PICC line - not PIG line

first day of IV at home. . .

uploaded for carey by jakki:
please direct complaints to andromaca07

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• peterpauliepan
• andromaca07
• blood
• illness
• sick
• lyme
• test
• picc
• line
• treatment

[cskarulis]

Hi there, I had a PICC line in my arm for 10 weeks for a bad infection that almost cost me my foot. Do you have to live with the PICC line forever or was it a treatment.

Also- for people out there who are concerned about getting a PICC please don't be. It's a scary concept (and you have to adjust to the idea) but giving yourself antibiotics or other intravenous fluids is not bad.

Best of luck to everyone who needs a PICC line!

[peterpauliepan]

@cskarulis I had mine in for 19 months with little to no issue. my wife learned to do all of the dressing changes and infusions. i did have some bad reactions to skin prep and chloraprep but really nothing major considering how long i had it in. we did have to replace the line about 1/2 way though, it got a clot. (easy fix.) no signs of sepsis or infection. it really does depend on what type of line you have and the doctor that places the line.

[peterpauliepan]

@cskarulis i recently swapped out the picc line for a power port a cath. it is much more convenient for me since we're not dosing as much and again my wife learned to accesses it, so we can do it at home. the port i can keep in for the rest of my life, it has to be flushed once monthly but much better than the every day picc. for my case the picc was a good fit at first but my needs changed and a port became better.

[cskarulis]

@peterpauliepan - Thank you for sharing your story with everyone. It is very helpful. I am glad that your wife was able to tend to the picc and now the power port. Home nursing care is not a lot of fun, especially when you are 28 :) Best of luck to you!

[peterpauliepan]

@cskarulis thankfully my lyme doctor is happy to educated patients and allow them to learn and do their own care from home. the major issue is that my insurance wouldn't cover home care...so we really had no choice. i don't think home care is really fun at any age, or atleast i imagine it wouldn't be. best wishes :-)

[siouxsie1985]

Hi -

I do research on home IV care and other forms of high-tech home care. Your video is the best I've seen on living with a picc line and IV therapy. Can I embed it in my blog on the topic?

Cameron - university of wisconsin

[peterpauliepan]

If you do so, please make sure to link to my page.

[dmbstmbs]

i have more than 3 so i know what to do it is very esey so no problom i do it and my mom my frist when i was 10 - 12 not sure

[cskarulis]

Lol, well at the very least you have a nurse who you can have fun with! Take care!

[barbyfirefly]

Well I am glad it is working for you.