Injecting - To tourniquet or not to tourniquet?

[Trauma Princess]

SWIM has a question for those experienced IVers out there in cyber space...

SWIM recently learnt from her lovely government sponsored "Guide to Getting Off Right" that SWIYs are supposed to, once registering in a vein with a tourniquet, release the tourniquet before shooting up.As SWIMs arms are a right state at the moment she figured she'd heed the governments advice for once.

For those SWIYs that release tourniquet, after shooting up as SWIM used to, the greater pressure on the vein means more chance of damaging it.

So somehow SWIM is supposed to release the tourniquet while keeping the pin in? With one hand. How?

The only option SWIMs came up with is leaving the pin dangling briefly while releasing the tourniquet-which obviously dislodges it-leading to lots of screaming when shooting citric under the skin.

So what does everyone else do?
Hmm. assistance required.

[Hapworth]

Yeah, it's difficult to do things one-handed, but it's possible. Experienced users use an easy release tourniquet (forget what they're called) that comes loose in a snap. SWIM uses a belt (like the kind SWIM might use around his waist), and he finds that once he's in a vein, he is able to loosen the tourniquet somehow (either by letting the needle dangle, or propping the needle up some way).

Also, SWIM is wondering if the tourniquet is really always necessary, or if it just helps one see/feel the veins more clearly.

[msmogadon]

SWIM struggles with this also. SWIM has so much trouble actually getting a vein that when it finally registers SWIM does not want to move a muscle for fear of it slipping out again.

[madfan]

Swim laughed when she read msmogadons post as she is exactly the same.Probably worse - sometimes she dare not even breathe till its all gone in!And if her old mans sitting on the bed with her,neither dare he!
Swim stopped using a tourniquet years ago.Not only because of the risk of losing the hit but also because pretty quickly her arm,leg or whatever would start going a blueish maroon colour & she could no longer see her veins till she released it.Swims veins are so tiny that the tie didn`t make them stand up at all anyway.
Swims gotta say to trauma princess that its pretty risky leaving it on till swiys pushed it all in,as if ever she should fall asleep like that,she could very easily lose a limb as the circulation will be cut off till she wakes up.
Also the citric &/or the gear (depending on what she`s shooting up) will damage the veins even more than they would anyway because its trapped in the same place,presumably burning the vein wall until the tie is released.

[vtheree]

When SWIM first started shooting he didn't use a tourniquet at all. SWIM veins were so prominent it didn't matter. However with constant abuse his veins have receded so much he has to use a belt now. SWIM would prefer not to use one, but other wise he can not see let alone hit a vein. AFOAF that SWIM shoots with said that it's only dangerous to leave the tourniquet on after the hit. He said it can cause your veins to collapse. Is this true? SWIM heeded his advice and always takes it off right after the hit. SWIM is just curious if this is true.

[Trauma Princess]

wow thanks SWImadfan SWIM had no idea touriquet risks were so big and limb loss is definately my no 1 all time junkie fear. Plus would make sense why when using brown my veins have got so battered that the cirtics sitting in the vein. Tourniquets be damned -must just get better at vein tapping!

SWIHapworth would appreciate more info on these easy-release tourniquet gismos. Seen em on film SWIM thinks-cm wide nylon tape looking like things with plastic clip??-are these something given out at exchanges in some countries? Will give the belt a go and try out some angles...any recommendations?

Trauma Princess added 191 Minutes and 5 Seconds later...

Wahey! SUCCESS!!!!! An easy-release tourniquet! The Prince Gondolumphazzah (a neighbour of mine) found one of those cable laptop locks for securing them to tables--i.e a plastic coated circular cable--and even better it has a beautiful loop at one end. Absolutely divine. Can be held in the mouth then when Prince Gondolumphazzah opened his mouth it just flew off-surfaces just slipped off each other, no assistance required. Happy happy days. Can't beleive the Princess of Trauma was struggling with some badly knotted neck tie and ending up looking like a pin cushion after the cock ups caused through wrestling it off between registering and shooting.

To everyone else out there who can't wear short-sleeves and are concerned the needle and the damage done means that today they won't find a vein -- this is the answer! Find it today! Specs-Circular, thin and slippery-plastic coated cable worked a treat. The veins will thank you!

Big shout out to Hapworth for the inspiration and madfan the safety advice

[Junkhead23]

Not taking the tourniquet off is not a good thing to do. Leads to blown veins

[Hapworth]

The important thing to remember is that the tourniquet should be removed once SWIY registers. Early on, SWIM would screw up certain steps in the shooting process (forgetting to swab the injection area with alcohol, forgetting to loosen the tourniquet before the shot, etc.). SWIM didn't have any health problems, but it's important to learn good technique. If SWIY uses a tourniquet, loosen that puppy once SWIY registers.

[mickey_bee]

swim thinks he's gonna try and nick the 'professional' torniquet they have at his clinic, as that is fuckin wicked.....always bring the veins up, and with a little flick of the catch releases again.

[BumpBump]

swim uses a tie or belt, and holds it tight with his theeth. When he rigisters he lets go and its slacks somewhat. The only problem with this is that it pulls the skin and veins round.
Swim hands shakes so and sometimes he has a bad do as it is when hitting up... other times it seems so easy. Swim is a chipper so only has a couple hits on a weekend, or every other

[Junkhead23]

Also belts can be a little oo harsh on the veins and cause them to collapse

[mickey_bee]

If swiy shoots with someone else ever then swim finds the best tourniquet is just the other person's hand. Otherwise just getting urself proper warm and letting your arm dangle for a bit tends to work.

[CrookedEye]

A tourniquet is to cut off circulation to stop bleeding, not for injecting.. Using a tie, one shouldn't make it so tight the flow is stopped, just enough to restrict flow so that veins show easier.. The tie has almost nothing to do with how one gets off, unless it takes someone more than a few seconds to inject the dose.. Once one finds a vein they can release the tie, and if one has ever given blood, paying attention to the way a nurse does it may help.. They make the tie so a loop is tucked under the edge, so pulling one end releases it easily, and can be done with the mouth..

[chukbzle]

a FOAF said use it to get the sucker vein out then let go and almost start as its just about let go.like when releasing whatever one chooses to wrap around slowly start but make sure first to kinda memorize ALL u can bout the vein so if it disapears u know its still in and aimed rite but also if ya mess up dont just say fuck it and force bubbles or other dangerous things that happen from use(lot can go wrong since a partical or wrong micro germ can make u sick and sometimes even die if not treated. also even tho it hurts way more try feet or hands its better u get a cleaned area with a vein u know u wont wiggle bad. i know its off subject but is soo worth it to buy syringe filters .02 microns can stop most bacteria plus take out fillers.