I seem to be having a very bad reaction to the plastic covering over my picc line. The skin under it is red, irritated and oozing.
I called the home health care agency and they came out early to replace. But they replaced it with the same materials.
I went to a friend who's a nurse over the weekend and she replaced it again with sterile non-stick gauze and paper tape- it's better but not really fixed. The skin is so yucky, I'm worried about getting an infection near the site.
Suggestions on coverings?
Posted by bsigel (Member # 11810) on :
There is a bandage caalled Primapore. It doesn't have the see through window. It is made mostly out of gauze.
My daughter tried this one and didn't have a problem with it, like the tegraderm and sorbaview.
Call your local pharmacies and see if they have it or can get it. You don't want it getting infected.
Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :
I had the same problem and now use 3M Tegaderm Hypoallergenic and its fine
Rianna
Posted by Mtgirl (Member # 13278) on :
I had the same problem, and I think the moisture under the sorbaview lead to my picc line infection. I'd try the bandage mentioned above that without a window. Anything to absorb the ooze is good. Also, see if your nurse can clean the site with something other than the chlorahexadine picc cleaner (assuming this is what is used), as it is hard on tissue, and can cause irritation as well.
I'm sending you good energy for a healthier site. Fingers crossed.
Posted by kpa (Member # 12079) on :
Hi,
Sorry that you are going thru this- how stressful!
My daughter had trouble with terrible itching and irritation at insertion site.
We tried different brands and types of covers. I unfortunately cannot remember all the names, but there were a handful of good choices that our LLMD and home health nurse did not suggest.
In my daughter's case, we figured out that the significant issue was a yeast rash under the dressing.
With allergic reaction to line cover, not sure if yeast contributed to this or if it was an unrelated issue that complicated the former.
We had line pulled before we treated for this. I believe orals: probiotics and something anti- fungal like Diflucan could be helpful.
I thinkf there is something topical for yeast skin rash...others may know here.
Our short-term solution was to use gauze fastened with steristrips without the waterproof cover. I think we wrapped something around the arm to help keep all in place. (You can get steristrips at drugstore and they did not cause irritation. They cam be awesome. This makes the bandange breathable vs. airtight.
Drs and nurses don't always suggest this, but for some it can be the lesser of two evils in the sense that non-airtight cover protects more from bacteria. But if sight is getting bad, especially if it is yeast related, the non-airtight can help, if only for a break from the other. Some here kept a line without the sticky cover for months successfully.
Our pediatrician, LLMD's NP, and homehealth nurse did not agree with me that it was yeast, which was a bummer. I do think that it is something to consider at any rate.
Best Wishes,
kpa
Posted by catskillmamala (Member # 12536) on :
thank you all for your replies and pm's regarding dressing irritation.
I wound up going to my local hospital to the wound care nurse. She covered the irritated skin with a pectin dressing, then with duo derm then with a tagaderm.
She said the skin looked like I had poison ivy under the dressing -- I don't think so. Could be yeast, I will look into that, but I also think I just had a very bad reaction to the adhesive.
I am much more comfortable now and relieved. MY llmd said if I couldn't get the skin situation under control he would pull the picc line on Thursday. As much as I hate it, I want to be able to finish the treatment. I didn't come this far for nothing!
Then last night after this trip to the hospital and my septic system failing- I ate pizza and ended up with a gall bladder attack. That hurts way more than natural child birth.