Picc Line for intravenous nutrition??

June 17, 2004

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

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