Injection; IV Complications and Information MEGATHREAD and FAQ II - show me the blood

[DrugFuckedNZ]

I Took my 8 x 10mg Temazepam tabs which I ate with a few Ten % bourbon & cola's, then and hour later I filtered with a micron filter my 8x 10mg Rubifen brand Ritalin (Methylphenidate).

My first hit went like clockwork, so tried again to re-dose and inject an hour after the first shot.

I registered inserting the needle in my favorite spot and one and only vein I use as I could see a bit of blood shooting up the needle, but when I took the tourniquet off I bumped the syringe so when I jacked back slightly there was no blood so I kept poking to find the vein but nothing so I decided to pull out and try somewhere else.

I quickly replaced the needle and expelled the blood in the syringe and tied up again all very quickly as to not waste my last shot for the week.
I tried again somewhere upstream on my one and only vein and registered as I could see a little blood shoot up the needle so I took off the tie, jacked back to make sure I was still in the vein and started to push the plunger, I must admit I am sometimes a bit shaky by the time I jack back to make sure I'm still registered and in the vein then change my grip to push the plunger and sometimes I can move the syringe and needle around a bit especially on binges of Ritalin. I started to push the plunger as I was getting a bit panicky as it was taking so long and didn't want to waste anymore time. It was started to burn and sting as I was injecting which was a first and I could see the vein was slightly getting enlarged and swollen, as the shot was half way through and I could see the needle was about a third out of the injection site so I jacked back and there was blood so I quickly pushed the last half of the 3mL syringe and 28g needle, but it was still stinging and burning but at this stage I didn't care as long as I got my high (which sounds bad I know). There wasn't such a good rush this time as previous as I was too focused on the pain and a bit worried but I'm sure I missed a bit of the shot as it never hurt like this before and I only use the vein in my forearm that runs from my pinkey finger on my wrist (right hand left side of wrist bone).
This is the only vein I can get as my junkie mate with 20 years experience couldn't find a vein in my left arm after several tries and I also try once a week to give my right vein a rest with no luck.

Is it ok to use one vein as long as you rotate between your four main spots that usually register 100%?
I usually hit that vein every two-three hours on a three day binge and have noticed it has become hard and swollen?

Please give me your thoughts as I'm only 3 months into intravenous use : )

 

[BrokedownPalace]

There wasn't such a good rush this time as previous as I was too focused on the pain and a bit worried but I'm sure I missed a bit of the shot as it never hurt like this before and I only use the vein in my forearm that runs from my pinkey finger on my wrist (right hand left side of wrist bone).
This is the only vein I can get as my junkie mate with 20 years experience couldn't find a vein in my left arm after several tries and I also try once a week to give my right vein a rest with no luck.

Is it ok to use one vein as long as you rotate between your four main spots that usually register 100%?
I usually hit that vein every two-three hours on a three day binge and have noticed it has become hard and swollen?

Please give me your thoughts as I'm only 3 months into intravenous use : )

If you experience burning, while still getting blood return, it is possible that the needle is kinda like "half" out of the vein. So some is getting into the vein, and some is shooting through the back of the vein, i.e. missing.

I guess it really isn't "bad" to use one vein if you rotate spots on it, but if you only use that ONE vein, it is going to collapse very very quickly, regardless of switching sites up and down the vein. I suggest studying some vein maps, and looking for some other veins. surely your body has more than one vein in it. Repeated use of the same vein will cause pain/redness and will ruin the vein without ample break time between sessions. But, if the site has become hard and swollen, due to a missed shot, that could potentially mean an abscess is forming. Make sure it doesn't get any better, and if it is radiating heat from it, that could mean an infection/abscess is forming. Take a break from using that spot for a while, and if it gets worse seek medical attention.

What gauge needles do you use? I used to use 28g 1/2" tips, and had similar problems to you. I'd always pierce the back of the vein. But once I switched to 31g 5/16" fits, I am able to hit veins easier without going through the back, and also hit smaller veins easier. There are a number of good veins on your hands, that are pretty easy to hit if you tie off. Just take practice, man.

After extended IV heroin/coke use, plus a year of chemotherapy, my veins are so shot. I have 2-3 actual sites I can hit with relative ease, compared to like a dozen when I first started shooting. It sucks. But using small needles, and proper vein care can really help your veins last.

I know what it's like having a syringe full of blood, trying desperately to re-register to no-avail, racing the clock to coagulation and a total wasted shot. Went thru this yesterday with my last shot of crack I had, but luckily managed to shoot the blood/crack/vinegar/water concoction back into my spoon and re-filtered twice, then luckily hit the next try.

