Hi, I’m told I’ll need a picc line for my chemotherapy and I’m really nervous about this as people have said how bad they are. Can someone give me any positives please? Nanny2008
I didn’t enjoy them fitting it but once it settled after 1-2 weeks it has been fine. No trying to get a cannula in for ages - blood can be taken straight away, hooked up to IV straight away. Just needs flushing and changing dressing weekly. District nurses come and do this.
Also, I’ve had dye from CT and MRI through mine as it was allowed so again no cannula. Some don’t allow this but hopefully yours will.
You just have to be careful doing day to day stuff. Like you can’t get it wet, but you can buy a sleeve to cover it. Be careful doing jobs round the house and lifting. I have been lucky to have support with my partner and family so everything has been okay for me.
If you look after it, it should all be okay. There is the risk of infection but as long as you keep the sight covered which it will be with the dressing, you should be fine. I wear a sleeve of bandage over it all the time as extra protection - I got mine given by the hospital.
Thank you so much for your reply, I do feel a bit better about it now. how do you showier and wash your hair if you can’t get it wet though? Thank you again.
You can buy a sleeve off Amazon to cover it. I still don’t get that wet thought because I am so paranoid so I put the sleeve on and hold my arm out of the shower or bath and use my other hand to wash myself.
I only wash my hair once every 3 weeks because I’ve had a lot of hair loss and it still shreds. I do this over the bath separate to bath and shower.
They use this clip to hold it in, however there is nickle in it. Unfortunately, I was allergic to nickle but they removed this no problem and it is now held in with a stat lock xx
