Hi Danny,
A PICC is a peripherally inserted central catheter.They're strung through your
subclavian, into the large vein to your heart via arm. Usually, they stay in 6
months TOPS.
I have a hickman-- a central line tunneled under the skin into the subclavian
or jugular vein. The lumens protrude from my upper chest. I have had one for 20
years, because my form of MD destroyed my ability to digest food or medicine,
and I had to have my upper intestine removed b/c of infection. I get all my
nutrition, fluid, and meds (including antibiotics) via Hickman. They can be
left in indefinitely, but are replaced every so often if they break or I have a
bloodstream infection. (in most folks.) I'm on my 38th line, so we keep them
and treat and cross our fingers. I was released two days ago from my 110th bout
of hemosepsis (blood infection).
When my Hickman has gotten infected, I have had PICCs. Here at my hospital,
they're done as a day procedure if you're a central line "virgin." The
department of Interventional Radiology does them under fluoroscopy. They CAN
theoretically be done bedside, but it is a lot easier of they aren't working
blind. Your doctor can order one through interventional radiology by sending in
an order for it. I don't think that goes to you in prescription form, I think
it gets sent directly over to your hospital.
Once you have one, be really careful not to expose the entry site (under a
tegaderm) and depending on whether you have one or two lumens, keep the
lumen/lumens CLEAN. Home nursing will come out to teach you/your caregiver how
to care for it. If you have caregivers to run the antibiotics yourselves,
that's cool. If you don't, the nurse will come x-number of times a day, hook it
up, clean and flush it. Whenever the dressing is wet, it has to be replaced to
avoid hemosepsis.
If you want something kind of "on call" for IV meds, there is something called
a mediport.It is placed in the large vein with a reservoir to access it but it
stays under the skin. Way less infection, just needs to be flushed with heparin
every 3-4 weeks if it is unused, but you can have it accessed and presto,
central line when you need it. Way less infection, no worries in showers that
the site is wet unaccessed, and it doesn't show unless you're using it. If you
have sensation, it is less painful because it is just breaking the skin with
the needle, not a vein. And it can stay in indefinitely. You doc can schedule
you with a line surgeon, takes 30 minutes in OR under twilight sleep.
Rambling today. Bad night.
If I can help, please e-mail or send a note via quad-l.
Best of luck!
Miri
Danny Hearn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi Lori-- I know a while back you had a
picc line for antibiotics. Over the years I have only been hospitalized twice
for serious UTI , both those times it was pseudamonas and each time it took
nearly a week of IV antibiotics to get me well--each time I got so ill with bad
A>D> and had most of my white blood cells destoyed. In each case my Urologist
told me to wait as long as i can to see what happens. Both times I was rushed
to the emergency and admitted. Well this Is my 3rd time being diagnosed with
Pseudamonas in my Urine culture. We asked the Urologist how to go about getting
a picc line for the IV drugs----the only type that can help me because this
wacko Urologist made me take cipro every single day for one entire year!! And
now the bug is resistant to that. Anyhow he said you don't need any IV drugs
now-----just wait and lets see what happens......same advice he gave me both
other times! My family doc wants to try to help
but can't see me till next tuesday---hope I can survive without getting
deathly sick...I don't know if this stuff can go away on its own, I'm drinking
tons of water, cranberry pills& juice-vitamin c and all the usual
stuff----Plus flushing bladder every 4 days or so with acetic acid when urine
gets way to fowl smelling to stand. ( I know i'm rambling but here is my main
question................ How to you go about getting a picc line ???? does a
doctor order it or will emergency room? I see my family doc next Tuesday about
it. Also---with a picc line does a person just go to the hospital each day or
do they come to your home?? Our insurance will allow 20 nurse visits a year but
so far I have never used a home nurse. Thanks in advance for any
advice,,,,,,,,,,,, Dan H.
---------------------------------
Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story.
Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games.
