I have had 4 or 5 picc lines over the last few years, maybe more. The last 2 times I had pretty bad blood clots from them. The last time I was on IV's they just decided to go the old fashion way with the needle being changed every few days. The problem is that my veins are still (2 months later) hard and sore. What is my alternative? Has anyone else had this problem?
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Blood Clot - PICC Line - Now What
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
Hi, I can sympathize with your situation. I have had the same thing happen, amongst other problems with picc lines. Let me state that i do not like picc lines at all. They scare me silly. One time the nurse couldnt get it out and i was petrified at what they would have to do to get it out. It finally came out 2 hours later and i swore i would never get another. I have gotten a few more after that and it is usualy one problem after another. I've had problems getting it to thread in, problems with it clotting, one time it went in my jugular vein and i got one earache after the other till they figured it out it was in my neck . I also have had the soreness and hard bumps in my arms from peripheral lines ( the normal short ones). Eventually the hardness does go away ( warm cmpresses do help). I just try to stay as healthy as i possibly can, so i dont need so many iv antibiotics, and can give my veins a rest in between. This is what my one nurse did and i noticed it did lessen the problem. When he first takes the iv out he presses hard on the site and then rubs it with alcohol for a few minutes. He says it helps to save the vein . It seemed to help . You could also consider a port, in which case i dont know anything about, since i have been trying to avoid having to get one myself. Good luck ~Diane 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia
AbsintheSorrow
New member
Okay well then I wil reply to both the question-writer, and the the last post. I have a port. I got one placed at... uhm, it was 2 years ago I think? I think I was 18. Either way, I haven't been on IV meds more than 5 or 6 times (started right before I turned 17), but every single time I needed a PICC, I ended up with 2 or 3, because I always got phlebitis. Oh boy is that painful. So I figured needing a port eventually anyway, I'd just get one. So I did. And it wasn't that bad. The incision hurt for a while because right after the procedure, I had a lung infection, and was coughing (my port is on my ribs, underneath my left boobie). Everytime I coughed it felt like it was tearing the scar open again. That sucked, but only lasted a few weeks. And then it took a few more months to fully heal up, because my tissue was saying "okay what the hell is this thing?" and in its questioning, caused me a good deal of pain (I wear underwire bras, and the wire part would sit right on the port, and didn't agree with it-- I actually went without a bra for a few weeks, and then I wore sports bras for a while because they were much softer). But! It only had tissue argument for a few months, and overall, I'd say it's entirely worth it. I have to stick myself once a month (with a 22 gauge needle, if you don't know anything about gauges... it's very small, trust me) to flush it with Heparin so that I don't clot. Other than that, it's maintenance-free. Of course, if you're using it for IV meds, you need to keep it covered with a dressing, and fairly clean, but that goes the same for a PICC line too. The cool thing about ports is that you learn to take care of it yourself, and learn to access it yourself fairly early on, if you really want to. It only took me 3 months (which really means sticking myself all of 3 times... once a month) to learn how to hold my boob out of the way and stick myself all with only two hands. And the easier thing overall, is that since you learn to take care of it yourself, you can take the needle out and reaccess at your own will (which you cannot do with a PICC). If you're on vacation and want to go swimming, you can take the needle out and go swimming. If you have a hot date and want to shower and wash your own hair, you can take the needle out and jump in the shower. Anyway, I sound like I'm selling the product here... lol But overall, it's just a much easier process. Look into it, you guys. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
