kreynolds
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15117
posted
I have had my PICC in now for just about 5
weeks...
My nurse gave me a plastic sleve to use instead
of the "cling wrap, plastic bag idea"...
When I put it on, it was really tight... I kept
it on and after my shower, I took it off.
This morning I woke up and the gauze had a small
amount of blood on it and there was blood under
the dressing and around the PICC... My arm was
soar...
That was at 10 am... At 2 pm I looked again and
triple the amount of blood was there and red...
An on- call nurse came and said she wasnt
worried about the blood or my arm being soar.
She did a dressing change and left. About 5
minutes after the nurse left, there was more
blood.
I 'm worried...
Has this happened to anyone?
Should I be worried?
-------------------- Diagnosed CDC + 6/2007
Quest: + IGG Bands 18,23,39,41,58,66 and 93.
Quest: + IGM Bands 23,39
Quest: + Bartonella (B.Henselea & B. Quintana),+ Babesia, and + Mycoplasma and Lyme-Induced Addisons Disease
+ Biofilm blood test 12/2010 Posts: 1185 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2008
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
No, bleeding should not happen at this stage of the game!
Not to alarm you, but anything more than a dime calls for attention.....that was what I was told and I lived by that rule.
Also, what kind of a nurse would disregard pain and blood on a 5 week old PICC line? If you were to have any pain, it would have been near insertion time, give or take a few days.
This is a new develoment that needs attention, I would not listen to the home health nurse...and seek attention immed.
Does your LLMD have an emergency number to call?
It may be nothing, but I wouldn't leave it up to speculation.
Good luck and let me know what transpires, Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Go to the ER and ask for an ultrasound, insist that your arm hurts. It should not hurt.
I am not an MD, nurse or anyhting like that; just a very ABUSED patient that learned the hard way. Take care of yourself, no one will but yourself.
Lymster in WA.
Posts: 303 | From WA | Registered: Jul 2004
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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
DEFINITELY get to the ER for a doppler ASAP as lymster suggested. When my PICC arm was hurting, I ended up having blood clots in three veins.
No way, there should not be ANY blood as you've described.
Please go right away!
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Kreynolds,
How are you doing?
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
Mine bled terribly off and on for weeks and then it settled, my body wanted to push it out and it shifted by 4cms and then it settled - I was told this would probably happen and it had a 5cms tollerance before it needed re xray.
Its now fine and never bleeds
Get yours checked though if you have pain.
I assume these use Hepsal flush in the line daily in USA? or have you on heparin injections?
kreynolds
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15117
posted
quote:Originally posted by feelfit: Kreynolds,
How are you doing?
Feelfit
Feelfit.....
Had another nurse come today and said there was no cause for alarm..... She flushed it with 5cc of Heparin and did a dressing change..... it still is sore but she didn't really seem concerned about it.... the only thing that is wierd is she cannot get a blood return out of it when she has all along.... thanks to all for your concerns.......
-------------------- Diagnosed CDC + 6/2007
Quest: + IGG Bands 18,23,39,41,58,66 and 93.
Quest: + IGM Bands 23,39
Quest: + Bartonella (B.Henselea & B. Quintana),+ Babesia, and + Mycoplasma and Lyme-Induced Addisons Disease
+ Biofilm blood test 12/2010 Posts: 1185 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2008
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AliG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9734
posted
I believe I had a problem like that when one of the nurses, who was filling in for my regular nurse, set the clamp on the extension tubing.
I had a Groshong PICC.
My regular nurse (who had told ME not to set the clamp) told me that the small amount of pressure (from clamping) caused the valve to open a tiny bit.
That allowed a clot to form in the valve. She used Cathflo altiplase(sp?) to declot the line & I was good as new.
If you have a Groshong & had something tightly fastened around your arm, I wonder if it could have clamped on your vein & forced the valve open a teense. ???
You could also have developed phlebitis (inflammation of the vein), I had a big problem with that when I had a midline.
If you're allowed to take an NSAID, you might try some Motrin(ibuprofen) or Aleve(naproxen sodium) and put a little heat on your shoulder.
I had a tube-sock filled with rice (brown smells better than white ) and would heat it in the microwave. One of the nurses had suggested this.
It worked great because it would mold to my shoulder.
Just be careful not to overheat it and moosh it up a little, to move the rice around, before putting it on your shoulder. Hot spots can burn & that's no fun.
My shoulder just started bothering me again the other day. I think I may have lifted something to heavy and irritated the vein.
Time to find MY sock!
I hope you get some relief soon! Ali
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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) and would heat it in the microwave. One of the nurses had suggested this. ![[shake]](graemlins/shake.gif)
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