Getting a Picc Next Week

[lightNlife]

Here's a link to an article I wrote about PICC lines. I hope it helps!

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/300957/understanding_picc_lines.html">PICC lines</a>

Tara was right; the supplies are VERY easy to use. Depending on which antibiotic you're on, you may need to mix it, but most likely not.

As to the pain of having it inserted, they will probably give you a mild sedative and/or a shot of lidocaine at the site to help. You're going to do great!

Let us know how it goes. We'll definitely be thinking of you.

 

[lightNlife]

Here's a link to an article I wrote about PICC lines. I hope it helps!

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/300957/understanding_picc_lines.html">PICC lines</a>

Tara was right; the supplies are VERY easy to use. Depending on which antibiotic you're on, you may need to mix it, but most likely not.

As to the pain of having it inserted, they will probably give you a mild sedative and/or a shot of lidocaine at the site to help. You're going to do great!

Let us know how it goes. We'll definitely be thinking of you.

 

[lightNlife]

Here's a link to an article I wrote about PICC lines. I hope it helps!

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/300957/understanding_picc_lines.html">PICC lines</a>

Tara was right; the supplies are VERY easy to use. Depending on which antibiotic you're on, you may need to mix it, but most likely not.

As to the pain of having it inserted, they will probably give you a mild sedative and/or a shot of lidocaine at the site to help. You're going to do great!

Let us know how it goes. We'll definitely be thinking of you.

 

[lightNlife]

Here's a link to an article I wrote about PICC lines. I hope it helps!

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/300957/understanding_picc_lines.html">PICC lines</a>

Tara was right; the supplies are VERY easy to use. Depending on which antibiotic you're on, you may need to mix it, but most likely not.

As to the pain of having it inserted, they will probably give you a mild sedative and/or a shot of lidocaine at the site to help. You're going to do great!

Let us know how it goes. We'll definitely be thinking of you.

 

[lightNlife]

Here's a link to an article I wrote about PICC lines. I hope it helps!

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/300957/understanding_picc_lines.html">PICC lines</a>

Tara was right; the supplies are VERY easy to use. Depending on which antibiotic you're on, you may need to mix it, but most likely not.

As to the pain of having it inserted, they will probably give you a mild sedative and/or a shot of lidocaine at the site to help. You're going to do great!

Let us know how it goes. We'll definitely be thinking of you.

 

[oldtimer1959]

Yes, PICCs and insertations have come a long way sinc eyour last go around!

I get mine put in in Interventional Radiology and generally 'shoot' for the right arm as I subscribe to the more use = bigger veins theory.

For infusions, I stay with the BARD syringe pump - the balls do not seem to work on me - I have problems with getting all the solution in....possibly a pressure equalization problem. But, thank goodness it is a pretty sturdy piece of equipment - I drop mine at least once a day! It also has an alarm loud enought to wake me - I try to time my infusions very early AM, sleeping while they are infusing & the third one at bedtime - again sleeping while it runs, getting up & flushing then back to bed.

Needleless systems are VERY nice! You will love the convience of them & wonder how we ever lived without them.....just like cell phones!

Good luck and congrads on getting several years in between IVs!

 

[oldtimer1959]

Yes, PICCs and insertations have come a long way sinc eyour last go around!

I get mine put in in Interventional Radiology and generally 'shoot' for the right arm as I subscribe to the more use = bigger veins theory.

For infusions, I stay with the BARD syringe pump - the balls do not seem to work on me - I have problems with getting all the solution in....possibly a pressure equalization problem. But, thank goodness it is a pretty sturdy piece of equipment - I drop mine at least once a day! It also has an alarm loud enought to wake me - I try to time my infusions very early AM, sleeping while they are infusing & the third one at bedtime - again sleeping while it runs, getting up & flushing then back to bed.

Needleless systems are VERY nice! You will love the convience of them & wonder how we ever lived without them.....just like cell phones!

Good luck and congrads on getting several years in between IVs!

 

[oldtimer1959]

Yes, PICCs and insertations have come a long way sinc eyour last go around!

I get mine put in in Interventional Radiology and generally 'shoot' for the right arm as I subscribe to the more use = bigger veins theory.

