PICC Line Support

I had my PICC line fitted before my first chemotherapy session, and then had it for around 5 months. It was recommended to me as my veins weren't great - it always took ages to take blood - and meant that they wouldn't be effected by the chemo drugs.

I was a bit naive as to how it would be fitted; I hadn't realised it would be in an operating theatre (which, in hindsight should have been obvious!). It was fitted under local anesthetic so wasn't painful at all, and the Dr explained what he was doing all the way through.

Apart from a little initial bleeding and soreness at the entry point, it healed quickly. I found the original sleeve bandage a bit unsightly, so I did order a couple of PICC line cover from Etsy (the seller gave clear instructions how to measure your arm to get the right size, so I'd recommend buying from someone that does this, as I'd have ordered the wrong size without it). I washed them every 2 days.

To be honest,  the after care fairly simple.  I found the cheap, elasticated plastic sleeves were the best way to protect it in the shower (they say they are disposable, but I reused them several times with no problem). I'd originally ordered a thicker re-useable one, but I was told they can be too tight to get over the area, so to avoid them).

I went back to hospital weekly to have it checked and flushed out. I always got a strange, metallic taste in my mouth after the flush, but it didn't last long. Going to hospital so frequently whilst suffering from the after effects of my initial chemo was tough, but it was essential to keep it clean and stop blockages.

I tried to follow the recommendation to not lift too much with that arm, or to do repetitive movements or use tools such as a lawnmower. I still managed to do my post surgery arm exercises without any trouble though, but took a bit more care to not over stretch. 

At the end of my chemo, the removal was very easy and painless. I'm definitely pleased I opted for the PICC line, as made chemo and blood tests so much easier.

Sorry for the essay, but hope the info helps. Please feel free to ask any questions x

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am sure others will find this helpful.