My skin is allergic to the adhesive of the transparent dressing which keeps the site dry.
But for many weeks the site is not doing well . . . it gets no fresh air. LLMD said today it looked like a bad case of diaper rash.
She recommended not putting the adhesive tape on, letting it air out when safe / at home, and using desitin. She suggested cutting off the end of a couple of sox, and putting them over to keep the line protected and in place.
She also recommended an rx called asmacort (sp?) which is a dry steroid based inhaler, that I should just "puff" it onto the site.
Anyone have any other solutions they have tried and that worked?
-------------------- Jeff Posts: 533 | From CA | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
Jeff, I always read what you write, so great of info it contains. After reading so many posts like yours here,,,way back when ,,,I was going on IV's I had a 'port' installed. I thought it was easier and more durable because I thought I would need it a 'long' time to get well. (easier to keep clean too)
That was years ago and I always said I would have it yanked out when I was completely well. They may have to have the coronor do it.
Insurance refused to pay for any long term IV abx so cut me off after a few weeks. have used it for other stuff a few times.
It does itch like crazy once in a while tho. But skinned over when NOT accessed and thats what I liked. Picc's would drive me up the wall and I would have them pulled out constantly!!
I realize I havent helped you much IF any,,,but will they(insurance) pay for a port vs the picc??? Might be an easier way to go!! Specially IF you think you 'may' need it long term yet!!!still--just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Are you using an infusion company? If so, have you spoken to the pharmacist who puts your orders together to send to you? I had allergies to all of the dressings I tried, but some seemed a bit better than others. They sent me lots of extras each month, so I could rotate, and try different types - some adhesives were easier on my skin.
I can't remember the name of the one I liked best, but it was the one with a square of sterile gauze all the way around the dressing - seemed to keep the adhesive off of my skin better.
I hope you find something that helps soon.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
hi jeff - i had a bad rash around my site for awhile - it was at the same time the outpatient surgery dept where i often went for infusions (when i didn't do them myself) was doing daily ivs' on a patient with a staph infection...anyway, i went down to the drugstore and bought bunches if sterile gauze wrap. cleaned the site daily with betadine and then alcohol and then wrapped with sterile gauze and then a clean 4 inch ace....the rash cleared within a week or so and i went back to the oupatient surgery dept - i just wasn't going to go near there without a 'barrier' dressing..good luck, deb
Posts: 122 | From richmond, ca, usa | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Jeff, I'm guessing you have a picc? As Don suggested, a port might be a better option because you can de-access when not infusing and allow your skin to breath.
Otherwise, I have a port and have found using a product called skin prep under the adesive , and then using Iv 3000 as my oculsive dressing, to be the best combination for my highly allergic skin.
Maybe this can help you. I wish you well!
Posts: 663 | From NH USA | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
The skin was oozing yesterday so I took off the bandages and dosed it with Desitin. I am just putting one of those net socks over it. The line is secure, I think, I hope, by keeping it secured in the stat lock.
So far so good. It'slke the days when we used to put our baby's naked diaper rash butts in the sun to make the diaper rash go away. Instead now it's my own arm, not my babys' butts. LOL
-------------------- Jeff Posts: 533 | From CA | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
When I had my PICC in, I would usually dress it with a tegaderm (this may be a different kind of clear dressing then the one you are using. They are expensive and made by 3M. They are also the only kind of medical tape or adhesive that doesn't cause irritation or allergy for me) and a little gauze near the insertion site.
Really, if you plan to be doing this for awhile, getting a port may be a better idea. If I ever have to go back on IV, thats what I'm doing. Please keep in mind that's a minor surgical procedure, but it can be much easier to take care of.
Posts: 691 | From East coast, USA | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
For what its worth I lost a line with the same symptoms. Tried every thing with the dressing and could not solve the problem. I ended up swtiching arms and the new site started the same thing. The prpbme was wprse where ever there was any moisture. It was very bad and it all started with intense itching a week or so before.
I bumped up the anti yeast (nystantin) way up for about 2 weeks and the problem went away. I later realized that it was around christmas and I had eatten chocolates and sweets that I should never have had while on ABX (and never had before). When the issue was resolved, I tried to have the sweets again and the problem came back so at least from my end, I attributed the casue to a yeast problem.
Your problem might be different but I thoght I would mention what I found.
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
savebabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9847
posted
I also have an allergy to the dressing. The pharmacist was able to get me one that does not cause that rash. Cloth tape also helps and I found that stat locks really hold the IV in place. www.statlock.comPosts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic