Judy
I believe heaven is all the good you can imagine. So for sure the fur friends would be there too!

I am 20 miles east of Cleveland in the little town of Willowick.

Hugs

I think you have your answers now anyway but just confirming that a pic line is a central line that can be left in place for a few weeks or when oridnary iv access is problematic, i have jsut had a flare and they delayed giving me methylpred due to iv access issues, they tried high dose oral instead but i continued to worsen so they put the pic line in instead- it was really simple, and was done under fluroscopic control to minimise the risks of complications eg lung puncture. With a standard pic line, you still have what looks like an iv line protruding through the skin which is a potential for infection, the dressing needs to be attended using stric aseptic technique regularly to reduce the risk of infection. If Access is going to be needed longer term they place a central line but use a port a cath that can be placed under the skin on the chest wall so that the entire central line is sealed in the body, this reduces the risk of infection and means if well cared for the catheter can be left in place for months. hey are are often used for Chemo for this reason. I had a porta cath attached to a long term epidural for pain managment and it was great, i used to give myself epidural top ups for pain releif 3 times per day- the line last for 18 months before fibrotic tissue formed in the epidural space. my porta cath was then rep[placed with an intrathecal catheter and a surgically implanted pump and resvoir that is filled with a months medication at a time through a port. the pump then gives the medication directly into the fluid around the spinal cord ( next layer deeper than the epidural space) these pumps are used for pain relief like morphine and antispasmodics such as Baclofen - my pump has been in place, problem free for 6 years as of this month- it will need replacing in the next year or so when the battery fails.


AS for the problems getting into and out of bed, the best thing i can suggest is that you get an occupational therpaist to assess you and see iof they can help you devise a system that works better, there are a variety of lifters and transfer devices on the market too, including lifters that are aimed for self use rather than use by a carer. A good OT may very welll have some ideas to help you use what function you have more efficiently. I have spasms in my hand muscles that do not respond well to medications such as Baclofen, tasks such as holding apen a wrting, or a knife to peel vegetables etc quickly triggers spasms that lock my hand and make function impossible, an OT assessment helpe me greatly, she helped me get a cutting board that holds the item i am peeling cutting and knives with different handgrips etc this allows me to work longer before the spasm happens, she has then taught me how to release the spasm before they get too severe and too painful. I really think an OT could be useful