Harm Reduction Can't register for the life of me

[opiophilia]

I just started IV H about two weeks ago. I'm using 3cc syringes with either 25 or 27 gauge needles. Problem is is that I've only successfully registered twice. The other 586 attempts just aren't flashing in the barrel.

I've read the Injection megathread at least ten times, watched videos on youtube for self-IVs and really have read almost anything I can find. I did find a technique where you enter slowly at a 45° angle, then slowly bring it to approx 10° angle so that it's basically laying flat on your arm. This seemed like it was going to work, but when I pulled the plunger back, nothing, no blood.

However, maybe 8/10 times I take the needle out, just a little nice dark red blood will pool up from the injection site. This makes me think it's venous blood...but it wasn't registering. This is where I'm getting confused. It would seem if venous-esque blood started to dribble out, that I was in a vein, right? I've literally spent an hour trying to register multiple times. I've even tried using the mirror, which actually does make veins more visible, but I'm still not registering and getting that crimson plume, the harbinger of euphoria. I know I'm a newbie but I feel like it shouldn't really be that hard.

Basically, I'm tired of wasting my cooked shots. Insuff is becoming less effective (insuff'd a $20 bag and ate a Klonopin two hours ago and I'm about 95% sober) and I don't like smoking H (not very good at catching the smoke).

While I do think I might have to downsize in gauge, I just didn't think 25s were that bad. It isn't unheard of of using 25g needles...right? Anyway, are there any last resort tips anyone could provide? I feel like I've done as much research as it seems I can do at this point

Any help is appreciated

 

[BlueberryfishY]

I'd take it as a sign, not to try anymore.

 

[Thorns Have Roses]

Please get smaller needles, nothing larger than 28g. Your veins will thank you for it. Also, I don't know what to say other than that IV-ing is simply not for you if you have this much trouble with it. Stick with snorting and either accept that you've passed the point where you can expect to get high on the drug and simply maintain, or significantly decrease usage to lower tolerance. You'd reach that point with the needle soon enough anyway...

 

[opiophilia]

I actually don't really know the gauge of my needles. But I should've figured with 3cc, it's not the optimal size for recreational usage. I buy my rigs from a feed store and I've just never bothered to ask the gauge. I have tried using Google to see if I can match the syringe to a gauge, but no luck.

I usually alternate IV and snorting as much as I can, but lately my nose has been getting the brunt of it because of X, Y and Z I stated earlier. My mind doesn't want to accept the fact after four years of opiate addiction, I finally get to the last stop and I can't really make the most of it. Unfortunately, I have already reached a modest maintenance level of H.

I really wanted to shy away from ordering rigs online, but since my area doesn't have any needle exchanges, this might have to become my option.

Thanks for the input so far, I really do appreciate it.

 

[Thorns Have Roses]

Well, if you're gonna continue IV-ing, I'd definitely spring for rigs of known size, especially 30 or 31g if possible. A quick googling of 3cc syringes seems to indicate their most commonly coming with needles of 22-25g . After you get more IV friendly needles, see if it isn't easier to register. If it's still inordinately difficult, then ask someone more experienced to shoot for you/teach you better technique (assuming you know or meet such a person in the interim).

Best of luck!

 

[Captain.Heroin]

You really need smaller gauge needles. 25 is horribly large, I would personally never use anything but 31G.

It is also a good idea to try working out so your veins present more. Drinking plenty of water, as well as making sure your blood pressure is not low when you are trying to inject.

 

[pwatcher82]

I have to agree with previous posts. 31G short needles are the ones I use. Im almost willing to bet 2 things. That your needles are too long and poking through the vein and that you are using more liquid then you have too. Im still pretty new to IVing be that is my guess. Also only shoot, if you have to, on those superficial veins along the vein, going up the arm, sliding it in almost paralell to the arm. I wouldnt move it around too much once your in the vein.

-PW

 

[OpioPhyllis]

I bought needles at the feed store when I first started as well, and I had the same problems you are having. They were FAR to long and went through the other side of my vein as well as being too big. Once I finally bit the bullet and asked for some at the pharmacy, I haven't missed a shot yet. It's like night at day, truly.

 

[OpioPhyllis]

Also, the 3cc barrel is something many pill injectors covet. I would hold onto for safe keeping, just in case.

 

[Trigeminal]

You gotta be pretty skilled to hit yourself with 25 gauge.

(Like everyone else said, drop down to 31 gauge).

