Re: Picc Line for intravenous nutrition?? ---->Kathy V

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

I am not sure how far along you are, but I am struck by thinking

that you must have lost alot of weight for them to consider a PICC

line...I am an RN in peds, and we use picc's for nutrition mainly

with our cystic fibrosis pts - they get night feedings of lipids. Is

this what they are suggesting to feed you? Are they telling you that

if you need the PICC they still want you to eat too?

Lipids will help you and baby get proper nutrition. Lipids are one

component of something we call TPN (total parenteral nutrition). The

other part, travasol, gives you all your vitamins, proteins and

amino acids.

If you are told that this is neccessary for you and your baby, make

sure you understand the pros/cons, risks and benefits of both the

PICC procedure as well as the nutritional infusion as both can have

some complications that the Dr's will need to watch carefully for.

With the PICC, its considered a central line - things like

infection, blockage etc...With the TPN, you will need very frequent

bloodwork (with the kids sometimes every day, with adults sometimes

a few times per week) to make sure your liver and kidneys are okay...

I am not trying to scare you by any means, Kathy...Just want you to

be well informed is all....TPN can be very beneficial, and if they

are considering it for you, you must have some very serious health

concerns related to your nutrition...Sounds like you have very

concerned Dr's who are looking at every angle...

How is the depression now? I truly hope that your spirits are okay,

especially with all the stress you are under.

I will be thinking about you and wishing you only the best, Kathy.

Please keep in touch and updated, okay? Feel free to email me

privately if you wish...

Hugs,

WLS May 6/03, -104lb

Now 19 1/2 weeks preg. EDC Nov 10

> Hi all - I'm wondering if anyone out there has had to have Picc

line

> inserted to receive IV based nutrition for yourself & baby? Every

> time I see my doctors they are leaning more & more in that

> direction. I am a little nervous about it but if it will ensure

good

> growth for the baby & maybe even give me a little energy too,

maybe

> it is the best thing? Anyone have this happen to them that can

give

> me honest advice on what it is like?

> Here is a little background. I had joined the group a while back

but

> cancelled my membership when I was going through some depression

> issues. Mostly centered around the guilt of getting pregnant just

> over 2 months after my bypass surgery. I was just overwhelmed

with

> the guilt of having something bad happen to this baby because of

my

> mal-nutrition. In addition to that I was taking Tylonel 3 nearly

> every day for gallbladder pain. My OB & surgeon felt that was a

> better choice then surgery while I was pregnant. Well, until

about 2

> days ago, I was still taking that Tylonel 3 everyday. Most

recently

> I was using it to recovery from surgical pain. As it turned out

the

> gallbladder - with the help of an intestinal hernia won out and we

> had to have surgery about 3 weeks ago. I was terrified but there

was

> just no choice. In addition to the pain I was hospitalized

vomiting

> uncontrolablly. Intestinal secrections were coming up so even

though

> I had nothing in my system this brown fluid kept coming out. That

> appearently was due to the intestinal hernia.

> Anyway, to make this long story a little shorter... while in the

> hospital, my protein was down to a 10. My surgeon doesn't like it

> under 20 & I've never been there since surgery but I have been in

the

> 16 - 18 range. SO - tomorrow I am going for the bloodwork that

will

> determine if I am to get this picc line. Wish me luck - either

way I

> guess. I just want to do what is best for this kiddo. It has

been

> through SO much already. I also have a level II ultra sound

coming

> up and miraculously so far the baby looks textbook. We have not

been

> able to determine sex yet because the bugger has had it's legs

> crossed in all of the previous U/s. Talk to you all soon. KV