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Had the picc line inserted yesterday

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Posted 2/15/2011 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Had my picc line in yesterday, took 3 attempts on differnt veins and then one readjustment as it was in the wrong place. Can hardly move my arm today so very painful and also very itchy under the clear cover, is this normal and how long usually for it to calm down.
Susie 
Posted 2/15/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Wow , I can't believe that! mine went in right away.

Just keep it covered so no infection. I got a little too cocky with mine and infected.

keep us posted how this ivanz works.

do you know what bacteria he is going for with this??

xxxxxx
Posted 2/15/2011 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Just found out that they have to take it out and re insert in my right arm. They inserted a double when a single was ordered and never aked if I had collar bone issues. I broke my left collarbone as a child and Dr just told me that is why they were having issues. I am well not happy
Posted 2/15/2011 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
WOW!! shocked Suzie!!
I am sooo sorry to hear of the issues you have run into!! It sounds horrible! And I would be a little more than unhappy if it were me!!! skull I tend to be a bit more than a little cranky any more with docs, nurses & techs that can't do their job. devil

I hope the left side heals up well and that the new picc line goes in a lot easier!!!

Please let us know how the next appt goes, when you are up to posting!!

Big gentle (((((hugs)))))
Posted 2/15/2011 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, I thought mine PICC placement experience was rough...took them 6 tries before they could get the line in because of vasospasms...they had to give me a dose of nitroglycerine for the spasms. Sending up prayers that it goes much more smoothly in the other arm...
Posted 2/16/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Trav,

I"M LOL LOL! Your cute little pictures are making me LOL LOL.

Susie,
I'm so so sorry you're going through this. When I worked in the med field I drew blood. I was always so gentle to the patient. It's painful.

I, too, may have to get this. My hubby is not in support of it. I don't know what to do. This is an issue I'm not going to go into length on, however, let me (us) know your progress, ok?

Raz, you poor thing! People out there, learn your job better!!!!!!! They should have had a back up gal on that. When I missed a vein the proper thing was to get someone else after the second try unless I was the only one there. In the offices I worked, however, even the Dr. would do it if he had to. I worked with one Dr. who was the best, he NEVER minded helping me out! I loved him like a father.

Anywho, Raz, after that IV, are you all better? If not, then why would/should I proceed with it? If relapses may be possible, why?

Confused and well............... need I say anymore?

Thanks Lyme friends!
Posted 2/16/2011 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
On my way out the door for an appointment...will reply later...
Posted 2/16/2011 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
They are now debating leaving it in as it is infusing OK. (which suits me) Have to go for some kind of doppler tomorrow. I have been contacted by the hospital as they are investigating what occurred (they also put the wrong size in as well as a double). I could well be doing without all this. I still can't move my arm plus the invanz/tindamax combo is kicking my butt.

Susie

Posted 2/16/2011 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
You should have let the nurse at Dr. C's nurse do it. They gave me that option but I didn't want to drive back for 12 hours with it in my arm. Sorry you are going through all of this.
Posted 2/16/2011 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
hey susieQ,

I had a Port-A-cath central line placed at the end of November. The whole process has been nothing but a major pain in the @*%!!!!!!! So I feel ya !! I started using Rocephin which majorly kicked my butt for the first month. When I started feeling better, Lyme wise, I started having gallbladder issues. Made the decision to stop. Now I just started Azithromycin and so far so good. But ....I'm sensitive to ALL the clear tegaderm type dressings(tried 5 different ones). Never had this problem pre-Lyme. Now I'm using just gauze and very minimal paper tape. As that itches too.

So, your itching under your clear dressing is probably an adhesive sensitivity. It makes me itch so madly that I want to just rip the whole stinkin thing out!!! There are several different brands of dressings so make sure you let who ever is helping you with PICC care that you're having itching.

Regardless of the PICC being in the left arm, if it's infusing well leave it!!!! I'm a nurse and know how difficult it is to get those things in. It either goes in like butter the first time or it takes multiple tries. Remember, people who need PICC or central lines are not the healthiest veined people to deal with.

The double lumen line is not that big of a deal. It just means it could potentially be used for multiple meds at the same time. You just have to keep them both flushed. Just think of it like one tube but with a wall down the middle separating into two halves.

My port was placed in my chest and my chest wall was so sore I couldn't move or use my left arm for days. I kept wearing sweaters or jackets that had pockets so I could use it like a sling and not use my arm. Heating pads on your upper arm/shoulder area may help. I used Motrin for a few days to also help with the inflammation.

