Stimulants Iv meth, no miss, but swelling starts 12 hours later

[Druidus]

My girlfriend shot meth sometime around 15 hours ago. She did not miss. There was no initial swelling or pain. Now, since maybe 2-3 hours, there is swelling above the iv site. It is also red above the site, and slightly red following the vein down the arm a little bit. There is no major pain but the swollen area is sore. If it is compressed, the pain increases.

What could this be? Is it an infection or abscess? A clot? I'm not asking for medical advice, just information.

I've never seen swelling this long after a shot. The swelling is about the size of a zippo lighter, and, again, is up the path of the vein, not down.

Any help appreciated.

 

[SteeleyJ]

It's very possible it's an infection, that it came later and that the red follows the vein....not good signs. If it progresses, especially if a streak continues to follow the vein up then medical attention is needed.

Another possibility is a contaminate in the meth, manufacture of speed is not exactly rocket science so some pretty dumb people do it and leave garbage in the final product. Pay attention to it and seek medical attention if it continues to spread up the vein.

 

[InTheVein]

I had the same thing happen to me. It looked like a thick red line all the way across the inside of my bicep. The injection site swelled up hours later and I felt horrible so I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with cellulitis. Just like steelyj said it was an infection because I injected poor quality meth. You can go see a doctor and get antibiotics or do nothing like I did and quit shooting up. It's easier said than done trust me, all I think about all day is shooting up I think to myself "has my body recovered, can I handle a shot yet," but I end up not doing it because I'm too scared of fucking up my already fucked veins and dieing..