Injecting dangers

[Ashley]

Not sure if this is the right thread for it, or whether I should post it in a thread of it's own. But whatever.

I went and visited Jessie (my fiancee/girlfriend of 6 years) in jail on Sunday, she's only got 2 weeks to go and I can't wait to see her.

Anyway, as most of you know we're both IV drug users, I have been injecting drugs for the past 9 years or so and her the last 18. She has always had bad veins (they're really tiny and deep - her grandmother has the same issue). This has resulted in 16 hour long sessions of torture in a bath with blood red water trying to find a vein and also in medical settings they have difficulty getting blood. She has been clean from IV heroin, methamphetamine, etc for the last 4 months. I am so proud of her.

Anyway, at the visit she showed me the various places that the jail nurses had tried to take blood without success. Her hands, both elbows and both feet were all bruised and hammered. She said that they are going to have to send her to hospital, for them to cut the skin to get access to a vein to take blood. Now, this to me sounds ludicrous! Something a screw nurse would say just to scare her. Surely they would opt for the interaterial route or go for her femoral vein before they would cut her open to pull up a vein?!

A.

 

[ayjay]

Hi Ashley. I checked in with a GP I know with lots of experience working with people who inject drugs. This GP said that yes sometimes a procedure is done to cut into the body to allow venous access - typically in the forearm or cubita fossa (crook of the elbow). However ultrasound-guided venous access would normally be attempted first - such as accessing femoral vein. Another technique this GP uses is to allow people to try and hit a vein themselves. This is probably not likely to be offered in prison. Also this GP has a working rule - "If we can't get a vein in 3 goes then stop".

Does your fiancee really need to get blood tested over the next 2 weeks? Maybe she can hold off until she is out, then access alternative health care.

 

[ayjay]

Nice. And thanks.

Are you doing a Cert IV in AOD ayjay? I've been wanting to do that certificate for ages.

A.

Just noticed this. I did Cert IV '94/'95 (actually called an "advanced certificate" back then) - yes well worth doing albeit treatment focused.

 

[Azron]

Just noticed this. I did Cert IV '94/'95 (actually called an "advanced certificate" back then) - yes well worth doing albeit treatment focused.

A lot of cert IV is now based on the public health model.. or where ever you want steer it, in my case moving away from the disease model and the biopsychosocial models. The public health model is mainly concerned with Harm minimisation- Harm reduction, supply reduction, demand reduction- Early intervention for youth and young people- People under 18.