Injecting - Wondering about scars from injecting

[jasita]

SWIM recently met a new guy...and notice a mark on his inner arm, knowing what this was right away she asked him about the mark, he lied and said he had given blood...after some discussion the new guy told her that he doesnt snort coke but injects it.

The new guy and SWIM both enjoy recreational drug use but SWIM does not inject drugs...anyway SWIM was suprised to find out that the new guy injects. The new guy went into some sort of damage control and told SWIM that he has been injecting for around 3 years and but only every 6 or 8 weeks and only when he has spare cash. SWIM is not sure is this story is true due to the scar on his arm ...SWIM didnt get a VERY close look but it looked around 1.5cm long red/purple and thick and ropey over the top of the vein...SWIM is wondering if this kind of scar is consistent with injecting every couple of weeks in the same place ? Or if in fact this may indicate more regular use?

New guy also told SWIM that his use isnt a problem just recreational...but also told her he wants to stop but doesnt know how... SWIM is wondering if she is overacting to this or if perhaps new guy maybe getting a little deep with his use.....any thought would be appreciated.

jasita added 80 Minutes and 48 Seconds later...

Perhaps the description should read 'raised and ropey' rather than 'thick and ropey'...as the scar is not very wide...

jasita added 0 Minutes and 22 Seconds later...

Perhaps the description should read 'raised and ropey' rather than 'thick and ropey'...as the scar is not very wide...

[tweakette]

swim been slamming for going on 3 years, and no one believes swim when swim tell them. Cuz swim do it properly and so it doesn't leave horrible marks and scars.

Sounds like he is the kind of person who likes to use the same injection spot over and over. Which is disgusting.

Overtime your vein will become darker, like purplish red on the skin. They get callaced. raised means he fucked up a lot of times or used too dull of needle.

If he was using often like daily or every couple, there would be tiny little dot scabs, or just like irritated and red. And maybe he has retired that spot, he could be doing it in his leg or anywhere.

Cocaine doesn't make sense to me. It doesn't do jack shit!

[Fight Club]

NIK thinks it's hard to tell from examining the scars alone. When he used to inject cocaine, the marks were dark and purple as you described them, but remained that way for 6 - 9 months after he stopped.

Now that he has been clean for 16 months, NIK's scars are still visable, but they are lighter in color than the surronding tissue.

If they appear to be hard, raised and ropey that suggests more recent use.

FWIW, NIK would be concerned about getting deeply involved with someone that is continuing to use IV cocaine, because, in his opinion, it is almost impossible to control, and only gets worse, never better until someone stops completely.

FC

[jasita]

SWIM says thanks for the info, most appreciated.

SWIM couldn't see any marks/holes that may indicate more recent use (although new guy may be using other places).

SWIM is still wondering even if new guy used that same spot once every 6 weeks for 3 years if it is likely to result in a scar like the one describe above? SWIM thinks that perhaps the new guy is not telling the full truth about his use...once every 6 weeks or so doesn't sound, to SWIM, like such a big deal...(?)

SWIM is now wondering just how hard it is for someone to control their use of cocaine in this way ? Is it possible that the new guy does just enjoy a little every now and then ?

SWIM thinks that FC is correct and that she needs to be very careful......

[Fight Club]

Originally Posted by betsym

It depends on the person as to just how hard it is for them to "control their use of cocaine in this way." Swim never had a problem with it. She could do it once every 6 months, every 10 months, every 3 months, whatever. She hasn't done it in a while and doesn't know if she ever would again, but if she wanted to, she would. . .

SWIB is very rare in this respect. NIK has known many IV coke users over the years, and their usage tends to escalate until they either a) die, b) are institutionalized, or c) quit.

In SWIB's defense, however, I have known people that have used IV coke without becoming addicted, despite the fact that it is regarded as the most (psychologically) addicting substance / MOA in existance.

NIK would also not judge someone by what they have done in the past. Overcoming his own addiction has made him a far better person than he was before he started using drugs.

FC

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Overcoming his own addiction has made him a far better person than he was before he started using drugs
	Great post!

[darkbreed]

SWIM used to be a slammer of many different substances, in his experiences the best thing is to change around on injection spots to reduce the risk of obtaining scars such as mentioned in the OP.

Injecting can often give some bruises though but if done correctly and properly it barely leaves any marks, though sometimese the bruises will still be there, and if missing and shootin wrong you can get some nasty bumps and what not.