For infusions, I stay with the BARD syringe pump - the balls do not seem to work on me - I have problems with getting all the solution in....possibly a pressure equalization problem. But, thank goodness it is a pretty sturdy piece of equipment - I drop mine at least once a day! It also has an alarm loud enought to wake me - I try to time my infusions very early AM, sleeping while they are infusing & the third one at bedtime - again sleeping while it runs, getting up & flushing then back to bed.

Needleless systems are VERY nice! You will love the convience of them & wonder how we ever lived without them.....just like cell phones!

Good luck and congrads on getting several years in between IVs!

 

[oldtimer1959]

Yes, PICCs and insertations have come a long way sinc eyour last go around!

I get mine put in in Interventional Radiology and generally 'shoot' for the right arm as I subscribe to the more use = bigger veins theory.

For infusions, I stay with the BARD syringe pump - the balls do not seem to work on me - I have problems with getting all the solution in....possibly a pressure equalization problem. But, thank goodness it is a pretty sturdy piece of equipment - I drop mine at least once a day! It also has an alarm loud enought to wake me - I try to time my infusions very early AM, sleeping while they are infusing & the third one at bedtime - again sleeping while it runs, getting up & flushing then back to bed.

Needleless systems are VERY nice! You will love the convience of them & wonder how we ever lived without them.....just like cell phones!

Good luck and congrads on getting several years in between IVs!

 

[oldtimer1959]

Yes, PICCs and insertations have come a long way sinc eyour last go around!

I get mine put in in Interventional Radiology and generally 'shoot' for the right arm as I subscribe to the more use = bigger veins theory.

For infusions, I stay with the BARD syringe pump - the balls do not seem to work on me - I have problems with getting all the solution in....possibly a pressure equalization problem. But, thank goodness it is a pretty sturdy piece of equipment - I drop mine at least once a day! It also has an alarm loud enought to wake me - I try to time my infusions very early AM, sleeping while they are infusing & the third one at bedtime - again sleeping while it runs, getting up & flushing then back to bed.

Needleless systems are VERY nice! You will love the convience of them & wonder how we ever lived without them.....just like cell phones!

Good luck and congrads on getting several years in between IVs!

 

[oldtimer1959]

Oh, more notes.....

1) If you get uh..., 'frisky' you BOTH need to be careful. Nothing quite so embarassing as the early morning call to the on-call partner telling him you are in the middle of rural MI and you PICC just 'broke' and him not settling for 'you don't really want to know' as a response for his question on how it broke ....couldn't look the guy in the eye again without bursting into giggles. That was back when we used anticubial (inside of the elbow) and it wasn't stitched in. If yours isn't stitched in, I'd advise you to carry a pair of hemostats.

2) As far as school - don't sweat it. I work with mine and do my IVs at my desk. You can keep your pump or 'balls' in your backpack and if you're gone for the full day, a little 6-pack or smaller cooler in the car to hold ATBs before you need them. I frequently use 'zip-lock' bags and bag my doses, tubing, flushes and alchol pads together by the day. It's extra stuff to drag with you but then again, God gave us backpacks with wheels.....
You may get a curious onlooker but that can be an education moment for them - use their curoristy as an opportunity to teach about this and other 'silent' handicaps.
Good luck - I will admit to getting pretty tired the first few days, so if you are timing this over a weekend, that is a good thing.

m

 

[oldtimer1959]

Oh, more notes.....

1) If you get uh..., 'frisky' you BOTH need to be careful. Nothing quite so embarassing as the early morning call to the on-call partner telling him you are in the middle of rural MI and you PICC just 'broke' and him not settling for 'you don't really want to know' as a response for his question on how it broke ....couldn't look the guy in the eye again without bursting into giggles. That was back when we used anticubial (inside of the elbow) and it wasn't stitched in. If yours isn't stitched in, I'd advise you to carry a pair of hemostats.

2) As far as school - don't sweat it. I work with mine and do my IVs at my desk. You can keep your pump or 'balls' in your backpack and if you're gone for the full day, a little 6-pack or smaller cooler in the car to hold ATBs before you need them. I frequently use 'zip-lock' bags and bag my doses, tubing, flushes and alchol pads together by the day. It's extra stuff to drag with you but then again, God gave us backpacks with wheels.....
You may get a curious onlooker but that can be an education moment for them - use their curoristy as an opportunity to teach about this and other 'silent' handicaps.
Good luck - I will admit to getting pretty tired the first few days, so if you are timing this over a weekend, that is a good thing.

m

 

[oldtimer1959]

Oh, more notes.....

