Hello, I am getting a Picc line put in tomorrow for the first time. I am nervous. Any advice? Does it hurt? I am affraid I will herx. Do people normally herx on Clarofan?
Thanks for the advice.... Posted by NP40 (Member # 6711) on :
It's a fairly simple, and painless procedure. They'll freeze the inside of your arm, and then thread the plastic PICC line up the vein. A small portion will hang out that you hook the IV up to. They normally stitch it in place.
Make sure to keep it clean, and dry. They'll have an IV nurse stop weekly to change the dressing. Keep an eye out for sepsis or a bacterial infection. It never happened to us, but some here have had to deal with it. My son had a PICC for 5 months with few problems, and little discomfort.
Posted by believe3 (Member # 6216) on :
What do you mean by stitch it in place? Ugh!!
Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
Jake and Jordan have had PICC lines in since 5/19. Jake had his pulled last Saturday and put in his other arm.
They did not have stitches. Jordan uses a stat lock to keep his in place. Jake had a rash from the stat lock so his is taped down.
The procedure is fast and basically painless. An x-ray is done to make sure the PICC line is in place.
Good Luck!
Posted by Rubicon (Member # 7919) on :
I had a Picc line in 1997 for 9 weeks without an incident. I was nevious about getting it, but it's totally painless. Mine did not get stitched down either.
Good luck!
Posted by cawpo (Member # 5744) on :
It is really not that painful. Just think about it is another step in the healing process.
Last year I had one for 11 months and this year so far 6 months with no problems.
Mine wasnt stiched.
I use a bread bag over my arm with rubber bands to hold it in place . You must keep it dry.
Any questions email me. Cheryl
Posted by Pocono Lyme (Member # 5939) on :
This pretty much depends on who is putting the line in. If a nurse puts it in, the procedure is as follows: Your arms are inspected for a good vein, your arm is cleansed, the nurse measures the approximate length of the catheter to be threaded over the needle (not much different than having blood drawn), catheter is placed, get a chest x-ray to verify accurate placement, a dressing is applied and then go to get your first infusion.
If a doctor puts it in, usually done in Radiology, He/She checks for a good vein using an ultrasound device, dye will be injected, and the catheter will be placed under fluoroscopy(X-ray) as he/she can see where it's going as it's being placed. (The doctors doing these usually put one or two stitches to hold it in place. Nurses use a sticky device called a stat lock to hold it in place.) It depends on the ordering physician if he still wants a chest x-ray afterwards.
Either way, it's not a "painful" procedure. Minor discomfort.
The next day, your dressing will be changed as you might continue to ooze from the insertion site for maybe a week. The most being, the first 24 hours. I had a MD put mine in. Not by my choice, but I didn't care if they stuck it up my nose in order to get my life back. I just had it done three weeks ago, so that didn't happen yet, but hoping.
You'll be fine. I was joking back and forth with the doc as he was doing it, so couldn't have been that bad huh? Good Luck
Posted by DocLand (Member # 7794) on :
My husband uses Glad wrap Press and Seal on his Picc line when showering, and it works well to keep it dry. Posted by arg82 (Member # 161) on :
The actual placement isn't bad. My veins were not cooperative at all so I had to have a doctor place mine at the hospital with a contrast dye (which I ended up being allergic to, so that made my placement a little less enjoyable). Once it's in, it takes a little while to get used to it but it's not as bad as it may seem.
I hope the placement went well. Let us know how it went when you get a chance!
Peace and healing, Annie
Posted by believe3 (Member # 6216) on :
Thanks for all of your adivce. Im going to wisconsin dells next week with my kids too. Oh well no swimming for me.
Posted by AAmeri21 (Member # 5410) on :
I had a PICC in for 6 months last summer. Mine was stitched in place.
It wasn't painful to have it put in and the stitches were fine the whole time.
About getting it wet, I was told by my Dr. to get a xerosox cast cover.
It covers your arm and takes all the air out so you can shower and go swimming.
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