 

[Irony XR]

I always love the "I'm having trouble IVing" threads; they are, without fail, full of "maybe you shouldn't IV then" replies. It's like telling someone who can't parallel park (if parallel parking was addictive and gave you an amazing rush) that they should stop driving because it's dangerous instead of teaching them to do it better.

As the helpful posters have said: your needles are just too big. Get smaller ones. I use 29-gauge and I don't have any problems. That being said, I had similar experiences when starting. I stupidly stabbed myself blindly and went too deep every time.

First of all, find a visible vein. The stereotypical IV image is injecting into the crook of the elbow. That works well for me now, but I failed miserably trying to use those veins when I started. My first proper hit came from a vein on my wrist. Instead of tying off around the biceps, I tied off around the forearm. The veins on my hands and wrist stood out beautifully. Keep in mind that these veins, especially those on the top of your hands, are very close to the surface. That's why they're easy to see, duh. Stick the needle in a tiny bit and pull up on the plunger slightly. Continue inserting it very slowly into the visible vein. If the vein is close to the surface, you should register almost immediately.

Personally, I use about a 20-30 degree angle. Use a shallower angle for veins close to the surface, and increase the angle for deep veins. Play around to find the best results for you.

Most of it is confidence. Once you can register the "easy" veins, you can move on to the more challenging pastures. Remember: actually injecting the drug should never hurt. You're squirting drugs into a tube, there should be no pain or resistance once you start pushing down the plunger. If there is, STOP and re-register. Usually it's because the vein rolls or you've gone through it with the needle. Sometimes all you need to do is remove the needle a tiny amount and you'll be in the vein again.

Most veins are close to the surface and feature dark, slow-moving blood. If your needle is buried in your skin and you've got bright, frothy blood in your syringe - you've hit an artery. That's a whole other matter, but long story short: do not, under any circumstances, inject into an artery. You won't get high and you might lose an extremity.

Good luck.

Edit: I know I said that the wrist worked well for me, but please don't do it (especially with a 25g needle). There are lots of nerve bundles in the area and you will fuck something up. It's never cool sticking a needle in your skin trying to find a vein only to hit some nerves and feel electricity tingling all over your body. At best it will be uncomfortable, at worst you'll paralyze half of your hand for a few months (or permanently). Get some smaller needles and inject into those crazy-visible veins on the top of your hands. Once you get it done, move on to the deeper, more inconspicuous areas.

 

[opiophilia]

A quick googling of 3cc syringes seems to indicate their most commonly coming with needles of 22-25g .

Wow, thanks for the info!!

It is also a good idea to try working out so your veins present more. Drinking plenty of water, as well as making sure your blood pressure is not low when you are trying to inject.

I have naturally low blood pressure, around 100/60. I've been doing the whole hot shower thing as of late.

I bought needles at the feed store when I first started as well, and I had the same problems you are having. They were FAR to long and went through the other side of my vein as well as being too big. Once I finally bit the bullet and asked for some at the pharmacy, I haven't missed a shot yet. It's like night at day, truly.

Well that's good to know someone went through the same to help out. And where I live you need 'scripts for needles. I guess I'll be ordering online.

You gotta be pretty skilled to hit yourself with 25 gauge.

The times I did register, I felt like baby Jesus riding a sparkly pink unicorn.

@ Irony Xr: Thanks for all of that advice! I'm just glad after all of my searching I had people to help me. I've been IVing alone because no one knows I'm on H except my friend in rehab, therefore no-one can really give me wings. I found my best vein is right in the bend of my elbow on the left side; without a tourniquet, I can 3/5 register, but with one, it worked (this was when I was just practicing with inert stuff). And I did try my wrist once and registered for a quick second, but when I moved my fingers to get the plunger it rolled out (I'm assuming).

Thanks again everyone! :D

 

[OEandricearoni]

You may want to try running your arm under warm water to make the vein come out more. I used to do that a lot back when I did H if i was having trouble hitting a vein. Helps alot.

 

[8L4YN3]

Dude you want to insert the bevel of the needle into the skin, THEN you pull back your plunger a bit, this will create a "bubble" in the syringe, of course its not a bubble as its just empty space, its not air, anyways this create suction in the syringe, then you continue towards the vein and automatically when that needle penetrates the vein blood will automatically be sucked into the syringe as the pressure equalises.

You dont just randomly stick the needle in to where you think the vein might be, then pull back to see if you get blood thats stupid man, and the fact your doing this shows me you havn't done the amount of reading you think you have.