SWIM stopped slamming years ago though and is now using other routes of administration that is safer and pretty close in effects such as rectal route.

[jasita]

SWIM is fairly open minded about drugs and the different ways to administer them...SWIM has tried needles just to experiment (once a long time ago) so is not judging the new guy because he has scars or uses needles.

SWIM is nervous because she has seen what happens to people when they get addicted....its not pretty and SWIM doesnt even want to consider getting involved with someone who has these kinds of problems....

SWIM is also aware that plenty of people can used drugs IV and not have a problem, but SWIM is aware this can be a difficult balance to maintain.

SWIM is concerned that the new guy (who from all accounts is a nice guy) is being a little less than truthful about his use...thats all....

Reputation Comments on this post:

Glad to see that you are being careful.

[tweakette]

Originally Posted by darkbreed

SWIM used to be a slammer of many different substances, in his experiences the best thing is to change around on injection spots to reduce the risk of obtaining scars such as mentioned in the OP.

Injecting can often give some bruises though but if done correctly and properly it barely leaves any marks, though sometimese the bruises will still be there, and if missing and shootin wrong you can get some nasty bumps and what not.

SWIM stopped slamming years ago though and is now using other routes of administration that is safer and pretty close in effects such as rectal route.

Exactly. Done properly shouldn't leave a scar, and swim even uses the single use needles 20 times each usually. Swim has to sharpen with a matchbook.
The only scar that swim has is actually from getting her blood taken at the doctors office one time.


Also, depends on the size of needle that he did use, the bigger the needle the more damage obviously.

[jasita]

SWIM says thanks again for everyone's time and words.

SWIM found out that the new guy does use the same place to inject over and over and he says its the only place he injects. SWIM still hasn't managed to discuss the whole issue with the new guy as much as she would like, but SWIM doesnt want to push the issue too much and make him feel 'backed into a corner'....

I guess I will find out as things go along...or maybe not...

[tweakette]

Originally Posted by betsym

Using "single-use" needles 20 times each is really not recommended. Sharpening the needle with a matchbook is even worse. Needles, even high-quality ones, are damaged after only one use. That's why they are "one-use." Swim can imagine that sharpening an already-damaged needle on a matchbook damages it even more. Swim understands that people cannot always afford to get new rigs but they can't afford to get infections, abscesses, or amputations, either. Plenty of people may reuse their needles all the time and never have a problem and there are just as many who do and end up having major problems. Swim has reused hers 3 or 4 times each, on occasion, when she used to use, and knows first-hand what may happen. It doesn't matter how proper the injection is done without the proper tools. Jasita, if the new guy is reusing his equipment excessively, then that might be more indicative of a problem than the scars. As tweakette pointed out, some folks might be able to reuse their rigs a bunch without it being noticed, and so there might actually be more to the problem than meets the eye. He may be injecting so much that he can't afford to buy the number that he would need for "single-use." Then again, the guy could've gotten the scars after injecting only a few times. Swim hopes swiy has found out more the guy now and is comfortable with it.

Oh, swim knows its bad. Its horrible. It hurts so bad, and even though swim sharpens it, they are never close to how sharp they were the first use.

swim would totally use a new one everytime if swim could. But swim can barely even get swims hands on 1 most of the time. Swim Usually gets someones old one, so dull when swim gets it. The stores here refuse to sell them to swim. swim can never get them to do it.

Swim doesn't know how people use the same spot over and over. It gets so sore. >.<

[BoxStar]

SWIM has track marks along his hands and arms from years of intensive cocaine and heroin use; with so much use eventually the skin darkens along the length of the vein.

At height of use SWIM used well over a thousand needles a month, and re-used each 1-2 times every now and then, still he always rotated sites and never got large scars from shooting on the same place over and over again.

If that guy only injects every couple of weeks, is truly disgusting that he does not rotate sites since that would prevent the formation of big and ugly scars.

Intravenous cocaine can be extremely addicting and it’s easy to lose control, SWIM thinks losing control at least once is vital to learn to control it better, this has worked very well for SWIM but other lab monkeys lose control once and never regain it; every individual is a different world.

Best advice is to leave the needle alone if SWIY is unwilling to accept everything that comes with the package, for most people the “flash” or “rush” is not worth it, but they usually find out too late, already “hooked on a feeling”.

