Hi, I haven't posted for about a month now, but I have a question how long my picc line can stay in. The doctor wants me to continue my IV Rocephin for 6 months (Yea!)and I have just now completed 8 weeks. When I first got my picc line in, the hospital said it was good for 6 to 8 weeks, when I told the doctor what they said she said no, it's good for alot longer. My friends who are nurses say that it should only be in for 6-8 weeks. I have been afraid of having it stay in too long, I already have endocarditis caused by late lyme. Thank you for your in-put..
Posted by arg82 (Member # 161) on :
Hi,
Basically, picc lines can hypothetically stay in for as long as necessary, as long as there is no problem (pulls out, breaks, infection, etc.). They're "supposed" to only stay in for 6-8 weeks but they can really last much longer than that, usually with no extra complications than if it were changed. I had one in for six months once and I believe there's someone on this board who had one in for over a year.
But, some people have complications even with short-term use. So, it depends. But, without complications, they are good for quite a while.
But, if you're concerned about this, discuss it with your doctor and ask about other options. There are other IV lines that can be used that are put in the chest - Broviac, Hickman, and Groshong catheters and indwelling port-a-caths. Those require more to be put in (surgery) but are more long-term thn piccs are supposed to be.
Hope this helps you. Good luck with your IV treatment!
Peace and healing, Annie
------------------ ``The best way out is always through.'' -Robert Frost
I had my last PICC in for 16 weeks - no problems with it. I know of someone else who had one for 10 months. You really need to clean the site and take care of the picc and it should last up to 12 months.
Bc
Posted by mountainmoma (Member # 6503) on :
There are trade offs to different types input lines, if I knew I had to have it for 6 months, I would seriuosly consider one of the other one because having a PICC line can be a pain, you know, it cant get wet or dirty, limited use of the arm its in, you have to be more careful with it than a port.
Personally, I had mine in for 9 weeks and developed a severe skin rash on my arm around the insertion site, due to ??, we are guessing due to developing an allergic reaction to adhesives, and something has got to hold it in place. So, mine was pulled due to this intense ozzing rash. Most people dont get anything like this of course.
Posted by jewelie (Member # 897) on :
Thank you all for your input. I feel alot better knowing what the time frame has been for others. I am careful with the site and so I hope I can continue without problems for the next weeks ahead. There was one concern I had with it this past week when the tech cleaned it though, later that day I started getting migrating pains in my legs, arms, back, feet and just all over, then in the evening things started calming down. I wondered if there was any connection of cleaning my site that day and the pains. If anyone has any insight on this I would be interested to know..Thanks again.
Posted by david1097 (Member # 3662) on :
54 weeks and counting I know someone that had one for 45 months for a different disease
Posted by cigi (Member # 6600) on :
My sister has it in for over 2 years for lyme. She keeps it clean, flushes it and thank God, no problem. Had a pic for 4 weeks and had it taken out. All my coverage would pay for. good luck
Cigi
Posted by ontariojane (Member # 6526) on :
Going into month 4 with my PICC line. No problems so far - touch wood - I walk the dog a lot and do stretches (used to work out, don't feel like it yet but do work up a sweat trudging through snow with loping foxhound)... I'm lucky in that nurses come in every day to start a two-hour pump. I do my own flushes. The nurses change the line, clean the site every three days, change the dressings etc. We can't get any "back flow" of blood any longer, but they tell me if it were leaking or broken I would know about it. Sometimes I drive myself crazy worrying about how close the end is to my heart, but most of the time I just accept it and sit in the tub at night with my right arm in the air (ah, the trials of the Lyme patient - how I LONG for a shower). I'm on rocephin, called ceftriaxone in Canada. Jane
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