dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
I recently had to make the difficult decision whether to continue with IV picc line by paying on my own when my insurance wil no longer cover.
I managed to find a reputable pharmacy to order my supplies from at a lower cost but have had difficulty hiring a nurse to do all the things my nurse from the infusion company did.
I found a good nurse to do the weekly dressing changes but she does not draw blood weekly and deliver to local lab. For this I am going to a nearby hospital and getting jabbed weekly because they don't want to mess with picc line. Also I am not getting anyone to see if I have good blood return and that picc line is working properly. My visiting nurse did this weekly.
Am wondering how to do this and feel secure that there are no problems with my picc line.
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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poppy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5355
posted
A lot of people do it themselves, but it is better if you have a helper to change the extension and help with the doodad that holds the line down. One handed patient has trouble with it. Any reliable family or friends? The infusion nurse could teach this. Seems like by now you probably have observed the process a number of times.
Is it really necessary to have weekly blood draw?
Posts: 2888 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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me
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45475
posted
Will the nurse check the blood flow while she is there?
Also, I'm wondering if it would be cheaper to go to a place like any lab test or lab express for the blood draw/Cbc? Just a thought.
Doctors have different thoughts on how often to get your blood drawn when on Heavy antibiotics. Could you ask your doc if you could do it every 2 or 3 weeks instead if you are comfortable with this?
Just opinion, not medical advice. Best wishes to you, and happy thanksgiving.
Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
From what I have been told, you need special training to take blood from a picc line so the lab techs don't feel comfortable doing this. It is different with infusion centers though.
I am trying to find out if my insurance would cover me going to the infusion suite at my hospital every week and just have the dressing change and blood draws/labs done there.
That would make the most sense. The hospital was supposed to get back to me and let me know the cost if I have to pay privately for this, but they haven't and it has been several days.
My doc is very cautious with his patients on the PICC line because I am pretty sure one of them died from sepsis. He does not want to take any chances and neither do I.
I dont' really have anyone that I could trust to do the dressing changes and such. I would not feel comfortable trying to do it myself. I really feel better having a nurse do this. I am hoping that my insurance will cover visits to the hospital infusion suite - even if they won't cover the IV meds and supplies. Will let you know!
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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