked a little lighter than usual but my solution was so dark (black tar) it was a little tough to tell whether it was arterial or veinous blood. I plunged in and it stung a little bit, but no more than the usual slight pangs from normal injecting pressure.
Weaker-than-usual rush followed (could be because I had already done a few shots) and whatever vessel I had hit got sore from my elbow up to 3.5" from my wrist. That's the only complication so far. My arm shows no signs of poor circulation or swelling or anything besides the sore vessel, and the vessel is less sore than last night (more than 12 hours ago).
Here's an easier-to-digest version:
IS Arterial:
-Maybe lighter blood
-Vessel more difficult to puncture
-Sore vessel
-Weak Rush
NOT Arterial
-Not sore while injecting
-No signs of lost circulation
-No excessive bleeding after the fact
So, what do you guys think? Arterial or maybe some kind of oddly-behaving miss? Should I go to a doctor or give it some time? Do artery shots ALWAYS cause damage?
Thanks in advance!! (And sorry for the long post)
I shot a speedball last night and in retrospect I think it may have been an artery shot. I'm just a little confused because I've been close to hitting an artery before and have recognized all the tell-tale signs and pulled out forthwith. However, last night I did a shot about an inch away from my elbow and here's how it went down:
I felt some circulation, so I went in, and going in took a little more pushing than usual but I got it without too much effort. Pulled back the plunger and it registered right away, and it looked a little lighter than usual but my solution was so dark (black tar) it was a little tough to tell whether it was arterial or veinous blood. I plunged in and it stung a little bit, but no more than the usual slight pangs from normal injecting pressure.
Weaker-than-usual rush followed (could be because I had already done a few shots) and whatever vessel I had hit got sore from my elbow up to 3.5" from my wrist. That's the only complication so far. My arm shows no signs of poor circulation or swelling or anything besides the sore vessel, and the vessel is less sore than last night (more than 12 hours ago).
Here's an easier-to-digest version:
IS Arterial:
-Maybe lighter blood
-Vessel more difficult to puncture
-Sore vessel
-Weak Rush
NOT Arterial
-Not sore while injecting
-No signs of lost circulation
-No excessive bleeding after the fact
So, what do you guys think? Arterial or maybe some kind of oddly-behaving miss? Should I go to a doctor or give it some time? Do artery shots ALWAYS cause damage?
Thanks in advance!! (And sorry for the long post)
