Hello. I started IV rocephin a week ago and went to the lab to do bloodwork the LLMD ordered every 2 weeks. He ordered a CBC and liver panel. I had to leave because they were not sure which arm to draw it from.
Do those of you on rocephin who do monitoring bloodwork get blood drawn from the PICC line itself, get a poke in the arm with the PICC line, or in the other arm?
Also, what tests does your LLMD run for monitoring? Do you get more done than a CBC and liver panel? Thanks so mcuh for your help.
-Despin
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Hi Despin.
I always used the OTHER arm. Why disturb the PICC?
Usually just a CBC and liver panel. Glad your doc is keeping an eye on liver numbers; they can elevate very quickly. It's a good idea to keep on something to stay one step ahead of that!
Michelle
Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :
Yep, use the other arm to your PICC
I also had to have regular coagulation screening as Rocephin changed my coagulation.
Rianna
Posted by listenswithcare (Member # 10719) on :
I had a home health nurse that would come once per week to change the dressing on the PICC. He would do the blood draw himself at the same time.
If you draw blood through the PICC, you need to change the extension line and adapter and flush with heparin afterwards. It is good to draw through the end of the PICC because it can pick up any anomalies (fungus?) in the line (or so I was told).
Otherwise, draw from the other arm. You should never mess with the extension line on the PICC unless you are changing it.
Robin
Posted by davidx (Member # 8326) on :
I have had a picc line for almost 4 months now and the nurse draws blood through it every other week. They do a CBC and liver panel.
On the 2 occassions when I went to quest, they drew blood out of the other arm.
-David
Posted by sonicbmx (Member # 12949) on :
i have a Double-Port PICC as of 10/26. i PUSH 2g Rocephin daily. Port #1 gets SASH (Saline, Antibiotic, Saline, Heparin). Port #2 gets Heparin daily to keep line clear.
Port #2 is for blood draws by qualified nurses/techs only. if they're not familiar, they get the other arm! my Dr hasn't seen my PICC yet but i'm sure his nurse will draw CBC and Liver Panels with it.
i had my second Brain SPECT last week and the tech preferred not to use the port for IV (better safe than sorry).
i found iv DRIP to be a hassle.. especially for travel. my home nurse suggested PUSH syringes. i dripped for 3 days and i'm not going back! -- sonicbmx
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
I have been on IV Rocephin through a PICC line for about 8 months.
LLMD wrote in the order-NO BLOOD DRAWS from the picc line. I am monitored every two weeks-it is ALWAYS a stick in the other arm-my right arm, since picc is in my left arm.
The visiting nurse poohpoohs this precaution-but she's not the one with the picc, nor is she the one writing the orders.
I have had a smooth running line for infusions, and I believe it is because the picc has been used for one purpose and one purpose only-for the IV infusion-no messing with it.
I don't understand why the lab wouldn't draw the blood-if there was a question about it-take the safest route-use the other arm.
The orders for the blood draw should inculde instructions from your LLMD about how and where and when to draw the blood.
Cobby
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
Hi DesparationIn,
In areas where home healthcare nurses don't have a lot of Lyme patients (like mine) it was a learning experience for the nurses, as well as for me. In addition, nurses coming from other fields have to learn about the new types of PICC lines--it's different from procedures followed in hospitals.
Often two nurses came--one was in training for home healthcare.
Nurses drew blood from my PICC line at the time of the dressing change. But I had "stubborn blood" sometimes: my blood would not flow "out." That meant the nurse needed to draw it by a poke into the hand--that's on the other side.
They drew CBC and liver tests. Once for thyroid and cholesterol/lipids, along with CBC and liver testing.
Rocephen sure helped me.
Some of the nurses left hospitals to work in home healthcare because patients were always glad to see them, when they got to stay at home--not a hospital.
The best to you.
Daise
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
They can't stick you in the same arm because they can't put a tournequet(sp?) on the PICC.
As for drawing from the PICC, I was told that it should be fine as long as the person doing it knows what they're doing. My nurse said a lot of people don't know how to do it right.
They need to draw the first tube to waste(so it means drawing an extra tube). Then they need to flush twice afterward to make sure no blood remains in the line.
I thought I remembered seeing somewhere that they're not supposed to draw from a Groshong. I'm going to have to look for that info.
They told me in the hospital, when I asked, that it's OK to do draws w/ a Groshong. I'm not planning on taking any chances. With the luck I've been having, I (the needlephobe) will take the extra stick. Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Yup, what everyone else said- they can do it but only if they know what they're doing*)!!! My VN would do it from the line but she was a pro*)!!! I preferred it actually too because it didn't hurt extra*)!*)! Best wishes, Sarah
Posted by Mtgirl (Member # 13278) on :
I have a mid-line, so it doesn't get any use beyond the Rocephin/saline/heparin. However, I only have one good vein in my opposite arm, and I am supposed to have blood draws for liver/kidney and CBC twice a week. Between these draws, and whatever else happens (blood work for co-infections, SPECT scan contrast, etc)my poor vein is starting to get battered. Not only that, but I'm starting to get scarring. The picc staff that put in my lines said I had very sensitive veins, so I'm afraid this will eventually give out!
Does anyone else have blood drawn twice a week?
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
Hi Mountain girl,
Concerning "regular" blood draws at a blood lab:
For what it's worth, a nurse told me that when patients drink a lot of water about an hour before a blood draw, it makes it easier to draw blood because it's easier to find good poke places!
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