i too had a horrible time with the huberlocks and picc lines i had eveything that could happen happen. i even had to have my last picc removed by a surgon who has to slice my arm open to get it out...after 2 yrs of not being able to hold those ivs for more then 24 hrs i had to consider a port...Its was the scarriest thing i had ever had to consider. i was terrified but i talked with a cancer patient who had a double port and decided that was my only choice....i've had my port for 8 yrs now and i cant figure out why i was so scared...its been a blessing and makes my life soo much easier and pain free from needle stick...it dont hurt to access my port. So although it is a scarry decision and i compleatly sympathize i also have to encourage anyone who is hospitalized often to get one...you will be pleasently suprised at how much easier it is when your sick and even when your not ie bloodwork. So if anyone is considering on go for it you'll be happy u did and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask i'll help ya if i canhappiness and good health
bowlingguy
New member
boy, you poor people, shoot picc lines have saved my poor arms i dont know how many times, i been hospitalized 1-4 times a year for last 21 years of my life, picc lines became popular on cf patients around 1986 or so, before picc lines my periferal(dunno how to spell it) iv's would last 3-4 days at most, so 14 day hospitalization i would get maybe 3-4 different iv's with some hits and misses..lol...once piccs were available I had 1 on each admission, which then led to home iv's which i begun when i was 21, ive been lucky these last 2 years and only had 1 admission per year, which i owe to starting on pulmazyme and tobi, but i never once had problems with piccs i change dressings myself, if they clot i know how to unclut them, and take them out myself, remember this is over 30+ piccs, i never wanted a port, to me its to much trouble and not worth the agony as long as i have veins that piccs will feed up, as i am down to my last vein for piccs, after it stops feeding i might have to get a port, but piccs are a true blessing im sorry u all had bad experiences...but i love em...
mustangmousa
New member
Hi y'all, I've been there. For about 10 years I got IV's and Picc Lines until there were literally NO veins left to access. I got my first port in my chest in '95 and it was the greatest thing ever! Of course I was scared to death to get it, but it made hospitalizations SOOO much easier. It lasted 5 years and then clotted up. I got another port then, on the other side of my chest and it's been going good for the last 4 years. I've never had any pain or infections from them. The only problems I had were pneumothorax when they were put in. The doctors put me in a twilight (you're asleep, but not completely out) and laid me flat on my back and, of course, I started coughing. This caused the surgeon to accidently poke my lung as he was threading the line. So Beware! Also, I've had problems with blood clots, had to go on blood thinners for 6 months, my face & neck swelled up HUGE! It was awful. They told me the clots had damaged the wall of the vein in my superior vena cava (major blood vessel in my chest). Recently my transplant team wanted to see how open that vessel was and they found it was COMPLETELY closed off. Maybe if they had done angioplasty to that vein right after the clot was gone, this wouldn't have happened. I don't want to scare anybody, clots can happen with Picc lines and IV's too, it's just one of these things that we have to deal with.Anyway, despite the problems, I would get another port hands down. They really do make life so much easier. I go to my local hospital and have it flushed with heparin once a month and that's it. Good luck!Martha 29 w/CF & diabetes
I had a port placed the first time in 1997, lasted five years and had a new one placed in 2002. It was the best decision I ever made!! I was going through a peripheral a day and PICCS never wanted to go in. The PORT gave me so much freedom. My nurse accesses it once ever six weeks and relocks with Heparin, someday I hope to access myself, so far I am a bit reluctant. Mine is located on my left side below my breast far enough that clothing does not interfere with it. It hurt initially after the surgery but it was worth it all. My only suggestion is to not have it accessed right away, let it heal before using it the first time, haven't it accessed just made it more painful. When and if this one goes bad I will have another one placed, without a doubt. I know the pain of IVs not working and hurting. It helps to do IV meds when your not stressed out about whether the PICC or Peripheral is going to cause you problems. Last thing, you really don't know it is there except when it is accessed and even then it isn't bothersome, you just have to sleep accordingly. Sarah26 f w/CF
diane the same thing happened to me with a picc line. except the nurse went and got another nurse who yanked it so hard it snapped. worst experience of my life id have to say. they had to put a torniquet around my arm for hours so it didnt migrate. i ended up going to surgery a few hours later and now i have 4 big scars on my arm because everytime the surgeon went to retrieve it they couldnt find it. picc lines never again.