Any other questions feel free to PM me, I have decent experience with IV use. Captain Heroin is also a very knowledgeable needle operatorer guy

 

[johnny pants down]

Yeah the vacuum technique is very useful. I am surprised though that if you have decent veins, that you cannot register.. Make sure to hold the syringe almost parallel to your arm instead of going in at a steep angle. Also make sure not to puncture through the vein.

What size needles are you using?

problem seemed to be solved as was having no trouble at all over the weekend, perhaps just a dodgy pin.. been using 1ml pins

 

[marie123]

Sore arm after injection - tissue necrosis?

hello all,
i've read your website for advice before, but now i really need to ask for your help specifically. i hate it, but i've gotten myself in a bit of a situation. about 2 weeks ago, and for the first time, i ived heroin. (powdered) i also ived some roxies. however, i am most worried about the heroin. about 4 days later, I got a bad red rash. it was hot and spreading, so i went to the er immediately. i really hated to have to go, but i wasn't taking any chances with having an infection. the doctor didn't find any infection, but gave me an antibiotic anyway. i have taken it, and the rash has not been a problem since.

i a writing to you because my arms are sore, mainly my right arm. it is not pain, just soreness. i am keeping an eye on the injection site for any swelling or discoloration, and there hasn't been any. i have also not had anything in my system since last Friday, and i'm never going to again because this has scared the shit out of me. (so keep the lessons to yourself, please.) i'm worried about the possibility of tissue necrosis with injection of heroin. is this something that can start with muscle soreness? or present with muscle soreness?

i have researched it to death, but i'm not finding anything that has to do with early stages and symptoms of muscle soreness. by the time you wait for the symptoms of tissue necrosis to present, it's pretty much too late, so i wanted to write and ask if any of you might have some ideas about what i'm experiencing. i did some push-ups trying to get a good vein for injection, but that soreness should be way gone by now.

i am just worried and full of anxiety and shame about what i've done, and don't know how much of this is in my head versus what i should be worried about. should i go back to the doctor and tell them that my arm is bothering me?

 

[amapola]

Hi marie123,

The only thing that is a little strange is that your arm didn't get a rash until 4 days later, and that it is still sore 2 weeks later. If you palpate the area can you feel any lumps or firmness?

I would guess that you missed some of your shot and it caused some of these problems. What method did you use to prepare the shot? Micron filter with cold water? I could imagine if some fillers or cut got into the tissue surrounding your vein it might result in these symptoms.

 

[caseface99]

Welcome to Bluelight!


We have an injection Complications megathread specifically for this kind of issue, so this may get merged or closed. Also, this thread could potentially lead to endless speculation which also isn't aloud.


To answer your question, In my opinion it's probably scare tissue and should stop being sore in a week or two. It took months for my arms to stop feeling sore where i had injected once i stopped using. That was after IV coke habit, so i wouldn't worry too much about injecting once.

Especially if you were prescribed an antibiotic and it cleared things up, i wouldn't worry. Just keep an eye on it and return to the doctor if it changes for the worse.

Also, i would be more worried about the roxxies than the powder heroin. The binders and fillers from pills are much more damaging to your veins than average white powder heroin. It could be left over binders and fillers that got cought under your skin, and will take a few weeks to clear out. Definitely watch for further infection but otherwise you'll be fine.

 

[marie123]

I didn't use a micron filter, just a cotton filter. It was not a white powder, but instead a tan color. I don't feel any lumps or firmness. I don't think I missed the vein. I am trying to remember: I had a hard time injecting, but I NEVER inject unless I am in the vein and pull back blood. But I guess it's possible that some of it was missed. I am experiencing some feeling of tightness. I am really concerned b/c I am not familiar with heroin, and the arm that is sore and tight is the arm that I injected the heroin into. But I know what you mean about the roxies. It's just that it's this one arm. But I don't know if it's b/c I know it was that one arm and I'm panicking or what? Can you tell me a little bit more about what the soreness of scar tissue feels like?

 

[amapola]

Can you tell me a little bit more about what the soreness of scar tissue feels like?

It's mostly just tightness like you were describing.

I'm going to merge this into the mega-injection thread now.

 

[John_Burrows]

Ive never tied off before, just seems like a real pain. It's ironic since at first I had real trouble finding veins, you just can't seem them anywhere on my arms... Eventually a nurse of all people (she was drawing blood for a test) showed me a trick and how you could find a them by sense of touch; if there is a vein under the skin, it will feel a bit spongey, and she was right! So now I find the general location by feeling for the vein, then use the "draw back, create vacuum THEN push in."

I rotate 4 spots (arms and tops of hands) and inject about 15 times a day (sounds like a lot, I know, but it's really 3 times a day but I fill the spoon with enough water to go through 4 or 5 shots in each "session." I figure if I'm going to IV and take them time to prep my shots I might as well get some mileage out of it.

