penguingirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28688
posted
I have been using Tegaderm for the past 3 weeks without any issues.
I had my dressing change yesterday and last night I was getting kind of itchy above the dressing. I assumed it was just from being so hot
So I peeled the top corner of the dressing(it's white on the edges (not a clear dressing all the way around) so I wanted to see if that area was red at all since I swear I was itchy under there too. My site looks clean, no rash, nothing.
Well there was some oozing (almost like a blister popped - no pus but just like some small blisters and one was popped (prob cuz I was scratching from outside the dressing).
But there is some redness on the skin above the dressing where it is not even touching the dressing. So I am thinking this is some internal reaction?
Should I call the nurse to come take a look?
Could this be yeast? I am taking probiotics 3 x a day now (VSL3, Theralac and s.bouillardi).
Help!
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posted
I would call the nurse to take look. Probably just a rash from itching or something but better safe than sorry. If it is a rash I would try to switch to a Sorba view dressing, its a lot better for your skin being hypo allergenic and really helps.
Posts: 56 | From California | Registered: Mar 2010
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penguingirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28688
posted
Yeah I left a message for my case manager and the main number.
I think it's from the heat activating irriation under the Tegaderm (the borders of it). I will ask for them to bring a Sorba view dressing.
Is Sorba view clear all the way around to the borders? I don't like not being able to see under the dressing (white borders). I had a different kind last week (it was a bigger dressing and clear borders that came with some iodine cleaner that didn't react well w me - the clear alcohol sponge cleaner works better for me but maybe the larger dressing is not as thick material on my skin so works better.
-------------------- Posts: 1204 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
I have/had the same reaction.. The nurse put on a clear covering(used for infants) that helped a lot... most of the inflammation went away.... until the nurse forgot to bring more and put a white bandage back on.. now it's back..
she is bringing a box of the clear "hypo" coverings the next time she comes out.. I think you will have good luck with the hypo coverings..
Posts: 120 | From Evansville Indiana | Registered: Dec 2010
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penguingirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28688
posted
She is coming tomorrow and putting on a IV3000 dressing. Supposed to be hypo-allergenic.
I hope that works!! I feel like I have a small lump in that area. Like under the skin.
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Sounds like you may already be using the Sorbaview dressing. They have a clear center and white woven cloth edges.
IV3000 is a good option to try. It is more hypoallergenic and breathable. (In my personal experience.)
Some dressings tend to trap heat and moisture against the skin, that can cause rashes. It's good you called your nurse to get it taken care of.
If it's itching you now, wrap an ice pack in a towel and put that over the site. Hold it in place for 20min. That should stop the itching. Benadryl may also help.
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scorpiogirl
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Member # 31907
posted
Oh no I hope you don't follow my nightmare!! I ended up not able to tolerate any adhesive, stat lock, chloraprep and biopatch! Thanks God to Sammy I was able to save my Picc line doing just gauze and Coban wrap! PM if you get to that point or Sammy can help too.
Sammy, my site looked so good last week, so I thought what the heck let's slap the Mepilex on and see... 6 hours later RASH!! Yep... so when I peel it off the exist site started to bleed!! Lesson learned NEVER mess with a good thing. I'm back to gauze and coban wrap now. I hope the bleeding won't cause me more trouble!
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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posted
We ended up using nothing but sterile gauze and ace bandages to hold it all on for my son. He couldn't even tolerate white paper tape.
PM me if you need the instructions on how we did it. Mary
-------------------- Son, 26, Dx Lyme 4/10, Babs 8/10 Had serious arthritis, all gone. Currently on Valtrex Daughter, 26,bullseye 7/11 arthritis in knees, cured and off all meds. . Self:Lyme, bart, sxs gone, no longer treating. Posts: 496 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jul 2010
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Haley
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Member # 22008
posted
My reaction was to Chloraprep (the solution they use clean the area). when she used iodine I was fine.
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Make sure that the Chloraprep (or iodine) is completely dry before the nurse puts the dressing on. Otherwise, it can contribute to a rash.
The IV 3000 is definitely better than TEgederm. I've reacted badly to Sorbaview. But I can also react to the IV3000. I find the IV 3000 Hand, not Standard, is better. But sometimes you react to everything : - (
One trick that a nurse taught me when I had a PICC was to get an rx for Flonase, or one of those steroid nasal sprays, and spray some on the area and let it dry before they put the dressing on. That helped a lot! But use the bottle for no other use! He also had me use an over the counter cortisone cream sometimes.
