posted
Im wondering if anyone else has had the same issues with Picc lines as me. I recently had to get my Picc line replaced becuase it clotted off and stopped flushing. Well, now with my new picc im experiencing chest discomfort annd shortness of breath. It seems the Doctor who replaced the Picc put it in too far and its hitting my heart or somthing else and causing this.
The people at Interventional Radialogy looked at the slides and confirmed this. I had my nurse come out and pull it out 3 sonometers to see if that helped. And actually it did help some but im still haveing the same issues.
I wanted to know if anyone else has had the same sort of problems? Is it dangerous? I have an appt to get it replaced again tommorow.
Just another thing in my life that goes wrong. At this point im ready to just get it pulled and do shots or something.
AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
Hi joe
Sorry you are still going throough so much crud with your picc.
One time my picc was put into my heart.. I had problems breathing.
I had to go in to the radiology department where i had it put in and they pulled it out ENOUGH and did an xray to make sure it was out ENOUGH...
My breathing issues did start to improve immediately but did take a little while to completely resolve because the stupid picc had been in the wrong place awhile...
Since your nurse cant see exactly where your picc is maybe it just wasnt pulled far enough away...or its hitting it when you move....maybe they could just see where it is and put it in a better position.
Also I think my heart had some inflamation (not serious) from the picc being IN it for awhile (like over a month).
I hope if it comes that you have to get the whole thing replaced that you get a different dr!
I really dont understand how they messed up so much they stuck it in my heart because they could see where they was putting what on the monitor.
posted
Want to second what Azure said as well as add something else to think about....
I developed a pericardial effusion while my picc was in and was on IV Rocephin. Same symptoms (chest discomfort/shortness of breath).
Might not be a bad idea to ask your doc about getting an EKG and echocardiogram, just to be on the safe side.
Hope they figure this out for you soon and you're feeling better.
-------------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll Posts: 356 | From Body-PA, Mind-elsewhere | Registered: Dec 2007
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I've heard of this happening in other patients before, sometimes having your nurse pull the line out an inch or two might help. I'd hate for you to have to go through the whole procedure again...
Feel better.
Posts: 371 | From CT | Registered: Jun 2008
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-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
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lymielauren28
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13742
posted
Jeeze, you poor thing!!!! I hope they fix it right this time!
Lauren
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
Joe, so sorry you're having troubles with the PICC. While reading your post my chest tighten in sympathy. I hope it get resolved soon.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
THATS TERRIBLE
Did they not have an overhead xray on you all the time it was being fitted?
When mine was fitted (on 2nd one) the consultant radiologist was fitting it and another radiologist had 2 overhead scanning machines so they could see it going in and exactly when it was in situ.
I hope they sort this out right away and you MUST have a xray soon to determine the tip of the PICC is sitting in the distal superior vena cava.
posted
When I had my last PICC line put in I told the radiologist not to put it too close to my heart because of arrythmias. They complied and put the tip at the end of the subclavian vein.
Make sure you tell them to keep it away from your heart because some hospitals will only place it there even if the ordering doctor tells them not to. CRAZY.
Posts: 425 | From NY, United States | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Thank you everybody for your concern and support. I had my picc replaced again today. The doc made sure to leave it short of my heart this time and all seems to be good. I appreciate all your posts. They mean alot.
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