PICC woes

W

wanderlost

New member
My PICC insertion really hurt - a lot. I mean, I have no comparison as it was my first, but it seemed pretty painful. Then it bled quite a bit the first few days. I have an insane amount of brusing. I wonder if the IV nurse effed something up in there?

But I am posting because from the site to my arm pit is super duper sore - it hurts to move my arms much and it throbs. There doesn't seem to be any sweliing and no red line traveling up - which they told me to watch for, my actual site seems ok - thought there is some clotted blood...but it is sooo sore. It just doens't seem after a week that it should still be so sore. I feel I can feel the line fromt he insertion to my arm pit that hurts. I get it out Friday - hopefully.

Is this normal? Should I call the nurse? the line seems to be clearing fine and I have never forgotten to flush it with saline or heparin....do you all think it's just irritation of the vein? SHould I worry? Is this normal? Should I take advil or something?

TIA!
 
W

wanderlost

New member
My PICC insertion really hurt - a lot. I mean, I have no comparison as it was my first, but it seemed pretty painful. Then it bled quite a bit the first few days. I have an insane amount of brusing. I wonder if the IV nurse effed something up in there?

But I am posting because from the site to my arm pit is super duper sore - it hurts to move my arms much and it throbs. There doesn't seem to be any sweliing and no red line traveling up - which they told me to watch for, my actual site seems ok - thought there is some clotted blood...but it is sooo sore. It just doens't seem after a week that it should still be so sore. I feel I can feel the line fromt he insertion to my arm pit that hurts. I get it out Friday - hopefully.

Is this normal? Should I call the nurse? the line seems to be clearing fine and I have never forgotten to flush it with saline or heparin....do you all think it's just irritation of the vein? SHould I worry? Is this normal? Should I take advil or something?

TIA!
 
W

wanderlost

New member
My PICC insertion really hurt - a lot. I mean, I have no comparison as it was my first, but it seemed pretty painful. Then it bled quite a bit the first few days. I have an insane amount of brusing. I wonder if the IV nurse effed something up in there?

But I am posting because from the site to my arm pit is super duper sore - it hurts to move my arms much and it throbs. There doesn't seem to be any sweliing and no red line traveling up - which they told me to watch for, my actual site seems ok - thought there is some clotted blood...but it is sooo sore. It just doens't seem after a week that it should still be so sore. I feel I can feel the line fromt he insertion to my arm pit that hurts. I get it out Friday - hopefully.

Is this normal? Should I call the nurse? the line seems to be clearing fine and I have never forgotten to flush it with saline or heparin....do you all think it's just irritation of the vein? SHould I worry? Is this normal? Should I take advil or something?

TIA!
 
W

wanderlost

New member
My PICC insertion really hurt - a lot. I mean, I have no comparison as it was my first, but it seemed pretty painful. Then it bled quite a bit the first few days. I have an insane amount of brusing. I wonder if the IV nurse effed something up in there?

But I am posting because from the site to my arm pit is super duper sore - it hurts to move my arms much and it throbs. There doesn't seem to be any sweliing and no red line traveling up - which they told me to watch for, my actual site seems ok - thought there is some clotted blood...but it is sooo sore. It just doens't seem after a week that it should still be so sore. I feel I can feel the line fromt he insertion to my arm pit that hurts. I get it out Friday - hopefully.

Is this normal? Should I call the nurse? the line seems to be clearing fine and I have never forgotten to flush it with saline or heparin....do you all think it's just irritation of the vein? SHould I worry? Is this normal? Should I take advil or something?

TIA!
 
W

wanderlost

New member
My PICC insertion really hurt - a lot. I mean, I have no comparison as it was my first, but it seemed pretty painful. Then it bled quite a bit the first few days. I have an insane amount of brusing. I wonder if the IV nurse effed something up in there?

But I am posting because from the site to my arm pit is super duper sore - it hurts to move my arms much and it throbs. There doesn't seem to be any sweliing and no red line traveling up - which they told me to watch for, my actual site seems ok - thought there is some clotted blood...but it is sooo sore. It just doens't seem after a week that it should still be so sore. I feel I can feel the line fromt he insertion to my arm pit that hurts. I get it out Friday - hopefully.

