Hello Kayla, there is no need for you to feel like a wimp, although there are other people out there worse off than you are, this is your first time and it's scary because you don't know what to expect; it's all new. The first time I went into the hospital since I had been diagnosed at 9months old was not even a year ago and I was scared and nervous and also felt like a wimp, lol. You are perfectly allowed to feel the way you do, I think we all did when we first experienced something new. But anyways, onto the picc line!
I've had two picc lines and both were put in right above my elbow and down to the artery near the heart. For mine they used a sonogram machine to find where to put it, they numbed up the area, then there are some pokes, pressure and of coruse a little bit of pain, but it really wasn't so bad. Then they slide the picc line in, which doesn't hurt at all; I didn't even feel it going in through the vein (and when it gets pulled out they don't numb it at all, they just pull it out and you really don't feel anything and it definitely doesn't hurt). Now I've never had any stitches to hold it in like Melissa has. The end bit of the line was put in a stat lock (I think it's called) and put some gauze over it (cause it bleeds a little bit after you first get it) and then they put a clear sticky sheet over it to cover it and also hold it in place as well.
The first line I had I couldn't use my arm for about 3 days because it hurt to move my arm. It kind of felt like there was a huge bruise on it and it was just very sore. However, the second time my arm was perfectly fine; wasn't sore at all.
Oh, and when they have put it in they do an x-ray to see how far in it is, because they obviously don't want it to go in too far. The second line I had I noticed that when I lay on my left side (the picc was in my left arm) my heart would skip beats occassionally. It turns out that when I turned to my side the picc line would move just far enough that it would "tickle my heart" But it was easily fixed, all they do is pull it out a little bit. But I doubt that will happen.
So yeah, I have to say my experience with picc lines has actually been pretty good, it's much better than being poked over and over again with a regular IV needle. I hope your trip to the hospital leaves you feeling great, it really helped me out a lot. Oh and with a picc line, if they need to draw blood from you they can do it straight from the picc line! Yay, one less poke! Sorry this got to be so long, hope it was somewhat helpful! Take care!
