I use to ALWAYS stay in the hospital for the whole process but now and for many years now I do it at home. I get the picc done in the hospital and then leave. It has its advantages and disadvantages. I like being home in my own bed, food, can go outside etc. but the hard part is the constant care I have to give myself in terms of administering iv drug, making some food etc. Granted I do have help, my husband is a HUGE help but you still gotta do the drugs in the IV, clean nebs etc etc. In the hospital you do not have to think about any of your care or maintenance. But again you are in the hospital. As hard as it is sometimes being home I would not trade it for anything. I like to be home in my own atmosphere. Good luck with the decision. Maybe you can go half and half. I have done that too. Hope you feel better soon!<br>
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Picc line at home or in hospital
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I use to ALWAYS stay in the hospital for the whole process but now and for many years now I do it at home. I get the picc done in the hospital and then leave. It has its advantages and disadvantages. I like being home in my own bed, food, can go outside etc. but the hard part is the constant care I have to give myself in terms of administering iv drug, making some food etc. Granted I do have help, my husband is a HUGE help but you still gotta do the drugs in the IV, clean nebs etc etc. In the hospital you do not have to think about any of your care or maintenance. But again you are in the hospital. As hard as it is sometimes being home I would not trade it for anything. I like to be home in my own atmosphere. Good luck with the decision. Maybe you can go half and half. I have done that too. Hope you feel better soon!<br>
I use to ALWAYS stay in the hospital for the whole process but now and for many years now I do it at home. I get the picc done in the hospital and then leave. It has its advantages and disadvantages. I like being home in my own bed, food, can go outside etc. but the hard part is the constant care I have to give myself in terms of administering iv drug, making some food etc. Granted I do have help, my husband is a HUGE help but you still gotta do the drugs in the IV, clean nebs etc etc. In the hospital you do not have to think about any of your care or maintenance. But again you are in the hospital. As hard as it is sometimes being home I would not trade it for anything. I like to be home in my own atmosphere. Good luck with the decision. Maybe you can go half and half. I have done that too. Hope you feel better soon!<br>
lilmac1177
New member
i also have a PICC right now ... i was admitted to hospital last Tuesday (Nov 8) and came home on IV meds this Monday (Nov 14...on my birthday! yay!!). usually, at my hospital, the CF team (and Medicare i'm told) like you to stay in the hospital for the first few (and i use that word lightly LOL) days to get all the meds and levels in order then i can go home for the rest of the IV treatment which is usually another week or two. i like this because when i'm down and out, i like to have the rest and have someone do as much for me as possible. but when i start feeling better and have more energy, i like to go home to my own bed, my own food and my furry babies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
as for home health, i also live about an hour and a half from my CF center but have not had problems w/ home health yet. typically they come out the first day to admit me as a home health patient then we do a crash-refresher course on how to use the IV pump (depending on which IV meds you're on, the pump is awesome because my line is hooked up 24/7 so that i don't have to get up during the nite to change meds, etc). After that, home health only comes out once a week for dressing change and blood work unless I need them in mean time. and thus far, my home health nurses have ALL been very adamant that if i need anything at all, to call their 24hr answering service and that makes me comfortable. i guess your decision would also be dependent upon how much assistance you will need in a home health setting. i, myself, am home during the day from 7am-4:30pm by myself and do okay.
i do, however, get nervous about the PICC itself. if something happens to it here, i ultimately would have to travel back to my CF center (again, couple hours away) to have it taken care of (if it requires any intervention that home health cannot provide). so far this has not had to happen, but i still worry about that every time. this time around, my PICC is wanting to be super positional and causes the pump alarm to go off, saying "down occlusion", but i've figured out that if i hold my right arm straight out to my side it stops LOL
ONE of these days i will quit being so stubborn and just get a port...
as for home health, i also live about an hour and a half from my CF center but have not had problems w/ home health yet. typically they come out the first day to admit me as a home health patient then we do a crash-refresher course on how to use the IV pump (depending on which IV meds you're on, the pump is awesome because my line is hooked up 24/7 so that i don't have to get up during the nite to change meds, etc). After that, home health only comes out once a week for dressing change and blood work unless I need them in mean time. and thus far, my home health nurses have ALL been very adamant that if i need anything at all, to call their 24hr answering service and that makes me comfortable. i guess your decision would also be dependent upon how much assistance you will need in a home health setting. i, myself, am home during the day from 7am-4:30pm by myself and do okay.
i do, however, get nervous about the PICC itself. if something happens to it here, i ultimately would have to travel back to my CF center (again, couple hours away) to have it taken care of (if it requires any intervention that home health cannot provide). so far this has not had to happen, but i still worry about that every time. this time around, my PICC is wanting to be super positional and causes the pump alarm to go off, saying "down occlusion", but i've figured out that if i hold my right arm straight out to my side it stops LOL
ONE of these days i will quit being so stubborn and just get a port...
