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Heroin IV Safety Question - Vein Swollen, Just Hit and Blood Squirted Out Everywhere Rapidly

K

King J

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Jul 4, 2010
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I have an IV safety question.

I have been IV'ing for one month steady. I can only hit in one vein and thus I hit in the same vein all of the time. My vein, for about a week, has been swollen where I can feel it without tying up - it's like popped out. I just hit the middle of it, drew back blood, and hit myself, and when I pulled out I didn't expect this to happen: a lot of blood shot out rapidly and with a lot of force. It was so high that it squirted above my head. It must have wasted my entire shot plus some of my own blood obviously came squirting out. I quickly got a napkin and put pressure on it and it stopped bleeding. I notice now that I have bumps like if I were to miss and above where I IV'ed is very dark, like black, in which I would guess is blood - I don't think I am bleeding internally from this anymore I think it just happened before the pressure came into effect onto the vein.

I've never seen this happen and I'm in shock really. The swelling though has immediately gone done. Is it possible that my vein had a clot in it and I basically released the blood from the clot, hence why it shot out like it squirted like a artery would out of your neck. 8o

Any advice or information? Am I safe? Happen to anyone else? Answers anyone? I don't even feel the shot I guess it all shot out with the blood. 8o8o8o
 
There's several different possibilities for this. One would be that you have overused that vein and blew it. Not an immediate threat usually, but it could lead to poor circulation and other complications. It needs time to heal.

Did you tie off your arm? Another reason is once you hit that vein, and you know you have it, you should release pressure on the tie. Otherwise the blood flow could be halted and because of the extra fluid in your veins, pressure builds up causing it to shoot out.

You could have also had it, but moved just enough that you wouldnt even notice, and slipped out of the vein. The solution built up under your skin and burst.

Usually, you wont be able to know if you have any serious problem until 24-48 hours later. If you think its serious, I would seek medical attention right away. Otherwise watch it for the next day or two. If it gets better, then you should be fine. If it gets worse, well then go to the doctor. Either way, it is your call. I am no doctor.
 
^ Hey, no I did not have it tied off. For some reason I believe it to be my theory and was curious if it happened to anyone else. But I will give it some time for sure and in the meanwhile read some replies/answers. Thanks for your response. :)
 
The Cpt's Advice - 4 things to do when you're down to 1 vein...

#1 stop injecting in only 1 vein

#2 look for more veins

#3 work out more (lift weights) if you can't find any more.

#4 get a friend to help if needed.

If all else fails... quit IVing. Why? You need a circulatory system, that's why. ;)
 
themdyaunome said:
^Indeed. Mainly number 1...or the quitting part thats good too.
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Honestly #3 is the best advice I can give anyone... but #1 is decent advice too! :)

You could only use one vein as an injecting drug user and be fine... honestly... however you would have to not inject daily, or just once a day MAX, sort of thing.

Most IDU's (injection drug users) require most of their arm veins and then some, just to circulate veins frequently enough to not start building heavy, thick track marks on their skin.
 
Im guilty of not performing #3. I lost a lot of weight while using drugs, so my veins were always right there on the surface. However, Ive cut down immensely and now find it hard to hit most of the ones I used to use. Not to mention the skin in the crook of my elbows is now extremely hard, and I find it very hard to hit there like I used to. Not to mention I can feel the needle pushing through each layer of skin. Its like nails on a chalkboard. Now I use the small ones on the underside of my forearm.

To the OP, if you are using a small vein, make sure to inject very slowly. Injecting too fast can also blow out your vein. May I ask what you were shooting? Good luck.
 
themdyaunome said:
Im guilty of not performing #3. I lost a lot of weight while using drugs, so my veins were always right there on the surface. However, Ive cut down immensely and now find it hard to hit most of the ones I used to use. Not to mention the skin in the crook of my elbows is now extremely hard, and I find it very hard to hit there like I used to. Not to mention I can feel the needle pushing through each layer of skin. Its like nails on a chalkboard. Now I use the small ones on the underside of my forearm.

To the OP, if you are using a small vein, make sure to inject very slowly. Injecting too fast can also blow out your vein. May I ask what you were shooting? Good luck.
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Yeah?

