Thank you for your reply.
I am currently on Rocephin but have not had the time to research that either, thanks.
I hope your children are well.

My experience with a positive outcome:

during a sultry summer when i had a picc line for 3 weeks, i developed what might be called an inflammation(?) and/or infecition,
i had a donut ring of red develop around the opening in the skin for the line; it felt sore. Over the next 3-4 days the sensation of "inflammation" traveled in a linear fashion up the arm to where i felt a "straight line of inflammation/irriation(?).

Financially erased, a conuslt, or emergency room visit was out of the question.
By the 4th day, i was almost beside myself with anxiety, feeling like i was in a multiple bind, w/ worry of sepsis that was developing, heart attack,stroke, month(s) in hospital, fear of brutal retaliation by doctors/hospital staff for my persistence in obtaining appropriate and timely treatment supported by unequivocal "evidence-based" medical facts("real" good paranoia,not bad paranoia).

Figuring an immune syst. compromise that the lyme lit. suggested, i bought a bottle of a product called 'T-Cell Formula', an otc product; it was in powder form, and in a capsule. It contained what i think were dried bovine T-Cells(s), and/or T-cell peptides(?) .

IT WORKED! and i felt it starting to work within hours after haveng taken it. It took 2-3 days before i was absolutely certain it did the job. the line of inflammation/irritation slowly went away, and as best i recall from 5 years ago, it went away piece-meal, starting at the point closest to my heart, and the red ring on inflammation/irration around the entrance hole for the picc line wnet away 98%-100%!

pq

Thanks for the reply.
I like the glove idea.

I don't plan to even use my arm after what has happened with the midline...
I remember being told there are stitches involved.. any details?

I just got my picc line out after having it in for 9 months. I had another one a few years ago for 5 months, too. I'll be honest. There are benefits and downfalls. The pros being - Less stomach problems from abx and you don't have to get stuck with needles every time they want to pull blood (they can pull it right from there.) The only real downside only comes into effect if you have to use drip bags. When I had the medicine balls, I didn't mind having the picc line at all. With the drip bags, sometimes I felt more sick MENTALLY because I was always in bed when I was dripping and it felt like I had to live my life around my med schedule. But - you get used to it and the benefits really do outweigh the cons!

As far as maintenance, they usually want a doctor to do bloodwork every one-two weeks, and you have to change the dressing on it every week. (Really easy, my husband actually did my dressing changes on the weeks that I didn't go to the doctor for bloodwork!)

You absolutely have to keep it dry! I only took baths instead of showers for the time I had it, just to be safe.

You still have to make sure you are taking a lot of probiotics.

And everyone is right, it doesn't hurt at all getting it put in or taking it out.

Hope this helps!

Thank you for taking the time to give me such details with your experience.
I really appreciate it.

The midline I had in sounds similar to this, they tried to take blood from it on monday with little success and had to stick me anyway

My treatment was supposed to be for 6 wks,
but critical care informed me that my insurance cut me down to 4.
I'd hate to go through this all over again, but I may have little of choices in the long run.
Maybe my dr. will fight for me.. I hope

Thank you also for that detailed reply.
I will keep that in mind if I run into problems.

SLCD,

Drip bags are used being hung from the IV pole. Medicine balls actually have a kind of pump in them, and you can do anything while infusing. I used to vaccuum while I infused! It makes a really big difference to your mental well-being. (Just my personal opinion.)

There are a couple of things that decide which you would be on. 1)If you're doctor prescribes the balls. 2)If you're insurance company will pay for the balls (they are more expensive). 3) If you do not have insurance, sometimes the doctor will give you drip bags that have been donated. 4) Some meds do not come in the balls. (I do know for a fact that Rocephin does, as that was the first abx I was ever on.)

thank you again! you are helping so much.

A medicine ball is basically an infusion ball...if you think of a ballon being filled with water you have the idea. But much smaller of course

Also, It is very important to keep the insertion site clean and dry. If you prefer taking showers try this it worked for me.

Find a spot on the wall above your head and to the side of the "water fall" of the shower. Place your hand one that spot then make sure to use only the free hand to shower with....

I've had a picc line in for 8 weeks now, and it will probably be in for another 4 weeks.

I infuse with the IV bags, and it takes about an hour to an hour and a half from start (gathering supplies) to finish (flushing the line).

I start infusing while eating dinner, for I'm sitting down anyway. Then, others do the dishes, which is a bonus, and I do computer work or office work while my infusion finishes up. It doesn't seem to take as long if I start while we are eating dinner.

I have an extension on mine, so I can flush my line daily by myself. I have bought fun socks, (with strawberries, smiley faces, etc on them) which I have cut the toes off of...these socks go on my forearm, and hold my picc extension against my arm.

The line itself is held in place by a stat lock, and covered with a large clear bandage, which is changed weekly by a visiting nurse (who also draws my blood).

To shower, I cover my arm (where the picc line and extension is) with Glad Press and Seal wrap AND a plastic bread bag (like roman meal) that is held in place with rubber bands.

It keeps everything dry enough....

I like my picc line. It has given me no troubles (thank God) and is a great conversation starter!! I can share my lyme story with others!

My left arm is feeling much better, I had it in a sling last night with a rice sock thingy I made to keep heat on it.

Now I have my right in a sling where the peripheral is so I'm not tempted to use it.
Still waitingto see what/when everything is happening. At least my face isn't swelled up anymore (last week).

Thank you to everyone who replied, you were all very helpful.

BoeJr,

Thank you for the shower instuctions!
could I do it like that with the peripheral in or should I wait ( I'm starting to smell funny)

Timaca,
My infusion now takes about twenty minutes (if even that) It's good to know how long this will take, now I have some time to decide when will be best. Thank you!
I hope I get the ball, I can't imagine having that bag with a three yr old around!

Slcd,
Thank you again for all your help yesterday, what probiotics were you taking?
and what did your diet consist of? did you do the anti-yeast diet? I wanted to do that but I am underweight so my dr. said to just eat whatever I can ( However I still think I should be doing the anti-yeast thing)

You could follow those instructions for the periferal as well. As long as it doesn't get wet you're okay...

I had a much better time with a picc than I did with a midline. I had the midline while waiting for a second picc to be put in. The midline hurt me (it might have been the awkward place it was) and I had it pulled in a few days.

One other thing about showering, or maybe two:

1. I covered the picc site for showering with a square of folded plastic wrap and plastic tape (maybe it's blenderm, I'd have to check) it's the one without the little holes in it.

I just taped all around the edges. (Paper and/or silk tape doesn't hold up to the water or falls off.) I dried my arm immediately after the shower and stripped off the covering. It worked really well.

2. Originally, I was using rubber gloves with the fingers cut off pulled onto my arm and taped around (which was what they suggested at the hospital).

My IV nurse almost had a cow. She told me never to put anything around my upper arm that could put pressure in the line. If you're using rubberbands be very careful. (You definately don't want to collapse it.)

Good luck with your new picc, I hope it's good to you.

And, as far as showering with the peripheral line, if it's in your wrist you can probably manage to take a latex (or other medical) glove, put it on and tape the end above the line. I had a peripheral in for almost a week when I first went on IVs while waiting to get the PICC line insertion set up (I was supposed to get a mid-line put in at home but my veins had another idea).

Hope you get things worked out soon!

Peace and healing,
Annie

------------------

Lyme Out Retreat Website

Lyme Disease Awareness Products

Click here to join Lyme Pals.