Waterproof picc sleeves

Hi Jayne

I can't recommend one personally, but I have just looked on Amazon and there are quite a few for sale and they are all reviewed by people that have purchased one, may be worth a look if all else fails. Best wishes xx

Hi there, yes I’ve seen a few on amazon so I’ll just get one ordered. I’ve showered again tonight and got hubby to clingfilm my arm then I put the sleeve over the top but it’s still not watertight. thanks for your reply tho, hope you and hubby are well and arnt suffering too much with this storm   We’re based near Durham in the northeast and I’ve never seen rain like it when we were going nighttime stables at 6pm! Take care, love Jayne xxx

Hi Jayne

I wasn't given any sleeves by the hospital for my PICC line, they just told me to buy one from Boots.

That's exactly what I did, cost £5 and never let a drop of water in once. 

Take Care

Deb

Hi again Deb, oh thanks for that. I’ve ordered on online from a cancer support site last night on amazon so im hoping it’ll be here tomorrow. I tried the last two nights with hubby clingfilming my arm first then putting the sleeve over the top but it’s still let in water!  I’m having my tour of the chemo unit tomorrow before starting on Thursday so I’ll get them to check the dressings etc for me as they’ve got wet every time I’ve showered since it was put in on Friday but it’s not causing any issues, it sharp dries out and it’s not sore or irritated or anything, just obviously I’m aware the nurse told me it’s important to keep it dry. Heyho, it’ll come right in the end hopefully. Thanks for your reply, look after yourself oh and I’ve loved your post surgery post, go you, a lovely story to the rest of us soon to be facing surgery. Love Jayne xxx

Hi Jayne

The nurses will be able to sort any issues, but I'm sure it'll all be fine! 

Good luck with the chemo. It affects everyone differently but I was fortunate and had virtually no side effects with the FLOT and was able to carry on with my normal life and eat like a pig! Fingers crossed you will do well too.

Deb x

Hi Deb, that’s good to hear thank you. I’m abit apprehensive but it’s a means to an end and that’s what I’m focusing on. How was your eating pre chemo if you don’t mind me asking?  I’ve been on liquids since mid December and am really banking on seeing a difference with the chemo shrinking my tumour so I can starting eating again. I’m just under the 12st mark but keep getting threatened with the gastronasal tube if I lose much more which obviously I’m desperately trying to avoid!  My surgeon was quite upbeat that the chemo should get to work quite quickly shrinking it but my oncologist abit more guarded tho he did say he’s known some patients seeing an improvement in their swallowing within 10 days of starting treatment ?  Like you say tho, we’re all different arnt we and our bodies react in difference ways. Love Jayne xxx

Hi Jayne

I didn't have any major problems eating pre-chemo - food would just occasionally get stuck.

That did stop during the chemo and nothing was getting stuck any more but I can;t remember exactly how far through the chemo that was. Funny thing was, after my post chemo scan the hospital told me that my tumour hadn't shrunk but was stable and hadn't worsened. I asked how it was that my eating had improved and they just said that some patients do say that?! Didn't quite get that but the main thing was that the tumour hadn't got any worse. 

I really hope you can eat soon. I've only just started eating solid food this weekend for the first time in a month (I've been on soft food only since leaving hospital) so I know how frustrating it is not being able to eat properly. Fingers crossed for you! 

Deb x

Hi Deb, that’s good then that you could eat ok beforehand. I was diagnosed on the 28th November and that was one of the reasons I’d been referred for an endoscopy cos things were getting stuck. I’m just desperate to get started with some treatment. By the time I start on Thursday I’m gonna be almost 3 months post diagnosis and my eating has really deteriorated quite quickly since mid December and obviously I’m panicking is it cos the tumour has grown so much in almost three months ?!   Ooh I bet that first bit of solid food tested good did it?  Me and hubby are (or were rather!) real foodies too so it’s awful not being able to get anything down. The fortisips and scandishakes the nutritionist prescribed are vile too, it was defeating the object of me taking them as they were making me gag and be sick anyway!  Tho I can’t decide if it’s the blockage or the terrible acid I’ve got constantly that’s stopping me eating. It’s to the point now I’m being sick every night at some point during the night as the acid bubbling up into my throat is terrible and keeps me awake. I’m on lansoprazole on renitadine?, and it’s not really helping at all. I just hope this chemo helps. Love Jayne xxx

Hi Jayneyhorsey,

I was given prescriptions for waterproof PICC sleeves from my hospital. They were Limbo MP 65 Adult Elbow Slim to medium build (50-70 kilos). They worked fine for me and never let in any water to my PICC dressing. I was given one for my pre surgery chemo cycle and one for my post surgery chemo cycle. I still have one sealed (new and unopened) which you are welcome to have if you send me a private post with a postal address. 

Hi Anon613, thank you so much for your reply and very kind offer. That’s exactly what arrived in the post this morning!  I had a look on amazon the other night and the one you’ve stated above had the best reviews so I ordered one and voila, just had a shower and have one lovely dry picc dressing so I’m chuffed to bits with that. Thank you tho for the very kind offer, I really do appreciate it. Hope you and well and thanks again. Love Jayne xxx