Get back to the gym! It won't hurt just because you're using drugs. If anything, going to the gym on drugs is even easier than sober. ;)

EDIT

I just took a DELICIOUS wax dab, and also wanted to throw this in...

Are you using new needles every time? If so, when you feel the nails on the chalk board effect when IVing, your needles are either dull new ones (meaning choose a new needle manufacturer like BD or Terumo) OR you have built up A LOT of scar tissue.

If you have THAT much scar tissue that NEW needles are doing the "nails on the chalk board" effect when IVing, you MUST give that vein / scar tissue a rest.

If at least 1 vein gets some rest because I typed all that, I will be very satisfied that you all are properly implementing harm reduction correctly. %) =D
 
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Good point rocketqueen. Did not think of that. Arteries carry blood to the different areas of the body while veins carry blood back to the heart. There is much more pressure in an artery than a vein, which could have caused the blood to spurt like that.

If you have THAT much scar tissue that NEW needles are doing the "nails on the chalk board" effect when IVing, you MUST give that vein / scar tissue a rest.
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I didn't use to, but now I make sure to use a new one every time. I break the tip off after each use to make sure I do not use it again. Even with a new needle, I get that feeling. It is definitely scar tissue. I haven't used those veins in over four months either. The large one on the inside of my left elbow blew about five months ago and I havent used it since. However the one on my right arm has a lot more buildup. Im sure I could use it, I just really hate the feeling.

Btw, I've always used BD. Wont use anything but! The five bucks it costs for new needles definitely beats the risks associated with using old ones.
 
Op, just keep an eye on it and you will be fine. I used to only hit one vein and I have the track to show for it. Even if you can climb up the vein about 1 or 2 inches to rotate there, it will help a lot.

Themdyanome: try mederma scar gel. It actually really softens and repairs scar tissue, even to a couple cm deep.
 
Op, just keep an eye on it and you will be fine. I used to only hit one vein and I have the track to show for it. Even if you can climb up the vein about 1 or 2 inches to rotate there, it will help a lot.
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To the OP: This is what I've been doing. I use the same 4 veins but move a couple inches up or down it each time. I would really try to find some other veins to hit if I were you.

Themdyanome: try mederma scar gel. It actually really softens and repairs scar tissue, even to a couple cm deep.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I will try this. I miss using those big old veins. A lot less complications. It used to be very easy to hit my first time when I had access to those big ol' beauties.
 
If you need help finding a vein, mix up your shot, load it into the syringe and take very warm shower. Your veins will stick out more.
 
^ But don't shoot up in the bath tub. You don't want to nod out and drown.

OP, make sure to keep an eye on it, and take a break. Resort to plugging or sniffing if you really need to use.
 
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@themd: I shot for about fifteen years, but I do not have visible recognizable tracks because I used a new needle every time. I also cleaned the site of injection with rubbing alcohol, before and after injection. These practices turned out to be extremely useful in other areas as well. For example, I do not have HIV or HCV or Hep B. I avoided endocarditis and osteomyelitis, sepsis and staph. So, the end result is I am still here, in the shadows of the fallen, a place that is devoid of any real joy. Your habits of taking care will serve you well in many ways, but it can be a very lonely place as most of my friends do not take such care and now they are dead.

Your people do not like your addiction, but dead is a whole 'nother level. In death all hope for recovery is lost forever.
 
Yeah I have two dead friends and one missing an arm. I now use a new needle every time, clean with rubbing alcohol beforehand and neosporin after. Also use a micron-filter. Safety first!

Also just got my test results in and I am std free! I was pretty scared there for awhile. Didnt really use good etiquette my first year iv'ing.
 
themdyaunome said:
Yeah I have two dead friends and one missing an arm. I now use a new needle every time, clean with rubbing alcohol beforehand and neosporin after. Also use a micron-filter. Safety first!

Also just got my test results in and I am std free! I was pretty scared there for awhile. Didnt really use good etiquette my first year iv'ing.
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I'm glad to hear you had favorable results after your STD screen! :)
 
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