lilmac1177
New member
i also have a PICC right now ... i was admitted to hospital last Tuesday (Nov 8) and came home on IV meds this Monday (Nov 14...on my birthday! yay!!). usually, at my hospital, the CF team (and Medicare i'm told) like you to stay in the hospital for the first few (and i use that word lightly LOL) days to get all the meds and levels in order then i can go home for the rest of the IV treatment which is usually another week or two. i like this because when i'm down and out, i like to have the rest and have someone do as much for me as possible. but when i start feeling better and have more energy, i like to go home to my own bed, my own food and my furry babies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
as for home health, i also live about an hour and a half from my CF center but have not had problems w/ home health yet. typically they come out the first day to admit me as a home health patient then we do a crash-refresher course on how to use the IV pump (depending on which IV meds you're on, the pump is awesome because my line is hooked up 24/7 so that i don't have to get up during the nite to change meds, etc). After that, home health only comes out once a week for dressing change and blood work unless I need them in mean time. and thus far, my home health nurses have ALL been very adamant that if i need anything at all, to call their 24hr answering service and that makes me comfortable. i guess your decision would also be dependent upon how much assistance you will need in a home health setting. i, myself, am home during the day from 7am-4:30pm by myself and do okay.
i do, however, get nervous about the PICC itself. if something happens to it here, i ultimately would have to travel back to my CF center (again, couple hours away) to have it taken care of (if it requires any intervention that home health cannot provide). so far this has not had to happen, but i still worry about that every time. this time around, my PICC is wanting to be super positional and causes the pump alarm to go off, saying "down occlusion", but i've figured out that if i hold my right arm straight out to my side it stops LOL
ONE of these days i will quit being so stubborn and just get a port...
as for home health, i also live about an hour and a half from my CF center but have not had problems w/ home health yet. typically they come out the first day to admit me as a home health patient then we do a crash-refresher course on how to use the IV pump (depending on which IV meds you're on, the pump is awesome because my line is hooked up 24/7 so that i don't have to get up during the nite to change meds, etc). After that, home health only comes out once a week for dressing change and blood work unless I need them in mean time. and thus far, my home health nurses have ALL been very adamant that if i need anything at all, to call their 24hr answering service and that makes me comfortable. i guess your decision would also be dependent upon how much assistance you will need in a home health setting. i, myself, am home during the day from 7am-4:30pm by myself and do okay.
i do, however, get nervous about the PICC itself. if something happens to it here, i ultimately would have to travel back to my CF center (again, couple hours away) to have it taken care of (if it requires any intervention that home health cannot provide). so far this has not had to happen, but i still worry about that every time. this time around, my PICC is wanting to be super positional and causes the pump alarm to go off, saying "down occlusion", but i've figured out that if i hold my right arm straight out to my side it stops LOL
ONE of these days i will quit being so stubborn and just get a port...
lilmac1177
New member
i also have a PICC right now ... i was admitted to hospital last Tuesday (Nov 8) and came home on IV meds this Monday (Nov 14...on my birthday! yay!!). usually, at my hospital, the CF team (and Medicare i'm told) like you to stay in the hospital for the first few (and i use that word lightly LOL) days to get all the meds and levels in order then i can go home for the rest of the IV treatment which is usually another week or two. i like this because when i'm down and out, i like to have the rest and have someone do as much for me as possible. but when i start feeling better and have more energy, i like to go home to my own bed, my own food and my furry babies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
as for home health, i also live about an hour and a half from my CF center but have not had problems w/ home health yet. typically they come out the first day to admit me as a home health patient then we do a crash-refresher course on how to use the IV pump (depending on which IV meds you're on, the pump is awesome because my line is hooked up 24/7 so that i don't have to get up during the nite to change meds, etc). After that, home health only comes out once a week for dressing change and blood work unless I need them in mean time. and thus far, my home health nurses have ALL been very adamant that if i need anything at all, to call their 24hr answering service and that makes me comfortable. i guess your decision would also be dependent upon how much assistance you will need in a home health setting. i, myself, am home during the day from 7am-4:30pm by myself and do okay.
i do, however, get nervous about the PICC itself. if something happens to it here, i ultimately would have to travel back to my CF center (again, couple hours away) to have it taken care of (if it requires any intervention that home health cannot provide). so far this has not had to happen, but i still worry about that every time. this time around, my PICC is wanting to be super positional and causes the pump alarm to go off, saying "down occlusion", but i've figured out that if i hold my right arm straight out to my side it stops LOL
ONE of these days i will quit being so stubborn and just get a port...
as for home health, i also live about an hour and a half from my CF center but have not had problems w/ home health yet. typically they come out the first day to admit me as a home health patient then we do a crash-refresher course on how to use the IV pump (depending on which IV meds you're on, the pump is awesome because my line is hooked up 24/7 so that i don't have to get up during the nite to change meds, etc). After that, home health only comes out once a week for dressing change and blood work unless I need them in mean time. and thus far, my home health nurses have ALL been very adamant that if i need anything at all, to call their 24hr answering service and that makes me comfortable. i guess your decision would also be dependent upon how much assistance you will need in a home health setting. i, myself, am home during the day from 7am-4:30pm by myself and do okay.
i do, however, get nervous about the PICC itself. if something happens to it here, i ultimately would have to travel back to my CF center (again, couple hours away) to have it taken care of (if it requires any intervention that home health cannot provide). so far this has not had to happen, but i still worry about that every time. this time around, my PICC is wanting to be super positional and causes the pump alarm to go off, saying "down occlusion", but i've figured out that if i hold my right arm straight out to my side it stops LOL
ONE of these days i will quit being so stubborn and just get a port...
