Picc line insertion

Sorry for the typos the anti sickness drugs , which work amazingly well, have given me a really bad head and effected my vision. Also made me semi literate apparently.

Hi there Lellyv,

Yes, get a PICC line in asap. My veins were ruined after only 4 of 16 Chemo so i had to have one but sincerely wished it had been done before. My veins are very hard and painful and I can't have bloods from that arm.

It takes about half an hour, they put a needle in your arm, pass it up to where they want it, using an ultrasound, Then I had an x-ray to check the position and that was that, Didn't hurt, didn't give me any trouble for all the months I had it in. I had all my bloods taken from the PICC too, a real godsend!

Sorry I can't help you with your other question, hope someone will be along soon.

Good Luck with your therapies, all the very best xxx

Thanks for your reply. One question - a needle passed up the vein or a line? 

X

Thanks for your reply. One question - a needle passed up the vein or a line? 

X

me too, I loved my PICC line

I didn't actually watch the doc inserting it but it wasn't a needle, she said "watch the lollipop" on the monitor but I don't think there was actually anything on the end of it, it's just a thin tube made of some inert plastic, with maybe something that showed up via U/S or X-ray. 

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/treating/chemotherapy/being-treated-with-chemotherapy/picc-lines.html

that's the blurb on it

I had a Lorazepam tablet under my tongue so I didn't jump around, then lots of antiseptic and local anaesthetic, a small incision and job done

You do have to have it flushed once a week so more trips to the hospital but I was dreading going in having them desperately trying to get the cannula in and i never worried about it again, it was quick and simple. I say quick ... chemo took hours but the set up was quicker so you got settled quicker.

I had a shower sleeve, which was fine. You do have to be careful of infections whilst on chemo and this is an added risk but unless you fiddle with it the risk is going to be tiny. I became allergic to some dressings, chemo does change things, and had to swap to a different brand and I had it flushed in our local hospital and they used a different saline, the London one tasted really peculiar, I had to take sweets to suck. 

And somehow i managed to poke myself in the eye with the plastic cover, you will laugh at this when you realise how almost impossible that is to achieve ... anyone else had a PICC line can also feel free to laugh at me, I was washing up and tried to use my arm to itch my nose.

I did it twice actually. 

And the local stretchy arm bandage was much nicer than the London one, which was a bit itchy. 

I had my MRI before I started chemo but if you're in any doubt ask them, we don't like questioning what they do but they do sometimes mix up appointments, cart before horse fashion. 

Carolyn

xx

Hi.

Thanks for your reply. It did make me chuckle . I think it makes sense to have it cos I have 4 whack bruises from ferreting around with canulas and it's only going to get worse. My DN has said she'll cone and flush once a week and redress it at home so no hospital visits. 

Thanks for the info and the chat. Much appreciated  

Lesley 

Xx

Hi Carolyn.

Thanks for your reply. It did make me chuckle

I think it makes sense, I've only had session 1 of 6 and have 4 whack off bruises from ferreting around trying to find a vein. 

I feel better about having it done now. It sound like it's going to hurt loads, but most people say it doesn't

 Guess I'm just a whimp. 

Hope your getting on ok.

Lesley

X

Sorry Lellyv, Carolyn described it much better than me, it's a line  x

P.S. I never poked myself in the eye with it  : )))))

No problem I guessed what you meant but best to check. 

Thanks for coming back to me. 

Xx

Hi hun. 

I rang the hospital this morning and I'm waiting for an appointment for the picc line. 

Thanks for your help.

Lesley