Had to get another PICC today...

[abloedel]

Today I had to get another PICC. Am on Nafcillan and Merrem....neither is making me feel very good. I'm trying to do my 2nd bag of Merrem before I go off to bed (Nafcillan is on a pump so I can just sleep through that one). Had a CT scan in December of my pancreas and the docs discovered my lower lung lobe is worse than they thought (looks like a giant honeycomb to me), but the docs think it's probably the source of my continued infections. As soon as I stop the antibiotics, I am sick again within a couple of weeks...

So, the plan is to be on the IV's for two to three weeks and then see how I do. If I get sick again shortly after stopping, it sounds as if we might begin exploring the possibility of doing a lobectomy. I've heard/read stories with great success and great failures...so the possiblity scares me a lot.

I was also thinking about maybe getting a port (this is my 3rd picc in a year), but don't know at what point you should consider a port. Any thoughts on this one from anyone?

 

[LindseyRose]

I just got a port in August. I was beginning to question whether or not I should get one when I got PICCs a few times a year. Having a PICC was fine, it was getting it inserted that was the hard part. I would be in the hospital for a few days with peripheral iv's before I could even get a PICC scheduled down in radiology. And even that was like pulling teeth! I was so glad when I finally decided to do it. I had it placed in August and used it for a few weeks. Then in September I was put back in the hospital. Within an hour of me being in my room my port was already accessed and ready for antibiotics! It was so nice not having to worry about the struggle with peripherals and the nurses down in radiology. It has to be flushed once a month when I'm not using it, but the home health nurse taught my husband how to do it, so it isn't inconvenient at all. I had it placed in my chest, so there is so much more freedom when I'm using it. I say go for it!! For me, even if I don't use it very often, the convenience of it is worth it.

 

[Faust]

So far i've been lucky to only need mid lines when I go in. If i get in at a weird time ill wait a day or so for the midline to be put in. It lasts me my full visit. I hope I never need a port, that freaks me out.

 

[fourkidsmom]

Amy- I agree, I would try for a port. My son is only 4 1/2 and his first port lasted 4 years and he just got a new one in April. We never even thought about NOT putting a new one in. He had the PICC & Central lines the first couple of months after birth and I hated them. The port is so much nicer. Good luck with everything.

Angie
Step-Mom to Brittany 13 no cf
Mom to Tyler 12 no cf, cf carrier
Mom to Brady 4 with cf
Mom to Taylor 3 no cf, but chromosome 9q deletion q21.2 q22.1

 

[abloedel]

I think if this course doesn't work for me than I will check into getting a port. Getting the picc has never been the problem (I've always gotten a same or next day appt and they've always run very close to on time), it's just the maintenance and covering it shower and on and on...some days it just feels like it's too much.

 

[serendipity730]

I have always been a PICC fan, though I know that most people who have ports like them. I am going to get PICC's until I physically cannot. Now, I have had over 30, lost count after like 20. I have one right now - starting my 4th week of IV's. <img src="i/expressions/iv.gif" border="0">

 

[JustDucky]

Amy, so sorry you aren't feeling well and dealing with all of those IV's...I personallly went for the port after having a fourth PICC placed within a period of 6 months. My pulmo and I agreed simultaneously that a port would be much better, he was right and the maintanance is much easier....I also tended to grow out staph and strep in my PICCs despite good hygene of the dressings. I reacted to the catheters, always got sore from them and was petrified that I would snag it on something and accidentally rip it out- the sutures never stayed put, always came apart. I would be on antibiotics for as long as 8 weeks for really bad flare ups with my cepacia, by the time the end of my treatment was done, my poor arm was a mess.
So, even though I was scared about a port initially, I have no regrets doing it. I just got it in June, has been problem free and the nurses love it because they can access me so quickly now..I have no veins to speak of, so no hunting and pecking which is a relief to both myself as well as them. When I don't use it, I access it to flush it with saline and heparin to ensure patency, the stick itself hurts less than an IV that' for sure, but for those who are sensitive to needles, there is a cream called Emla which is applied on the skin on the port and left on for at least 30 to 45 minutes and then the needle goes in, most people don't even feel the needle go in. I used to work with pediatric patients prior to getting this sick and used Emla routinely, the kids didn't even feel my IV's or sticks for blood.
I hope you start to feel better soon...sometimes I wonder if the treatment is worse than the disease because of all of the side effects. Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[littledebbie]

I had a port placed when i was 15. PICCS were getting to hard to place because my veins were shot from scarring etc. I used to get so stressed even before they had finished the cleaning process let alone put that rubberband on my arm, you'd think they were planning to amputate my arm or something. Anyway, I had my port for 7 years, problem free and then quit working, so I had it removed. I was nervous about having to have a PICC placed the next time i had to do meds, my memories of PICC placements were less than pleasant, but it seemed the 7 years of non-needles had allowed my veins to heal a little and the PICC placement was a breeze. So I would totally recommend a port, the stress relief alone was worth it's weight in gold.

Needles...yick.