posted
Any suggestions about getting a picc line? I am getting this done this week and am a little nervous. I have lyme disease for the past 15 years. The last time I had an IV it was changed every other day and the site was moved. That wasn't pleasant but the thought of a line pushing through up to a large vein is a little scary.
Posts: 20 | From California | Registered: Mar 2006
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A group hug for you. You have had lyme alot longer than I have. I have had it a year before diagnosis and tx. I have had a lot of neurological problems.In some aspects, I guess it isn't important how long you have had the problem( in terms of the emotional factors): It is overwhelming and can be scary.
Though I was a nurse, I was never a fan of being " stuck" by a needle. I needed several months of Rocephin, in this first year, and actually had to have two picc lines for both treatments. I made it, though.
Picc lines are good for long term antibiotics and treatments that smaller veins, by virtue of their size , can't handle the work load. A doctor or trained radiologist specialist will insert it . The area will be cleansed and a topical ointment, like lidocaine will be applied to prevent any discomfort. It really wasn't that difficult. They will check the placement by radiology and the line will be good to go. Proper cleansing and site care will keep everything in good working condition to allow all of your IV"s. A device like a PICC line will allow the doctor to keep up on your bloodwork to monitor your levels. In the long run, it is much better than a peripheral temporary stick.
People on the board can give you much more detailed information- I just wanted to tell you a little about it. I also wanted to tell you, it is normal to be a little nervous, and that you will be just okay. Take a friend or family member with you, if you need some emotional support. It is okay to need a hug and some assurance.
Stay strong!! You will be okay.
Posts: 719 | From Delaware | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I won't tell you of my experience with this, as I am one of those Murphy's Law kind of people, but my suggestion would be that if you can to get a doctor or surgeon to do it.
After my expereience someone who'd had the same thing happen told me this, as this is what she did the second time around.
Also, I apparently was a bad girl and held my breath ( I actually gasped), which makes your veins constrict, which makes it difficult to get the line through.
Just lay there, look in the opposite direction, and find your happy place, breathe, and all should go smoothly.
The only other suggestion would be to have it in the arm that you don't write with (there goes my Lyme brain, I know there's a word for that).
Best of luck, we'll be thinking of you, let us know how everything turned out.
Jill
Posts: 203 | From Jacksonville, FLorida | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
when you have a PICC, one of the things you need to prevent is clotting.... so, one thing i would suggest is that you ask your doc to order a clotting time test and other basic bloodwork to investigate whether you might benefit from blood thinners.
some docs and patients believe that some of us with long-term lyme have thicker, sludgier blood due to fibrin buildup and other issues.... my boyfrined recently had a PICC line inserted to administer IV Vancomycin, and the PICC line clotted in 5 days and had to be removed in the middle of the night in an ER out of town while we were travelng to our LLMD.
his doc then put him on heparin (which is easy and can be taken in various ways), and the clotting issues disapeared.
so although it's not necessarily one of the main things to worry about, and i think my boyfriends experience was relatively uncommon, it can be a huge hassle, and somewhat dengerous to clot when you have a PICC... and it's easy to investigate whether you should be on some kind of blood thinner to prevent it. by the way, if that was the case, you'd probably go on it just AFTER getting it inserted (which wasn' that bad, fyi), since thye don't want increased bleeding during the procedure itself.
if you do check out the clotting issue, and find you do need blood thinners, another thing to consider is that there are some non-pharmaceutical thinners which seem to help many people. maybe search previous posts on Rechts-Regulat, nattokinase, heparin, etc to find out more if you're interested.
best of luck, flossie
Posts: 773 | From yahoo.com | Registered: Dec 2002
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
For what its worth: for me getting the pic line in wasn't bad at all.
The site can bruise up for a while and some minimal pain.
But keeping the pic line clean/dry/intact & not to bang it or move it around too much and treat it with much delicate TLC took some extra effort.
I had mine in for 6 months with no problems at all.
I had someone aways help me to change the dressings and had it re-bandaged & looked over every 2 weeks at my LLD.
Good luck and don't worry getting the pic line in and keeping it maintained is no big ordeal.
For me at least this was the way it was.
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I forgot to put in my earlier post that most times the picc line will be maintained by a technique called sash:
usually done on a daily basis:
S = saline, washes the picc line out to get it ready for the anitbiotic]
A= antibiotic
S= saline , rinses the line so no antibiotic is left in the line, goes all in you
H= heparin, a blood thinner to keep line from clotting. Keep lines patent until next antibiotic time.
Dr or hospital will have you on a schedule for saline/heparin to maintain the line in between antibiotic administration. Thatprotocol will vary according to institution, but, usually there is some daily maintenance.
Your doctor will fill you in on the care.
Stay strong!!! You will be okay.
Posts: 719 | From Delaware | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Im going on 6 months ,no problems.I find it much easier than orals.It didnt hurt at all to have it put in,its a little uncomfortable the few days after.I wouldnt worry much if i needed another one.
Posts: 308 | From new bedford,Ma. | Registered: Dec 2004
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AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
I had mine done at a hospital so they could see exactly where they were putting it.....
My veins are small and uncooperative so I personally would not have a picc line put in any other way....
The biggest thing with the picc line is keep it clean....
and keep it covered so it doesnt catch in something and pull out.
posted
One last thing: keep the area dry and clean after you have your picc line in.
This goes for any type of a dressing or bandage- if wet- good green light for bacteria to settle around. So, keep dressing dry.
which is why when you shower or bath, you keep it dry. If it gets damp, it isn;t a problem- the dressing gets changed immediately.
Think of it as really good skin hygeine.
Dr or infusion comp will help you with explaining the dressing changes and frequencies.
any time you have a question, ask your health care professional.
You will be a veteran of this in no time at all. Please keep us posted.
Posts: 719 | From Delaware | Registered: Jan 2006
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arg82
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 161
posted
Just wanted to add a few things to what has already been said.
For showering, you'll need to cover the line (as iceskater mentioned). Here are a few products you can buy that make showering a lot easier (a whole lot easier than saran wrap and tape, in my opinion).
I personally prefer the Xerosox but some prefer other ones. Here is a thread about showering with PICC lines. With the Xerosox I was actually able to go for short swims (I had my PICC during the summer) and it was very durable overall.
I'm sure I'll think of other things to say later but it's late so I'll just leave it at that for now. PICC lines are scary at first but after a while it just becomes normal. What day are you having the line put in?
posted
I am waiting for the hospital to call and let me know when it will be done. I just came back from having blood drawn (again) so it can be sent to IGENEX and Medical Diagnostic in Hamilton, NJ.
I really appreciate all the responses to my inquiry about the PICC line. Since my relapse I have been on this web site every day. The recoccurance of lyme really sent me for a loop. I feel like I need to be re-educated.
Thanks again.
Posts: 20 | From California | Registered: Mar 2006
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Hi there..
Well you already have got some excellent advice and tips here. I just want to add that you might want to have it put in while under Floroscopy. That means they lie you down on a table so they can see all your veins, and put the PICC in easier. Its not too big of a deal, and it can be done quite quickly. When you have a PICC line, or any IV line, make sure you are taught how to keep it clean, and care for it. Best of luck!
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