My doctor wants to send me to the hospital for a week as well as install a pic line. I refused based on costs (i do have insurance... Its the principle of the thing), health risks and surgical complications.I do not want a pic line. I don't understand what is wrong with a basic IV line that only costs a $1.50 each use and is cheaper and extremely less invasive than installing a pic line.Please throw comments at me. I really want to know what people experiences are with pic lines. Was it worth it? Were there complications? Did someone you know die from such a procedure? Thank you
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Pic Lines
- Thread starter anonymous
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Hi, You might be confusing PICC line with a Port?PICC line is inserted into your arm. Some CF centers do it right in the office. PICC lines are usually just inserted for a few weeks while getting your IV's. But there are some people that do keep them for a couple of years. A port is more permanent.As far as surgical part of a PICC line - some people have it done in in radiology so they can get it inserted by the techs or nurse viewing it as it is inserted ( I only had that done once, did not particularily like it either).Ask your docs what it is they want you to have done. If they mentioned surgery, it is a Port.Periphereal IV's have to be changed every few days, and that costs money also. How did you come up with the $1.50 cost? I would love to know what materials, and personnell costs are on these procedures. All the PICCS I had were inserted in the doctors office by a PICC nurse who did only that and was extremely skilled and talented at doing it with very little pain.Good luckJoanne Schumluckylungsforjo@aol.com
Picc lines are usually inserted into those who are going to be on ivs for a little while. This saves your veins from being traumatized as much. The veins can only take so much medicine. The picc line is very safe...My veins blow every time they draw blood from me...so when I go in to the hosp for ivs they do a picc right away. It also keeps you from getting stuck so much while you are in. Take care and good luck!Dea
I had 2 pic lines since my dx at 7 years old. Both Pics have been within the last 3 years. Both were inserted by the "IV Team" at my hospital & it was done in my hospital room. By the time the girls (nurses) finished putting all precautionary things out it did look like a hospital room. The pic is different from a port. The port is surgically placed. The pic is more durable than standard iv's, but not as much as the port. Precautions must be taken during the insertion because there is always the risk of staph infections in a hospital setting. My first pic was very uncomfortable. I had lost over 20 lbs & could feel every movement of the line in my vein. My second one was much better because I had almost gained all my weight back. I also favored my arm too much the first time & its important not to favor it too much because as I found out if the blood doesnt flow adequately around the line inside the vein, the line can stick to the vein wall & the removal of the pic can be very uncomfortable. Overall its great. I stopped getting stuck for bloods or blown iv's & I could come home to my daughter/husband. Up until 3 years ago, the extent of home care was oral antibiotics. I never had to worry so the whole thing the first time was unnerving, but we all got through it.
I had a pic in August when I was in the hosp., I actually really didn't mind it much. I was there ten days and they never had to mess with it or change it, unlike normal IVs. Sometimes it was sore (well, a lot) and so I got warm packs from the nurse to hold on my arm. My only real complaint is that eight months later, I still have the mark where it was. I tend to scar easily so this probably doesn't happen to most people, I was told it wouldn't happen to me but it did. Anyways, good luck.- scarlett
Hi,My daughter is four and has been hospitalized 4 times in her first 2 years for infections. She has had a picc line inserted every time. (actually she's had eight lines in ) The only real reason that we agreed to have it done was that her lines were blowing up to 3 times a day. Most of the IV antibiotics Cf people get are very hard on the veins. With a picc there is much less of a chance of "blowing" the vein. If you are curious as to why she had so many it's because the first was inserted wrong but the others she pulled out herself. If you want the whole story on her Picc line adventures, go to http://groups.msn.com/TeamRachelJane and click on "The Picc Line Stories"Good luckAndrea
Picc lines are temporary, ports are not. Basically that is the difference. Most CF meds are so strong that Picc lines are necessary....I have been hospitalized over 12 times in my life ( i'm 19), and that is an average to over average amount i would say....and even though doctors have suggested the idea of the port i have refused because i feel i am too young. its invasive, and i would rather all my veins be shot than get one, so we'll wait.
I can tell you that a picc is definetly worth the money. I used to get the regular IV and my poor veins just didn't do well at all. Just getting a line started was an adventure in pain cause my veins would roll every time they would stick me. I think it depends on the individual. The only complaint I have is that you can't get it wet. It makes showering difficult but not impossible. I wish that I didn't need these things at all but if I do then I want it to be the least complicated and the most comfortable. For me that's the picc. Sugar<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Oh picc lines! My favorite topic! I'm 19 and have had them twice in the last two years. They really aren't that bad. I remember the first time i heard about them I thought to myself, "There is no way i am going to let them do that to me!" But I did. My veins are very sensitive. Even with radiology they had to settle with a midline the first time. And it only lasted a few days because the meds that cfers get can be very caustic to the veins. They don't like that, and they will let you know. Nurses upon nurses tried to get a picc line in me, and it didn't work. I eventually had to be sedated a bit. It was weird. Eventually I was totally okay with the procedure, but my veins weren't. Even with that IV my arm still ached until the course of meds was finished.The next time I had a Picc inserted they sedated me a bit more. I must admit, it was the most enjoyable piccline placement I've ever had. Only my vein liked it so much that time, that it decided it didn't want to give it up<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> I was sent home with it halfway dangling from my arm the day I went to have it removed. And the best part was that I had to conduct part of a band concert that night. Fun times! Anyway, they really aren't anything to be afraid of, and they don't get in the way too much of everyday life, especially since you can do your own medicine at home. Don't worry about it.