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Harm Reduction Injection Complications FAQ and Mega Thread

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Probably a good idea, though i'm not really a full time IV user. I have access to clean Rigs 24/7, which is nice, but as far as Wheel filters, i have none.

I'd prefer to pop my pills any day of the week, but every once in a while i go on a Dilaudid Binge, w/ H every once in a blue moon as well.

Really, it depends on availability, though. The dirty hit i had the other day has deterred me from IV use for now. Usually if something significant happens, like a dirty hit, it will deter me for a while, if not hopefully forever.

Thanks though, i may check to see if i have an exchange around here.

That's whats up. A needle exchange is nice because it also can get you alcohol wipes, tourniquets, sterile water (my personal favorite - sterile water is expensive), triple antibiotic, band aids, gauze bandages, cookers, cottons, condoms, and lubrication.

Plus, I don't know what kind of needles you have access to, but an exchange will have different sizes, hopefully all of them (I prefer a 31G).
 
So a couple days ago I finally got my ultrasound back after over 2 weeks of waiting. I think it was ready earlier, they just didn't know it was coming from the hospital.

I'm DVT free though. I asked the Dr about phlebitis and he said it looked superficial and no results other than your fine came back so that's good news.
 
So a couple days ago I finally got my ultrasound back after over 2 weeks of waiting. I think it was ready earlier, they just didn't know it was coming from the hospital.

I'm DVT free though. I asked the Dr about phlebitis and he said it looked superficial and no results other than your fine came back so that's good news.
Congratulations man. It's good to hear you are OK.

Do you have any other questions about IV use before trying any injecting again? If you're not going to inject again/or for a while, it's definitely understandable. But, feel free to ask any Q's, even if it's for a friend or w/e - it's good to spread harm reduction knowledge.
 
hey leftwing, looks like you posted just a minute ago, so maybe you could help me out with this problem... shot in my hand less than an hour ago. got a good vein, registered blood, had the tourniquet in my mouth, and as i was in the middle of pulling the slipnot loose, i noticed the needle slip back, im pretty sure out of the vein, because the area around the injection point under the skin started to fill with blood. this has happenned a couple times where after i register blood, i cant seem to get the tourney off quick enough and the needle slips around. maybe i have it too tight? anyways i pushed it back in a little and went for it. pulled out, and started massaging the blood bubble with a cloth pad. i dont think i missed the shot, but maybe i partially did, bc my hand went a little numb surrounding the injection point (im pretty sure the dope im getting is cut with coke). could it have been partial miss because i had to go back in the vein? should i just have chosen another site once it started to fill with blood? well after massaging, the blood bubble was gone, but the area became a bit swollen, so i iced it for 15 minutes and took a couple ibuprofen, and then ran it under hot water for ten minutes. did i go about taking care of that right? im kinda worried about having a bad bruise on my hand, thats why i iced first. its not horribly swollen or anything, just a little. im starting to think maybe i should just use the tourniquest to get the veins to pop and then before i even go to stick it and register maybe take it off? i cant get it down taking it off before without the needle slipping around.
what do you think about the matter? should i ice or heat or one then the other tomorrow? thanks

About the numbness, it doesn't have to be a potent anesthetic like coke to cause numbness. I've had numbness from mephedrone, so I imagine it's possible with many others substances too. Usually it would last a few minutes only, but the last two times that happened (one in my hand and another in my foot) the numbness actually hasn't gone completely away over a month later (I'd say I recovered from the numbness in my foot 50% and in my hand 80% ) And they weren't even major misses, all seemed to go well except for the numbness.

That should teach me to avoid those nerve and artery-filled areas if and whenever I go back to shooting anything. I was a little obsessed with trying different veins for a while, which was dumb in many ways. The rush is actually noticeably better when I use larger veins in my elbow.
 
You know I have problems registering. I try my best to minimize the chemical harms but I forgot all about physical harms and didn't realize they're so dangerous. I mean obviously frequently in the same area can cause problems but it surprised me how little I did it and the consequences of even that.

I did stop for awhile, but I started again and carefully. I made an appointment at a clinic and I'm trying to get on methadone as fast as possible.

So a couple of questions...I have problems registering. I use a tourniquet and release before sticking the needle in, but any other tip?

I shot a combination of micron filtered oxy and pharm grade injectable morphine. The site and surrounding area are really red. Is this just a histamine release?

Also....I've been looking online and no equivalency converters have oxy listed for iv. Whats an 80 of oxy IV = to for morphine IV?

EDIT: I took 2 benadryls and the redness is going away. I wasn't worried but I wanted to make sure.
 