Also for injecting h you could be using 1ml syringes no need for anything bigger, and 25g-27g is biggish, espcially with your fail injection skills i'd be finding some 29g's quick smart.

In all honesty i urge you to stop injecting drugs and just focus on learning how to actually hit a vein properly because you aint ready man, you dont even know the basic technique for hitting a vein yet you believe you've done your homework...

Also i'm hugely dissapointed no other bluelighter realised this is where the op was going wrong, exercise and heat are of course great helpers, but you guys should really have noticed that he wasn't even aspirating his syringe properly. Some of you who replied are iv vets too so it's even more surprising.

Anyways OP spend more time learning about technique and your own vein anatomy, use a tourniquet if you need to, aspirate your bloody syringe, 15-40 degree angle depending on the depth of the vein althrough dont stress over precise angles its common sense which angle will hit the bloody vein this isnt rocket science here. Practice with saline, get yourself some better needles, and for god sakes cannot stress it enough educate yourself as much as you can, you can't know too much.

 

[muvolution]

Yo man, check out the middle link in my signature for everything you need to know about doing this right. get those few supplies and your life will become so much easier.

 

[8L4YN3]

You gotta be pretty skilled to hit yourself with 25 gauge.

(Like everyone else said, drop down to 31 gauge).

Why would it be any harder to hit with a 25g lol? Size of the needle aint the ops problem here, although 25g is too big obviously, it dosn't make hitting the vein any more difficult lol. And dont claim otherwise because i've had enough personal experience myself to know whats what.

Also sorry IronyXR was the only BL'er here with enough brains to actually mention to the OP he should be aspirating his syringe before he trys to hit the vein... Captain_heroin i'm dissapointed in you.

Too many of you guys are just like sigh another needle help thread, and use the stock standard. drink water and exercise response, instead of actually trying to understand where the OP is going wrong, do any of you guys remember the stress of learning to hit? It was fucked, being told to drink water and exercise dosnt help much at all when your technique is completely wrong and you dont know it, that's why i just can't beleive even the people that can IV dont bother to actually explain that his technique was wrong, okay this is how you do it mate, this is where your going wrong ect Simply telling someone to stay hydrated is not adressing their problem at all.

Instead yas would rather be lazy, tell the person they shouldnt be injecting, and to drink some water.. Not much help in my opinion.

 

[muvolution]

A 25 G would definitely cause problems if he is aspirating it as per instructions since the pin is so much larger, once you get into the vein, it is very easy to suck the walls together (especially on smaller/ less pronounced veins) and you don't get a flag then.

I can't see my veins at all, but what you need to do is get a vial of sterile water (amazon.com) and a pack of 29-31g 1cc insulin syringes (probably 1/2 tips since it sounds like your veins like to hide like mine) and then you just practice... That's what I had to do, that's what we all had to do...

 

[Captain.Heroin]

You can use stimulants to raise your blood pressure (for instance, caffeine) although this in itself isn't the best idea, since stimulant drugs may also cause you to be shaky and not be able to hold still.

The best idea is to do some jumping jacks, run in place, or do some pull ups. This will help raise your blood pressure naturally.

Finally, the hot shower is a good idea; however I would also be careful to make sure the temperature in your living quarters is warm enough, so when you get out of the shower you aren't too terribly cold.

Why would it be any harder to hit with a 25g lol? Size of the needle aint the ops problem here, although 25g is too big obviously, it dosn't make hitting the vein any more difficult lol. And dont claim otherwise because i've had enough personal experience myself to know whats what.

Also sorry IronyXR was the only BL'er here with enough brains to actually mention to the OP he should be aspirating his syringe before he trys to hit the vein... Captain_heroin i'm dissapointed in you.

I have been in the middle of moving thousands of miles, so I didn't have the time to carefully read over the entire thread.

Sometimes people aren't able to maneuver their hands properly in order to create the vaccuum - as it does take some practice to get used to.

I seriously do think that 25G needles will make it more difficult to inject with, seeing as how large it is. A standard 28, 29, 30, or 31 would be exceedingly easier to use.

 

[8L4YN3]

^You've been in the middle of moving for the last three months whats going on, alot of stuff?

 

[OpioPhyllis]

Who, when they first began injecting, was awesome at it? Likely very few people.

I totally understand having to learn the ropes solo--all the information I used to learn I got from the internet (a lot from Bluelight).

Telling someone to stop injecting because they are having troubles figuring it out is insulting and condescending. It is a skill that takes time, practice, and mistakes to master.