posted
I will be starting IV ABX next month - interested to hear someone describe the process..how to get started, are my activities restricted?, what were your results? - nervous about the pic line..what the heck is it anyway? Do I give myself the abx once it's in or go to a nurse? daily?
-------------------- PHOENIX: mythical bird that rises from the ashes July '09 got sick very quickly could barely get out of bed - ND diag lymes.. and the journey began bite: unkown - no rash Posts: 248 | From private | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
Generally a nurse comes out once to show you how to do it, then comes out weekly for the bandage change. More info here on how to deal with PICC lines and IV meds: http://InfusingForLymies.comPosts: 40 | From USA | Registered: Jan 2010
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scorpiogirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31907
posted
Let's pray you won't have as much problems with the line placement as I did. I had a really bad experience with the Hickman and Picc line which had to be pulled twice. I am on my 3rd line now which is the Picc line. You can read about it here.
Once you get the line in your doctor will write orders for an Infusion nurse to come weekly for the dressing change. Depending on where you want to get your meds they will be sending them weekly as well. Many folks price shop and buy the dressing supplies and drugs separately. I am going through the same Pharmacy and Home care so it's much easier for me. My nurse showed me how to drip the IV (I recorded her so I can watch it a few times). I drip mine daily now without any issues.
If you will be dripping them at home on your own ask your doctor for a prescription for an Epi pen in case you have an allergic reaction.
Be sure you ask your doctor to write a standing order for lab works weekly. I am glad I insisted for the IV meds are killing my liver! It also causes my platelets to dip so we have to balance when to drip the drugs vs. when to pull back.
I was under the assumption that IV would by pass your gut thus not cause nausea. I was VERY WRONG!! I got so nauseous! Took a good two weeks before my body adjusted to it. I also have diarrhea every time I start a new antibiotics. With Invanz my pain was gone relatively quick. But 5 weeks into it we added Zithro and boy am I having a hard time with this one!
I have a full body rash that comes and goes, low grade fevers, a lot of aches and pain, and my numb leg is very more numb than ever before. So it looks like I didn't herx on Invanz but I am on Zithro. So far that's all I have to report.
Good luck with your line placement! Hopefully it will be uneventful so you can get started soon.
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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kidsgotlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23691
posted
My daughter had her line put in on June 6th. She didn't have to be put to sleep. They just numb the area.
Our home health nurse came out the next day and showed us how to do the infusions. She come once a week and changes the dressing.
My daughter has gotten so used to it that she had the nurse put an extension on so she could do her infusions by herself.
The only thing that she has to be careful of is so not lift anything over 5 pounds with that arm. She pretty much does whatever else she wants to do except go swimming, of course.
Showers were a pain until we got a really good picc line cover for the shower. We ordered it from Amazon.
Good luck and don't sweat it. It's not as scary as it seems.
-------------------- 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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ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
The process is easy and the nurses and hospital staff will take you through it.
PICC line is put in a special area of the x-ray departmet. In our area, it has to be in a hopsital.
We are so fortunate to have a great nurse with many tricks for fighting the underlying rashes that pop up.
-------------------- 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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scorpiogirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31907
posted
Kari,
Can you share the "tricks" for fighting the underlying rashes?? I'm allergic to all adhesive, Chloraprep and Biopatch, so any time they touch my skin I get a blister. But there is no other way to secure the line so we still have to use the Steri strip to tape it down since I cannot tolerate the stat lock. So even the steri strip is causing rash/blisters!
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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posted
thanks so much..I am grateful man, this is scary... okay, eye on the prize... bad, though, cuz I have a dog walking business..how in the world will I do my job and protect my pic line too?
-------------------- PHOENIX: mythical bird that rises from the ashes July '09 got sick very quickly could barely get out of bed - ND diag lymes.. and the journey began bite: unkown - no rash Posts: 248 | From private | Registered: Jul 2010
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