Only problem is I'm poking my skin so many times a day the track marks don't have time to fade. Dunno if people don't see them or just don't say anything, but I'm getting sick of all those damn marks!

I'm lucky my veins are still healthy, but it helps that I use proper/clean techniques, fresh needles and, from what people say, dilaudid is pretty easy on the body (if I were shooting black tar my arms would probably have fallen off.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

^ to make the tracks dissapear a lot faster, use triple antibiotic ointment (neosporin) on the injection site after injection.. and use moist heat on the injection site also (like one of those bean filled microwave things, brand name is "Bed Buddy") and just put that on the site until it isn't hot anymore and then apply more neosporin throughout the day if you'd like, but deff. apply after the shot and after the heat. it should look better (not completely healed tho) within a couple days.
Vitamin A & D ointment can help also. so can vitamin e oil & tea tree oil.. lol i have alot of home remedies but they all work.

 

[andrikos1977]

I'd be curious to hear more details about what you did and what your usage was like to have lost the veins in your feet.

I think many people new to IV get scared over these stories about people losing, or collapsing a vein; in the interest of harm reduction I think it would be helpful if people who have lost a vein "In combat" shared the details.

Were you practicing safe injection techniques, or were you being lazy about it and lost the vein from being careless?

Were you being safe but only used that vein so long it just gave up on you?

Many users (including me) would really like to hear the details - I'm sorry you lost a vein, but perhaps your story can help others learn what to do/not to do to avoid the same thing.



where i come from heroin comes only in the form where citric acid is required for a hit.most of the damage comes from that.you see people here almost never buy citric acid and 90% uses plain lemons for cooking.lemons contain sugars and sugars once inside the bloodstream become crystals that eventually block the vein.another thing is that people dont realise that they use much more citric acid than its required(wether they use lemons or c.acid) and they just put more.watch here what heppens>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA6M8u0P-U0


i use heroin IV since 1996.i ve still got perfectly healthy veins but i also said goodbye to some.most of the damage was done by using the same spike more than once.i have shot even 10 times with the same spike which is horrible.i remember once i shot with a very used spike and afterwards when i tried to pull it out of my vein it was stuck inside raising my skin as i was pulling it.i realised that the point of the spike was turned into a hook from long use.(sometimes after use when you try to recap the spike the point will collide with the cup.this causes major damage).so citric acid and numerous hits with the same spike are on top of the list of things that damage veins.

i started using my feet mainly to avoid track marks during the summer.these feet veins served me well but not for very long.i was shooting on top of my feet and then i immediately was wearing back my socks and shoes and sterted walking.i think its safe to assume that our feet work much more than the inside of our arms so i guess the entry point doesnt have any time to relax.

generally most of the damage done in junkie bodies is from rushing to do the job and from using filthy stuff.in downtown athens u will see people making 30 "holes" untill they get to find a good entry point.i IV since 1996 and still got veins and i know people who shoot the last 2 years and now shoot intramuscular cause they screwed up their system.

to conclude i recommend
1 always use a new spike.new spikes go through skin like its butter.and ofcourse they are sterile.
2 if you use heroin that needs citric acid learn how much to use.that thing damages your body.
3 TAKE YOUR TIME.there is no need for hurry.people who make 10 tries before they finally find a spot are the ones that will surely lose all their channels.
4 play with light.thats right,if i sit in my room i find it hard to see my veins.if i stand nfront of my fireplace i see veins i thought i dint have.
5 touch and feel your veins.after a while you will learn how to feel a vein just by touching it.it feels like there is a rubber straw under your skin.it certainly feels different than the rest of the skin.
6 find an experienced person to show you how to do it.info and advice from forums are one(very good)thing.experience and knowledge is another.knowledge requires practise besides theory.shooting is real-not a math test.
7 once you have found a good vein dont use it twice a day.

 

[ektamine]

Two things jump out at me after reading the above.

.i remember once i shot with a very used spike and afterwards when i tried to pull it out of my vein it was stuck inside raising my skin as i was pulling it.i realised that the point of the spike was turned into a hook from long use.

This has happened to me before, and it was a wake up call smack across the face to get my technique together. I was literally tugging and the syringe, trying to pull it out after a shot, and it was just pulling up my skin/vein like I had stuck a barbed fish hook in there or something. Obviously by the time it came out it had pulled a good chunk out with it and left a nice permanent mark.

