pic line problem(s)

[anonymous]

so not to freak anyone out, cuz my nurse said im the only one she knows that this happens too, but does anyone here get picc lines for like 10-14 days, and when the get the out, have it be like a pain in the butt to get out...??? my seems to get 'stuck' and the doctors say its because i don't use my arm enough, so with my last one i had them put it on my dominant hand so i was sure to use it...and it didnt really make a difference. the home care person that comes to take it out had seen this once before, and she said it helps to heat up saline/heprine *can't remember* and then flush it through while taking it out. just wondering if anyone has had this problem? the first time i had a picc at 7, i was litterally balling for like 2 hours while they took it out. its getting better, but its still really uncomfortable! thanks for any responses/ideas!!!

<3Kate

sinus surgery/home clean out: feb 17

 

[Rokiss12]

^^^ sry guys, forgot to sign in...that was me!!! ^^^

 

[Curley444]

I've only had a picc line once, for 14 days, and I had the exact same problem. It took the lady about 30 minutes to get the line out, pulling it about an inch at a time and then stopping for a minute. I was about 20 at the time, and I think I wanted to cry...

Kevin 25 w/ CF

 

[Emily65Roses]

Part of the reason they pull them slowly is because if they just yank... your vein can cramp down on the line and snap it. If that's the case, then you lose a bit of plastic tube in your bloodstream and they have to hunt it down and take it out. HUGE pain in the tooshie. So I know it can be a pain, and there certainly are other reasons... but they do it partially because they're trying to save you some trouble.

 

[Curley444]

They never really told me how they were gonna remove it, so I just thought the line would just slide right out. Unfortunately, I was wrong-as I often am. Yep. I'll remember next time, though.

 

[kybert]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr>Part of the reason they pull them slowly is because if they just yank... your vein can cramp down on the line and snap it. If that's the case, then you lose a bit of plastic tube in your bloodstream and they have to hunt it down and take it out. HUGE pain in the tooshie. So I know it can be a pain, and there certainly are other reasons... but they do it partially because they're trying to save you some trouble. <hr></blockquote>

this happened to me folks. please be careful with piccs. they might look innocent and all compared to cvc's and ports but freaky things like that can and do happen. do not let them pull fast. do not let them to continue pulling if it gets stuck. if it does get stuck tell them to stop and call a doctor for advice. repeat, DO NOT LET THEM PULL IF IT IS STUCK!!! i cant stress this enough because once these things snap they could possibly settle in your heart and kill you. i was lucky because the rest of the line that was left behind in me was still stuck in the vein. god knows what would of happened if it moved. i had to sit there for hours with a tight tourniquet around my arm and wasnt allowed to move. i ended up having surgery and i have cuts all over my arm because its impossible to tell exactly where the line is so they make several cuts. my veins in that arm are permanently ruined and although the nerves recovered they definately arent 100%.

i say, if piccs are causing alot of trouble with getting stuck, consider a port, because once they start getting stuck they will never stop and it only gets worse especially if you keep using the same vein.

 

[anonymous]

Would you know if you had a piece of it stuck in your vein???
The reason I ask is cause for about 6-7 piccs I had at a certain clinic, the nurse yanked them out.
Now, when they take them out (different place), they pull slowly. I much prefer the slow pull.... I hated how my arm felt when they yanked it!!! YUK!!!

Sonia

 

[kybert]

yes you would know. it would get stuck, you will see your veins pulling under your skin, then it will snap like a rubber band and then you will all have looks of horror on your faces lol. it doesnt just fall off without you knowing [although this has happened in rare cases where there has been alot of wear and tear on a particular place of the line and it has 'fallen' off while still in the arm].

