posted
My doc wants me to try IV Tygacil. Is the PICC line painful? Is it dangerous? I have read about it on the net and it sounds unpleasant.
Posts: 213 | From ohio | Registered: Jul 2006
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ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
My son found it uncomfortable for a bit but nothing horrible. The procedure goes pretty quickly. He didn't have any dangerous issues with his PICC during the 10 months it was in. He had a great nurse that came to the house once a week to clean the site and rebandage it. Good luck!
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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randibear
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posted
I honestly could never do it. I was in the hospital once for two weeks with An iv and I cried every day. I can barely tolerate shots. No pain tolerance at all
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Amanda
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posted
IT should not be painful. If it is, itcould be a sign that the viens in your arm are small and/or close to nerves.
They should look at the viens in your arm right before the procedure. You can try consulting with teh person who puts it in before hand, asking that if your viens looks small, that they either put in a pediatric picc line, or consider having a port put in.
Don't let them tell you that your viens "look ok" by just using their eyes, or summing you up size wise. They need to use x-ray type equipment. I am a good size person, and my viens are small
-------------------- "few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" - Mark Twain Posts: 1008 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i found out later that i have to have a pediatric needle, or baby needle..
they blew my veins using too big a needle.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
The PICC insertion is not bad. You will feel the stick but that is to be expected. They will try to numb your arm with Lidocaine, that might help. After that initial stick, all you should feel is slight tugging sensation as they thread the catheter inside. It is weird but not bad or painful.
Afterwards my arm did hurt for several days. Be prepared for that. Use warm compresses to relieve the pain. Ask your doctor if you can take advil. You can and should use the arm, just baby it a little at first. It will heal.
I slept with a pillow tucked under my arm for several months because if I allowed my PICC arm to rest on my ribs all night I would wake up in pain. This also kept me from sleeping on my PICC arm. Two very helpful things for me!
Once your arm is healed you won't feel the PICC line at all. It will annoy you having it there on your arm every day. You will have to flush it and maintain it and keep it covered and answer questions from nosey people in public... But it is there for a purpose, to help you get better.
Take care.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
I had no pain when the line was installed. Was a little sore for a week after. After that, no pain. I took some chances with it; with exercise and ocean/river/pool exposure. But the home nurse came every week to change the dressing, and the line was fine.
To be a little anxious is natural. I was a little at first too, but I decided that I would rather be anxious a little now, than still sick later.
In the end, the IV worked well for me. Not perfect, not even fine. But I am off all abx now for the first time in 3.5 years and seem to be stable.
-------------------- enjoy the day.
-jmb Posts: 208 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2008
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
A PICC line should be placed by an Interventinal Radiologist under a X-Ray TV to insure proper placement. The line goes from your upper arm to the heart.
The llmd should set it up w/ a hospital or vein type clinic.
If it is done this way it is virtuslly painless. Sterile enviornment & numbed arm.
I didn't feel a thing. Only was slightly sore later that night.
Had a midline (not as far up to heart) by a nurse...painful.
Tigecyl was the "ticket" for me. Others here had hard time tolerating Tigecyl. I found after 1st month nausea only came in dribs & drabs.
The first couple weeks I lived on ginger-ale & crackers. I never did any anti-nausea meds while on it.
By the 3rd month was fine (eating while infusing).
Would have loved to do more than the 4 months but I did too much w/arm & developed a clot alongside the PICC line.
Good Luck.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
My doctor and I decided for me to get a Port. If I am not mistaken, it is more "permanent." I think you can have it for longer amounts of time because it isn't as exposed. I have had mine for a year, and when I have to go off antibiotics for one reason or another, I just have to access once a month to flush. If you aren't accessed, you can take a shower as normal. Just a thought!
-------------------- You name it, I've got it. Full-time medical anomaly. Posts: 432 | From Southeast | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
Thank you for all your replies. The pediatric size is not something I would have thought about. Also, I will check with my Doc about using a radiologist for the procedure.
Posts: 213 | From ohio | Registered: Jul 2006
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