Always change your needle.

sometimes after use when you try to recap the spike the point will collide with the cup.this causes major damage

This is something I think slips by many peoples notice when they are using. I've fallen victim to it a few times. You hear so much about not using a syringe more than once, etc, but you also have to figure that also includes not just touching the needle to your skin, but touching it to anything else as well (the needle cap, for instance). Often times I will be preparing a shot and I will use the syringe to squirt sterile water into the spoon/cooker, and then attempt to recap the needle until I'm ready to draw up. A lot of times when putting the cap back on, if I'm not careful, the tip of the needle will hit the interior side of the cap. The cap being hard plastic, the needle will effectively 'snag' it. This does heavy damage to the needle point, much more than peircing a few layers of skin. It usually renders the needle completely unsafe for use.

Always change your needle.

 

[John_Burrows]

Well I am sorry for the people who have done permanent damage, but thanks for sharing the details - new users take note: most of what causes this can be avoided if you take these guys advice and shoot with proper technique!

I always use a needle more than once since every time I use it takes more than one shot to "soak up" all my drugs, but I only use the same needle once PER SESSION.

And I admit, if I only shoot ONCE I will put the needle away for later, but I follow certain rules: always clean the needle out first, and if the needle tip comes in contact with ANYTHING (floor, dropped on counter top, the plastic covering, anything) I toss it and start fresh.

And like these guys said, prepare your shot PROPERLY. Most people know what they are supposed to do, but it's easy to get lazy after a while and either skip steps or make substitutions. Just remember that this is what can lead to a collapsed vein...

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

^ you seen these?

NSFW:

your needle begins to dull after your first use.. tearing your vein when you inject with it agian.

 

[ektamine]

Yeah, with the cost of needles (being free if you can find a needle exchange), you really should try and use a new needle, each and every time. It really has no downside, even if your paying for your fits its only an extra 15cents or so, and you veins will really thank you.

 

[marie123]

So does anyone have anymore ideas regarding my post above about my sore arm?

I was bad about switching injection sites, (rotating between 2 main veins in arms) but I only injected the heroin once, and am not a very serious iv user. I was injecting the roxies for about 2 months about 6 months ago, and stopped. I started it up again when all of this happened, and was iving the roxies for less than a week.

THANKS ALOT for merging my post into the megathread so immediately. Now no one is reading it, and I'm getting no help. I'm a new member who needs help, and you could have let it be for a just a little while. Really, thanks.

 

[John_Burrows]

Heezy: oh trust me, I use all kinds of skin care products to take care of my injection sites - neosporin, vitamin E and a "Biafine," something a dermatologist gave me to help speed up skin that heals slowly.

Despite all this, it just comes down to how often I'm injecting and just not giving my skin enough time to heal. I figure you need to leave it alone for about a week if you really want the marks to fade, but that would mean I'd need 21 injection sites (3 times a day times seven days)! Just ain't gonna happen.

And while I would love to use a fresh needle every single time, if I were to do that I'd go through approx 15 needles a day. Even if cost weren't an issue, that's just not practical. As it is, I use 3 needles a day, one for each "session" during which it takes about 5 shots to go through all my meds.

I could probably do it with 2 shots, but I like spacing them out and making the whole "event" last longer (I wait maybe 10-15 mins between shots, during which time I listen to music, check in with bluelight, etc).

So for me, the drugs aren't just about one shot and you're done, its about the whole "IV time" I have. Its probably a bad idea, only because its going to make quitting that much harder one day... Instead of just putting down the needle, i'd have to fill those 4 hours a day with something else that doesn't remind me of drugs (something other than trippy music and bluelight).

I guess I could go back to downloading porn and having a wank once I stop with the opiates, that sort of activity might be fun again (and those of you who've been on oppies for any length of time will know what I mean!

 

[30roxi30]

hard bump in crook of arm from IV

alright so i have recently have got clean and been clean for 2 1/2 months and i slipped up and used for about a week and i have this hard lump in the crook of my arm were i was IVing .. my veins arm completely fucked and it seemed to be harder to hit after some clean time..i guess you could say i was being very stupid and careless cause i would just jam the needle in my arm trying to get blood from anywhere...i have a feeling i hit an artery or something because of this hard bump right in the center of my crook ..its painful to touch and feels as hard as cartilage.. it also hurts when bending my arm certain ways ...Can anyone help me out on maybe what the hell i did to myself ????

i haven't used in about 6 days and its not getting better and i wouldn't say its worst just hurts more right now cause ive been touching it ..

 

[xxl]

Watch out whether it gets worse (= bigger, redder, and more painful). If it doesn't, it will go away with time, provided of course you stop injecting there. I don't think you hit an artery because then there would be a lot of bleeding. From your description it looks like a "hard bump". Not the worst-case but it may take weeks to go away.

 

[titstypedthis]

you probly missed alot there..