Had to have my PICC line removed (right arm)about 3 weeks ago. after a wee. I noticed a gradual "ache" where removed, was told probably due to bruising. Has now become constant and feels like a tight band around bicep area and underarm, with a dull ache.
Also notice shortly after PICC installed, my right thumb was becoming purplish. Was told it was Raynald's Disease as two of my right toes have been becoming purple for over a year. Thought this is strange that it only happens on my right side though (toes and thumb}. Does Raynald's do that?
Anyone have any experience with this? Hate to go visit the ER and get the same look when you tell them you have lyme disease...ND doesn't seem to be too concerned, looked at it and said it wasn't discolored, but couldn't explain the increase achiness, other than perhaps lyme related.
Appreciate any help or input.
Many thanks in advance, JavaBeing Posts: 208 | From Portland, OR USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Had to have my PICC line removed (right arm)about 3 weeks ago. After a week, I noticed a gradual "ache" where removed, was told probably due to bruising. Has now become constant and feels like a tight band around bicep area and underarm, with a dull ache.
Also notice shortly after PICC installed, my right thumb was becoming purplish. Was told it was Raynald's Disease as two of my right toes have been becoming purple for over a year. Thought this is strange that it only happens on my right side though (toes and thumb}. Does Raynald's do that?
Anyone have any experience with this? Hate to go visit the ER and get the same look when you tell them you have lyme disease...ND doesn't seem to be too concerned, looked at it and said it wasn't discolored, but couldn't explain the increase achiness, other than perhaps lyme related.
Appreciate any help or input.
Many thanks in advance, JavaBeing
Posts: 208 | From Portland, OR USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
This doesn't sound normal.So you had your LLD look at it?
How long ago?
I don't think you should wait much longer
Let us know how you are & what he has to say.
I had acheing but only lasted a few days Take care
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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My ND just checked day before yesterday....said it looked normal as far as skin coloring. But, thought the tightness and aching was from lyme. She's has other lyme patients, but I was only one on PICC, so there's not another patient there to compare thoughts with. Hoping some other PICC folks may have had similiar occurances or experiences.
Appreciate the support though...I may have to bite the bullet and go to the ER...just hate having to deal with the explaining/defending the lyme issue with these folks. Same battle, just a different duck.
Health and healing, JavaBeing
Posts: 208 | From Portland, OR USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
JavaBeing~
No, I didn't have any problems like that after my picc was removed.
How long were you on IV? Did you see improvement?
Your former rocephin buddy, Timaca Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
Java, I had a huge blood clot after a poor PICC line insertion. It is in the same area you describe. It also feels tight and achy and at first would make several fingers tingly and achy.
Did you have a lot of bruising after the insertion? It has been 8 months, (six on blood thinners) and I still get a painful ache when I overuse that arm! I would definatly get it checked further. Cindy
-------------------- Cindy Posts: 227 | From VA | Registered: Sep 2005
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caat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2321
posted
I had blood clots in several places after IV caused by yeast. Felt tight and achey then severe pain.
You should definitely get it checked out in case it's an infection.
You can just go to the ER and say you had IV and are concerned you may be having problems from that. No need to say lyme if you don't have the energy to deal with the crap that can come with that. When someone asks me about my medication etc and I don't feel I owe them any complicated explaination I just say meningitis. That usually stops all questioning and they take it seriously and get right to work.
Posts: 1436 | From Humboldt county ca usa | Registered: Mar 2002
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char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
I'm thankful this subject came up. I had my picc inserted Wed. The nurse that did it, while she was prepping me told me how angry she was with her boyfriend, yada, yada, yada.
She numbed me with lidocaine, and kept shoving it in, and hit a nerve, that HURT. The she inserts the catheter, and starts ramming it in, all the while still pressing on this nerve, that really HURT. I told her it hurt, and she said, aw, it's just a nerve.. Yeah, but it was MY nerve!
She couldn't get the line fed, and all the while I'm in such pain, I guess I held my breath, and she got so angry with me. "You held your breath!, Now you're veins closed up". Like shame on you. I wanted to tell her it was either that or smack her silly, as she was killing me, the pain, ouch!
She called for the doctor, who after 10 minutes never came, and she shoved the "introducer" through, until finally inserted. When she put the stitches in she pulled them so tight I thought she would yank me off the table.
I asked if I would have any pain afterward, and she said no. My entire arm and all fingers were numb, and I asked her why, and she said it was because of the nerve she hit. It finally returned to normal.
My arm looks like ground beef. It is very painful ander my arm into my armpit, and my right stiff neck and between coller bone still hurts. Is this normal. Considering the extra trauma she put me through, it would seem so.
The LLMD also prescribed Flagyl, which I haven't started yet, as I have had diarreah. I called the other day, and they told me to stop the fish oil, give my tummy another day, then start the Flagyl.
I am taking probiotics, IV rocephin, calcium and magnesium.
I get a burning feeling at picc site. How would I know if anything is wrong? I'm thinking this pain is normal considering the circumstances. I can't even imagine going through this again.
Anyone else experience diareah?
Thanks for your input.
Blessings, Jill
Posts: 203 | From Jacksonville, FLorida | Registered: Oct 2005
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I can't help you, but I wanted to tell you that I had my PICC pulled on Dec. 27th, and my arm hurts between my elbow and shoulder, sometimes where the vein is and sometimes in my tricep.
It also hurt there when the PICC was in, which was for 7 weeks. I didn't have any visible infection or bruising, or any problems while the line was being put in. Nurses told me not to worry about the tenderness.
I know I should go to the doctor, but I have so many other things to deal with right now. I had my first massage (ever in my life) on Thursday and was told that there was swelling near the vein and that I should be icing it. While I was lying face down (I generally don't sleep that way anymore since having the PICC in), the tip of my finger was numb. I just started icing the arm today so I don't know if that will help.
I don't think the aching is from Lyme, it started the day the PICC was put in. Caat might be right, it might be a yeast problem, at least for me. The IV rocephin caused major yeast problems for my GI system. In fact, I still some problems even though I haven't been on abx since the line was pulled. I was tested for c. difficile and the test came back negative.
Jill,
That must have been a horrible ordeal. It shouldn't have been that way. My PICC was inserted and I didn't even know it. I looked away while it was happening. I couple of seconds later I asked how it was going, and the nurse was done. I didn't feel a thing. The nurse was extremely nice. When you get the burning checked, don't go back to the same place. The IV rocephin gave me diarrhea, which 1-1/2 years of oral abx didn't do to me.
P
Posts: 449 | From Vermont | Registered: Nov 2004
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