Reputation Comments on this post:

sound post

[jasita]

At height of use SWIM used well over a thousand needles a month, and re-used each 1-2 times every now and then

This seems like alot of needles every month (but then SWIM wouldnt really know what alot is)

SWIM is now wondering why 'the new guy' wouldn't rotate the site he uses to inject if he knows it is going to scar?

[tweakette]

Originally Posted by betsym

"Swim usually gets someones old one"!!!!!!!Tweakette has just gone from "bad" to worse! Swiy's veins are going to rebel on swiy soon and swiy will have NO choice but to give up injecting. If swiy is using other peeps' needles, as well as reusing them over and over and over, swiy needs to get help NOW! This is not alright to do! There is no harm reduction there. Surely swiy can get needles some other way. Stores have a way of looking at folks and deciding who the junkies are. Find somebody who will order swiy some online (swiy gives them the money) or find somebody who CAN get them from a store. Or find out where the peeps whose used needles swiy gets, gets theirs and give them some money, extra if necessary, to get swiy some, too. Using the same spot over and over isn't NEARLY as disgusting as using someone else's used rig! Swim isn't judging here but if SOMEBODY didn't at least mention this, then they don't give a damn about swiy! Consider swiyself very LUCKY! If swiy, doesn't have scars, it's a wonder, but there are far worse things to have than scars.

Jasita, if the "new guy" is reusing someone else's old needles, then swiy should worry because they've crossed the line into heavy addiction. People may get "stuck" on an injection site that "works", even when it quits working because they've learned to associate that certain spot with sure-fire delivery.

Tweakette, what about needle exchange? Hon, swiy needs to make it top priority to find clean rigs if swiy is not planning to stop, or is unable to stop injecting anytime soon. Swim understands the strong temptation when swiy's junk is there, right in front of her, calling swiy's name, but the only way swiy wants it is with the needle. Surely swiy's life MEANS something to somebody, if not to swiy. Swim doesn't even know swiy, and she cares! If others are able to get their hands on rigs, then so can swiy! Watch to see where they go and then try it swiyself. Surely swiy isn't getting much good out of her stuff, having to do it with used rigs and all?

Swim of course bleaches the hell out of them. The people swim gets them from get them from someone who gets them from someone else. Swim has had many friends and people she knows try and get them from stores. Never any luck.

Swim wishes their was a needle exchange here, and doesn't understand why people refuse to sell them. It is not going to stop the junkie, it is just going to spread HIV and cause more people to hurt themselves.

When swim first started, Swim has hot glued broken syringes back together. Swim is not that bad anymore. Swim also uses one needle between 3-4 friends, that is why it dulls so fast.

[darkbreed]

SWIM has to agree that using the same "20 times needle" is NOOT recommended!

In fact, SWIM think that sounds HORRIBLE, even for ONE use. SWIM always get his needles and pumps fresh from the farmacy and no needs for supplying any reason for the use of such... He suppose this varies from country to country, and he is glad it is very easy to obtain where he is.

If you dont have a legal prescription reason for using whatever you do, SWIM can not help much as all he got is legal in his territoriy. But good luck, he DO hope things are getting there!1

[tweakette]

Yeah, swim does not value her life. Swim thinks about suicide all the time, but swim decided to just get high instead. So if death comes with it sometime soon or far, swim will accept it.

Swim just wants to get high for a few more years at least, that is why swim is even concerned.

Swim has made it this far, doing what she does. Swim will be fine.

[tweakette]

Originally Posted by betsym

Swim is so young to feel that way already but swim can't possibly know everything swiy has gone through and swim would have to agree that getting high certainly wins out over the other option. And since that's the game, it will go much better with clean rigs, if swiy can get them. Talk of suicide or self-harm is not allowed so swim won't talk about that. Swiy is correct in assuming that the better care she takes of her arms and other injection spots, the longer she can continue to inject, and this includes the tools, so now swiy knows what to focus on. Find a way to get someone in swiy's area to get them for swiy, whether at a store, online, or whatever. Harm reduction will make it better for swiy and set a good example for others. Swim used to get a script for injectable B-12 shots for her and her man and would get the rigs to give them with. Swim isn't sure if a doctor would write a script for a non-medical professional, but swim believes that he would write one for a diabetes patient because they know how to give their own shots. Maybe swiy knows someone who needs B-12 shots? It's a little expensive but maybe doable....Just a thought. Swim has swiy in her thoughts with harm reduction uppermost in her mind.If swim didn't care, she wouldn't waste her time tryng to help

thanks.