LymeNet Flash: Maintaining picc line on own??

LymeNet on Facebook

LymeNet on Twitter

Follow @LymeDiseaseNet

The Lyme Disease Network receives a commission from Amazon.com for each purchase originating from this site.

When purchasing from Amazon.com, please
click here first.

Thank you.

Dedicated to the Bachmann Family

LymeNet needs your help:
LymeNet 2020 fund drive

The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations.

»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Maintaining picc line on own??

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Maintaining picc line on own??

lturkington
Member
Member # 15549

posted

Do people get trained and maintain their own picc line, flushing out and changing dressings etc?

Anyone have any experience with this? Worry about high risk of infection but am curious others experience. Thanks!!

Posts: 19 | From Poland, ME | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged |

Parisa
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 10526

posted

My husband has a central line but we were trained from the very beginning how to infuse the medicine, how to flush the line and how to change the bandages.

At first it was overwhelming and it left me wondering how much the infusion company was charging my insurance for nursing care that I was doing.(I'm still wondering about that!).

However, in the long run it's much nicer to not have people tromping through your house all the time and you can do things more on your own schedule.

Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006 | IP: Logged |

Rene
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 4870

posted

We managed my picc line without a weekly nurse visit. My husband changed the dressing and I flushed it myself. It isn't hard, you just need a good nurse to train you.

Posts: 366 | From Louisville KY. | Registered: Nov 2003 | IP: Logged |

Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521

posted

I just got one, and they trained me to do the infusing but a nurse is coming to change the dressing once a week and check the line. I also have an 800 number I can call 24 hours a day, and I've already used it every day so far!

I feel comfortable with this arrangement. I did get a nursing visit the day after the PICC was placed which turned out to be essential as I had a blood clot and had to go to ER and get it pulled. I'm getting another one tomorrow.

--------------------
NO PM; CONTACT: [email protected]

13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG.

Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005 | IP: Logged |

Printer-friendly view of this topic

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, NJ 08534 USA
http://www.lymenet.org/