Is this normal? Should I call the nurse? the line seems to be clearing fine and I have never forgotten to flush it with saline or heparin....do you all think it's just irritation of the vein? SHould I worry? Is this normal? Should I take advil or something?

TIA!
 
M

MCGrad2006

Guest
I would call the nurse. As we all know better to be safe than sorry. You can be annoying and call, I feel they would rather know than not. It might be nothing. I have never had pain like that. It could just be from overuse, carrying the baby and the added stress of having the actual line. Is it a PICC or MIDline? I have had both and can no longer tolerate Mid lines...but it was a different pain than what you are having. A mid line is shorter and usually ends up somewhere in the shoulder area.

If advil is safe use it...maybe also a heating pad. I have never used one before, but have heard that it helps. Can you feel anything if you touch the area? Like the line..sometimes I have felt that, but it was nothing bad.
 
M

MCGrad2006

Guest
I would call the nurse. As we all know better to be safe than sorry. You can be annoying and call, I feel they would rather know than not. It might be nothing. I have never had pain like that. It could just be from overuse, carrying the baby and the added stress of having the actual line. Is it a PICC or MIDline? I have had both and can no longer tolerate Mid lines...but it was a different pain than what you are having. A mid line is shorter and usually ends up somewhere in the shoulder area.

If advil is safe use it...maybe also a heating pad. I have never used one before, but have heard that it helps. Can you feel anything if you touch the area? Like the line..sometimes I have felt that, but it was nothing bad.
 
M

MCGrad2006

Guest
I would call the nurse. As we all know better to be safe than sorry. You can be annoying and call, I feel they would rather know than not. It might be nothing. I have never had pain like that. It could just be from overuse, carrying the baby and the added stress of having the actual line. Is it a PICC or MIDline? I have had both and can no longer tolerate Mid lines...but it was a different pain than what you are having. A mid line is shorter and usually ends up somewhere in the shoulder area.

If advil is safe use it...maybe also a heating pad. I have never used one before, but have heard that it helps. Can you feel anything if you touch the area? Like the line..sometimes I have felt that, but it was nothing bad.
 
M

MCGrad2006

Guest
I would call the nurse. As we all know better to be safe than sorry. You can be annoying and call, I feel they would rather know than not. It might be nothing. I have never had pain like that. It could just be from overuse, carrying the baby and the added stress of having the actual line. Is it a PICC or MIDline? I have had both and can no longer tolerate Mid lines...but it was a different pain than what you are having. A mid line is shorter and usually ends up somewhere in the shoulder area.

If advil is safe use it...maybe also a heating pad. I have never used one before, but have heard that it helps. Can you feel anything if you touch the area? Like the line..sometimes I have felt that, but it was nothing bad.
 
M

MCGrad2006

Guest
I would call the nurse. As we all know better to be safe than sorry. You can be annoying and call, I feel they would rather know than not. It might be nothing. I have never had pain like that. It could just be from overuse, carrying the baby and the added stress of having the actual line. Is it a PICC or MIDline? I have had both and can no longer tolerate Mid lines...but it was a different pain than what you are having. A mid line is shorter and usually ends up somewhere in the shoulder area.

If advil is safe use it...maybe also a heating pad. I have never used one before, but have heard that it helps. Can you feel anything if you touch the area? Like the line..sometimes I have felt that, but it was nothing bad.
 
C

CaliSally

New member
Did they take an xray after it was put in, to be sure it was in the right spot?
If they didn't, then I would <u>for sure</u> tell the nurse.
But I would let her know your discomfort nonetheless.

Heating packs helped a lot for me. It could just be extra stress during the procedure - the muscles want to clamp down on it, thus causing it to spasm. This is why the heat will help.

Also. I started asking for a xanax 30-60 minutes prior, so that me and my muscles were relaxed. It is a foreign object in your body so that can cause minor issues too (pain etc).

If it's simply caused by some swelling, the ibuprofen (motrin, advil) can help.
Good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

CaliSally

New member
Did they take an xray after it was put in, to be sure it was in the right spot?
If they didn't, then I would <u>for sure</u> tell the nurse.
But I would let her know your discomfort nonetheless.

Heating packs helped a lot for me. It could just be extra stress during the procedure - the muscles want to clamp down on it, thus causing it to spasm. This is why the heat will help.

