Harm Reduction Injection Complications FAQ and Mega Thread

[Jabberwocky]

im thinking more along the lines of it not being an artery shot because you never said you experience the initial intense pain from hitting it when you were trying to find your vein. you would have definitely known when and if you hit an artery.

but of course this is all speculation until you see the doctor. you'll know for sure then what happened.

 

[Jabberwocky]

ah, superficial ulnar - the main blood vessel running through your forearm. that makes sense

 

[818SFV818]

lol wow my grandpa aint tryn to take me right now he dont think tis serious. i gonna have to mob it over to the em by myself with no money and imma be like HELP IMMA GET GANGREEN hahaha all spun out up for 2 days

and also i was fuckin right about my theory on how i over penetrated the needle thru the vein. the ulnar artery is right under it on some people, not all tho. for me tho ya, and i didnt get no bump or start of an abcess so and i got high as fuck, so im sure i hit the right vein. just stabbed the fuckin ulnar artery and the nerve probly kicked my hand a lil bit up inside the right one.

 

[818SFV818]

hey go look at my post brother thats my third time slammin and my last. and i was slammin some crystal not no oc's and im tellin u needles aint worth starten. ill bet 99% of these people on this site will tell the same thing. especially pills with the lining and filter

all i gotta say man is im gonna be at the hospital in 30 minutes. hopefully that hits u

 

[danalprazolam]

hey go look at my post brother thats my third time slammin and my last. and i was slammin some crystal not no oc's and im tellin u needles aint worth starten. ill bet 99% of these people on this site will tell the same thing. especially pills with the lining and filter

all i gotta say man is im gonna be at the hospital in 30 minutes. hopefully that hits u

Hey man, I'm sorry to hear that happened. But from what I remember, slamming speed is quite a rush. Back when they made the malinkrot dexedrines (RIP) I would always just swallow them. Best high in the world.

They were so fucking strong that I ended up in the hospital the next day.

Anyways i'm not going to bang a pill. I just want that rush, plus i'm a suburban white boy afraid of needles. Seriously though if I wanted to inject somthing I could always inject some good blow.

But I wouldn't do that becuase that would be a waste to me.. So i'll stick with swallowing/snorting. However if I had a vial of pharmacutical, morphine or somthing I would do it.

I loved the experience from IMD morphine made me nod hard, 2 shots at the hospital in a row. I was crying before I got a shot of Fentanyl then those tears turned into the strongest rush ever. So I guess I was just curious sense there are people that inject the things.

But thanks i'm not going to do it.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

with injection issues, almost if not all the big problems you can get are VERY visible. i.e. not JUST soreness. that's par for the course

If you use 31G needles and cycle sites properly while using a minimal number of times a day (two to three times a day as a max, though it can be more or less depending on the individual), I don't see why you would have track marks.

You'll definitely get track marks if you are a frequent injector, don't cycle sites, or use huge gauges (27G tends to leave much larger marks than a 31G)

Additionally, using something to keep your skin hydrated properly will help immensely. The injection site will heal several times faster in a wet environment versus a dry one. This is why the use of triple antibiotic ointment can really help cover up what track marks may be there after taking precautions.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

for an excuse as to what to say about me havin a fuckin corrupted artery or to what this is exactly

I have a theory as to what you experienced.

Basically, I don't think you hit an artery. When you hit an artery, it's hard for the bleeding to stop. Not as easy as a vein which sometimes doesn't bleed on its own. I think what happened was you had too tight of a tourniquet, and this caused most of what you're experiencing I think. If you have very visible veins as is (you can see and feel them), then you probably don't need to use a tourniquet (I've never needed to use one).

The tight tourniquet built up a lot of pressure. I think what happened was you punctured through the vein, and while digging hit nerves. When you pulled back out, you registered in the vein. I'm not sure if what you hit was a vein or artery but it sounds like you hit the vein. Mostly due to the fact that if you hit an artery, especially with 90 units of water, you would have very painful swelling of the extremity - it would be nearly impossible to notice. If you got high (from the meth) then it's also likely you hit the vein, because you won't get high when you only inject in an artery.

It sounds like you punctured through the vein (which would explain local inflammation and redness, and a bump which slowly went away, and why your vein disappeared temporarily but is starting to come back) and not releasing the tourniquet before injecting also possibly (but not necessarily) caused the vein to bulge/burst (also explaining why it disappeared, then started to come back).

Apparently some people here a "POP" when they puncture through the vein. This happened to me once and I was really, really surprised because I had never experienced it except for others asking what it meant here on BL. I'm sure more things could go "POP" too though, so don't take it as irrefutable evidence you hit the vein.

It just seems more likely than not you did hit the vein though.

If I were you, it would have been nice to do the research before injecting on your own. But now that you're already here, I would just apply a heat compress (lukewarm to hot water on a hand towel, as hot as you can stand w/o burning your skin, and compress the towel on the injection site. This will help remove whatever units of the solution didn't get inside the vein, if any missed) and see how you respond.

