Picc line

Hi Kel12

I’ve just finished chemo and I had a PICC line for most of them.  It didn’t hurt at all going in - they gave me local anaesthetic on my upper arm beforehand.  The medics were really careful and checked with monitors and a screen that it was going in right.  Once it was in I had no discomfort at all.

There is minor inconvenience because you have a dressing on your upper arm, which you have to cover with a waterproof picc sleeve in the shower.  I was given a prescription to get one from the pharmacy.  Some people just use cling film.  You also need to go to the chemo unit or another health centre about once a week to get the picc “flushed” and the dressing changed.

The upside is it makes getting chemo started really quick and straightforward  - the nurses just plug the drip into the picc and off you go! I found it much easier than having a cannula in my hand, because with a cannula you have to be super careful about knocking it so you have less freedom of movement.  Plus with many of us they have trouble finding veins, which can get worse as chemo goes on.  With a picc your hands are free to do whatever you want to do to pass the time.  

Best of luck with your chemo x

It’s not going to be as bad as you think it’s going to be! It doesn’t hurt going in, was a little uncomfortable and took a bit of getting used to for a week then I mostly forgot about it. It made chemo and blood tests sooooo much easier. I had it removed after chemo and have had to have a cannula 3 times for additional treatments and then blood tests too, I would rather have had the picc tbh, made life easier when you’ve lots of treatment. You need a water proof cover but you really do get used to it fast, good luck x

Jomor 

Thanks so much for the info im such a wimp with stuff like this I have to be put to sleep haha but reading this has made me a little calmer so thankyou x

Anna12345 

Thanks so much for your reply im sure I'm just panicking over nothing I'm such a worrier lol and thanks for your encouragement I'm ready to fight this now x

It’s all horribly daunting, I was really scared too, but it honestly was ok. Obviously in an ideal world we wouldn’t have to do any of it but!  and definitely get a waterproof cover, if they don’t give you one you can get one off Amazon x

Trust I'm not upsetting the apple cart here, so to speak but the other side of the PICC line story, well mine is. I was supposed to go and have one fitted but my hospital transport didn't turn up at the time so I phoned the cancer unit at the hospital and spoke to the oncology nurse who said that they were very good at finding veins (mine are a bit iffy) as it's their job, so not to worry! I cancelled the PICC appointment which was at a hospital an hour away from here and went ahead without having one. That was at the beginning of treatment, my 5th session tomorrow and it's worked out ok except that they tend to think everyone is right handed and I'm a lefty so I prefer to have, if possible the canula in my right hand. Have had to have it left side too at times though. So can I just say, if you have a problem with the PICC ask the chemo/oncologist nurse if you can't manage and can do without it? 

Picc lines protect your veins do you don’t have problems in the future with access. So you may not have problems with cannulas now but you don’t know if you will need those veins in the future. 

Good point to consider :) I think in my case it was needing to get on with the treatment locally as having to make for another PICC appointment at another hospital could have delayed my treatment for dear knows how long.

Hi Kel, I’m very much a wimp too and I had more anxiety on that day than my 1st chemo. Fainted plenty of times in years gone by at the sight of blood/needles. It was ok just felt tugging, no pain. For me, my arm did have a dull ache afterwards and I was really aware the PICC was there but next day was all good.