 

[JazzysMom]

My first picc line had this problem at the time of removal. It stuck to the wall of the vein. I had them put it in my left arm since I am right handed. They told me I should not do repepetive motions like vacuuming etc with it so since I am right handed & would have to do those things it went into my left side. Well instead of using it tooo much, I didnt use it enough. Even tho they went slow & we put warm compresses on it to get the blood flowing etc it hurt like hell.......so my next few I new to use my arm more, but yet not overdo it. I had no further problems! One time I didnt even know it was out & I am sitting there with my eyes closed waiting for the same pain from the first one.....

 

[jaime]

I have had several PICC lines get stuck too. Usually hot packs up my arm and chest for about 1/2 hr before pulling it out helps dilate the veins enough for it to slip out. If not, and it does get stuck they call the IV nurses. They have taught me this trick where they tell you to open and close your hands (kind of like pumping up your viens before a blood draw) left, right, left right, alternating hands for about one minute. Im telling you it works everytime. The pumping just gets the blood flowing and the valves in your veins open and the line comes right out.

Try to remember this little trick next time. I hope it works for you....it always does for me!!

 

[JennifersHope]

You GUYS are freaken me out................ Here I sit with my PICC Line which is going to be pulled sometime this week I think.. and now I am afraid.. I have had no problems before.. but I use my arm all the time.. I have worked with my PICC line and actually have been afraid because they say you shouldn't lift over 10 lbs with it in.. I am constantly lifting with it.

But this Picc is acting funny this time.., It is still bleeding on and off and has been in for 16 days now.. It is stiched in.. do you guys get yours stiched in as well??? Many ppl I work with tell me it should never be stiched in.. who knows.. also.. how often do you change your dressings?? I am doing it about every 5 or so days??? I don't know

HMMM Hope mine doesn't get stuck coming out this time.


Jennifer

 

[anonymous]

I just wanted to say that nurses or doc who remove piccs should or you can ask them to measure the picc line after it is removed(the length should be documented somewhere in your chart when it was inserted) Also, the tip of the picc should be inspected by the nurse making sure it's intact. Whenever I removed a picc or IV or central line these are the things I would do so I'ld know it was removed intact, in my former life as a nurse.

Rebecca

 

[Diane]

I had one get stuck once where the home nurse could not get it to budge. I also once had one that went in my jugular vein instead of the clavical vein where it is supposed to go ( painful). When the one that was stuck happened ....my home nurse sent me to my doctors office and my nurse did what they shouldnt do but it was the only thing that worked. She yanked it right out in one short pull. Scared the crap out of me but i was relieved when she showed me the end of it and it was cut on a sharp angle which she always does so she knows its all out. The one that went in my jugular was a real problem. From almost day one i started getting earaches and just figured i was getting sicker and that was what was causing the earaches. Then it became obvious i only got these earaches while doing the iv. I told my home nurse this and she sent me right to the hospital for an xray. They said they couldnt see it on the xray they took and refused to take it out since it was running well. I was so mad ....so when i got home i called the iv team and told them to come out and remove it asap or i'll do it myself. Ever since then i've had a fear of loooooong lines being in my arm, so i now only allow a mid line if i allow any thing other that an regular peripherial line. I tell them it can go up to my shoulder but not further, because i aint going thru that again. The fear and anxiety it causes me is too much. My last 3 iv's i did with a regular peripheral line.... you know the ones they have to change every 3 days or so. I do not get mine changed that often. I usually get them changed once a week as long as its comfy and is running well. My nurse comes out every 2 or 3 days and changes the dressing checks on it and what not, and we only change it if its necessary. One time i kept the line for the whole 2 weeks of treatment, my doctor wasnt too crazy about that idea but there was no sign of infection, it ran VERY well and i barely knew it was there. He told me i should have it changed at least once during the 2 week course. So for now regular peripheral lines it is as long as my veins co-operate.

 

[Diane]

Oh jennifer i forgot to mention, my last midline was stitched in. I also always had bleeding at the site with just about every picc i ever had. I really cant stand those things and hope i never have to get one again.

