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Harm Reduction Thoughts on a bubble in forearm

JuniorTalk

Greenlighter
Joined
Sep 28, 2012
Messages
11
Hey all...3 year IV user/10 year everything else user. I usually dont stress over small bumps or lumps until I absolutely have to. If after waiting several days and the bump is gone (and it usually is) - then I start to find interest in what I've done and how to learn from my mistakes . Enough preamble :-)

I have an odd bump - about the size of a tic tac in my forearm from what I can only imagine is months old (maybe 4). There is no injection spot that I can see and was never there before. It's hard to describe but if I run my finger along my forearm I can feel the bubble /bump and it also moves below the skin to like a loose marble (not that loose) and it might be moving along with the rolling of my veins - is there anyway to remove this or have it go down ? My physician is a family physician and the last thing I need is my doctor wondering why I have some type of IV damage In forearm. Nor do I need him inspecting the rest of my veins

Anyway - it doesn't hurt and isn't even a bump/bulge you can see . It's something I feel when feel my forearm and it bothers me

If it were a more topical lump - I would Have already put a syringe in (new syringe) and sucked out all the puss like I have done in the past , but this one is below the surface and not recent

Thoughts anyone ?

Thanks in advance
 
You shouldn't be getting "lumps," and you certainly shouldn't be treating infections as you've described at home!

You cannot be diagnosed over the internet.

Go to another physician. Check your IV technique.

More or less stating the obvious. The OP isn't looking to be professionally diagnosed over the internet. Experienced users here should be able to gauge the potential severity of what he is experiencing; meaning, is it something he needs to rush to his doctor for, or watch and wait to see if it gets worse or heals/lessens.

In all reality, you don't need to run to a doctor for everything. A little bit of cautious observation and using common sense is usually a fine way of going about things, which is what I see the OP doing.

I'm not an IV user so I cannot offer much else.
 
Thank you saosin. You hit the nail on the head.

I don't need a diagnosis. The fact that this happened over 4 months ago means its not a dire emergency.

I was just wondering if this happened to other IV users since I'm in a harm reduction forum. At least I tried. Thanks all
 
More or less stating the obvious. The OP isn't looking to be professionally diagnosed over the internet. Experienced users here should be able to gauge the potential severity of what he is experiencing; meaning, is it something he needs to rush to his doctor for, or watch and wait to see if it gets worse or heals/lessens.

In all reality, you don't need to run to a doctor for everything. A little bit of cautious observation and using common sense is usually a fine way of going about things, which is what I see the OP doing.

I'm not an IV user so I cannot offer much else.

This lump has been present for four months - no one can tell him with any certainty that he doesn't need to see a doctor. He stated he does not want to go to the doctor because it is his family physician - well, see another doctor. If he is getting infections as he has described, then he needs to take a look at his IV practices as I said.

Indeed what I stated was somewhat obvious, but it appears that it needed to be said if this guy has repeatedly been using syringes to draw puss out of "lumps."

Just because one IV user has had a small "lump" that may sound similar, that in no way helps the OP. If he is not looking for a diagnosis, then what? I can't see how "yes, I've had a lump too" would assist in any way.

I also cannot see any HR value in offering anything other than the advice to see a doctor in this instance. I also addressed the fact that the OP is dangerously treating infections at home. This is HR.

If you are concerned - see a doctor. Simple.
 
^ I agree, Mel.

BL mods generally will tell you that they're not doctors and cannot diagnose what's wrong with you and generally close the post and refer you to a doctor.

Trying to drain abscesses yourself is really not a good idea. You need to get 100% of the pus out. Also, it needs to be done with sterile tools and you really need to be on antibiotics as well. You really want to have a doctor take care of the whole thing.. I had a big lump on my arm after missing an entire shot of tar. I was terrified, I had never missed before but for some reason I couldn't feel or see when I slipped out. Usually I would feel a burning sensation and instantly see the area swell since the fluid wasn't going in the vein. I went into my PCP and they said it was probably an abscess but to keep applying heat and to take antibiotics. But luckily with hot compresses it went away before I even took the antibiotics, I got REALLY lucky.

But you can lose limbs if you don't treat that shit. Sure, a 4 month old lump probably isn't an abscess. But get it checked out just to be safe. I would go to Planned Parenthood.. They have regular doctors there too and they deal with a lot of that kind of stuff. And because they're PP they're really great about confidentiality, they'll call you pretending to be a friend or a regular doctors office when they leave msgs. And if you can't afford to pay or can't use your insurance you can just donate whatever you can.
 
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Thanks for the help guys. I wasn't looking for a diagnosis though. I was just interested if others have had a similar experience based on how I described the feeling when I run my finger over it . I don't think it's going to kill me, but I also don't like the feeling of it either.

As for drawing the puss out , we all have our own methods and I did in fact see a doctor after to remove anything else . He was able to make sure it was not infected and clean.

I'll go to another pcp and show them my arm and go from there
 
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