Heroin Yellow bruise around injection site.

[sxeandpure]

About a week ago, I missed my shot and as usual, got a bruise around the injection site. It hasn't gone away, and while it hasn't gotten any worse, I'm wondering if it's important that I get it looked at?

My needle was clean, I washed it after, and I've avoided touching that vein (or that arm) for the past six days. Is it abnormal for the yellow coloring to still be there after that much time? It doesn't look particularly bad or different from other times I've fucked up so I might just be worrying for nothing.

 

[Znegative]

It could be nothing, it could be very dangerous, there is really no way for anyone to tell you online, but your best course of action would be to get it checked out. Of course this is a very easy thing to say, and no me likes to tell a doctor that they're an IV drug user, but it really beats the hell out of getting some kind of awful infection like endocarditis or an abscess.

 

[wats615]

I've had the same thing happen to me multiple times when I missed. My arm would still be fucked up like two weeks later. Turned out to be nothing but better safe than sorry.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

If it's just a normal bruise with no other symptoms and the only problem is that it isn't healing as fast as you'd like, then that is normal and nothing to be worried about. Drugs can slow your healing time for bruises and make you bruise more easily. Put a warm wet cloth on it and some arnica gel.

One week is definitely a normal time for a yellow bruise to still be there. Mine would often take about 2-3 weeks to be completely gone.

 

[woamotive]

I've had this happen on more than a few occasions. In my experience, something like you describe is nothing serious. If there are no other issues (other than what you've mentioned) then I'd GUESS that you'll be fine. However, I have zero medical background - only personal experience to compare it to. Also, without a picture I can only imagine what it is you are talking about.

Use your best judgement, if you think something may be going on, or if you have a bad feeling about it (I DID once have an abscess... deep down I KNEW I should get it checked out or something horrendous would/could happen. I went to the Urgent Care and had it checked out. Got antibiotics, if would have waited longer, I probably would have had a different experience) then seek medical attention/advice. If you are really uncomfortable going INTO a clinic, often you can call a medical hotline or even talk to a nurse at a nearby clinic to describe your issue and ask for advice. Most often they will advise you to come into the clinic, but sometimes advice IS given via phone call.

Occasionally, the local pharmacist can offer good advice for medical issues. You may (or, should probably) show him/her your bruised area and inform him/her as to how you got it... but if you don't see that pharmacist regularly then who cares?

--that's all I've got. Good luck! Take care of yourself.

 

[Tommyboy]

My needle was clean, I washed it after...

Well do you mean that it was a needle that you had used before, and washed it before reusing, because they dull a lot after just one use, which results in more bruising than with a new needle. The yellow coloring can be a bruise, or as others have said it could be something worse.

Keep monitoring it and apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin [triple antibiotic ointment] regularly. Also, check your temperature and if you have a fever then I would have it checked out right away, and if the site gets visually or physically worse then get it checked out.

 

[Paulymorphone]

Has anyone ever drained their own abscess? I had one drained before at my regular internists office. I have another one, and I'm thinking i may be able to do it myself, but i couldn't really watch what she was doing since it was on my right thigh and i had to lie down on my side. I popped the head on one, and its pretty small, and i was pressing on the sides where the skin is hard getting the pus out, but do i need to make a small incisions? because the pus comes out really slowly...maybe its just healing itself. I have had no fever, and no red or black streaks or any sign of blood poisoning or preseptic shock. I'd prefer to do this alone so I can keep it to myself, and to be honest, I would rather die than have my PM doctor find out about this and change my meds. So if you know how, or know someone else who knows how, (And i should be able to get some bactrim) please let me know. Thanks

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Has anyone ever drained their own abscess? I had one drained before at my regular internists office. I have another one, and I'm thinking i may be able to do it myself, but i couldn't really watch what she was doing since it was on my right thigh and i had to lie down on my side. I popped the head on one, and its pretty small, and i was pressing on the sides where the skin is hard getting the pus out, but do i need to make a small incisions? because the pus comes out really slowly...maybe its just healing itself. I have had no fever, and no red or black streaks or any sign of blood poisoning or preseptic shock. I'd prefer to do this alone so I can keep it to myself, and to be honest, I would rather die than have my PM doctor find out about this and change my meds. So if you know how, or know someone else who knows how, (And i should be able to get some bactrim) please let me know. Thanks

I would highly recommend seeking medical treatment. You could always go to a different doctor, like a walk-in clinic or something. But if you are dead-set on doing it yourself you can do the following:
- apply a clean hot wet cloth to the area for 10-20 minutes
- sterilize the area using isopropyl alcohol or antibacterial liquid
- take a clean sterile needle and puncture the "head" of the abscess
- gently squeeze the puss out by pressing on the surrounding skin (blood will probably come out too, wipe up the puss/blood with a gauze)
- put antibiotic on the area
- apply a clean bandage (not bandaid, more like a piece of soft gauze or banadage that won't stick directly to the abscess)
- a few times a day remove the bandage and apply a hot wet cloth for 10-20 min (apply a clean bandage after)
- you may have to repeat these steps several times
- be sure to pay close attention to your body for signs that the infection may be spreading

 

[lptrax]

paulymorphone.

I can't even fathom you were IMing black NEW OPANA SLUDGE. that is simply insane.

no micron i assume? it would probably instantly clog.

go to the hospital bro

 

[Paulymorphone]

i wasn't IMing anything black. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow, but I'm fine this is nothing like the huge painful abscess i had once before. Stop fucking flaming me asshole