I am new to the Lyme net and I'm really glad I found this. I don't have very much peer support (since no one undestands this). I've been through all the standard oral treatment and am now going on IV Rocephin in 2 days 4/27. (I am with a good Dr. (Dr. S--I am in MD). I'm really scared of this as I talked to one Lyme patient and he said he got a pulmonary embolism from the PICC line and almost died. Please if you could give me any solace on this that would be really helpful. Thanks so much. Feel free to email me as well.
Posts: 24 | From MD | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
I have had 3 picc lines one in 2006 during my pregnancy (not for lyme).....
one last septmeber to administer what they were telling me was migraine meds (didnt know about lyme then),
then had it replaced in nov when i got the lyme diagnosis......for IV rocephin......there is warning with them like anything..mine were all fine..no probs........
look after it properly, be aware of warning signs, it is essential to get your needed meds, it will work out fine.......good luck
-------------------- Oct 09 Positive CDC Western Blot Jan 10 Positive Babesia Duncani Jan 10 Cd57 28 Mar 10 EBV, IgM, IgG HHV-6 IgG Posts: 739 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
Talk to the doctor and whoever is placing the PICC line about what to look for in terms of adverse reactions. That would be the line itself and medications.
Good luck tomorrow and let us know how it goes for you.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
When I had my PICC line put in, I was told of the warning signs to look for. I was also given an emergency contact number to use if needed. That would save a lot of wasted time going to the ER etc.Ask them who you should call if you are worried about your line.
Posts: 250 | From canada | Registered: Oct 2007
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I just got my PICC line 4 days ago. I was really scared too. I was scared to get it, I was scared not to get it, I was scared after I got it, and it took me 2 days to get comfortable with it.
But, I am ok. It is a little daugnting, but it can be done. I went to the hospital for my first dose of medicine, to check for allergic reaction, and it went fine.
The hospital gave me all kinds of information, the doctor gave me all kinds of information, and the home health lady came out for 2 and a half hours for my first dressing change and to show me how to administer the medication myself.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Posts: 893 | From Florida | Registered: Dec 2008
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
Have Had Several....prefer IM Penicillin"G", Bicillin actually, for results and easy delivery...
However....ceftriaxone helped initally and always does for the encephalitis
I seem to get that recurrs the longer I'm away from serious IM or IV injectables....
The picc lines I've had were all a piece of cake....
You may want to have something for the lungs while on this medication...
I always seem to come up with some kind of Bronchitis/pneumonia symptoms I have to follow-up
with Rifampin...or levaquin....which has it's own worries...tendonitis....
good luck zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Thanks SO much for the support!! I really do hope it goes well tomorrow. Zman: were you on Rocephin when you got the respitory symptoms?
Posts: 24 | From MD | Registered: Apr 2010
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
It will be okay, just educate yourself on what to do if something does happen
posted
thanks wildcondor you scared the crap out me. really was NOT what I needed the day before I got it.
Posts: 24 | From MD | Registered: Apr 2010
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Well, I do not want to intentionally scare you, but you do need to be made aware of the risks and know what to do if something does happen.
Many doctors are NOT explaining this to their patients, and because of that, when infections happen patients have no idea what to do to save themselves.
Remember infections like this are the exception rather than the rule but it is part of your responsibility as a patient to be educated, scary or not. When you request a central line, a certain amount of responsibility goes with it, that includes knowing the risks involved. This article has already saved many lives, so in my experience not posting it and not arming people with this information would be like saying I don't care what happens to you.
I wish you the best, thousands of people have had PICC Lines with no problems whatsoever, remember that.
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posted
No you are right Wild Condor. I definitely do need to be aware and AM aware now of what the danger signs of the PICC are. I appreciate you explaining everything to me. I guess just at that moment (since I was so worried about it), I didn't want to hear all the "scary" stuff. I am aware of it all now and I had my PICC put in about 5 days ago. Didn't go so smoothly though (but could have been worse too though). They got it in on the first try (which was great). However, I had pinpoint pain in my chest area when I breathed in the next day. So we got everthing checked out (venous vain study, x-ray, and oxygen level). Everything looked good, good blood flow, and it is placed correctly. The hospital told me I should feel NO sensation except some irritation on the insertion site. However, the visiting nurse said people with small veins can have some inflammation/irration problems. Good news is that the pinpoint pain the chest has mostly subsided but I am now having a lot of soreness underneath my armpit. It seems to be getting better though (extremely slowly). Ever hear of this before? I REEEEAALLLY don't want to have to have it reinserted if at all possible!
Posts: 24 | From MD | Registered: Apr 2010
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