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Harm Reduction Injection Complications FAQ and Mega Thread

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So every time she pulls bright red blood into the syringe she is actually hitting an artery? She hasn't had any complications and has been doing it for well over 5 years. Gotta talk to her about it.

Just read the "getting off right"guide and it totally makes sense that the vein blood should be bright red. Maybe I misunderstood her. I'm now very glad I don't shoot up, I probably would have lost a limb by now.
 
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well, no, she's probably not. she would definitely know when she's hitting an artery. sometimes the colour of the blood will differ from spot to spot on the body as well as body temp and blood flow. for example - when i am shooting up in an air conditioned room and my body temperature is lower than usual and my blood flow is slower my blood will be a lot darker than say if i were in a warmer room and have been moving around circulating the blood better.
 
Difficulties shooting up heroin frustrated...

Ive become extremely frustrated lately with my inability to shoot up well...

Ive got a couple questions..

The first question if im using a tourinquet do i untie it before i inject and after i register? Also is there a special way to tie it so it comes off easily? Is using a tourniquet even necessary?

My approach is with the rig is either too shallow or too deep...

Also sometimes i seem to hit a vein.. draw back register blood inject and there is no burning sensation but i obvoiusly missed because hrs later the spot is still sore..?(and i got no rush)

Missing just once makes my arm hurt all day... What could be going on here? :\

Does anyone have any tips please
 
Untie the tourniquet before you push the plunger down, and if you can easily see your veins poking out then there's no reason to use a tourniquet, the tourniquet's purpose is to find a vein visually.

Sadly enough, with practice, it'll become second nature. Soreness is normal most of the time, if you're experiencing no other complications then you should be fine.
 
i say quit well your ahead . dont go down that road my man/woman. not worth putting yourself threw hell for a high. needles are some hardcore junkie shit . i cringe at the thought now. i used dope/coke for 5 years iv though but i couldnt and won't ever shoot up again, 28 months in prison taught me a valuable lesson.
 
a) Inject at an acute angle (almost at a parallel, along the vein), this keeps you from poking through the other side entirely

b) The slipknot is the easiest to untie yourself during self-administered IV (check HeroinHelper). Usually you'll need a elastic tourniquet.

c) Rotate sites (don't wear out the same area on the vein, otherwise it might harden or collapse)

From what you are saying it seems the needle is slipping out while you are untying because you're registering successfully initially (some people re-register again to make sure exactly this doesn't happen and lead to a missed shot). I think the only way to remedy this is for someone to show you the proper technique in person or somehow learn through the guides out there.
 
heres something i dont understand.. .I shot up 3 times today... i missed every time but got agood register...

the thing that boggles my mind is that the hits did not sting when i injected??? I obviously missed because i have huge lumps and my arms are dead sore... im gonna massage them and take a hot shower..

Ive decided to just freeze my last gram and wait a couple weeks let my arms heal and try again
 
Shit I could hit a vein drive home in the dark, patience and practice then your fucked
 
heres something i dont understand.. .I shot up 3 times today... i missed every time but got agood register...

the thing that boggles my mind is that the hits did not sting when i injected??? I obviously missed because i have huge lumps and my arms are dead sore... im gonna massage them and take a hot shower..

Ive decided to just freeze my last gram and wait a couple weeks let my arms heal and try again

You may have moved the needle in or out a little bit after you registered, or the aperture of the needle could have been a bit clogged, which leads to there being a slight delay as to when blood makes it into the rig while you are probing for a vein.

I can't really account for why it didn't sting when you missed, except for that maybe your nerves are somehow messed up a bit from missing in the past?

Anyway, giving your veins at least a week to recover is probably the best idea, and get some fresh needles when you decide to try again. Perhaps you should also try to find different veins to use; ones that you haven't used, or at the very least, that you haven't used in a while or very often.
 
my arms are also really sore is this normal from a couple misses and poking around


I assume if there no strange discoloration/redness and if swelling pain subsides in 24 hrs i should be ok?
 
my arms are also really sore is this normal from a couple misses and poking around


I assume if there no strange discoloration/redness and if swelling pain subsides in 24 hrs i should be ok?

Sometimes discoloration and inflammation can take several days to go away.

It is normal to be slightly sore after missing. However, you shouldn't have to "poke around". If you cannot see your veins to the point where you know how you need to align the needle, use a tourniquet to help, but untie it before injecting.

What helps most is having a friend to help. A second set of hands can make the difference between making a shot and missing it.
 
You guys shooting up substances soluable in water like oxycodone are using hydrophilic micron filters correct?
 
Veins completely trashed... Would love to have them back!

So I have been mainlining for many many years. It started with meth, moved to cocaine, and finally heroin. As of late my veins are completely gone. Cant find any of them anymore. I have exhausted my jugulars and I know about the femoral but I tried it once and hit an artery. Let me tell you, this was not enjoyable what so ever!!! So anyone know any techniques to get your veins to come back? If so I would really love to hear them!!!
 
You hit the artery?! Go check the Case Studies thread b/c people have lost their legs/arms hitting arteries.

There's no way to get collapsed veins back unfortunately (short of vascular surgery). When a large vein collapses several smaller veins will seem to appear b/c they are compensating (in parallel) for the lost flow of the collapsed vein. It sounds like you have probably collapsed these veins too so you are totally out of options.

I think you may need to get onto methadone or bupe maintenance. There's tons of info here on how to get onto these programs, so plz check them out.

Welcome to BL
 
have you tried your thighs? i used to think i was out of options as well (IV black will do that), but the thighs never cease to amaze me
 
yeah, my thighs are gone too. Alot of purple lines everywhere that veins used to be but i cant hit them anymore. I have gone everywhere! My arms, legs, ankles, hands, feet, abdomen, neck, everywhere!! It sucks. I have been on suboxone and methadone before. Will probably be back there soon but until it happens I would love to get that old familiar fuzzy glow a few more times... ;)
 
You should probably let your veins get a break here and there.

If I start to get red/purplish scar tissue I give that area a break.

If I were you when you were starting to collapse veins, I would have looked into getting a port.
 
I do not mean this in a judgemental way, but man you need to get clean once and for all or you're going to die from it.

The only way I know of to grow or enlarge your veins is with a healthy lifestyle and a good, strenuous workout routine.
 
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