Your body has a foreign body in it now and its not happy and needs a while to deal with it. Try not to over use your arm for the next week or so. That should help. You could even go ahead and ask for a sling. That way you can't use your arm. I may take a couple of weeks to feel better. Especially if you're fair skinned like myself. They tend to bruise more. And most of us Lymies take a long time for wound healing anyway. I just had my PTT/PT done and it was high. Which means it would take longer for my blood to clot when needed.

Let everyone here know how its goes and my prayers are going out to you and all of us!!
Lisa
Posted 2/17/2011 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
I think this is a huge accountability issue here.

aren't there lawyers hanging around in the hallways waiting for these kind of cases.\??

or did you have to sign your life away leaving the hospital with zero liability for screwing up
while they ask you "what is your religion"

I hate that question ever since I'm a kid. I had to go into hospital twice and sat there looking at my Mom
filling out those check in questionnaire or the nurse asking//"What Religion"?

It freaked me out like .....Oh by the way just in case you die we may have to call a priest to give you
the last rights.

The whole idea of the question for a routine proceedure just brings bad luck in my paranoid morbid mind.

Ok maybe to ask that if you come in by ambulance but to have my tonsils removed????? way way too suspicious.

I used to think in my mind.."oh, so , what are they saying??? they not sure they gonna do it RIGHT,

I thought this was so easy !!

I'm supposed to be eating nothing but ICE CREAM for the next week.

I don't see any question about what my favorite flavor ice cream is.....religion??? Is a priest bringing the ice cream??? What kind of a set up is this anyway???

And WHY does my MOM keep saying "DON'T WORRY, HONEY. DON'T WORRY." as she is dragging me by the arm down the corridor.???

HA HA .. so you wanna hear the best part??? They put me in this room and I am laying in the bed with my Mom there and the nurse comes in and starts to surround my bed with a plastic tent!!!

I start squiggling like a monkey and look over at my Mom ( who is way too polite) and she says. Excuse me, Nurse??" " She is here for a tonsillectomy."

They had the wrong patient!!!! I was up out of that bed so fast, pulling my clothes out of my little Flintstones suitcase... it took an hour for my Mother to talk me into staying.

And just for the record, for any of youze who may be getting their tonsils removed.

I had an ice cream party every day at my house for a week. I couldn't even swallow my own saliva.
Everyday the whole neighborhood came over for ice cream while I was laying on this cot in the living room
with a million tissues on the floor with my spit in them.!

Hospitols are scary places. but I have to be thankful my picc line radiologist chick was smooth as silk. (but I definitely did medicate myself before I got out of the car and checked in because I am such a traumatized kid,)


We should be interviewing all these people that are digging into us like this.!!!

and no body would ever get THREE tries with me! I would have JUMPED off that table..I am such a chicken.


I wanna know what kind of medication they are on!!! Heck, I even wanna know last time they had sex!! I don't need no uptight stressed out people poking holes into me.

Anyway, Suzie, I am still holding out with highest hopes for you and not because I think it is easy but because I really think you still have a strong spirit inside you, even with all you been through.

I personally am loosing my spark and don't even trust myself to take on another round but you still got it, Girl. So go for it.

What's your favorite ice cream. I'll FEDEX you gallon of haggandass.
xxxxxx

bucci
Posted 2/17/2011 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone, yes Lisa I am very fair skinned and bruise easily. Thanks for letting me know about the recovery time and what to do.

Cajungrl, Dr C's nurse does not do piccs anymore as they don't have a ultrasound or I would have had her put the line in. She was the one that was concerned about Dr C's orders not being followed by the hospital.

I do appreciate the time she has taken to deal with this but I must say it has all freaked me out as it is all an unknown. I am going to get the placement checked tomorrow as they wish, but if it's infusing OK and in the right place then I don't see what the big deal is.

I will just leave well alone and just continue infusing, flushing etc as told. It is enough to deal with the drugs let alone the drama.

Susie
Posted 2/17/2011 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Susie,

I think that's a good call. I think I would leave it in too. I didn't know she stopped putting picc lines in. I guess it's been a while since I've been there.
Posted 2/17/2011 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
Susieq64

So Sorry you also had to deal with the Picc line terror.... Ok maybe I can help with some of your issues.

