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My arm is starting to ache from this picc line

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Posted 2/11/2009 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
After 5 mos. on IV my arm is starting to get a dull ache in it. I'm scared to tell my doctor because I don't want it pulled. I'm starting to feel better but I don't want it pulled to soon. What should I do? This is my second one because the first one had a hole in it! I can't go through that again right now. sad
Posted 2/11/2009 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hey it is me Kim... I had my first picc in for 8 months. Around month 6 it started to ache at times. I would take some advil and use a heating pad and it helped. If it starts to get too uncomfortable though you might want to have it checked. You don't want anything serious to happen to your arm. They told me the first time that picc's usually last 4-6 months then have to be pulled. You could always have another put in and they would just use a different vein.

Posted 2/11/2009 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hey kim. I will try the advil and heating pad tonight. If it gets worse I will tell my doctor. Thanks.
Posted 2/12/2009 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
My PICC had become mis-positioned and when I went in to get it checked/changed, the interventional radiologist just put a new line in the same vein through the same hole in my arm.

Aching in the PICC line area may indicate infection, too, so watch for redness, swelling, etc.
Posted 2/12/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Have you tried a heating pad?
Posted 2/13/2009 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
Oh man...I feel badly for you guys with these picks...I mean, yuke. I am getting chills.
Don't any of these other Dr.s use a port? I mean it is so darn easy! I do not know it is there.
At the worst part of the therapy they would stick me and cover it and leave a tube hanging from me. But that did not hurt either. But I was getting iv 4 times a week.
How often do you use your arm?
That just sounds so painful to me.
Sorry guys...I feel for you. That is not fun.
My port is good for 2 years. I am going to keep in, in case. For tune ups.
Posted 2/13/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
You have to tell your Dr. anything can get infected.
He needs to know. He came move it to your other arm...no?
I had treatment through my arms for the fist week. That was enough for me.
But my arms shut down after both being hit twice. Guess they did not like the pint of blood taken and the perixide.
Does it hurt to get the abx. How ofter do you get it?
Do you have to do it yourself?
I think that this is what I am going to have to do with my 5 year old. The oral is killing her tummy. And the diarria and plus the oral are not working.
I was too scared to have a port put into her little body. I couldn't do it to her.
Posted 2/13/2009 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
My PICC is used 24/7 for TPN (nutrition through a vein) since I can't eat. I have a second lumen in mine that is used for extra hydration (1 liter half-normal saline/day), antibiotics (2x/day), bloodwork, etc. Yes, I connect and disconnect everything myself or with the help of my husband. No, the abx don't hurt. The PICC really isn't that bad...and they make products that can seal around it so she could still get in the shower, pool, etc.

Take care,
Posted 2/13/2009 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
It feels a little better this morning. I've been taking Avil. I really need to try the heating pad. Will do today.
The line is in my right arm which makes things hard. I can't take a shower, only baths.
I do the IV meds. everyday and it doesen't hurt. Because I have such bad curculation I find that it makes since to do it right after a hot bath, otherwise my fingers are blueish instead of pink. Also chyenne pepper helps with circulation, I put it in my hummus and have it everyday.
Posted 2/16/2009 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
My arm was hurting really bad this weekend. I called the nurse and she said to go to the ER and get a scan where I live (she is 2 hrs. away). When I got there they only did a blood test to check for a blood clot. It came back negative. The nurse in the er said that the test is not always accurate, so that did not make things any better! The doc. in the er said because I did not have any swelling or redness that it was probably not a bloodclot.
Anyway I still don't have an answer and my doctor is 2 hrs. away. I hate to drive 4 hrs. for a scan at their hospital... I will wait until my next appt. on the 23 to see what he wants to do. It feels better when I use a heating pad.
Posted 2/16/2009 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Any suggestions with allergy to tegaderm and tape holding down a picc line?  My arm is so uncomfortable!! Thanks.
Posted 2/16/2009 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
I also had allergic reaction to the bandage and tape for my picc last year. They do have anti allergic bandages and tape that breath only one way--but you have to ask for them. I was fine after I used them. I was on a PICC for 3 months Blessings
Posted 2/18/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
I got a blood clot 36 hours after I got my PICC.  I had a lot of pain from the underam/shoulder area right into my heart.  My upper arm was very swollen though I did not realize that.  I was short of breath and had chest pains.

When my IV nurse came for the "day after" visit, she sent me right to the ER.  They did an ultrasound, found the blood clot, and promptly pulled my PICC.

For now I am just using heplocks.  They have to be changed every week.  My IV Rocephin hurts like heck going into the vein in my hand.  I am supposed to see a hematologist to be worked up for clotting issues before my LLD will order another line.  I am working on that.

I am terrified to get another PICC and usually nothing scares me.

Posted 2/18/2009 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I will NEVER get another picc line! My 1st had to be pulled after one week because I developed a blood clot -- I had a lot of swelling and pain , but was also reacting very badly to the tegaderm and tape. Another was inserted. I was just hospitalized yesterday evening because my MD was concerned that I developed bactremia from the picc. I am also having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. I feel "prickly" all over and the benedryl does not really help all that much.
Posted 2/18/2009 5:12 PM (GMT 0)

Tracy,

I really hate having to worry about the picc line, but at this point I don't feel like I have much choice but to keep it if I can. I had alot of stomach pain on aome oral abx. combinations and they just weren't working for me.

I went back to the ER last night and they did an ultrasound....they did not find a blood clot.

Today i'm taking advil and using heat. My next appt. is on mon.

I hope you have good luck with your next line, if you get one.  :-)       

Posted 2/18/2009 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Lucylucy,
I'm sorry you've had such a hard time with the your picc line. What had to be done about the blood clot?
I also have a prickly feeling when i infuse but I have been on the rocephin now for 6 mos. I wonder if i'm allergic to it? The feeling only lasts a few minutes then it goes away. What will you do now?
Thanks.
Posted 2/18/2009 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
THe blood clot is resolving -- I have been told to apply heat and elevate my arm. Not sure what I am going to do. Waiting for some atarax to help stop the prickly feeling. Good luck
Posted 2/18/2009 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
The prickly feeling may be due to Redman Syndrome, a non-allergic histamine-induced reaction caused by too rapid an infusion of the antibiotic. Pretreatment with an H2 blocker such as Zantac may prevent this type of reaction.
Posted 2/19/2009 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the tip Razzle. When I first sterted to read your post I was like what? Redman Syndrome? What the heck have I got now? LOL
Posted 2/19/2009 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Georgiagirl - What were you diagnosed with?  Have you tried Biaxin or Plaquenil?
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