Also. I started asking for a xanax 30-60 minutes prior, so that me and my muscles were relaxed. It is a foreign object in your body so that can cause minor issues too (pain etc).

If it's simply caused by some swelling, the ibuprofen (motrin, advil) can help.
Good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

CaliSally

New member
Did they take an xray after it was put in, to be sure it was in the right spot?
If they didn't, then I would <u>for sure</u> tell the nurse.
But I would let her know your discomfort nonetheless.

Heating packs helped a lot for me. It could just be extra stress during the procedure - the muscles want to clamp down on it, thus causing it to spasm. This is why the heat will help.

Also. I started asking for a xanax 30-60 minutes prior, so that me and my muscles were relaxed. It is a foreign object in your body so that can cause minor issues too (pain etc).

If it's simply caused by some swelling, the ibuprofen (motrin, advil) can help.
Good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

CaliSally

New member
Did they take an xray after it was put in, to be sure it was in the right spot?
If they didn't, then I would <u>for sure</u> tell the nurse.
But I would let her know your discomfort nonetheless.

Heating packs helped a lot for me. It could just be extra stress during the procedure - the muscles want to clamp down on it, thus causing it to spasm. This is why the heat will help.

Also. I started asking for a xanax 30-60 minutes prior, so that me and my muscles were relaxed. It is a foreign object in your body so that can cause minor issues too (pain etc).

If it's simply caused by some swelling, the ibuprofen (motrin, advil) can help.
Good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

CaliSally

New member
Did they take an xray after it was put in, to be sure it was in the right spot?
If they didn't, then I would <u>for sure</u> tell the nurse.
But I would let her know your discomfort nonetheless.

Heating packs helped a lot for me. It could just be extra stress during the procedure - the muscles want to clamp down on it, thus causing it to spasm. This is why the heat will help.

Also. I started asking for a xanax 30-60 minutes prior, so that me and my muscles were relaxed. It is a foreign object in your body so that can cause minor issues too (pain etc).

If it's simply caused by some swelling, the ibuprofen (motrin, advil) can help.
Good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

CowTown

New member
I would call the nurse too (it's the home nurse right?) to ask. I agree, heating pads always helped a little for me too. I also always could feel the catheter making that turn around my armpit and hated it. It always happened to me but never caused any problems, just soreness. I would personally take an advil, I hate pain. I can't remember if advils ever helped my picc pain though.

Sounds to me like just irritation, but I don't know. It's never a fun thing. Sorry you're in pain!
 
C

CowTown

New member
I would call the nurse too (it's the home nurse right?) to ask. I agree, heating pads always helped a little for me too. I also always could feel the catheter making that turn around my armpit and hated it. It always happened to me but never caused any problems, just soreness. I would personally take an advil, I hate pain. I can't remember if advils ever helped my picc pain though.

Sounds to me like just irritation, but I don't know. It's never a fun thing. Sorry you're in pain!
 
C

CowTown

New member
I would call the nurse too (it's the home nurse right?) to ask. I agree, heating pads always helped a little for me too. I also always could feel the catheter making that turn around my armpit and hated it. It always happened to me but never caused any problems, just soreness. I would personally take an advil, I hate pain. I can't remember if advils ever helped my picc pain though.

Sounds to me like just irritation, but I don't know. It's never a fun thing. Sorry you're in pain!
 
C

CowTown

New member
I would call the nurse too (it's the home nurse right?) to ask. I agree, heating pads always helped a little for me too. I also always could feel the catheter making that turn around my armpit and hated it. It always happened to me but never caused any problems, just soreness. I would personally take an advil, I hate pain. I can't remember if advils ever helped my picc pain though.

Sounds to me like just irritation, but I don't know. It's never a fun thing. Sorry you're in pain!
 
C

CowTown

New member
I would call the nurse too (it's the home nurse right?) to ask. I agree, heating pads always helped a little for me too. I also always could feel the catheter making that turn around my armpit and hated it. It always happened to me but never caused any problems, just soreness. I would personally take an advil, I hate pain. I can't remember if advils ever helped my picc pain though.

Sounds to me like just irritation, but I don't know. It's never a fun thing. Sorry you're in pain!
 
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