I've been having lots of vein problems with my IVIG each week. My nurse has slowed my infusioned down to 6 hrs and I still have vein pain. So she thinks I need to have a PICC line put in. So I'm going to talk to my dr. about it next week when I see him. Has anyone had one put in and can you tell me about it?? Thanks!!

it was called?

Here are some resources to get a handle on the difference?

IV catheter or PORT:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_vcatlu_crs.htm

PIC or PICC lines:
http://www.imaginghss.org/patient-information/piccs.htm

An answer to a question similar to yours:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...3024343AAg2bZu

It's my understanding that folks who are on long term infusions often get the ports....The infusions can be for chemo, antibiotics or IG. Ports can last from 6 months to many years...it depends on the individual. They may not last indefinitely tho, and can be replaced. Ports are inserted with a local anathestic and it's outpatient surgery. This is an issue/aspect I too will be looking into in the future.

I know little about PIC lines tho. Other than I understand that they are not for long term use.

Wish I could help more - The whole thing seems intrusive/invasive and all, but those I know who have the ports are really happy with them. - j

but it requires weekly dressing changes and daily flushes. As do most PICC lines. It lasted about 15 months before it had to pulled due to an infection. It was a pain because his skin couldn't handle the cleaning solutions nor the bandages anymore. Plus it would always have some level of bleeding around the entry site.

You probably want to look at the port-a-cath. There's no maintenance on your part and less likely to get infected since it's enclosed in your skin. That's what was recommended to him as a replacement for the Hickman since he no longer needed the "double Lumen" to administer multiple drugs and blood products. But he chose not to replace it.


http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/co...emotherapy.asp

HI J and Marlene,
Thanks for the info, I'll check out the sites. What my nurse recommended is the PICC but my dr. may recommend something else. I don't want a lot of upkeep or pain from this line so hope he can recommend one that doesn't...I don't need the headache! But then again I can't continue the way things have been going with my weekly IVIG's. Thanks again!

A PICC line is inserted through veins until it reaches just above the heart, so it is something that must be taken care of while you have it, including flushes and cleaning the site.

Hi Roxie

I had a PICC line in for 4 months. You will need some one to do sterile dressing changes, and they do need a heparin flush done per doc order. You can not get the area wet. It interferes with a lot of stuff. It is a good option if you need frequent pokes or have bad veins.

Try drinking a glass of water prior to getting a poke.

I had no problems with my PICC, but I am a nurse, and made sure that every one who did do my dressing changes made sure to maintain sterile technique.

I had to do my own infusions twice per week, of IV methylprednisolone, so that is why I had the PICC. A PICC is a 'Peripheral Inserted Central Catheter'. They usually don't like to do them for infusions that are only every week or two weeks, or less, they prefer to start a line. There is another type of line called a Midline, but it requires care almost as substantial as a PICC and has a shorter life of only 6 weeks.

My doc refused to put in a Port-a-Cath as it is permanent. Every foreign object we stick in our body is just one more reason for it to rebel.

I no longer need a line for any reason, so he was correct.

I did go thru a period of vasospasm every time they tried to get a line in, even the best nurses had a horrible time, and they wanted a PICC for the IVIG. They did a 'midline' for the first series of 5 bags, then I just endured the poke for 6 months. After that when they tried steroids, I had to do it at home and I could not poke myself, and it was twice per week, so I had a PICC in then for 4 months.

Roxie, how long are you going to have the IV treatments?
My Mom had a Picc line in her arm for a short term hospital stay.
She didn't like it, but she was very fragile. Later she had a Central line (triple lumen) and it had to be flushed daily, even after she came home. The supplies to flush it were not cheap either.
I have a MediPort and at first it was sore, but since I need long term (more than 1 year) IV treatments, the port was the way to go for me.
Both PICC lines and Central lines have tubing that hangs outside the skin. A port is inserted under the skin, and while you still get poked, at least they don't have to dig for a vein.
It does make a difference who accesses it. Mine is for chemo and the chemo nurse can access it and most times I don't feel it much, but I had a nurse at the hospital access it for anesthesia use, and it hurt like the dickens.

HI Brenda!
I think I'll have the IVIG indefinently at this point. I've had it for 9 months so far. My veins are just in very bad shape right now and the infusions are very painful now. Tomorrow I'll see my dr. to see what he wants me to do but I'm guessing it'll be the PICC line or something similar. I'm not looking forward to it but can't go on like I have been.
Thanks for all the info......I'll let y'all know what the dr. says tomorrow.