If you experience swelling/pain in your extremity, I would go to the ER, but I don't think that's what's going on with you.

I hope this helped, sorry I couldn't get to this earlier.

and na its my grandpa whos letting me live with him and i dont have no insurance card hed have to go with me and its gonna suck tellin him i was shootin up gonna change things. AND is it good to rub the inflamed area? and like i said bro there is 0 pain just a little bruise feelin when i press on it that isnt even worth blinken over. its the fuckin numbing and pressure. fuck its annoying

The advice to go to the doctor is stemming from the idea that if you inject into your own body, you should really, really know instantaneously what happened when it did. If you are not experienced with IVing, it is not advised you begin on your own. You did put the time in to do hours of research, but only after this whole ordeal.

Basically, if you aren't 100% sure about what's going on, and we all cannot see you IRL, then someone should look at you IRL. We only know what you're telling us, and what pictures you posted. Without being seen by someone knowledgable IRL, you aren't going to be 100% sure about if you're going to be OK, etc.

So, it's really up to you. I understand the predicament you're in, but think of it like this - after this is all said and done, you'll be a little bit more informed about the injection process, and won't be as trigger happy next time.

I can't say what you should do, I can only say what I would do if what you're saying and what I'm seeing is true, which cannot be 100% for sure known by me or anyone else here because we can't see you IRL.

Did that make sense?

and i got high as fuck, so im sure i hit the right vein.

Then you hit the vein, I don't think you injected into the artery.

 

[818SFV818]

hey man ur 100 % fuckin right man... wow thats nuts. ya i just got back and the doc said it was alota blood that leaked in my muscle, so that makes 100% perfect sense. and that muscle is probly blockin the vein from circulation, cuz when i left the docs and the speed started wearen off, the numbness went way down. and i did that 14 or so hours of research cuz i was fuckin on a hugeee one haha. thx bro peace. and ya everythin is all good with my shit he just gave me some shit so it dont get infected

 

[RaoulDukes]

I got lucky

I have been an iv heroin user for about 4 years now and am now the recipient of an artificial mitral heart valve thanks to a serious case of bacterial endocarditis. The endocarditis went on for a month misdiagnosed before my doctor figured it out and i nearly died from it.
To all iv users...PLEASE BE CAREFUL and follow safe and sanitary injcting practices to avoid what I have experienced, open heart surgery is brutally painful.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I have been an iv heroin user for about 4 years now and am now the recipient of an artificial mitral heart valve thanks to a serious case of bacterial endocarditis. The endocarditis went on for a month misdiagnosed before my doctor figured it out and i nearly died from it.
To all iv users...PLEASE BE CAREFUL and follow safe and sanitary injcting practices to avoid what I have experienced, open heart surgery is brutally painful.

I always use alcohol pads, bacteriostatic water, and clean works. I am sorry to hear you almost died as a result of all of this.

Best of luck with your new valve.

 

[footclan]

So I'm near positive that I developed phlebitis. I normally used to shoot 1 once a month but in the last 30 days I've done it 7 as a result of needing to save money and being dependant. I think I may have been pulling back too hard on on the plunger, as well as iritating them when I haven't hit a vein and then pulling out and trying another.

I missed a shot of dilaudid last thursday, and that's when the first bump came. It slowly disappeared and the "cord" was left. I decided to see if it was going to go away and it did shrink alot, but I'm getting tiny pains near my wrist and now near my bicep. I also have another cord on my right arm which is also small.

So should I see a Dr. or go to the hospital? I really don't want my dr to find out.

How bad does it sound? Is the pain just in my head caused my anxiety? I always use pill filters when I shoot and for the last while have been double filtering it.

 

[818SFV818]

damn last night i made a complete fuckin ass of myself in front of my grandpa and a hospital. i was up for 3 days and 2 nights and on the third day around 4 PM my arm reallly started actin up again. before my hand would get all pressureurized and feel numb and tignly from the blood not being able to leave it and i would elevate my hand to get it out of there. but this time it wasnt leaven and it started getting swollen, and it was spreading down my arm. now my arm was geting very numb up to my bisceps and my hand was cold and lifeless. i was trippen like i never have in my life and we were out like 45 minutes from my house. i also am getting all these crazy vein spazms all over my arm and i now can feel the swollness now spreading from my shoulder to my mid body area on my right side and im fuckin freakinnnnnnnn out now. my grandpa aint takin it seriusly tho so i say fuck it and think i could maybe save my arm if i tell him what really happened so i told him i really fucked up when i tried to shoot and now my vein is leakin and makin everything swollen, or so i thought. so this goes on for like another 20 minutes of me trippen than i really start havin a panic attack when i feel my chest getting swollen. i start thinkin what if the blood goes to my heart, ill straight fuckin die right here. so im having a real ass panic attack and i get to the hospital... well long story short they said i was just twaked out and sleep deprevated and gave me some adavin... my arm is 100% back to normal this morning. idk what the fuck was makin me think all that shit but i still 100% that my arm and hand were getting swollen and more numb than they ever hgad before. but fuck it its over and im still here could be worse. im done with meth for a minute imma go pack me a roor bowl and hit some ganja man. peace

 

[Jabberwocky]

So I'm near positive that I developed phlebitis. I normally used to shoot 1 once a month but in the last 30 days I've done it 7 as a result of needing to save money and being dependant. I think I may have been pulling back too hard on on the plunger, as well as iritating them when I haven't hit a vein and then pulling out and trying another.

