Living with a PICC line

Hello all!  I am still quite sick, but I know it has been awhile since I posted anything.  This post goes along with my illness and I hope other people can benefit from the information.

I  had to have a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) placed, because I was needing frequent IV access and my veins were not holding up.  There were times when I was sent home, because the medical staff could not get an IV in me.  I even had my feet poked!  The PICC line has saved me from a lot of torcher.  I no longer leave the hospital with arms that are bruised from wrist to elbow.  The line can be used for everything I need including: blood draws, IV fluids, IV drugs/infusions, anesthesia, and radiology dye. 

When I first got mine, I didn't know what to expect.  I am hoping this post answers those questions for others.

Insertion:
I was not sedated for the insertion process.  For most people, it should be no worse than a normal IV poke.  The only difference the skin stretcher they use to widen the needle hole.  They do give you skin anesthetic to numb the area.  I had a difficult insertion, because my veins are so terrible. The nurses had to fish for awhile and that part was painful.  Also, on the first try, the nurse accidentally went into an artery.  When they pulled out of the artery, that was horribly painful.  I suffered nerve damage in that arm too.  I was crazy bruised for 3 weeks.  They moved to my other arm and had success.  The catheter runs from the bicep area of the arm all the way up into the heart.  You will not feel the catheter move into your heart, because you do not have nerve endings in your vessels. They will confirm proper placement via a special x-ray.  Both of my arms were very sore for a couple weeks.  I am quite sensitive, so I am not sure if that is normal.  Once healed, it causes no pain and I have no movement restrictions with it.

Here is a video of a smooth sailing insertion.

I have a double lumen Power PICC, so that I can get more than one infusion at one time. 

Maintinance:

Bandages-
Your bandages will need to remain clean and dry at all times.  There is a large risk of infection if the site is not cared for properly.  Also, your bandages will need to be changed in a sterile field once per week.  The bandage change needs to be done by a medical professional.  I go to the procedures clinic, of the hospital, to have mine cleaned and flushed every Wednesday.  If you have home health nurses, they can do the bandage change in your home. If you are sensitive to adhesives, like me, they do have a dressing for sensitive skin.   Since I have most of my arm covered in the shower, I use alcohol wipes to wash around the bandage.

The line will also need to be flushed, with sterile saline, on a regular basis.  My care takers say that mine only needs to be flushed once weekly, with my bandage change.  The line also needs to be flushed before and after any drugs are given or blood is drawn.  Your care takers will advise you on how often to flush your line.  This can be done at home, if need be. 

After having the line in for an extended period, you can get a protein build up that can clog your line.  If this happens, a special solvent will be injected into the line and will be left to sit there for 30 mins to 2 hours. 
  


Covers-
In order to keep my bandage clean between changes, I cover the area.  You can use a simple stocking bandage, a sock with the toe cut off, or you can order custom made covers online.  I have both the stocking and the custom cover.  I use my stockinet when I am just at home, or at the hospital.  The custom cover is what I wear when I go out.  I would rather it be hidden when I am trying to look nice.  I buy a roll of the stocking bandage at Walgreens. The hospital also offers them to me. 

^Stocking bandage^

Here is the site I got my custom sleeve from.

Cute PICC covers can also be found on etsy. 

Keeping it dry-
I found that using Seran Wrap or plastic bags was a pain in the butt.  It is hard to properly wrap your own arm for showering.  I was also using way too much tape to seal the ends.  Instead, I found an easy water proof cover on amazon. It cinches, with elastic, at each end.  It was only about 7 bucks and works like a charm.  I do also wrap a wash cloth over my line, inside of this cover, just in case water droplets get in.  They also sell water tight covers that are good enough for swimming.  Those are just more expensive. 

Precautions:
Make sure that medical professionals know to use a syringe no smaller than 10cc on your line.  The lines can only handle 5ml/sec of pressure.  I did catch a nurse trying to inject my port with a 5cc syringe.  Mention the pressure limit to radiology techs, to make sure the dye pump is the proper setting.  Be your own advocate!  You should receive a card to carry in your wallet that will outline these precautions for medical professionals.

Longevity:
With excellent care, these PICC lines can stay in for up to 1 year before they are changed.  I am trying to decide if I want to switch mine to a mediport.  I am hoping my need for IVs will lessen and I can have it removed.  If not, the mediport is surgically implanted in the chest.  It is covered by skin, so there is no need to bandages or keeping it dry. 



If you have any further questions, please feel free to comment!  Obviously, this blog should not be a substitute for talking to a health professional.  Every situation is different, so make sure you ask your doctor or nurse what plan they want you to follow.

Thanks for reading.  Hopefully I can keep up with the blog a little better now!