Guest guest Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 Ann A few years ago, I had the good fortune to find a physician who was sympathetic to my Lyme situation and she put me on a month's worth of Ceftriaxone. The folks who actually did the line determined that it need not go all the way to the chest, so it just went about halfway up my arm. I understand that the reason for getting it as close to the heart as possible, is that some medications are damaging to the arteries, so they want to minimize the exposure. Anyway, once the folks at the the local hospital inserted the tube and I got the first dose, I was sent home. A visiting nurse came and showed my wife and me how to administer the twice daily drug. She also visited weekly and the blood was tested to insure that there were no negative effects. If you want any further info about my experience, you can contact me off line. W Baltimore Ann Prow wrote: >My husband and I are faced with the probability of at home IV antibiotics >and would like to hear from any of you who have gone through this. I have >heard of a PICC line that goes into my arm and follows the vein into my >chest. Sounds dangerous - my Dad had a problem with a procedure years ago >that he internally bled for 24 hours before it was discovered and it kept >him from having the surgery that could have helped him. This is the part >that worries me - I'm on Medicare and would have to go to the hospital to >get my meds - no problem for me, I can deal with that - it's the PICC line - >Are there more than one kind? > >Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has dealt with this! >Thanks, >Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 don't they put it in using some kind of x ray or imaging to guide the line...that bleeding sounds scary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 Boy I under Your feeling on this. I had one in those days it was call a subclave(SP) any way it went into the chest wall. it was easy to take care of and the Home health nurseing came to home every day as for risk it about the same as in the hospital only I prefer to be at home and if it done right you never know it there. God Bless you Bud Ann Prow <aprow@...> wrote: My husband and I are faced with the probability of at home IV antibiotics and would like to hear from any of you who have gone through this. I have heard of a PICC line that goes into my arm and follows the vein into my chest. Sounds dangerous - my Dad had a problem with a procedure years ago that he internally bled for 24 hours before it was discovered and it kept him from having the surgery that could have helped him. This is the part that worries me - I'm on Medicare and would have to go to the hospital to get my meds - no problem for me, I can deal with that - it's the PICC line - Are there more than one kind? Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has dealt with this! Thanks, Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2006 Report Share Posted April 15, 2006 Ann-- I had PICC lines inserted and you really do not need to worry. They do it in the hospital using xray to view how and where the line is as it is inserted. It wasn't comfortable or pleasant but I knew it had to be done and having it done in the hospital gave me confidence that it was being done correctly. I have heard of people having a home health care nurse insert it at home---I could not imagine that! I would be so scared! Not to mention that at the hospital they numb the site as they insert the PICC line...I do not think they do that if inserted at home!! The only time I had to go to the hospital to have the meds administered is when they changed the meds...otherwise, I had the pump and the meds were delivered to my house and I learned how to do it myself. It really wasn't bad and it really helped! It wasn't until after the IV meds that my brain started to function normally again. However, I was on IV meds for 3 1/2 years....yes I did say years. But believe me...it was worth it. I actually have many parts of my life back. Hope this helps. Rhonna Ann Prow wrote: > > > My husband and I are faced with the probability of at home IV antibiotics > and would like to hear from any of you who have gone through this. I have > heard of a PICC line that goes into my arm and follows the vein into my > chest. Sounds dangerous - my Dad had a problem with a procedure years ago > that he internally bled for 24 hours before it was discovered and it kept > him from having the surgery that could have helped him. This is the part > that worries me - I'm on Medicare and would have to go to the hospital to > get my meds - no problem for me, I can deal with that - it's the PICC > line - > Are there more than one kind? > > Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has dealt with this! > Thanks, > Ann > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2006 Report Share Posted April 16, 2006 Hi Ann, I have had a pic line since November of 2005 without any problems. I've been on rocephin since then and after one week of going to the clinic each day to be sure that we knew how to keep it clean etc., my husband has been handling it ever since. I had it put in by a special procedures lab under microscopy so placement wasn't a problem. It is all a little scary, but in my opinion it is less scary than having a bacterial brain infection. The radiologists that put in my line said that they routine have them in people for up to a year without any complications, as long as the line is properly cared for. Mine requires heparin washes every day - I understand that not all lines require that, though. Ask your doctor if there are kinds that don't require heparin, my friend has a pic line (she also has lyme) and she never uses heparin. Good luck - we are all going through this, and it CAN be dealt with. Shari Ann Prow <aprow@...> wrote: My husband and I are faced with the probability of at home IV antibiotics and would like to hear from any of you who have gone through this. I have heard of a PICC line that goes into my arm and follows the vein into my chest. Sounds dangerous - my Dad had a problem with a procedure years ago that he internally bled for 24 hours before it was discovered and it kept him from having the surgery that could have helped him. This is the part that worries me - I'm on Medicare and would have to go to the hospital to get my meds - no problem for me, I can deal with that - it's the PICC line - Are there more than one kind? Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has dealt with this! Thanks, Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Hi Ann, THere is more than one Picc line-I had 2 different kinds. THey worked well for the IV antibiotics, but what happened to me was that both of mine got infected and I ended up in the hospital twice. After that I went back on oral IV's and took the Picc line out. The doctors told me some people just can't tolerate them, I had 2 blood infections. Just thought I'd let you know that that can happen. I was told it doesn't happen often though. Good luck! > > > > My husband and I are faced with the probability of at home IV antibiotics > and would like to hear from any of you who have gone through this. I have > heard of a PICC line that goes into my arm and follows the vein into my > chest. Sounds dangerous - my Dad had a problem with a procedure years ago > that he internally bled for 24 hours before it was discovered and it kept > him from having the surgery that could have helped him. This is the part > that worries me - I'm on Medicare and would have to go to the hospital to > get my meds - no problem for me, I can deal with that - it's the PICC line - > Are there more than one kind? > > Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has dealt with this! > Thanks, > Ann > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Do all IV abx follow the procedure of inserting into an arm vein that leads into your chest. I too am up for my first bout of IV abx and this sounds awful. Will I be able to exercise with it? Thanks, Chris -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: " " <BlueFireIceEyes@...> > Hi Ann, > > THere is more than one Picc line-I had 2 different kinds. THey > worked well for the IV antibiotics, but what happened to me was that > both of mine got infected and I ended up in the hospital twice. > After that I went back on oral IV's and took the Picc line out. The > doctors told me some people just can't tolerate them, I had 2 blood > infections. Just thought I'd let you know that that can happen. I > was told it doesn't happen often though. Good luck! > > > > > > > > > My husband and I are faced with the probability of at home IV > antibiotics > > and would like to hear from any of you who have gone through this. > I have > > heard of a PICC line that goes into my arm and follows the vein > into my > > chest. Sounds dangerous - my Dad had a problem with a procedure > years ago > > that he internally bled for 24 hours before it was discovered and > it kept > > him from having the surgery that could have helped him. This is the > part > > that worries me - I'm on Medicare and would have to go to the > hospital to > > get my meds - no problem for me, I can deal with that - it's the > PICC line - > > Are there more than one kind? > > > > Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has dealt with this! > > Thanks, > > Ann > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 Chris If I recall correctly, only moderate exercise is recommended while you have the PICC line. Definitely NO lifting of the affected arm. For more general PICC line information, the below may be of help: http://www.imaginghss.org/patient-information/piccs.htm This is a fairly comprehensive look from a specific medical facility. http://www.bardaccess.com/index.php# This offers an on line instruction course by a PICC line manufacturer. W Baltimore csalfi@... wrote: >Do all IV abx follow the procedure of inserting into an arm vein that leads into >your chest. I too am up for my first bout of IV abx and this sounds awful. Will >I be able to exercise with it? > >Thanks, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2006 Report Share Posted April 19, 2006 It is possible to place some types of catheters in the chest with a short surgical procedure. I had a Groshong catheter placed in my chest. After a couple of weeks I could swim, exercise and work as a fire fighter with no problems. These were also the reasons I chose to have it placed in my chest and not in my arm in the first place. For more information: http://www.thebody.com/step/catheter.html This is about giving chemotherapy, if you read down a bit you'll find information about catheters: http://www.chemocare.com/whatis/how_is_chemotherapy_given.asp For Nurses: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/HPI/Nursing/References/NursingBCCA/C-086.htm If you want or need to exercise, definitely talk to your doctor about having a catheter (whatever brand you use) placed in your chest and not in your arm. =) Robynn Re: [ ] Re: Home IVs - PICC Line Do all IV abx follow the procedure of inserting into an arm vein that leads into your chest. I too am up for my first bout of IV abx and this sounds awful. Will I be able to exercise with it? Thanks, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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