I missed a shot of dilaudid last thursday, and that's when the first bump came. It slowly disappeared and the "cord" was left. I decided to see if it was going to go away and it did shrink alot, but I'm getting tiny pains near my wrist and now near my bicep. I also have another cord on my right arm which is also small.

So should I see a Dr. or go to the hospital? I really don't want my dr to find out.

How bad does it sound? Is the pain just in my head caused my anxiety? I always use pill filters when I shoot and for the last while have been double filtering it.

what's the "cord" you're referring too? i've never heard someone use that term before. what steps did you take after you missed your shot? did you run it under hot water for a short period of time and then apply a heat pack or anything? massage the swollen lump?

i am not sure whether the pain in your hand and bicep is related to missing the shot and i dont want to speculate either.

if you're worried enough to be thinking of going to the hospital then it's probably a good idea - sometimes its better to be safe than sorry. in most cases of a missed shot, given it was a small one and not the whole thing, most symptoms will subside after a few days up to a week and it will clear. a sterile abscess normally forms (the hard lump) and heals itself over a short time. it's not always the case though, so keep an eye on it in the mean time.

keep a close eye on it and if your symptoms start to deteriorate even more then go see an emergency ward. have a read through this thread and you'll pick up some tips on how to help treat yourself ie - hot compresses, massaging the area, creams etc

 

[footclan]

In the first page of this thread, it describes the symptoms of phlebitis.

"The vein is reddened or inflamed and can sometimes be felt as a thick cord beneath the skin."

It's hardish and about an inch long on each side. The one on my left arm decreased in size alot, but I'm not sure about the right one. The pain is very transient and very minor, but noticeable. When I found the left one I did put pressure with warm water on it.

I want to go to the ER but I don't want to wait for hours with suspected h1n1 cases. I'll try and make an appointment to get an ultrasound asap.

 

[Jabberwocky]

sure, that makes more sense. it's early morning here and i've barely slept the last 2 nights and i misunderstood the context.

why not take a book or something to the ER to read while you're waiting, or take an mp3 player, something to pass the time. could you book an appointment with a GP, maybe a once off visit to someone who isnt your usual GP incase you're worried about repercussions?

 

[footclan]

I just got back from a walk in clinic. The Dr. said it looked superficial, gave me a script for arthotec, and a referral for an ultrasound to screen for DVT. I told the Dr about my fear of being stigmatized from my GP and he was very understanding.

I feel alot better and I'm going to make an appointment for the ultrasound tomorrow morning.

 

[Jabberwocky]

cool, that's good to know you went let us know the results of the scans when you get them

 

[DouglasSirk]

Problems injecting heroin for the first time

I am addicted to heroin and I really want to inject it. I don't live near any other users I know.

I went to the needle exchange today and got everything I need (Syringes, swabs, vitamin c, sterile water etc). I also had the basics explained to me.

So I cooked up a small shot (like 1/5th) of what I'd normally smoke just to try it out. I did this like 5 times because every time I stuck the needle in I was pretty sure it didn't go in a vein. How far should I stick it in? And how do I know if its in a vein, if there is only a small amount of liquid in the barrel. If I try to pull back on the plunger to see if I can see any blood the needle seems to come out of my hand (I'm doing it in my hand because I have a phobia of needles in the crook of my arm).

I really want to do this, but I am so nervous and have never done it before so any help is very much appreciated!

 

[thelung]

to know if you are in a vein, you need to pull back the plunger- if a dark red blood enters the barrel of the syringe, you're in. injecting in your hand isn't a good idea. Get a latex tourneqit (sp?) at the needle exchange, get over your fear of shooting in yuor arm, and get a vein in your arm (it doesn't have to be in the "crook" of your arm undr your elbow like you mentioned, anywhere on the underside of your arm will do and it will be WAY easier than your hand).

 

[DouglasSirk]

So I tried again, stuck it in my hand, figured I must have hit the vein and pushed the plunger down a little bit this time. It stung like fuck so I stopped. Now there is a little bump like a hive around where the needle went in. I presumed I missed the vein and "skin-popped" my heroin. Will it be ok? I don't think I can do this. I'm so frustrated I feel like crying.