PICC LINES

[Guest guest]

Hey all:

Just a clarification of a PICC line. This is known as a

peripherally inserted central catheter. They use them when they

can't get veins at the surface. These go into the deeper veins.

That is if you have any! I have lost all of those also. All total

I have had about 20 PICC lines several Broviacs and a Port-a-Cath.

I don't know what they are going to do. I am trying to stay away

from the femoral line (the one in your groin) but it is coming.

PICC lines or any kind of central line is suppose to give accesst to

draw blood. But if you are like me and have a lot of valves, mine

don't give blood and I still have to be stuck for that. I have had

every complication known to man from these lines so they are nothing

to fool with. If you ever have a case of sepsis you will know what

I mean. After three rounds of sepsis, the last of which nearly

killed me, I am afraid of them but am thankful when they can put one

in as it is my only IV access.

I need to go back to MUSC but all of this IV Access stuff is causing

problems and I don't know if I can go back there. I never go

without some kind of PICC line before I leave. I don't want folks

who really don't know my veins that well poking at me. Like you all

say, they don't believe you and they always want to be " the one " to

get the vein.

I am waiting on Dr. Cotton to contact me to see if it is beneficial

to come back. This last attack came so fast and was such an acute

attack I am beginning to believe it was brought on by something

other than SOD. I ate red meat and sometimes that sends me into

orbit. Also, I took melatonin three days in a row and although I

find nothing htat says it can cause pancreatitis, my pancreas is so

sensitive who knows. I won't be taking it again. Right now I have

no pancreas pain. My arm, now thats another story. I only post on

Percocet (ha-ha) so if there are typos, blame the Percocet.

I guess that is enough rambling.

Kaye........NC