Topic: What is the best PICC line cover for showers?
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
I have been hunting to find one. I got a Drypro PICC line cover with a pump for swimming. But it tore on the second use for a shower! (The company is replacing it, after a long, confusing chain of phone calls and emails).
But for everyday use for showers, this isn't practical. I bought an all-purpose PICC line/cast cover from Duane Reade (a local pharmacy chain), but it was humungous, and not practical either---it was big enough for an entire leg and foot (for an elephant!).
The saran wrap and tape thing doesn't work; I end up with water inside it (when I had a peripheral line). What have other people found workable?? It's too hard not to be able to take regular showers. Thank you.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I really like the kind that covers your whole arm like a huge plastic sleeve. It has elastic around the top to keep it up and then a blue foam wrap with velcro on one end. You wrap the blue foam around the elastic and part of your arm and velcro closed. It works perfect.
I can't remember the brand right now, but I'll try to find out. I think it's about $30 and well worth it. You can still only use one hand in the shower, but there are no worries about getting your dressing wet.
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I wrap my daughters arm in equine vet tape..the colored wrap that only sticks to itself...you can get it at Petsmart or Petco but much cheaper on line. This is what she covers it with on a daily basis.
Then for showering I use the tape and then we use Glad Press and Seal. I usually wrap it twice.
Never had a problem with water. Its been 2 months.
Deb G
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
| IP: Logged |
CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
Glad press and seal -- it sticks to itself.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
take a cheap plastic garbage bag, open it, stick your hand it in, poke a hole in the unopened end, slide it over you arm and up around the picc line, then tape each end of the bag around your arm bada bing bada boom that's it, no water in. Use some flexible plastic tape if you can though it works best.
Posts: 499 | From Indiana | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
never tried swimming, but for showers this is what i did:
first i took a washcloth, folded it small and covered the actual site (over the tegaderm)
then, i covered with 5-6 rounds of Glad Press n Seal (took a while to learn how to do it to myself)
next, i taped down the 'seam' of the plastic as well as the top n bottom (where plastic meets skin) **i used some kind of water-proof medical tape, i forget the name. u can find it at most pharmacies, not expensive. 100% waterproof, flexible and doesn't HURT when u take it off!!
voila!
most of the time, no water got past the tape and plastic. but just in case, the washcloth was there to catch the drops of water.
obviously, if during the shower u see the washcloth getting drenched, stop n change it. but that really shouldn't happen.
g'luck!
Posts: 34 | From Airmont NY | Registered: May 2009
| IP: Logged |
hiker53
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6046
posted
Get some vet gynecological gloves that go way up the shoulder. You can buy them at places like Farm and Fleet or Tractor Supply very cheaply. I just stuck a rubbber band at the top around my arm and presto I was in business.
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 8890 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
It worked well for me.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Thanks, guys, this is great! Plenty of ideas to work with.
Sammi, did the PICC line Protector you bought last long? It says 3-4 weeks, which could get expensive over the months.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Hi Rumigirl. If I remember correctly, it lasted much longer than four weeks. I used it quite a while ago, so I am not sure if it is exactly the same as the one I used.
You can also check out local pharmacies and hospital supply stores to see what they have.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
My doctor's office said nothing tops the Glad Press N Seal.
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 |
When my brother had a pic line he went on-line to a vet supply house and purchased a box of full arm sleeves they use for horse or cow whole arm exams or artificial insemination.
He said they worked just fine although nothing is "easy".
Posts: 4 | From Oregon | Registered: May 2009
| IP: Logged |
washrag and press and seal is one lots of pts have used to keep various things dry (dressings, wounds, staples, casts, etc)
vet glove is good idea
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
| IP: Logged |
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Great ideas, everyone! One question: on the Glad Press 'n Seal, do you need to use tape on either end and also the seam? Or is it ok without tape?
I've tried a lot of other things that didn't work and leaked a lot eventually. The sleeve from Brown Medical worked for a while, but then leaked. And it's pretty expensive.
I'm nervous about using something that leaks, as it creates an emergency of sorts. My husband would have to come home from work and change the dressing.
Rumigirl
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Geez, I bought a Dry Pro thinking it would really work. Haven't tried it yet since my arm has been too sore. Now I'm a little worried.
Seems using pressnseal everday would be rather expensive also.
Anyone else tried the Dry Pro? And what was your experiences with it? I need a decent shower!
Posts: 847 | From upstateNY | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Keltyl,
When I had the DryPro tear, I called the supply store, where I bought it, and they told me to call the company (which took a long
time to find!). They replaced it for free, as they should have. They said the place I bought it may have had it on the shelf for a very long time. The new one was a much stronger rubber, so I think it would last longer.
However, it's not completely easy to get on and off. Not impossible, just not easy.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Well, I thought I had the problem solved very simply, when I tried Glad Press 'n Seal. It worked wonderfully!
Then, the second time I tried it, it leaked like crazy! Even though I had wrapped it around many times tightly with two pieces of it.
So, either I have to use the tape, or try something else, like the ob/gyn vet gloves.
It's hard to do some of this by yourself. Errrg!
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
Glad press and seal works great-but it's better if someone wraps it for you, to get a good seal. Can you shower when someone is home to help you?
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
| IP: Logged |
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
I love my DryPro PICC cover. Very good investment.
Their customer service is very friendly and helpful. I was having a difficult time deciding what size I needed to order and the rep on the phone walked me through the measuring, suggested the appropriate product and told me exactly how to trim it to fit.
It is much more durable than I expected it to be. It is also easy to use which is great because I need to be able to get it on and off all by myself.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
| 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!
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic