posted
Ummm... yeah. Was just told today that they're doing the insertion in my home.
Anyone else had it done or did you go to a dr's office or hospital?
Is this standard?
-------------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll Posts: 356 | From Body-PA, Mind-elsewhere | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
This whole thing has been one bungle after another. Sent a fax to the lyme doc's office to find out what's really going to be happening.
If the office was closer, I'd be camping out on their doorstep in the morning.
It's been nuts! Been getting calls from 2 different agencies with 3 different stories.
First, it was supposed to be done at the doc's office, where I was also going to be getting my first dose of IV abx. (agency #1)
Second, it was going to be done in the hospital and someone was going to come to my home to give me my first dose (agency # 2)
Third, they're going to be inserting the picc line at home, sending me out for an xray, then i'd have to come home and get my first dose (agency # 1, second phone call).
My head's about ready to explode at this point.
-------------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll Posts: 356 | From Body-PA, Mind-elsewhere | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
My kids had their PICC lines inserted at home. They brought a portable x-ray machine. It worked out well for my kids.
-------------------- Peggy
~ ~ Hope is a powerful medicine. ~ ~ Posts: 2775 | From MN | Registered: Apr 2001
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
I had line put in at home. Is yours one in your arm? That's what mine was, line went in where one has blood drawn and little tube put in up to my shoulder but can be put further in.
Mine was called a midline. I'm a baby and it wasn't big deal. I'm a freaky, when it comes to these things...just the thought of it.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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I'm hoping to hear what's really going on from the LLMD's office this morning.
If I don't hear from them by lunch time, I'll be calling and raising holy you-know-what.
Really hoping we don't do the in-home thing.
For starters, I've had a phobia about piccs since starting to research lyme. I really think doing the insertion in a medical facility will help ease my anxiety.
Second, "just getting an xray" isn't exactly a simple process at our local hospital.
You have to make an appt, show up 1/2 hour before the appt, go through registration, go through the imaging dept paperwork, and then wait.
A simple xray usually takes close to an hour, if not longer. And that doesn't include commute time. The ER there isn't any better.
In the meantime, I'm trying to do an emergency house-tidy.
It's really amazing how bad things can get if you have trouble getting off your butt for 2 weeks.
Brain-numbing, gravity-multiplying fatigue sucks! Don't mind me.... I'm cranky today.
-------------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll Posts: 356 | From Body-PA, Mind-elsewhere | Registered: Dec 2007
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
I had mine put in in the hospital but by a PICC line nurse. I have no reason to believe that the same nurse could not have done a similar procedure in my home. However, you have to get an Xray to validate the placement after it is put in. I personally felt better doing this in the hospital but the cost is likely very different. I was told it was 7K to have it done in the hospital and as low as 750 at a doctor's office with a PICC line nurse. Maybe you could coordinate doing it at your doctor's office with the nurse?
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Had mine put in in Pain and Procedure Dept. at the hospital. Very sterile area. Had x-ray after placement.
It is not a difficult procedure, however, and this just may be me, I would prefer a sterile room as opposed to my home....this thing is going into your body! I dunno, i share your concerns.....
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
I'd be thrilled to have a picc inserted at home...we're immune to the germs in our homes.
Hospitals are breeding grounds for superbugs.
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi,
I had mine done as outpatient surgery in a sterile area at the hospital. They have to thread in the line up your arm, halfway across your chest and near your heart.
Sounds like the agency who would do it at home is super cheap. What else will they do for super cheap? If it should get infected at any time, who are they automatically going to blame?
Are they concerned about the care of the patient? No way. Profit over patients.
posted
I had my PICC line inserted at a radiology center who does full on surgeries, in a sterile OR. It was not that expensive either...not close to 7K like Scott said he was told.
I think it was only about $600...not sure though. I would be a WRECK if it was done at my house instead of in a sterile environment. Also, I had a surgeon do it, and there were 2 nurses in the room.
Mine was a bit more formal than most people's experiences...but it put my mind at ease. And, they took an x-ray while I was laying on the operating table...easy!!
Posts: 215 | From Student | Registered: Oct 2007
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quote:Originally posted by hshbmom: I'd be thrilled to have a picc inserted at home...we're immune to the germs in our homes.
Hospitals are breeding grounds for superbugs.
I like this take on the location- HOWEVER, I was a super wreck with fear of all sorts of things other than germs.
And having my done in the hospital,in a high tech radiology room by a surgeon who was watching every move of the line as it was being inserted went a long way to relax me.
I do know some lines have been successfully inserted in home, and I agree with hshbmom about the germy issue but I think I would be too freaked.
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posted
Everyone, Thank you so much for your responses!
After numerous phone calls with both agencies, the insurance company and the llmd's office, the problem has been resolved.
Of course, there's an entire saga behind this, but I'm not going to bother you with that here.
Agency#2 is going to be handling the insertion and my home care.
I now have the choice of either getting it done at the doctors office or in the hospital.
Feeling much better about things now.
Thanks again!
-------------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll Posts: 356 | From Body-PA, Mind-elsewhere | Registered: Dec 2007
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
YAY! Peace of mind. Whew, I have so much anxiety about everything that I was stressing for you!!!!
Good Luck, the procedure itself is easy.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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