1) If you get uh..., 'frisky' you BOTH need to be careful. Nothing quite so embarassing as the early morning call to the on-call partner telling him you are in the middle of rural MI and you PICC just 'broke' and him not settling for 'you don't really want to know' as a response for his question on how it broke ....couldn't look the guy in the eye again without bursting into giggles. That was back when we used anticubial (inside of the elbow) and it wasn't stitched in. If yours isn't stitched in, I'd advise you to carry a pair of hemostats.

2) As far as school - don't sweat it. I work with mine and do my IVs at my desk. You can keep your pump or 'balls' in your backpack and if you're gone for the full day, a little 6-pack or smaller cooler in the car to hold ATBs before you need them. I frequently use 'zip-lock' bags and bag my doses, tubing, flushes and alchol pads together by the day. It's extra stuff to drag with you but then again, God gave us backpacks with wheels.....
You may get a curious onlooker but that can be an education moment for them - use their curoristy as an opportunity to teach about this and other 'silent' handicaps.
Good luck - I will admit to getting pretty tired the first few days, so if you are timing this over a weekend, that is a good thing.

m

 

[oldtimer1959]

Oh, more notes.....

1) If you get uh..., 'frisky' you BOTH need to be careful. Nothing quite so embarassing as the early morning call to the on-call partner telling him you are in the middle of rural MI and you PICC just 'broke' and him not settling for 'you don't really want to know' as a response for his question on how it broke ....couldn't look the guy in the eye again without bursting into giggles. That was back when we used anticubial (inside of the elbow) and it wasn't stitched in. If yours isn't stitched in, I'd advise you to carry a pair of hemostats.

2) As far as school - don't sweat it. I work with mine and do my IVs at my desk. You can keep your pump or 'balls' in your backpack and if you're gone for the full day, a little 6-pack or smaller cooler in the car to hold ATBs before you need them. I frequently use 'zip-lock' bags and bag my doses, tubing, flushes and alchol pads together by the day. It's extra stuff to drag with you but then again, God gave us backpacks with wheels.....
You may get a curious onlooker but that can be an education moment for them - use their curoristy as an opportunity to teach about this and other 'silent' handicaps.
Good luck - I will admit to getting pretty tired the first few days, so if you are timing this over a weekend, that is a good thing.

m

 

[oldtimer1959]

Oh, more notes.....

1) If you get uh..., 'frisky' you BOTH need to be careful. Nothing quite so embarassing as the early morning call to the on-call partner telling him you are in the middle of rural MI and you PICC just 'broke' and him not settling for 'you don't really want to know' as a response for his question on how it broke ....couldn't look the guy in the eye again without bursting into giggles. That was back when we used anticubial (inside of the elbow) and it wasn't stitched in. If yours isn't stitched in, I'd advise you to carry a pair of hemostats.

2) As far as school - don't sweat it. I work with mine and do my IVs at my desk. You can keep your pump or 'balls' in your backpack and if you're gone for the full day, a little 6-pack or smaller cooler in the car to hold ATBs before you need them. I frequently use 'zip-lock' bags and bag my doses, tubing, flushes and alchol pads together by the day. It's extra stuff to drag with you but then again, God gave us backpacks with wheels.....
You may get a curious onlooker but that can be an education moment for them - use their curoristy as an opportunity to teach about this and other 'silent' handicaps.
Good luck - I will admit to getting pretty tired the first few days, so if you are timing this over a weekend, that is a good thing.

m

 

[CaliSally]

I tend to get a little apprehensive when it comes time to insert the Picc. So I started asking for a mild sedative (avtivan etc) about 15-30 minutes prior.. That helps calm me first.
At my hospital, they use a ultrasound to help find the best vein before even sticking you.
Then, I'm given a warm compress to help open the veins. I think most of the trouble happens if you have scarring from numerous picc's, but it doesn't sound like you'll run into that.
Then, they will use a shot of lidocaine - it goes under the skin at the insertion spot. It can sting quite a bit, but I wouldn't consider it painful. (but that's all relative). They will test for numbness before proceeding, like the dentist does.

