My LLMD wants me to start IV Rocephin to be administered via a 'Peripheral' IV Line. I'll by self-paying out of pocket for this, what have others paid without insurance?
Again, this is NOT a central line, but just a peripheral line that I believe is routed only several inches into a vein (probably arm?)
Apart from my cost question, is there anything else I should be aware of regarding Maintenance or otherwise? It is my hope that I can administer my own Rocephin after a nurse demonstrates the basics.
Thanks so much for ANY help, this is all very new to me and anxious to start defeating my neuro symptoms, Thanks Posts: 247 | From The Country | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
hey i got my PICC put in at a hospital in NC and it cost 900$ without insurance.
It goes in the inside of the bicep of my on-dominant arm and the tube length varies for each person. Mine is 45 cm. Just have to make sure to keep it dry and clean!
Posts: 23 | From myrtle beach sc | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
i am somewhat new to the IV treatment as well, but if you have any other questions i'll try to help ya out as best i can
Posts: 23 | From myrtle beach sc | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
Hi MBB3, I just started IV(peripheral),which I think is not the same as a Picc line. Once the nurse sets you up you can do it yourself. The only thing is the needle only last max 4 days. Today,after my last treatment(4 days on and 3 days off) I will get my friend to help me take it out. Then the nurse comes to my house on Mon and puts the needle back in. I started Tue and it has'nt been that bad. I see you live in Fl,where? I live in Ft Lauderdale and travel to Tampa to see my Dr.BLING,Bling! You do need friends around to help with things. Please let me know how it goes. Atheana Posts: 196 | From from a far | Registered: Jan 2008
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Thanks for your response...yes I am Florida, I guess I am not the only one in the state with Lyme Doctor also suspects Bartonella...
I am a little confused about the 'needle' comments? Perhaps I should ask the Dr./Nurse about this, but had the impression a 'tube' would be inserted into a vein and I would simply have to feed the Rocephin via a port? Really hoping to be able to do this all by myself after proper instructions...mainly to be cost concious.
Yes, I will be following a 4/3 IV schedule as well. Guess we're seeing the same doctor? You are welcomed to email me if you have any advice or want to share ideas. How is your treatment going? Are you doing well?
Kindest Regards, MBB3 Posts: 247 | From The Country | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
A peripheral line is a really short line-maybe2 inches or shorter that can go into a vein in your arm. It needs to be changed periodically and not meant to last too long.
I have had many many peripheral lines. I preferred them to a PICC line because the chasnce of sepsis is less and you can take it out yourself if you have to.
The down side is getting stuck every two weeks or so and if the line blows before your treatment you must have a nurse willing to come out and replace it at that time.
If not your treatments will be interrupted which is something you don't want.
Posts: 425 | From NY, United States | Registered: Mar 2005
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However, can anyone confirm what they spent out of pocket for a short (several inches long) 'peripheral line'? Surfrider kindly mentioned $900 for a 17" inch long line, but I'm thinking this must be a case of shorter=cheaper?
Also, what type of facility or nurse or specialist installed it?
There's a learning curve in all of this and am VERY thankful to hear from people who have been there...
Kindest Regards, MBB3
Posts: 247 | From The Country | Registered: Oct 2007
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Hope this helps. A PICC line is a "peripherally inserted central catheter". Mine went from the inside of my elbow into my subclavian vein under my collarbone. I had it in 6 months. I had it inserted by the phlebotomist at my Dr's office. I then walked up the street to the hospital and had a chest film to make sure it was in the correct place (not in the jugular vein for instance). I had it placed in Jan 2000, and it cost around $1000. IV adminstration was chosen due my Lyme neuro signs. Had to flush the line with heparin several times a day, and have dressing changed once a week. Good luck, and I wish you a rapid recovery, sincerely, rosie
Posts: 1 | From CT | Registered: May 2008
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posted
My PICC is 35.5 cm. It's actually the second I've had put in, since my first sprung a leak. Unfortunately, I don't know how much they cost.
I do know that my medical supplies and antibiotics run about $2,000 per week. As far as maintenance, a home nurse comes out one a week to change my dressing, and I do the daily treatments on my own.
Posts: 306 | From Brownsville, PA | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Hey MBB3...my husband had a PICC line that became clogged by a clot and had to have it removed in the ER. They temporarily put in a peripheral line which was in his forearm.