If you have to get your line replaced in the other arm, ask your doctor for something that will help calm

you during your process. I took Xanax which was a lifesaver considering after the first one and the hell

just like you describe. I am on my 4th line first one being central, which had to be pulled after the first 2

wks because it leaked.

In Oct of 2010 I had a line inserter in my right arm and MAN OH MAN did that sucker itch.....I dug and dug

for a month thinking it was a sensitivity, tried every dressing, had to use paper tape... And under each wk of

dressing change it was worse...I made them pull that line and insert in the left arm...come to find out I was so

sensitive and I also got a yeast infection under the dressing...I started taking diflucan daily, which helped with brain

fog and the itching and red ***** sours under dressing. I think the sensitivity came from an overload of yeast. Every

since I have been taking it, it has also helped with other sinsitivities. Also if your dressing is driving you NUTS-O which

from what you are explaining is happening please grab the ice pack and apply it to the dressing area....remember do not

get dressing wet...Hope I didnt leave anything out, Im good at that like most of us here....

@ HorseHelper There is alot to learn about this disease. The why would/should you do anything...SIMPLE... Its to safe your

life. Its to keep the lyme bacteria at bay so to speak, whether it be in a cyst form or active. Im not saying jump right into

IV meds. But what I am saying is do your research, ask questions. Were all here for ya and at least one of us has been right

where you are...Its a process indeed and depending on how long you have had it and how sick you are will depend on how

you treat yourself from this bacteria.
Posted 2/17/2011 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
 

HorseHelper said...
Raz, you poor thing! People out there, learn your job better!!!!!!! They should have had a back up gal on that. When I missed a vein the proper thing was to get someone else after the second try unless I was the only one there. In the offices I worked, however, even the Dr. would do it if he had to. I worked with one Dr. who was the best, he NEVER minded helping me out! I loved him like a father.

Anywho, Raz, after that IV, are you all better? If not, then why would/should I proceed with it? If relapses may be possible, why?

It wasn't their fault...my veins were vasospasming so bad because I was in severe dehydration and ketoacidosis and had not had anything to eat or drink for 5 days prior (and probably from Lyme, too).

They did go get another person to help after 3 failed attempts...that's who suggested the nitroglycerin after another 2 tries.

The PICC was put in for IV nutrition to keep me alive.  I did not get any abx until the following year.

No, I'm not all better yet - but I've had Lyme for over 30 years, and also an immune deficiency and other issues that complicate Lyme treatment.

Relapses are always possible with Lyme - and some believe the bug cannot be fully eradicated.  I disagree, I think it is entirely possible to get rid of all the bacteria.  But I think it is more important to focus on getting symptoms under control while one is killing off the bugs...detoxing is hugely important here...

Take care,

Posted 2/17/2011 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Went to the hospital as instructed this am, had a CTA done and a ultrasound, everything looks OK so it's staying put.
Susie
Posted 2/17/2011 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Yay. Glad they can let you keep it where it is...

It takes about 6 weeks for the body to fully adjust to having a PICC, so be careful with that arm for a while... In my experience, the first week or two are the worst. But even after it starts feeling better, remember the 6-week rule of thumb to avoid problems...speaking from experience on this...

Take care,
Posted 2/18/2011 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
It hurts me to see you all suffer.

Raz, man, sorry you're going through all this!

Harley, "Unknown Cure" is a wonderful book. I have a difficult time putting it down. Believe you me, I am indeed educating myself and learning everyday! I'm learning how many Lyme patients have been pushed through the system! What a &*&*& shame!!!!

One advantage I have, when I worked in the med field, I loved it. Reading about my illness is interesting and only helps equip me with the tools I need to better myself.

I live in Cleveland, OHIO I sing professionally and I volunteer with horses at a Theraputic Horsemanship Program for the physically and mentally challenged. Then some days my big 'ol lab and I visit nursing homes.
I live simple and in a small condo. I am blessed to say, I'm happy we never purchased anything larger.


Thanks Harley for your comments!
Posted 2/18/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I had a call from both my DR's offices today to say the line needs to be pulled and the proper size put in my rigrt arm, they are worried about DVT because I have 4G/5G genotypes and I am on HRT. They say that the bigger the picc the more chance of clotting, but I don't want to mess as I feel I have had so much trauma to my veins already and to insert a smaller one would not necessarily mean a better outcome, what do you folks think?
Posted 2/23/2011 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
God be with you susie. I'm feeling bad for ya. You take care. I sincerely hope things look up for ya!
HH
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