I hoping to find someone on the board that has had a pic line in the past.
Did you have any problems after the removal? Chest pains, shortness of breath?
Posted by KS (Member # 12549) on :
I didn't have any symptoms after removal of my PICC line. I'd contact your doctor as chest pains and shortness of breath aren't necessarily a good thing.
I'm not sure if you are treating with oral antibiotics or not....that might be helpful info to know.
Posted by Kathy Boss (Member # 3062) on :
KS,
Yes, I was hoping something simple would show up. I guess I have no choice. It's a bummer starting this all over again. I have not made a trip to the ER in years.
Thanks for replying.
Posted by Curiouser (Member # 14128) on :
I had the chest pains and shortness of breath while the picc was in. It continued on after the picc was pulled.
Turns out I had a pericardial effusion. A round of Rifampin cleared that up quite nicely.
Probably a good idea to talk to your doc about it as soon as possible.
Let us know what happens.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Hey KB...
Nice to see you.
Sorry about the symptoms. Can you contact the home health care place.. if that is who inserted it and/or removed it?
They may be easier to reach than a doctor at this hour?
I've not experienced those symptoms afterward.. but had an awful time with the picc line while it was in. Pain in the chest and arm and breathing.. or more like trying to catch my breath was a problem.
So do check with a doctor if possible.
Please let us know how you are doing... ok?
Posted by Kathy Boss (Member # 3062) on :
Thanks TC. Good to hear from ya.
I packed my little bag for the ER and wound up going to bed. I felt much better today but I noticed the pain moves. It is center of my chest and moves the direction the line crossed my chest and down my arm.
Everyone got angry with me for not going to the ER but you know........in other circumstances I've done that and they didn't find anything.
So I'm gun shy. You mention Lyme, co-infections anything like that and you get that deer in the head lights of roll of the eyes.
And it cost money to get that roll of the eyes.
CURI mentioned pericardial effusion. I need to check into that.
I read about inflamation, possible infection, air in the vien (which might be what Curi mentioned) which are all pretty serious.
When it's bad a feel really labored, short breaths and just bad. I promised my family I would go next time.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
SO glad to hear you are doing better!!
I lost your post somehow or couldn't find it... anyhow.... I was worried about you!!!
And I should lecture you for not going.. but if I wasn't drug there by a heard of oxen.. I wouldn't go either.
HA!
So I can't fuss at you now... can I?
Let us know how you are doing later on... ok?
And note- you are right with all those reasons for not going. That is exactly what happens.
Shame on them!!!
Posted by Curiouser (Member # 14128) on :
You still might want to talk with your doc about getting an echocardiogram or somesuch. Better not to ignore this stuff.
As much as I dislike our local hospital and their ER, I have to give them kudos for taking me seriously whenever I've gone in for something potentially cardiac-related, lyme or not.
Btw, a pericardial effusion is when you get extra fluid between the heart and the lining around it. Can be caused by an infection and is definitely nothing to mess with or ignore.
Please keep us posted. Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
C is right. Don't ignore this... and hopefully I didn't encourage that.
DO check it out.. but the ER trip was possibly not the forum in which to do that.
You doing ok?
Posted by DebAz (Member # 18039) on :
Hi Kathy. I hope your doing well. I have not had a pic line but learned from this post in case I do end up with one... Ps is your last name really Boss??
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Good to hear from ya.![[Smile]](smile.gif)