To the one with blood clots in the picc lines.... I also had probs with my picc the last time. My doctor had me flushing with heparin after I would finish a med. Have u tried this yet? Heparin is used in helping to thin the blood...so it helped my picc line to stay clear. Good Luck!Dea
<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Anonymous</b></i>diane the same thing happened to me with a picc line. except the nurse went and got another nurse who yanked it so hard it snapped. worst experience of my life id have to say. they had to put a torniquet around my arm for hours so it didnt migrate. i ended up going to surgery a few hours later and now i have 4 big scars on my arm because everytime the surgeon went to retrieve it they couldnt find it. picc lines never again.<hr></blockquote> That is what i am most afraid of. Gosh i cant blame you one bit for never allowing one ever again. To be honest, id rather get stuck every 3 or 4 days than worry the whole time i have it, if it is coming out nicely or if i will have to go thru what you went thru.
<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Dea</b></i>To the one with blood clots in the picc lines.... I also had probs with my picc the last time. My doctor had me flushing with heparin after I would finish a med. Have u tried this yet? Heparin is used in helping to thin the blood...so it helped my picc line to stay clear. Good Luck!Dea<hr></blockquote>The standard protocol is to flush with heparin. they always teach the sash rule.s-salinea-antibiotics-salineh-heparin without any heparin the line would clot quickly. I once had my cat run across my line while hooked up to my antibiotic and he ripped the line in half. I had to call a friend who lives very close by to come and help me change the line, and by the time all was said and done ( less than 1/2 hour) the line was clotted.
to diane and everyone else, if at any point a picc line feels like its not going to come out tell them to stop. and if they dont listen scream it, punch the nurse, do whatever. it can save alot of trouble. when the nurse was trying to pull it out the second time i knew it wasnt gonig to budge. i said to stop but he kept pulling! it seemed he just wanted to prove he could get it out or something. i actually get cvc's now and even when they pull them out i get REALLY nervous. i always think 'if this one snaps im dead for sure'.
Last time i neded iv's i got what is called a "midline". Basically the same as a picc, But it only goes a little past the bicep. It doesnt last aslong as a picc, but since it is WAY shorter the fear of it being pulled out isnt a problem. I liked it better and may opt for that next time i need iv's which i hope isnt for a LONG time. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">~Diane 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia
NoDayButToday
New member
Hey everyone Im 15 wcf but was interested in the piccline information. One thing ive found with picclines (ive had about 6 or 7) is that different hospitals/doctors seem to have different definitions of what a piccline is. i've had them put in at 3 different hospitals/ day surgery centers and each hospital had a slightly different variation. some were practically midlines and were less reliable than a regular iv catheter. my home iv nurse also noted this. so maybe thats why some people have so many problems with picclines and some dont. i just thought id share.
AbsintheSorrow
New member
I was told a PICC line is a periferally (sp) inserted central catheter. It went into my elbow, up my arm, over my shoulder, and into the very top of my superior vena cava. That's what mine always were.
there is really only one deifnition for a picc line. <blockquote>Quote<br><hr>It went into my elbow, up my arm, over my shoulder, and into the very top of my superior vena cava.<hr></blockquote>picc = peripherally inserted central catheter. so in otherwords if it doesnt go into a central vein, its not a picc line. i guess docs either get confused or get lazy and call midlines piccs? before the hospitals here were using real picc lines they were using midlines and called them piccs. i can remember they would always clot, but it was never a hassle inserting or removing one. i can remember the day they used me as a guinea pig for the first real picc lines to be used on the wards. i took one look at the needle and said 'thats not for me, right?'. it all went downhill from there! the guy inserting it didnt have a clue, was his first time. wasnt in a body protected area, just in some scabby room. he couldnt find the vein and kept prodding with those oversized needles. he inserted it too far and made my heart spazz out and i couldnt breath. i ended up running out of the room crying once it was all over. im so anti picc line! too many bad experiences!