All these things help my picc insertion go smoothly.

Oh, and an obvious thing some forget - breath! If you find yourself wanting to hold your breath when you feel pain or discomfort, don't. That causes the muscles to close the vein, making insertion more difficult. Take deep breaths throughout, and it will also help IF there is any pain.

Best Wishes, and Let us know how it goes...

 

[CaliSally]

I tend to get a little apprehensive when it comes time to insert the Picc. So I started asking for a mild sedative (avtivan etc) about 15-30 minutes prior.. That helps calm me first.
At my hospital, they use a ultrasound to help find the best vein before even sticking you.
Then, I'm given a warm compress to help open the veins. I think most of the trouble happens if you have scarring from numerous picc's, but it doesn't sound like you'll run into that.
Then, they will use a shot of lidocaine - it goes under the skin at the insertion spot. It can sting quite a bit, but I wouldn't consider it painful. (but that's all relative). They will test for numbness before proceeding, like the dentist does.

All these things help my picc insertion go smoothly.

Oh, and an obvious thing some forget - breath! If you find yourself wanting to hold your breath when you feel pain or discomfort, don't. That causes the muscles to close the vein, making insertion more difficult. Take deep breaths throughout, and it will also help IF there is any pain.

Best Wishes, and Let us know how it goes...

 

[CaliSally]

I tend to get a little apprehensive when it comes time to insert the Picc. So I started asking for a mild sedative (avtivan etc) about 15-30 minutes prior.. That helps calm me first.
At my hospital, they use a ultrasound to help find the best vein before even sticking you.
Then, I'm given a warm compress to help open the veins. I think most of the trouble happens if you have scarring from numerous picc's, but it doesn't sound like you'll run into that.
Then, they will use a shot of lidocaine - it goes under the skin at the insertion spot. It can sting quite a bit, but I wouldn't consider it painful. (but that's all relative). They will test for numbness before proceeding, like the dentist does.

All these things help my picc insertion go smoothly.

Oh, and an obvious thing some forget - breath! If you find yourself wanting to hold your breath when you feel pain or discomfort, don't. That causes the muscles to close the vein, making insertion more difficult. Take deep breaths throughout, and it will also help IF there is any pain.

Best Wishes, and Let us know how it goes...

 

[CaliSally]

I tend to get a little apprehensive when it comes time to insert the Picc. So I started asking for a mild sedative (avtivan etc) about 15-30 minutes prior.. That helps calm me first.
At my hospital, they use a ultrasound to help find the best vein before even sticking you.
Then, I'm given a warm compress to help open the veins. I think most of the trouble happens if you have scarring from numerous picc's, but it doesn't sound like you'll run into that.
Then, they will use a shot of lidocaine - it goes under the skin at the insertion spot. It can sting quite a bit, but I wouldn't consider it painful. (but that's all relative). They will test for numbness before proceeding, like the dentist does.

All these things help my picc insertion go smoothly.

Oh, and an obvious thing some forget - breath! If you find yourself wanting to hold your breath when you feel pain or discomfort, don't. That causes the muscles to close the vein, making insertion more difficult. Take deep breaths throughout, and it will also help IF there is any pain.

Best Wishes, and Let us know how it goes...

 

[CaliSally]

I tend to get a little apprehensive when it comes time to insert the Picc. So I started asking for a mild sedative (avtivan etc) about 15-30 minutes prior.. That helps calm me first.
At my hospital, they use a ultrasound to help find the best vein before even sticking you.
Then, I'm given a warm compress to help open the veins. I think most of the trouble happens if you have scarring from numerous picc's, but it doesn't sound like you'll run into that.
Then, they will use a shot of lidocaine - it goes under the skin at the insertion spot. It can sting quite a bit, but I wouldn't consider it painful. (but that's all relative). They will test for numbness before proceeding, like the dentist does.

All these things help my picc insertion go smoothly.

Oh, and an obvious thing some forget - breath! If you find yourself wanting to hold your breath when you feel pain or discomfort, don't. That causes the muscles to close the vein, making insertion more difficult. Take deep breaths throughout, and it will also help IF there is any pain.

Best Wishes, and Let us know how it goes...