Question for PICC Line Patients

How long were you receving IV treatments via the PICC line?

Even though I'm infected and I was having neurological symptoms, the neuro problems are mostly gone and I think I feel normal.  I had to edit this post to add that my joint swelling is gone, my knees no longer hurt when climbing stairs and my severe sun allergy has seemed to disappear. 

I've been on rocephin for 4 months, Zithromax since mid-November and Flagyl for 20 days.  My doctor says the IV can come out in about a month.

I do still get electrical shocks in my toes and fingers that make my body jerk and these I worry about.

How do you know when you are better?  This was expensive and now that I have reached my cap with insurance, I am no longer paying out of pocket.  I don't want the IV to come out, only to have to put it in again and pay all over.

Post Edited (mokeyho) : 1/30/2010 7:50:49 AM (GMT-7)

mokeyho

I totally understand your concern with taking out the IV. I was on IV for 28 days the first time and had to repeat
because the treatment was not long enough. The last time I was on IV Rocephine was from Oct 08 to Jan 09 three
months and I wish I would have kept going. I still had symptoms but nothing like before the pain in my body was
so intense. In my opionion I would persue the IV's as long as the improvement is
still in your favor.

Taking out the IV for me was like starting all over again, the symptoms appeared within a months time and was so
miserable all over again. Now taking Mepron and Zithro for Babesia and will hit the lyme again with IV's this spring or
summer.

Its a long haul for those taking orals, but in my opinion the IV's is what has helped me the most.

Good Luck and hope you are achieving all the improvement you can get from IV's