How long has anyone had their picc line inserted? I heard three months is the maximum, I think I also heard five months.
Help please.
HH Posted by frikfrak (Member # 26844) on :
Hi,
My son (20) just got his taken out on Friday, he's had it in since April 2009. Had no problems, just make sure you keep it dry and change the dressing weekly.
Posted by momofthree (Member # 19490) on :
I had mine in for 15 months with no problems..
Posted by frikfrak (Member # 26844) on :
woops, sorry. My son got his PIC in August of 2010, not 2009. It was in for 13 months.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
I've had mine since July 2008.
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
I've had mine since May 2010. So, one year. Before that, I had one in for 5 months.
Posted by HorseHelper (Member # 30255) on :
OMG!! I'm so happy I asked. This Inf. Disease Doctor insists no longer than 3 months.
I had a horrible experience with the placement of this! The pain was unreal! I'm not a baby, but this was a nasty pain! My arm hurt for more than a week.
I am going to try and insist she let me keep it in and if there's a problem, I will sign a waver releasing her of any medical complications that may arise. I wanted to see a LD doctor in PA as I once planned, so if this doctor will comply I won't have to bill the insurance company for over $3,000 for the process.
THANKS EVERYONE! You know, this means so much to me! You are great!
HH Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
If the arm hurts, apply a heating pad.
Also, you can go to a cancer center to have your PICC dressing changes & such - they are usually experienced with this sort of thing.
Posted by HorseHelper (Member # 30255) on :
Why thanks Razzle. I have experience in it anyway, however, I will eventually run out of Hep and Flush supplies. And some offices have rules they go by so they probably wouldn't allow me or want me to do it myself.
Oh, and the arm doesn't hurt anymore. It hurt when procedure was done March 11, 2011.
thx. HH
Posted by lindaca (Member # 23871) on :
They can last a year or so if you take care of it with proper flusing, etc. If it starts to infuse slowly, the hospital may be able to infuse with an anticoagulant to clear it. Or, they can replace it fairly easily - with mine, the ran the guide wire up the old PICC, pulled out the old PICC leaving the wire in place, then inserted the new PICC along that same guide wire. Was pretty simple.
Posted by HorseHelper (Member # 30255) on :
Cool. Thanks lindaca! I have had no problem with infection what so ever. I feel fine and it's no inconvenience for me, I've learned to live with it.
Infectious Disease doctors have guidelines about length of time keeping the picc line in, so this is my problem.
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