 

[stevehof]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Diane</b></i><br>I had one get stuck once where the home nurse could not get it to budge. I also once had one that went in my jugular vein instead of the clavical vein where it is supposed to go <hr></blockquote>

Putting a PICC line in without X-Raying to see where it is located is close to medical malpractice. I'd never let them do that. I've had one go up some vein in my neck too. I could tell the minute they flushed it for the first time. I sounded like a fire hose in my ear. They still made me go down to radiology to check its position. I was pissed but I went on down there and got the evidence. They pulled it part way and re-threaded it with a wire or something.

I like the convenience of not having to worry about changing the short IV's. You never know when they are going to fail and it?s a long way to the hosp from where I live. BTW, nobody told me anything about the repetitive motions precaution with a PICC. I do just about everything I usually do with my PICCs. However, my last one (had it nearly 5 weeks) got at least two 'kinks' in it because they used these little antiseptic 'doughnuts' right over the entry place. Then they tape down the doughnuts and it put a kink in the line and made it so that I had to keep my arm straight to run the meds. It made me wonder if the thing flexed often enough it might break and maybe it was flexing and kinking inside my arm somewhere too.

I think you have to watch the person inserting the PICC and make sure they don?t put it right in the crook of your arm or any other place that makes it bend every time you bend your arm in. After the line is installed look at the line through the OPsite and make sure it can flex with your arm without kinking. I think PICCs and midlines should be placed up just a little way on your forearm so it won?t kink when you bend your arm. You almost have to become expert in these types of treatments just to keep the medical people from killing you or making the whole treatment much more complicated than it needs to be...;^)

 

[Rokiss12]

hey thanks guys for all the responses! this really helps! im planning on (idealy) getting mine inserted while im under anesthesia (sp!?) from sugery. i don't mind getting them in, but why not kill 2 birds with one stone? i usually get it done like that anyways. im planning on getting it in my right arm at the bend, basically where i always get it, never had a problem with the spot, its just the gettting stuck part.

i saw you guys writing about peices staying inside you, etc. do'nt your doctors/nurses/remover person measure how much they put in, and then how much they take out? on my pic lines i've noticed, the actuall tubing has inch measurements on it, very handy

IV's hate me i think. within 2 hours of getting them, they're stinging like hell...so picc lines are so far my only choice. as for a port, i don't think im at the stage where i need one, i only go in about once a year, and all though it would be convientant, i think the negatives outweigh the positives right now. maybe later though!

i really can't wait to get this surgery up and done with. super annoying *the anticipation* of the long ride to the hospital, then the long weight, and then things speeding up so fast your overwelmed. i pretty much break down just as there about to put me out/when theyre putting in the IV... so im gunna try and avoid that this year.

thanks for the help everyone ! if anyone has any more tips...i would greatly apprieciate them!

<3Kate

2/17...sinus surgery....numero 6 baby!

 

[Rokiss12]

hey thanks guys for all the responses! this really helps! im planning on (idealy) getting mine inserted while im under anesthesia (sp!?) from sugery. i don't mind getting them in, but why not kill 2 birds with one stone? i usually get it done like that anyways. im planning on getting it in my right arm at the bend, basically where i always get it, never had a problem with the spot, its just the gettting stuck part.

i saw you guys writing about peices staying inside you, etc. do'nt your doctors/nurses/remover person measure how much they put in, and then how much they take out? on my pic lines i've noticed, the actuall tubing has inch measurements on it, very handy

IV's hate me i think. within 2 hours of getting them, they're stinging like hell...so picc lines are so far my only choice. as for a port, i don't think im at the stage where i need one, i only go in about once a year, and all though it would be convientant, i think the negatives outweigh the positives right now. maybe later though!

i really can't wait to get this surgery up and done with. super annoying *the anticipation* of the long ride to the hospital, then the long weight, and then things speeding up so fast your overwelmed. i pretty much break down just as there about to put me out/when theyre putting in the IV... so im gunna try and avoid that this year.

thanks for the help everyone ! if anyone has any more tips...i would greatly apprieciate them!

