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Healing from Consequences of IV Drug Use on Circulatory/Vascular System

R

Requiem88

Greenlighter
Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
7
Location
San Diego CA
Hey guys...crazy being on BL again, although I just used it as a resource for all things drugs. But alas, after 15 years of dope, I've been clean since 10/09/2015.

Captain-Heroin, so great to see you are staying clean! Your posts were always the most knowledgeable and well written, even in rehab and sober living people from all over know you man! You've helped a lot of people! Blessings.

So I came back to BL because I have major circulatory issues in my hands and feet, and doctors have not been able to help. I figured nobody knows junkie recovery like recovering junkies, and that you guys might be able to help me in the right direction!

Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful that I walked away from a decade of IV tar heroin without much worse than swollen and color-changing cold hands and feet...the human body is SO resilient, truly incredible. But it is very uncomfortable, painful at times, and looks really weird.

Since I got clean, I have finally been able to become an attorney, and I I am really self-conscious about clients and other lawyers staring at my hands and having to make up bs as to what's going on.

Anyhow, if anybody here who has made it back to the light as of today has any experience on circulatory healing or complications after IV addiction, it woulld mean a lot to me if you could get in touch with me or we could start a discussion. Resolution or even some direction on this would be great.

Love and blessings everyone! What a miracle huh? ?❤️??
 
SL-->OD

Welcome back to BL! I'm going to start your own thread on this topic in OD because I have a feeling you'll get more responses. Your original post is still quoted where you originally made it in SL just in case however. Congratulations on your long term recovery!

To get to your question, I take it you've tried working with a vascular specialist on your issues? I know from others' experiences that it is really hard getting appropriate, professional care for individual with a visible history of intravenous drug use, such as collapsed veins, etc.

I would suggest going to your local needle exchange (in SD I believe they still have the bus that goes around North Park/El Cajon Blvd?) and asking them for a referral to a specialist compassionate and professional enough to be worth trying. Hitting up harm reduction services is probably your best bet in terms of finding someone who can point you in the right direction where you live in terms of professional treatment.

If you need help locating the name of the specific needle exchange(s) in your geographic area just ask (or pm me if I don't reply in this thread). I'm not sure if it has any of the info you that you'd benefit from at this stage in the game after most of the damage has already been done, but this megathread on IV complications is probably worth the read (although I could see it also being quite triggering for some, so YMMV and you've been warned on that issue): https://bluelight.org/vb/threads/79...EGATHREAD-amp-FAQ-IV-Vs-Flashes-Flags-Ribbons
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Toothpaste, thanks for the prompt reply and shuffling this thread to the appropriate place!

I actually live in LA now, but talking to a needle exchange or other harm reduction place is actually a really good idea insofar as getting pointed in the right direction of a doctor who might be able to help. Been to a primary care, vascular specialist, and a rheumatologist, to no avail. Post IV addiction related health issues is a pretty niche specialty, ya know? Lol.

Thanks for the link...I don't really get triggered anymore, but reading about active addiction and being a human pincushion just makes me feel generally shitty, ya know? It was a very dark time for me, as the highlight of my 15-year opiate addiction was about the first month taking Norcs's and playing grand theft auto vice city, lol...everything after that was pretty much miserable in retrospect.

Life is so wonderful today. A lot of us never got the chance to find out how amazing the other side can be. And although I try and stay away from that life, I take time each and every day to remind myself of how bad things were so I can appreciate how blessed I am even on my worst day. Cheers brother.
 
No problem! Checkout Homeless Healthcare LA, probably the biggest needle exchange provider in LA: http://hhcla.org I have really only been to their location in downtown LA/on the edge of skid row, but they have at least one or maybe two other location (I forget off the top of my head). I would strongly suggest calling ahead, as they sometime have odd hours.

They should be able to help you out. And I agree, it is so nice to be rid of so much of the bullshit involved in my past lifestyle. In any case, good luck getting some help with your veins!

Hopefully someone else around here will post with something helpful on the subject of what you can do to care for yourself at home in the meantime :)
 
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