LymeNet Flash: A little PICC-me up.

This is topic A little PICC-me up. in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/36582

Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :

Yesterday was the Big Day. I was to go have my PICC line placed at 3:00. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous but I was my usual Pollyanna optimistic self.

I worked till about 1:45 then flew outta my office, drove about 75 miles to my LLMD's office.

It went perfectly, two very sweet and very experienced ladies placed it. We were joking and enjoying ourselves, making light of the whole thing.

The placement was perfection. Not much worse than giving blood, really. We X-rayed it, my doctor gave it a thumbs-up.

Laid back down to tape it in place.

Then to my (and HER) complete horror and astonishment, instead of taping it down, she PULLED IT OUT.

The other nurse looked over at her and said, "Did you just do what I THOUGHT you did?"

The first nurse's eyes filled with tears as she held what looked like about two feet of line in her hand and said, "I can't believe I just did that."

She had pulled the entire line out.

I felt so bad for her.

Anyway, my veins were just great, so I told her not to worry, I would tell the doctor that I had sat up prematurely and messed her up! (However, she refused to let me do this.)

We of course had to redo the entire thing. Same vein, same arm.

There was a bit of blood going on in that corner, but I smartly refused to look over there.

It was in a little far this time and had to be pulled out a bit.

The doctor wasn't mad (he's a sweetie) and HE in fact offered to take the blame for her too!!! (since the infusion company makes them document the why of every single placement, I reckon he was offering to say he didn't like the first placement, if that would help her!)

Anyway, we would up laughing about the whole thing.

I told her I wasn't a bit worried, and I figured the universe wanted me to hang around there another half an hour or so, maybe to be out of harm's way in case of some bad traffic accident or something that would have happened to me, or her, or some such thing, and that everything happens exactly as it's supposed to, and to please not cry over it.

My PICC line feels just fine and I'm about to do my first Rocephin infusion by myself this morning. A little nervous, a'course. But not too bad!

In all her years of placing PICC's she has never done such a thing.

Goes to show what a good time we were having.

Wish me luck with my first infusion... Then we'll see whether I can flyfish with this dang thing.

:-)

Michelle

Posted by Kimmi_K_75 (Member # 7438) on :

michele,

I wish you luck with your first infusion,
I'll be getting my picc soon and I'm on rocephin now.. keep me posted.

I hope at least ONE of us will be fishing soon!!

Kimmi

Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Kimmi_K_75:
michele,
I wish you luck with your first infusion,
I'll be getting my picc soon and I'm on rocephin now.. keep me posted.
I hope at least ONE of us will be fishing soon!!
Thanks Kimmi...
This morning's first infusion went A-OK.
It really feels overwhelming, like you're going to screw something up! But then you somehow don't.
There's not any pain really. (Amazing considering doing it twice!)
I fed the horse with the other arm and am posting from work right now. Headache started up pretty fierce a while ago but backed off.
Don't stress -- it's easier than it seems.
Keep us posted when you get PICC'ed!!
Michelle

Kimmi

Posted by Biting Back (Member # 6018) on :

I'm sure glad you have a good sense of humor about it. Especially happy they were able to replace the line without any complications. My story turned out a little differently than yours and I'll try to post about it later.

I'm doing very well with the rocephin. First 3 days I was very, very tired and a little nauseous. I've had the PICC in for 6 days and already I'm feeling better.

Hope your first infusion goes well for you!

Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :

Oh no, you've got the kind of luck I do.

My first line was accidently pulled out a few inches and left that way, by a trainee IV nurse. Within 2 weeks it was falling out of my arm. I went and had them place a new one; it was also at the same site.

Congratulations on your second picc line.

I hope the infusion went well.

Posted by Korinne21 (Member # 7472) on :

Hey michelle!!

Im so glad to hear that all went well with your picc-line...meaning it didn't hurt too bad hehe...poor nurse i feel bad for her. But we're all hunman and we all make mistakes right?

Good luck on the rocephin, im on my 3rd day back after having a big break from it. I do have a migrane right now and some tmj pressure, have no clue what thats all about.

Im still trying to recover from surgery which is kind of a struggle but i was expecting that. I'll get better soon though and i hope you do too.

I really am praying that your gallbladder doesnt start sludging...i hope you have a smooth round of antibiotics..

Please keep in touch with me...u can email me if you'd like to...its.. [email protected].. i'd love to be email buddies with ya so i can see your progress with the rocephin

Talk with you soon hun.

Korinne

Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :

Loved that you kept your sense of humor through the whole thing Michelle!

Good luck with the treatment.

From another picc patient....Tina