Who's had a PIC line?

[kimblebee]

I know I spelled it wrong in the title..I can't change it on my phone.


In the next month or two I will be starting a new med which is five days of IV infusions. My veins are horrible..they roll, they collapse, everything. When someone (even a so called 'I get it the first time, every time' expert) tries to put one it, it usually takes 4-5 tries and that's going up and down both arms. I've even had to have them use my foot before.

Anyway, this new treatment is five days in a row and it takes about eight hours a day..fun times. I can't have a stent put in because they always fall out of the vein by the second day so I'm thinking about asking my Dr. to do a picc line. I just think it will speed things up in the long run.

Has anyone had one? Did it hurt getting put in? I can stand pain because usually the nurse or tech has to dig around in my arm to find the vein so I always end up looking like a crack ***** from all the bruises.

So, if you've had one, please share your experience.

 

[Malibustyle23]

My husband almost got one last year after being released from his surgery but they were able to do oral medication for him instead. Sorry we don't have any pic line experience.

But I did want to suggest that you ask the dr/nurse/hospital or whatever if they have the machine that they put over your arm and it uses some type of technology maybe infrared to show them exactly wear each of your veins are and makes it super easy to find them. It's a small portable thing they just place over your skin.

I haven't had any iv issues but my husband apparently had the same issues as you. After a week in the hospital for surgery last year he cringed every time they came in to change his iv. It was miserable and even the "experts" couldn't help him.

 

[bgirl29]

I had one way back when I was pregnant with my last child. I didn't think it was bad. I too have a hard time having IVs started. Just at the end when he was almost done the dr pushed really hard to tuck the end in and that was more of a shock then anything, but I did have a large bruise there for quite awhile. So I think you will be just fine if you are used to the difficult pokes already. Hope it goes well for you! Did have to flush it out to keep it open, not sure if that will be the case for you or not.

 

[Sanchez]

I think you have summoned Beetlejuice. Won't be long now.

 

[Micca]

I know I spelled it wrong in the title..I can't change it on my phone.


In the next month or two I will be starting a new med which is five days of IV infusions. My veins are horrible..they roll, they collapse, everything. When someone (even a so called 'I get it the first time, every time' expert) tries to put one it, it usually takes 4-5 tries and that's going up and down both arms. I've even had to have them use my foot before.

Anyway, this new treatment is five days in a row and it takes about eight hours a day..fun times. I can't have a stent put in because they always fall out of the vein by the second day so I'm thinking about asking my Dr. to do a picc line. I just think it will speed things up in the long run.

Has anyone had one? Did it hurt getting put in? I can stand pain because usually the nurse or tech has to dig around in my arm to find the vein so I always end up looking like a crack ***** from all the bruises.

So, if you've had one, please share your experience.

No experience but Maybe you'll be doing much better after the whole thing has ended?

 

[cornflkgrl]

I had one but I was really sick and not all with it. Also, it was so long ago (2002) the only thing I remember was they had a special nurse come and do it. I think that was all she did for a living (like a respiratory therapist?) I remember they had to call her in and she traveled from somewhere else. But I was in a rural hospital too so I don't know if that is typical. I don't recall any excess pain but I was really sick and all my veins had given out. Seems like it was in my neck, but that sounds weird. I'd have to ask my husband if he remembers. Sorry I'm not more help. I really can't remember it being painful though.

It is also my understanding PIC lines are used both in and out of the hospital. I could be wrong. Mine was at a hospital. I don't know what happens if they send you home with it?

 

[Malibustyle23]

It is also my understanding PIC lines are used both in and out of the hospital.

Definitely can be sent home with them. Depends on the strength of the prescription given. Idk about the care or upkeep though.

 

[bgirldeb]

I had one twice for IV antibiotics. Like the PP I was really sick and can't remember how it felt being put in. I was Inpatient both times it was done. I remember the same team (husband and wife?) added the line each time I got one. Seem to remember they used a portable xray to make sure it was where it needed to be.

When I was discharged, I was sent home with it to finish the antibiotics for a few days after it was added. Supplies came by courier, and a home health nurse came to my house and showed me how to hook up my own bag/clear the line with heparin, etc. She removed it at my house when the doctor said the antibiotics were finished. That was all easy and painless.

 

[mom2grace]

I'm a nurse who does home infusion using PICCs all of the time! They are great and I would definitely do it if it's an option. It's essentially a really long iv catheter. I don't know about the experience of putting them in, but they just pull out, I do that all of the time at the patient's home. Nothing holds it in.

You will get a weekly (or more) change of the bandage over it, we call that a dressing change.

Depending on the medication, you might be able to do the infusion yourself, or a family member without having a nurse come every day.

You need to keep it dry, I suggest buying the fancy press and seal plastic wrap and wrapping that around the line when you shower.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I had one twice for IV antibiotics. Like the PP I was really sick and can't remember how it felt being put in. I was Inpatient both times it was done. I remember the same team (husband and wife?) added the line each time I got one. Seem to remember they used a portable xray to make sure it was where it needed to be.

