Anyone have a PICC line??
 

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!!

Are you sure Pic Line is what
 

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

John had Hickman....
 

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.

HI Cycleops, Thanks for all the info. Is it painful when the PICC is put in? Sounds to me like it would be...but then again it's VERY painful now when I get my IVIG each week because my veins are so bad.
I'll let y'all know what my dr. says when I see him next week. Thanks for all the info!

Roxie? I don't know myself,
 

but, those who have the Ports put in for either chemo or IG have all said that it's 'tender' [whatever THAT means] the first couple of times and after that it's easy as pie....IF [a big IF!] the IG nurse really knows how to access the port. Otherwise all kinds of not fun things can happen...I've asked when I'd had infusions in the hospital, because I too felt this would be on my menu down the road.
It really depends on the SKILL of the IV nurse you have. Mine have been extraordinarily experiences and for that I am eternally grateful. To only have had bad lines 4 times in almost 4 years of infusion is exceptional in most folk's books. I DO know how BAD that site can hurt when the vein is blown or it leaks at the site etc...
As for they HYDRATION part, I've what they call 'rolling veins', meaning they are small, squirmy and hard to stick. I start 'hydrating' two days before infusions...a lot...If I get to the need to visit the bathroom every 30 minutes the nite before my early AM infusions, then I'm as hydrated as I should be, without going overboard.. The fatter those little life-lines are, the easier it is for both the nurse and me....When you get soo hydrated you are NOT going, then that's waay too much and a different problem...I do only water for this. Sodas, tea, coffee, juices aren't what's needed.
DO ask your doc if he means a port or a PIC, the care and feeding or each type of access is quite different. The port, from all I gather is much more lo maintenance. Hope this helps... - j

Hi Roxie

After all the stuff you have been thru...I don't think you will find the PICC line placement painful....it is pretty much like an IV. You don't really know it is as long as it is...you don't feel that!! Once in, I really didn't find it too annoying except for keeping the area dry. I am a fairly fast and messy person.:D I had good folks for dressing changes. I kept a long sleeve shirt over the site so it didn't get hooked on stuff.....it was fine. You do what you gotta do.:D

I admit I was glad to see it go...but if I had to have lots of pokes again, and my veins were misbehaving....I would not hesitate to have it put in again.

C

HI C,
I think if I get the PICC in then I'm going to have to ask the school district if I can transfer to another position. I work with special needs kids who are very physical and I'd be VERY worried about the line getting pulled on or pulled out.
I have SO much going on right now that I'm terribly depressed. Wish I could take depression meds for it. :( Anyway......have a good evening.

Roxie
 

I wrote you a note and it went away ,anywho 2 yrs. ago i had a picc line
better than trying to get poked. Just like hey Joe and C. said no
problem. I would think your idea about doing something else at work
is good. Other wise how are ya sugar.hmmmm!!! Hugs Sue

good idea
 

Roxie,
How are you doing? I think the idea of doing something less physically demanding is a good one. Have your doctor write you a note explaining this for your employer.

Billye

HI Sue and Billye, I'm going to try to get my school district to let me transfer to a different job since this PICC line will probably be long term for me, tho I have to talk to my dr. on Wed. for sure. I'm very tired of being poked more than once to get the iv in and then it hurting the whole time it's in, even with a slower speed. Each week is worse and worse.
Y'all have a great New Years Eve! Take care and be safe!

Hi Roxie you and your honey going out or staying home and relaxing?
You should see the Dress I got,it's Royal Blue and pretty. John and I are going
to a dinner party at Freinds. I would ratter be at home it's cold again,
but I promised awhile ago,just hope nobody is sickk,I'll get it. John
has thick dark black hair look's nice when he's all dressed up. Hugs to all Sue

Hey Roxie--

Is the PICC for IVIG? I can't remember....I think it was IVIG?

If it is steroids...man I would take off the job, as being in a school really puts you at risk. If it is IVIG, then you should be fine. I stayed away from kids when I was on the IV roids, and my kid had a waiver for the chicken pox shot.

BTW-I am having esophagus problems like crazy...I am going to look up Barretts. I am going to call my GI guy this week....my esophagus is actually 'making noises', pills are getting stuck, coming back up, air gets stuck...sheesh. I started sleeping on a slant and it still isn't helping. (I have not just the neuropathy but the myopathy as you do. I am assuming this gurgling and other stuff is related.)

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 Cyclopes,
Your esophagus problems sound dreadful! I've gone through most of that and now am doing fairly well.....but then again we bought an adjustable bed and I sleep sitting up. The bed has been a lifesaver for me! I was in terrible pain prior to getting the Tempurpedic King-split adjustable bed. I have Barrett's esophagus.....and recently had the new cutting edge procudure called the Halo procedure. I've been doing really well since I had the 2nd part of the Halo done. My mother had the swallowing problems and pain in the middle of her back....that's where my burning pain is also.......some people's is in front but ours is in our backs.
I think you need to see a Gastro dr. and get an Endoscopy scheduled so he can see exactly what's going on. Let me know how you are doing.......this stuff is NO fun at all!

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.