I haven't done either one with my port, but probably should, as I'm having trouble again. THis heat is really a challenge with the dressings. I scratch in my sleep.
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kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
They had to switch my daughter to the IV3000 dressing and she hasn't had any problems since.
She also got the blisters just like you. Hopefully changing will help. Good luck!
-------------------- symptoms since 1993 that I can remember. 9/2018 diagnosed with Borellia, Babesia Duncani, and Bartonella Hensalae thru DNA Connections. Posts: 1470 | From Tennessee | Registered: Dec 2009
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penguingirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28688
posted
I just got the IV 3000 dressing placed. The nurse cleaned the area with chloraprep (although I wasn't sure if I wanted that again).
Anyway looks ok but feels a little itchy! Like all over.. (instead of the border areas w the previous dressing).
Ugh I hope I'm not allergic to this one. Maybe he put it on too tightly. Or maybe he didn't wait long enough for the chloraprep to dry - we waited like over a min or so.. I just don't know what it is. The other nurse would use a sterile guaze and wipe down the chloraprep so the skin would be dry.
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ktkdommer
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Member # 29020
posted
Make sure that the Chloraprep (or iodine) is completely dry before the nurse puts the dressing on. Otherwise, it can contribute to a rash.
This was the best advice for my son's PICC area as rumigirl stated above. The nurse hadn't heard it before. She was thankful for the print out and now does it all the time.
Our nurse is so good about move stat lock around and letting areas heal.
Everything has been good now for months. Knock on wood!
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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penguingirl
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posted
Ok - is it better to keep a blister unpopped or try to pop it? I don't want it to spread but I feel like a bulk of the itchiness is coming from this new bigger blister that has magically appeared in the last few hours. So far the cluster of them are in the top corner of my dressing.
I have used ice- Sammy - and that does help a lot. I'm trying not to get it wet though but somehow can't feel much of the ice with a paper towel over the ice pack.
Ugh -I really hope I don't have to do away with these dressings. I wonder if I can put a biopatch under a corner of the IV3000 or Tegaderm at my next dressing change (this Thursday) so that I don't keep putting more adhesive on top of these unhealed blisters!
Rumigirl - who prescribes the Flonase - the LLMD? I don't think my GP will give me one for this situation unless he is familiar with that trick!
-------------------- Posts: 1204 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2010
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CAN'T tell someone how good it feels to scratch that itch with the swab!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Better than.........!!!!!!!!!
I've had one on before and the rash subsided, here's to it going away for good!
Posts: 120 | From Evansville Indiana | Registered: Dec 2010
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Never pop blisters, it creates an opening in your skin and invites infection in! Same with scratching, try your best not to scratch. If you must do something, try gently patting or tapping on the itchy area instead.
Penguingirl, the ice pack may not feel super cold. It should help relieve the itching. If you leave it on for 20min it will numb your skin.
So, how big is the rash now? Is is under the whole dressing or just in the one corner?
If it's only in one corner of the dressing, then you could gently peel back the dressing to let that area breathe. When you do this, be very careful not to take too much off. You want the insertion site to remain well covered.
The rashy blister area should dry and heal up on it's own. I wouldn't put anything on it right now. You risk irritating the skin more.
When your nurse changes your dressing again make sure that they don't pull it tight, it is best to lay the dressing gently in place. If the dressing is stretched accidentally it can pull your skin at the edges and cause blisters.
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penguingirl
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posted
Roger - I know that awesome feeling - it is the best!
Sammy - the rash is growing but maintaining along the corner and along the side of the dressing (under the border of the IV3000 - the orange material).
The odd thing is it's not on the other orange strip - only on the right strip. I am wondering if there is something aggravating it more on that side of my arm.
I don't think the blister will heal before Thursday though - it looks like a new one that emerged today- but hopefully it will be ok by then because the nurse will most likely have to cover it up again with a new dressing.. grrr. CAn she just cut the edge of the dressing at a diagonal with some scissors? Maybe I can sterilize the scissors in boiling water..
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
The orange strips irritate my skin too. You can have your nurse pull them off when she places the dressing.
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