When I was discharged, I was sent home with it to finish the antibiotics for a few days after it was added. Supplies came by courier, and a home health nurse came to my house and showed me how to hook up my own bag/clear the line with heparin, etc. She removed it at my house when the doctor said the antibiotics were finished. That was all easy and painless.

DH had one when he was recovering from a nasty staph infection in his Achilles heel repair. After 5 days in the hospital with IV antibiotics and a morphine drip, he went to radiology to have the picc line inserted. Then we were sent home. A home health nurse came to show me how to keep the line clean, how to inject the saline, and then the antibiotics 2 times a day.

The line fed to his heart. At first they put the picc line in his arm, but that site quickly became red, swollen and sore. I had to take him back to the hospital. They removed it and reinserted it up near his shoulder/chest area. He tolerated that location much better. I don't remember what we did for removal.

 

[kimblebee]

Thanks everyone for your advice and stories. It sounds like a picc line may be something I can request. I technically can handle the iv pokes if they say no, but it just gets so painful and frustrating. I'll admit, I've ended up in tears more than once..

 

[jdb in AZ]

I've had two PICC lines. They're no more painful than a regular IV. I've been told that my veins are crap (maybe that nurse just liked to needle me.) A so-called IV specialist finally resorted to using an ultrasound machine to find a vein that hadn't already been used/abused by other IV lines. The PICC line nurse took her time and inserted it in a vein near my armpit, first try, without the ultrasound. It followed me home, where a nurse gave me daily treatments for a week or so.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

I've never had one, but I've seen specialized PICC nurses insert them and they use lidocaine, which is a local anesthetic. It'll help numb the area during the insertion. They'll use ultrasound guidance to help ensure proper placement, then you'll have a quick chest x-ray to make sure it's in the tip of the heart vessel.

I'm an oncology nurse, so I see them and central lines very often. Please don't be hesitant to message me if you have any programs. I'm keeping you in my thoughts and wishing you well

 

[khertz]

While I've never had one inserted I work with a patient population that requires them frequently. The PICC nurses use a portable ultrasound to find the vein and inject lidocaine before doing the insertion. So that may burn initially but then you won't feel the rest. A chest X-ray is done to confirm placement. We set the patients up with home health for the supplies and dressing changes.

 

[lustergirl]

After being in the hospital for over a week for a nasty infection in my leg I got a pic line put in my arm. It travels to your heart. I had mine done by an anesthesiologist that specialized in them. What a very nice man. He had to put a couple of stitches in my arm. That is what bothered me the most.

 

[phorsenuf]

I think you have summoned Beetlejuice. Won't be long now.

 

[Katie Dawn]

I'm writing this from the ICU as my Mom was in a bad car wreck 2 weeks ago (someone crossed the center line and hit her head on - grrr.) Anyway, she is a really "tough stick" (as am I) - hard to find a vein, they are deep, they roll... They put in a pic line several days ago and it has been awesome! Getting it in is a little more involved that a regular IV because the catheter (the little tube they put in your vein) is alot longer. But you only have to deal with having it put in ONCE. It will save you so much pain and frustration because from that point they just squirt the medicine in the pic line, draw blood out of it, whatever, and no more sticks.

The pic line goes in your vein and Mom has to have daily bloodwork specifically from her artery so they still stick her at least once a day - and are only successful about every other day. So it hasn't completely saved her from the torture of being stuck over and over but it has reduced it. But it sounds like it might be great for you!

 

[Poohforyou]

I'm writing this from the ICU as my Mom was in a bad car wreck 2 weeks ago (someone crossed the center line and hit her head on - grrr.) Anyway, she is a really "tough stick" (as am I) - hard to find a vein, they are deep, they roll... They put in a pic line several days ago and it has been awesome! Getting it in is a little more involved that a regular IV because the catheter (the little tube they put in your vein) is alot longer. But you only have to deal with having it put in ONCE. It will save you so much pain and frustration because from that point they just squirt the medicine in the pic line, draw blood out of it, whatever, and no more sticks.

The pic line goes in your vein and Mom has to have daily bloodwork specifically from her artery so they still stick her at least once a day - and are only successful about every other day. So it hasn't completely saved her from the torture of being stuck over and over but it has reduced it. But it sounds like it might be great for you!

I'm so sorry about your mom. Sending good thoughts for a speedy and full recovery.

 

[King Schultz]

Thanks everyone for your advice and stories. It sounds like a picc line may be something I can request. I technically can handle the iv pokes if they say no, but it just gets so painful and frustrating. I'll admit, I've ended up in tears more than once..

My mother had one put in when she had Ulcerative Colitis and hadher colon removed 6 years ago.

Same deal as you Kim; they had a horrible time finding a good vien; iv's would infiltrate; bruises all over her arms.

The PICC sounded scary, but it was a godsend- she never once expressed any discomfort with it and it eliminated the painful attempts to find new veins on a regular basis.

I hope it goes well for you whatever they decide. . ((((hugs)))).

 

[jevs]

No advice Kim