A peripheral line is much shorter and only took a few seconds to install, once they found a vein. My husband complained that the IV push into this peripheral line was much more painful and we had to take 4x as long to push the abx. The peripheral line could only be in for 2-3 days. He had his PICC line reinserted and he was much happier.
I've also heard that pushing the abx into a peripheral line is much harder on your veins. Why a peripheral line for you and not a PICC??
Posts: 10 | From MN | Registered: May 2008
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posted
I had a llmd, but i went to an ID to get the PICC line and the meds, i think because the order from an ID, so insurance pay 100%, i had BCBS Ins.
Posts: 36 | From Springfield VA | Registered: Dec 2008
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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
Just to add my experience with the length- my PICC was at least a foot long, maybe a bit longer.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Cost is going to vary greatly depending on where you have the line placed (city, hospital, outpatient center, doctors office?). Or is a home health nurse going to visit weekly to replace the lines? Your doctor should be able to give you more information.
If you are going to be on IV meds for awhile you might want to consider getting a PICC. It may be cheaper to maintain in the long run. Your family or a close friend can learn to change the dressing for you and help you administer the Rocephin if needed. Taking care of everything at home would save you a considerable amount of money.
Remember, as the patient you are also the consumer. Shop around. Weigh your options carefully. I'm still learning this lesson.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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1Bitten2XShy
Unregistered
posted
I had the 'Peripheral' IV line installed here in Florida. My PCP's office put it in place, the charge for that was $ 75- office visit.
Every 4-5 days the visiting nurse would come and remove and install a new one.
posted
Not sure if anyone else said this, don't want to read everything just to find out. That peripheral line most likely IS a central line
What you describe would probably be a Mid Line, perhaps Push Line, and I doubt anyone would call it a "peripheral" because by definition Mid Lines, Hep Locks, etc., the IVs that don't go to the heart, are all inserted at a "peripheral" location. About the only thing I can imagine a medical professional referring to as a peripheral line is a PICC Line, which means Peripherally Inserted Central Line. The acronym actually stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter.
Central lines can be inserted at the neck, chest, groin, or arm. One inserted at the chest is what most lay people would probably see as a Central Line. If inserted at the arm it's called a PICC Line. The "central" in Central Line refers to where it ends, where the drug will actually enter into your bloodstream. They all have one thing in common; their termination point. They all end up going through the Superior Vena Cava (except femoral insertion. which goes through the Inferior Vena Cava) and terminate just before or sometimes in the right atrium.
They are generally used in one or both of two circumstances. Central lines can effectively be left in place indefinately if properly maintained. If someone needs frequent or regular infusions, they eliminate the damage to veins that will be caused by too many IV installations and blood draws. Once installed, drugs can be administered and blood drawn as often as needed with no more sticks anywhere.
They terminate where they do because it's the locationn in your body with the largest both amount of and flow of venous blood. Many drugs that are infused, for example Chemotherapy drugs, are corrosive to one degree or another, and if infused into a place where they aren't diluted by enough blood quickly enough, like in a regular arm vein, they can destroy the vein.
Posts: 2 | From Utah | Registered: May 2017
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posted
For Atheana and anyone else interested. About IVs.
All IVs are for the same purpose, to get drugs into your venous blood system. They also (except for one) allow for blood to be easily drawn. But there are several types. I won't get into all the diffferent types as far as the construction of the actual IV itself is concerned, but just what the patient might be concerned about.
Just regular ones, to be used once, are short (unless it's a drug that can damage veins)can be put in just about any adequate vein, and get removed after the treatment.
Hep Locks are regular IVs which can stay in for a few days because they're flushed at least daily with heparin. Nowadays saline flushes are often used instead, but they're still often referred to as a Hep Lock. The main thing is that when not in actual use they're full of either heparin or saline solution, preventing blood from entering, clotting, and clogging them up.
Mid lines are longer, are inserted in the upper arm, are flushed regularly like a Hep Lock, and can stay in place somewhat longer than a Hep Lock.
Push Lines are designed to infuse drugs, but not to draw blood. They're essentially like a Mid Line except for that, and might not necessarily be installed in the upper arm.
Central Lines, which might be installed at the neck, chest, groin, or upper arm (called a PICC Line if it's in the arm) are long, and end up going through the Superior Vena Cava or, if installed at the groin, the Inferior Vena Cava, terminating just before or in the Right Atrium.
Posts: 2 | From Utah | Registered: May 2017
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Doctor also suspects Bartonella...
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