posted
After 6 months of little improvement if any on oral antibiotics, my neuro issues have flared. LLMD says it's time to do IV.
I am very active. (If I stop moving i crash!) I work 40 hours a week in a vet hospital, work with horses and work out at the gym 6 days a week.
How can I best protect my PICC line so I don't damage it?
-------------------- I have Lyme - but it doesn't have me. Posts: 70 | From ohio | Registered: Sep 2011
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ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
For my son we cut the toes off of socks and he wore these as sleeves to hold PICC in place. We used the two sided cling wrap for showering and used duck tape at each end. There is a wrap that you can buy online for PICCs that inflates and portects PICC's.
Sweating was an issue for my son as he would sweat so much the bandage would come off.
We had a good home health nurse that would notice any changes and deal with them accordingly. For example, one time she noticed a fungal infection. Our insurance paid for extra bandage changes as needed. I learned how to change it to carry over just a day until regularly scheduled change.
I think there is info in past posts if you search it.
-------------------- 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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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
Tubifast by Molnlycke is by far my favorite PICC line cover. It is super soft, stretchy, and breathable. It will completely cover your PICC line and keep it clean when you are out in public and in the horse barns.
It comes in a box on a roll so you will simply cut a new piece once or twice a day as needed depending on your work schedule. You could even be able to cut the pieces slightly larger to wash and reuse them.
I found socks to be too tight and not breathable enough to use a PICC line covers. And they were ugly! I spent a ton of money and time trying to find the right product. There are no good everyday wear products on the market. This is the only thing that suited my needs and wants perfectly. I guess I was a little picky but hey, it was my arm so I was allowed to be picky right!
For fit, the blue line 2.9" size worked well for me. My mid upper arm measured 27-28cm over the PICC site. If your arm is significantly bigger, go up to the yellow line 4.2 size. If your arm is significantly smaller, go down to the green line 1.9 size. Sizing is hard so you will have to use your judgement here. Remember that the product is soft and it does stretch.
Best advice, tape the extension tubing to your arm to make sure that it stays up and doesn't get caught/snagged while dangling down on accident. Use the tubifast to cover the PICC dressing to keep everything clean.
If you are a sweater, you may need to have your nurse routinely change your dressing twice a week instead of every 7 days. You don't want to risk letting moisture and germs build up under there. Better to be safe and clean it up.
One more thing, insist that the home health company provide for you a Biopatch for every dressing change. Place this at the PICC insertion site. This has been proven to help prevent infection. Make sure your nurse uses it! Very important!!!
Take care:)
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
I forgot, here's the waterproof PICC cover that will make your life easier. Slide it on before showering and swimming, use the little pump to squeeze the air out, and you will have not worries about water leaking onto your dressing.
This is a good investment. It will last you at least 6+mo even with daily use.
Call the company if you need help with sizing. They have great customer service. When I first ordered mine I was unsure, they helped me out.
Syran wrap leaked. And it was expensive to use every day. This waterproof picc cover does what it is supposed to do. It keeps water out!
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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