posted
I was told by my Dr. that the Home health care company who will be caring for my PICC line would be coming out every 3 days. I just spoke to them and they said they come out once every 7 days.
How often is the dressing supposed to be changed? And how often does the line need to be flushed?
Should they be coming out more often then once every 7 days?
Posts: 86 | From Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
Mine is every 7 days.....if you have an appropriate sterile dressing.....
and my line is flushed every day either when having antibiotics or fluids.....if i have a day where i miss for some reason, i still flush with saline and heparin to keep the line patent.....
it takes a little time getting used to everything.......but it will all become clearer.........
-------------------- Oct 09 Positive CDC Western Blot Jan 10 Positive Babesia Duncani Jan 10 Cd57 28 Mar 10 EBV, IgM, IgG HHV-6 IgG Posts: 739 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
PICC line dressing should be changed every 7 days.
I always flushed my picc line twice a day with saline and heparin. Heparin is to prevent blood clots.
Posts: 44 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2011
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-------------------- ? date of bite/no rash 10/09 symptoms, 4/10 diagnosed, after 6 mos. ER visits, tons of docs/tests CDC+ 23/39/41/45/58/66/93 currently on oral plaquenil, doryx, rifampin, pyrazinamide, nystatin, numerous supplements Posts: 718 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Mine was every 3 days only because I was allergic to the chloroprep and tegaderm.
I believe if you can't see the site it's every three days. If you can see the site and it stays dry then it's seven.
-------------------- Bart Henslea 1976 Fibro/CFS/arthritis 2004 Lyme diagnosed 2007 3 1/2 years treatment with oral combos, Cowden, IV roc. BW herbs. Off all abx in 12/10. Feeling good. Posts: 647 | From NY | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Thanks so much. This information really helps me feel a lot better about the dressing changes.
As far as the line flushing every day, well, now I am a little freaked out about that.
Is someone going to teach me how to do this?
I just realized that the gallstone prevention medication is prescription and not something I can go buy from a vitamin store. Since it seems like many people on rocephin have problems with gallstones is it OK to wait til I see the Dr. next time to get an RX for this?
The line is put in on the 4th and I see the Dr. on the 14th, can the gallstone meds wait until then?
Posts: 86 | From Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
Everbody gave you excellent advice. My daughter had her line in for 4 months. The nurse came out the next day and taught me everything. At first it seemed a little overwhelming but she was right by the 3rd day I never even looked at my notes.
They are only a phone call away don't forget so don't hesitate to ask them anything.
Dressing changes are weekly unless there is a problem. My daughter had NO problems whatsoever.
For showers we wrapped her arm in saran wrap. Well it was that real clingy wrap i cant remember what its called right now but its right in the grocery store. We double wrapped it and her arm never got wet.
I would say you can wait to get the script from the dr when u go for your appt or if you r worried you can always call the office and have them fax it.
FYI my daughter never took anything for her gallbladder and also never had a problem. Perhaps because she was a teen IDK but she was fine.
Not saying you shouldnt have it just saying u dont need it immediately.
Good luck
Deb g
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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