picc v port

Having a port is like surgery..you have to be put out. It is also obviously much more expensive. Make sure you check with your insurance so it would be covered. I was told by my LLMD that they only use ports for long term IV abx so I had to have a Picc. It lasted 8 months and I only had it pulled cause I had gall stones and needed to stop the Rocephin.

I kept my picc covered with tube stretch bandage which worked really well. If you were going to do long term I would say the port but I really don't know much about them since I had Picc line.

RD, If you are only getting IV's for 30 days your insurance will more than likely only cover the cost for a PICC, not a port. As Turkoise said, it really isn't too bad and as long as you keep it covered you should be fine.

Just make sure to keep your precious pets out of the room when you do your infusions and when you have the bandage changed. The infusions usually only take about 1/2 hour and the nurse's visit should not take more than 30-45 minutes once a week. The nurse who comes to my home told me one of her patient's little dog not only ripped out her PICC but also jumped on her arm while the nurse was drawing blood. Obviously, her patient was lacking basic common sense by not keeping the dog in another room at appropriate times.

The first PICC I had was inserted at the doctor's office and was placed near the bend in my arm. It was very uncomfortable and annoying. The second PICC was inserted at the hospital using the guidance of an ultrasound and was placed in my upper arm. This one feels so much better.

You might want to ask that it be placed in the upper, non-dominant arm to make things easier for you when you are with your pets and in general.

Good luck.

Hi RottenDog.  Is your doctor only going to give you four weeks of IV antibiotics?  This typically is not long enough.  What meds are you on now and have you been on?  Were you tested for the co-infections?

As ktp812 stated, getting a port requires surgery.  Getting a PICC line does not.  The port is surgically impanted under the skin in the chest area above the heart.  It has to be accessed with a needle to do infusions.  Even though the skin area can be numbed before the needle is put in, it can still hurt.  If someone does infusions five days a week, the needle stays in the port for those five days.  It is reinserted each week.  Ports are typically used for long-term infusions.

The PICC line can be done in an out-patient facility and typically takes only a few minutes.  There is a netting type bandage that will keep it secure on your arm.  You do not need to access it with a needle through your skin.  

Good luck at your appointment tomorrow.

 

Hi RottenDog.  Did this doctor test you for Lyme and the co-infections?  In my non-medical opinion, it is very important to be tested for the co-infections also.  Many Lyme doctors believe the co-infections need to be treated first for Lyme treatment to be effective. 

From what I understand, thirty days of treatment is not typically long enough for Lyme especially if you have had it for some time.  Of course it depends on the person's symptoms and severity, but orals are often used first because they can be effective, they are less expensive, and they are less risky. 

If you need a doctor recommendation, feel free to email me.

If I were you, I'd opt for the PICC, it is less expensive to insert & remove, and easier to deal with if it gets infected (with a Port, if it gets infected you have to have surgery; not so with a PICC). Also, if you are only able to get 30 days of IV abx and then have to stop, it's better to have the PICC removed at that time until you get another doctor who is willing to do longer-term abx.

BTW, I've had a PICC for almost a year (for TPN and IV fluids) and have not had much in the way of discomfort with it.

I hope this helps - take care,

Thank you all for your input, it was much welcomed.

i do not have to worry about ins like most do, just on my low yearly amount. thats till i find out if i get my disablety & medacare. then if this happens i can go to a real LLMD.