Hey Denny..Sorry about the loss of your friend...I miss them & often think of them too.
Was at a funeral on Sunday..another good friend bit the dust as a result of a life spent using in access. There have been so many..always say I've been to more funerals than I have weddings..and was saying that when I was in my 20's. It's understandable later in life but it wasn't then.
As far as I know I've lost 2 to Endocarditis and 1 more is still alive and doing okay (although weak). Janey was the first and she died in 88. Jane was one of those junkies who was born into money so she never really had to scramper..scrip or scheme for a hit. Her husband was another story..he's still alive and seems lost since she passed. He just loved the game and was always getting into trouble doing one shady deal after another when he didn't have to..go figure. I remember after she got out of the hospital they came over to my place..it shocked me how different she looked and was. I was actually afraid when she started to fix herself a hit. They liked to do speedballs..junk/coke mix..never could stand that combo myself..was strictly a heroin straight up kinda gal. Anyway after she did her hit we decided to go for a walk to the store..it was no more than 5 minutes away by foot..took us 15. She was literely blue around the lips and I had to wrap my arm inside of hers to help her take little steps she was just so weak. Jane didn't live long after that visit..maybe a couple of months.. if that...she told me during that walk she knew she wasn't going to make it her heart had been too damaged and she just felt like she was on borrowed time as it was..that Richard was the only reason she thought she made it back from almost dieing the last time. She felt she had to talk to him and prepare him.
I asked her why she continued to use..thinking there must be something she could do. Her family was from big money..they could have sent her anywhere. She shook her head and said "why stop now Sha..this has been my life..me & Richard..this is what I know and what I want." Kinda freaked me out that answer cause she had no fight in her..or maybe she was just wiser than me..knew something I didn't and accepted with grace the inevitable..the hand she'd been dealt..I don't know.
Another friend..recovered (although not sure how)..this lady has had more infections and problems as a result of dope than I've ever seen. Must have a strong will cause she still uses and is still with us. I saw her the other day and she is finally taking all these problems she has seriously..Hep C and other things.
Apparently it's a bacteria that eats away at our heart valve lining. Point of entry is usually where we hit it up..from bacteria on our skin or the syringe itself. As to why the doc told your buddy that one shot of dope could kill him I'm not sure. It's not the drug itself that causes it but the bacteria tranfered into the body from site of entry usually...dirty skin..rigs, etc. Maybe Dougs system was too weak to take much more.
Once while in rehab a couple of us smoked hash to help with the withdrawl..the staff busted a few of us and they sent one person home (the guy that copped to bringing it in). I was allowed to stay and used it as an excuse to leave anyway; but before I left the doctor asked if she could do a blood test for Endocarditis. I'd heard about it before and asked her why (got scared)..she said a patient of hers that left the same way I was leaving died a couple of weeks after she got out. The doc felt guilty for not having tested her before she left (like she could have known..it wasn't a standard test)...and she just wanted to be safe with me. I said okay. I asked her what the symptoms were..she said often times there weren't any noticable ones..but she said if I looked under my nails in a dark room and shone a flashlight under them..you could sometimes see these little reddish or white (can't recall which) dots or specks on the nail bed. I ran to my room and did just that..had a heck of a time getting a flashlight but I found one. Lucky for me there weren't any there. Of course now I was a few days heroin free..nervous and itching to leave...impatience won. There was no way I was waiting on any blood tests to come back..signed mysef out..took a cab to score and began another of my long runs.
About a month later I called for the results and I was clear.
I often think of this disease..my Grandmother died as a result of it..not the kind one gets from doing dope.
Here's some info
Sha
What is endocarditis? Bacterial endocarditis is an infection in the lining or valves of your heart. In addition to damaging your heart, the infection can travel in your blood to other organs and tissues including your brain, lungs or kidneys.
How does it happen?
Bacteria get into your bloodstream and travel to your heart. One way . One way that bacteria get into the blood is by using needles that aren't sterile. Another way is by injecting through skin that has not been thoroughly cleaned. Don't re-use needles, even your own. Used needles can easily pick up bacteria that are all around us, all the time.
Even if a new, sterile needle is used, bacteria from the skin can get pushed into your veins. Before using a needle, wash your skin carefully with soap and hot water. Then wipe the area with alcohol pads.
What are the symptoms of endocarditis?
The main symptom is a fever that lasts a long time -- up to a week or longer. Other symptoms may include tiredness, feeling lousy, soaking sweats at night, blood in your urine, stomach pain, skin rashes, or painful lumps in your hands.
The symptoms might show up in a couple of days, but also might take a couple of weeks. If you have any of these symptoms, you should talk to a doctor or nurse right away. Symptoms may not mean endocarditis, but you should protect yourself and find out just what is going on. Don't delay!
Endocarditis can kill you if it's not properly treated.
How do I know I have it?
See your doctor. There are special blood tests that can find bacteria in the blood. Other tests, such as x-rays and urine tests, can help tell if your heart is involved. These are fairly simple tests, but they require special equipment and are often done in the hospital. They can usually give an answer within a couple of days.
How is it treated?
Treatment usually means 2-4 weeks in the hospital. Antibiotics are given directly into the bloodstream. Chances of a cure are very good it it's caught early. Sometimes it may be necessary to replace heart valves once the infection has been cleared.
How can I avoid it?
Be as careful as possible when using needles. Use clean water to mix drugs or rinse needles. Wash your hands and the injection site well. Use plenty of hot, soapy water. Then use alcohol pads to clean the injection site. Don't lick your skin in the area where you use needles. And don't lick the needle. Normal bacteria in the mouth can cause endocarditis if they get into the blood. Drug injectors are at a very high risk of endocarditis. Even if you've been very careful with needles and cleaning, be aware of the problem. Go to your doctor as soon as you notice any symptoms.
The bottom line:
- Use a brand new syringe every time you inject or divide drugs.
- Clean your skin before injecting. Use plenty of hot, soapy water.
- Use clean water, clean cottons and clean cookers.
- If you have any of the symptoms, see a doctor or nurse fast.
How to use alcohol pads:
| Step one:
Take an alcohol pad and wipe back and forth where you plan to inject. (This will probably be your arm.) You want to press kind of hard this time. Use as many pads as you need to get the dirt off your skin. But don't stop here! You're not done! | |
Step two:
Now grab a new pad, and press down over the spot where you're going to inject. This time, wipe in a circle. Start with small circles and make bigger circles as you go. This pushes any leftover dirt and bacteria on your skin outward from the spot where you're going to shoot. Note: If you bleed after you shoot, press down with dry cotton or a band-aid to stop the flow. Don't use an alcohol pad; alcohol slows down clotting. http://www.metrokc.gov/health/APU/harmred/endocarditis.htm |
The symptoms of infectious endocarditis are:
heart murmur (often found in SBE),
fever,
flame shaped retinal hemorrhages with plane centers (Roth spots),
painless erythematous papules and macules on the palms of the
hands and the soles of the feet
painful erythematous subcutaneous papules (Oslers nodes) caused by
local vasculitis
petechiae,
subungual splinter hemorrhages,
splenomegaly,
hepatomegaly,
headaches,
backaches,
arthralgias and
confusion.
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