Any helpful hints on caring for it? Or living with it?
Posted by gmb (Member # 23562) on :
Do you have a waterproof protector?
Check out a DryPro. Its the best I've seen.
I've had my PICC since December 2011. Only issue was a light rash that went away when we switch to an �Alcohol/Betadine� type dressing.
I recommend that you ask fo this dressing ASAP before a problem starts.
Good luck after a month or so you won't know you have it, except when preparing for shower/bath
gmb
Posted by trimom (Member # 25843) on :
I will have a nurse come by tomorrow to teach me about infusion.
I'll check out the DryPro.
Procedure went smoothly.
Posted by kmasters (Member # 39251) on :
Hi, is the picc line placed in a doctors office?
Posted by gmb (Member # 23562) on :
Download a booklet called "Infusion for Lymies". It's well done and funny at times.
My PICC was inserted at a local vascular services Out-Patient facility in an OR like room.
The first dose of Rocephin was administered under close watch by nurse staff in case of allergic re-action.
Some have it done at a hospital.
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
trimom so glad to hear all went well!
Posted by WendyK (Member # 18918) on :
Glad to hear it went well! I second the recommendation for the DryPro cover, it worked great for mine.
I used different cut up leggings or socks that matched outfits to hold the tube out of the way.
Keep it dry, and do overdo it (i.e. don't lift heavy stuff with that arm) and it should go well. I too ended up hardly noticing it after about a month.
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Yes, keep it clean and dry!!! ...
How often is the visiting nurse coming by each week?
Posted by trimom (Member # 25843) on :
Procedure was done at outpatient vascular center and took about 5 minutes.
Plan is to have visiting nurse come tomorrow then weekly.
After I got home from picc procedure, infusion company called twice once to make sure we were good to go for tomorrow. Second was the billing office asking for a credit card in case our insurance didn't cover it since my Western Blot wasn't positive. I'm IgM band 23 positive. I was so angry as they told me a week ago I was approved for 28 days from my insurance. I told them CDC says Lyme is clinical diagnosis. They were covering their behinds and making sure I'd be okay paying.
If and when my insurance doesn't pay I'm going with a cheaper option not infusion company. I can reconstitute vials of meds and put them in a saline bag. I have friends that are RNs that would likely help change the dressings.
A supervisor of the infusion company called me back. I'm angry that mainstream medicine din't/couldn't find out what is wrong with me despite doing so many tests and dr visits (ins paid for it all) and assured me I didn't have Lyme and now that we know what's wrong, insurance won't pay.
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