posted
I had my picc line put in November 1. I was on IV Rocephin for 7 weeks.
It took 3 weeks before I even started to feel better. I wasn't feeling 100%, I'd say more like 60-70%.
I didn't feel like I was going to die anymore, and my walking improved quite a bit. I still had pain moving around, but it wasn't as intense or moving so quickly.
On my sixth week, my pain started to intensify and start moving around more quickly. Every day was a little more than the previous.
I thought maybe it was just a few bad days, but it continued. My doctor (by the way this is my pcp) thought maybe it was time to try something else as she doesn't want me slipping backwards.
So, I am now on 600mg of oral doxicycline. She decided to leave the picc line in just in case this didn't work.
I get a dressing change every week and a saline flush and cap change. Today was one week, and it flushed great.
I guess what I'm wondering, is how long can a picc line be in? Has anyone here had one in for more than 8 weeks? I'd appreciate any input. Thanks.
Posts: 111 | From northeast Iowa | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I have had about 9 PICC lines so far in the 9 years that I have been diagnosed with this.
I would first like to say that I have been instructed to do a saline flush EVERY DAY, not just once a week. I don't understand the only once a week thinking. My special procedures radiologist that inserts mine has a protocol of 10c saline solution followed by 5cc of Heparin.
My longest line was in for 6 months. It was maintained well but that was many years ago. My doc now likes to only keep them in for 12 weeks and then changes.
I unfortunately didn't do this last time and was going on 4-1/2 months. I got really sick one day with shortness of breath, terrible panic/anxiety and a swollen arm. Turns out that my vein collapsed around the PICC up by my shoulder and I wound up having an angioplasty to open it back up.
Best to talk to your doc about their own personal protocols. I never thought this could happen but it can. I don't want to scare you but I never want anyone to go through what I did.
Hang in there and I hope you are feeling better soon.
-------------------- ...~*Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming*~... Posts: 120 | From New Jersey | Registered: May 2006
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I had my line in for 16 weeks and then the line started to get a bit suspicious that it might be infected, and was pulled. I started to get fevers that were not the normal kind of fever and the vien of the line started to swell a bit.
Posts: 582 | From milwaukee wi | Registered: May 2005
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david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
Some people (not just Lyme patients) have had a line in (the same one) for more than 1 year with no issues.
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
Time element is variable according to the physician and the treating protocol. Main concerns are risk of infection. Picc line care is called " SASH"- saline antibiotic saline and then heparin. If no antibiotics are being used then saline and heaprin should be used daily to keep line patent. Sterile dressing changes should be weekly and prn, as need if dressing becomes wet.I had 2 picc lines so far, each 8 to 12 weeks without any symptoms or problems.
Posts: 719 | From Delaware | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Our daughter had her PICC line inserted on June 13, 2006 with no problems, so 6 months so far.
We do a saline/heparin flush every day and a dressing change twice a week, although once a week is the norm.
Posts: 681 | From California | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I was given the instructions from the company that makes the PICC line I have. My instructions say to flush every 12 hours, if not infusing. I only did it once a day when not infusing, and it was fine. But no way would I only flush once a week.
I've had mine for 12 weeks, I barely even notice it, except for the three times a day I have to infuse.
By the way, there is some study that just came out today about infections in central lines (12,000 people die a year from them) and it basically said that washing your hands is a good thing.
gambler
Posts: 243 | From chicago | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
I had my PICC line in for 2 1/2 years before it got a hole in it. Dressing changes were done weekly and I took good care of it. I have heard it can last up to 4 years but that is rare. Hope this helps!
Posts: 425 | From NY, United States | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Hubby has had several lines. Was told that the plastic starts deteriorating after a year. I think his longest line was in for about 15 months -- the shortest was about 2 weeks as he didn't know he had hypercoagulation and it clotted. Would definitely flush at least once if not twice daily.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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