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oh crap i think i got an abscess

Hey bluelight... my internet doctor for all things drug related. a few weeks ago i accidently shot a little into an artery and my hand swelled up and burned and i was told and thought i was probably going to lose it and it ended up being completely fine after a day or two. I'm hoping this is not as serious as I am thinking too. I have a large red bump on my forearm on the pale side and im pretty sure i may have shot there a few days ago and missed a little, but i'm not 100%.
i've noticed it about 2-3 days ago, and i figured it was just one of the regular spots that are sore after a missed shot, as I have gotten them somewhat often. i have had those large "knots" under the skin, but they didn't turn red or itch or hurt, but this one does. I assume it's infected but I dont really know that much about them. Unfortunately i already google imaged "infected abscess" and saw a bunch of shots of removed flesh when they cut out the abscess but im assuming they only do that for the really bad ones. Should I go to the doc on monday when they are open? just I just sit around and it will pass? should i stick a needle in there and try to drain it (don't think i have one wide enough)?

he8olp!
 
Hey bluelight... my internet doctor for all things drug related. a few weeks ago i accidently shot a little into an artery and my hand swelled up and burned and i was told and thought i was probably going to lose it and it ended up being completely fine after a day or two. I'm hoping this is not as serious as I am thinking too. I have a large red bump on my forearm on the pale side and im pretty sure i may have shot there a few days ago and missed a little, but i'm not 100%.
i've noticed it about 2-3 days ago, and i figured it was just one of the regular spots that are sore after a missed shot, as I have gotten them somewhat often. i have had those large "knots" under the skin, but they didn't turn red or itch or hurt, but this one does. I assume it's infected but I dont really know that much about them. Unfortunately i already google imaged "infected abscess" and saw a bunch of shots of removed flesh when they cut out the abscess but im assuming they only do that for the really bad ones. Should I go to the doc on monday when they are open? just I just sit around and it will pass? should i stick a needle in there and try to drain it (don't think i have one wide enough)?



he8olp!

doctor. go.

don't try to drain that shit yourself because you likely need antibiotics.
 
well it will have to wait till monday. if it starts to hurt too bad i will go to the ER but its not bothering me unless i rub against it and some hot water and a towel definitely helps.
 
OP - Read this

should i stick a needle in there and try to drain it (don't think i have one wide enough)?

he8olp!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

What will happen if you do that is you'll hit a blood vessel with whatever large gauge you'll use to attempt to do that, and IF you have a bacterial/etc infection, that will spread to your entire body. That is a BAD thing.

Go seek medical attention if you think you need it.

Is it getting better or worse over time? Pain? Swelling?

Whatever you do, don't try to operate on yourself.

-> IV Complications Mega Thread

For awesome threads like this, check out my signature below. :)

Finally, what were you trying to shoot that you missed?
 
Is it okay to use a short 25G detachable needle on a 1ml syringe for an IV injection or is this only really suitable for an IM injection?


I only ever use the 1'' 25 gauge's.

Here (bath/bristol) - the long or short "oranges" (25 gauge) are by far the most common needles to be given out - aside from long blue/greens, which are for hardcore groin shooters and look like fucking bulldarts.
 
I only ever use the 1'' 25 gauge's.

Here (bath/bristol) - the long or short "oranges" (25 gauge) are by far the most common needles to be given out - aside from long blue/greens, which are for hardcore groin shooters and look like fucking bulldarts.
25G is pretty big IMO. The largest I've personally used for IMing or IVing is a 27G.

Does a 25G work better for you sine you hit the femoral vein?
 
25G is pretty big IMO. The largest I've personally used for IMing or IVing is a 27G.

Does a 25G work better for you sine you hit the femoral vein?

i use a 28 gauge. Also i was shooting heroin, but it was a new batch and i found it works better when cooked but not til after this happened. I still have other missed shots without cooking and they seemed ok? dunno guess it was just a random infection
 
The thickness of the needle is pretty immaterial when shooting in the groin (to a point).

You just need a longer than normal pin - as the fem is located quite deep.

Hardcore fem shooters need the " long greens and blues" - which I hate, as they are not only only much longer, but also MUCH thicker. (I think 20 gauge is the "greens").

They leave such a big hole in your groin - that blood PISSES out after a shot. Much like an open wound.
 
I just shot a mixture of heroin and oxy (micron filtered) into the back of my hand. I inserted very slowly, registered and pushed the plunger slowly. I applied pressure afterwards.

My hand swelled up and went red. Not massively, but moderately sized. Now I know part of it was a histamine reaction so I took 150mgs of benadryl, and while the redness went away, only some of the swelling went away. I'm curious as to why this happened or what's happening if I went slowly and registered properly. I shot into the right most vein on the back of hand and while its tiny, the area of swelling is about 1/3 of my hand. Is it possible I just suffer vein inflammation easier than others?

And guys I'm sorry for posting again for what may seem trivial but I'm a paranoid person and I'm shooting because I'm poor and hooked. I'm just waiting for my methadone Dr appointment.
 
i don't know what to do someone please help me!

hi i need some help i have a huge baseball size lump on my upper left arm it's kinda hot but i don't know if it's a absess or not.... it hurts pretty bad but i don't understand how i have been injecting Heroin for many years and found a vein got most of it in and then lost it so just put the rest in my muscle which was a very very small amount now my upper left arm is hard and about the size of a baseballl and warm can someone please tell m what to do or what this sounds like? it would be most appreciated....
thanks so much
Peace and Love:(
 
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