<3Kate

2/17...sinus surgery....numero 6 baby!

 

[JennifersHope]

Ouch about the stiches....... Diane... I will never let them stich it again.. It hurts to much and I keep bleeding because every time I move my arm it pulls..

I went to work today to drop off some paper work and honestly I just like being there..everyone is so loving to and kind to me and so many of them have become such good friends it is like going to visit friends......anyway.. my boss who is an RN and director of the ER where I work is certified to put PICC lines in and also she used to be a CF nurse..( I don't think I could have a more understanding boss on the face of the earth she is wonderful and since the day she found out about my CF has not taken off the blue CF Breath bracelett I gave her....even to black tie events...

Anyway she fixed my PICC.. she took out the stiches as she cursed the ppl who put it in.. ( made me crack up laughing) , replaced it with butterflly stiches.. pulled the butterflyclip thing back a little so it isn't digging into my skin...cleaned the area and changed the dressing... It feels so much better...... but we found out I am allergic to the tegraderm dressing... No wonder I can't stand PICCs..I didn't realize it wasn't supposed to itch like crazy.. duhhhhhhhhh She is bringing me some special dressing from home to switch it for me...


I for sure will be more vocal about the next time I get a PICC.. this time I thought I was bold because I insisted it go in my left arm instead of right... I guess you learn as you go...

Jennifer

 

[JennifersHope]

Ouch about the stiches....... Diane... I will never let them stich it again.. It hurts to much and I keep bleeding because every time I move my arm it pulls..

I went to work today to drop off some paper work and honestly I just like being there..everyone is so loving to and kind to me and so many of them have become such good friends it is like going to visit friends......anyway.. my boss who is an RN and director of the ER where I work is certified to put PICC lines in and also she used to be a CF nurse..( I don't think I could have a more understanding boss on the face of the earth she is wonderful and since the day she found out about my CF has not taken off the blue CF Breath bracelett I gave her....even to black tie events...

Anyway she fixed my PICC.. she took out the stiches as she cursed the ppl who put it in.. ( made me crack up laughing) , replaced it with butterflly stiches.. pulled the butterflyclip thing back a little so it isn't digging into my skin...cleaned the area and changed the dressing... It feels so much better...... but we found out I am allergic to the tegraderm dressing... No wonder I can't stand PICCs..I didn't realize it wasn't supposed to itch like crazy.. duhhhhhhhhh She is bringing me some special dressing from home to switch it for me...


I for sure will be more vocal about the next time I get a PICC.. this time I thought I was bold because I insisted it go in my left arm instead of right... I guess you learn as you go...

Jennifer

 

[JustDucky]

I have never had my PICC line get stuck as they remove it...and yes, they always have stitched mine in. But, the stitches always come apart because I usually have the PICC in for awhile. When the nurse comes to the house, she notes where the PICC measurement is, actually it is noted on the invasive radiologist's notes as to how far the PICC is put in, and then a final xray is done. I wathced the fluoroscope as they put mine in and knew when they had it in the right spot. There were numbers on my PICC to tell the nurse if my PICC stayed where it should be. When I was a nurse, I assisted the radiology nurse in the removal of PICC's, if they met resistance, then they put hot packs on the arm and chest as someone said on this site. If we still had problems, then we left it alone, cleaned the site, redressed it and had the radiologist take care of it. Never did we ever tug at it if there was significant resistance. Doing that could easily snap the PICC line. Fortunately, this didn't happen often. Every PICC that I had came out very easily with easy coaxing and I never felt it. After so many PICCs I now have a port, which I find is very easy to take care of, even when accessed. The needle used to access it looks kind of mid-evil but it actually doesn't hurt that much, less than an IV going in and once it is in, it is in. I think the biggest problem I had with my PICC's were that they always grew something despite excellent care, usually staph....but then I had them in for quite some time.
Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">