I prefer staying in the hospital honestly.
I've had too many piccs clot on me and go bad, and one time I wound up having to grab my dad aside to hold some goz over the picc site while I yank it out myself because they can never seem to get nurses out when you need them to, and my docs were panicking over the supposedly "massive" clot in it, lol.
I think I've had like, 3 piccs in total go bad on me while doing home IV's, and many more go bad even while in the hospitals. So I generally like being in the hospitals now due to all the complications that can happen, and how long it can take for help to arrive when they do.
I've had too many piccs clot on me and go bad, and one time I wound up having to grab my dad aside to hold some goz over the picc site while I yank it out myself because they can never seem to get nurses out when you need them to, and my docs were panicking over the supposedly "massive" clot in it, lol.
I think I've had like, 3 piccs in total go bad on me while doing home IV's, and many more go bad even while in the hospitals. So I generally like being in the hospitals now due to all the complications that can happen, and how long it can take for help to arrive when they do.
I prefer staying in the hospital honestly.
I've had too many piccs clot on me and go bad, and one time I wound up having to grab my dad aside to hold some goz over the picc site while I yank it out myself because they can never seem to get nurses out when you need them to, and my docs were panicking over the supposedly "massive" clot in it, lol.
I think I've had like, 3 piccs in total go bad on me while doing home IV's, and many more go bad even while in the hospitals. So I generally like being in the hospitals now due to all the complications that can happen, and how long it can take for help to arrive when they do.
I've had too many piccs clot on me and go bad, and one time I wound up having to grab my dad aside to hold some goz over the picc site while I yank it out myself because they can never seem to get nurses out when you need them to, and my docs were panicking over the supposedly "massive" clot in it, lol.
I think I've had like, 3 piccs in total go bad on me while doing home IV's, and many more go bad even while in the hospitals. So I generally like being in the hospitals now due to all the complications that can happen, and how long it can take for help to arrive when they do.
I prefer staying in the hospital honestly.
I've had too many piccs clot on me and go bad, and one time I wound up having to grab my dad aside to hold some goz over the picc site while I yank it out myself because they can never seem to get nurses out when you need them to, and my docs were panicking over the supposedly "massive" clot in it, lol.
I think I've had like, 3 piccs in total go bad on me while doing home IV's, and many more go bad even while in the hospitals. So I generally like being in the hospitals now due to all the complications that can happen, and how long it can take for help to arrive when they do.
I've had too many piccs clot on me and go bad, and one time I wound up having to grab my dad aside to hold some goz over the picc site while I yank it out myself because they can never seem to get nurses out when you need them to, and my docs were panicking over the supposedly "massive" clot in it, lol.
I think I've had like, 3 piccs in total go bad on me while doing home IV's, and many more go bad even while in the hospitals. So I generally like being in the hospitals now due to all the complications that can happen, and how long it can take for help to arrive when they do.
juliesdreamteam
New member
My 2¢ worth. Do your meds at home. You're capable of cleaning around the site and taking care of the Picc. The longer your in the hospital, the greater the chance of them making you worse and the greater the chance for more infection. Spend as little time in the hospital as necessary. Good luck.
juliesdreamteam
New member
My 2¢ worth. Do your meds at home. You're capable of cleaning around the site and taking care of the Picc. The longer your in the hospital, the greater the chance of them making you worse and the greater the chance for more infection. Spend as little time in the hospital as necessary. Good luck.
juliesdreamteam
New member
My 2¢ worth. Do your meds at home. You're capable of cleaning around the site and taking care of the Picc. The longer your in the hospital, the greater the chance of them making you worse and the greater the chance for more infection. Spend as little time in the hospital as necessary. Good luck.
I've only been hospitalized once. My PICC got a clot; if I had been at home, I would have chalked it up to just having pulled something in my shoulder or something, and it could have been really dangerous. Sooo, I had a week and a half of PIVs, which was another hell. But, I would say stay in the hospital just in case there's an issue.
I've only been hospitalized once. My PICC got a clot; if I had been at home, I would have chalked it up to just having pulled something in my shoulder or something, and it could have been really dangerous. Sooo, I had a week and a half of PIVs, which was another hell. But, I would say stay in the hospital just in case there's an issue.
I've only been hospitalized once. My PICC got a clot; if I had been at home, I would have chalked it up to just having pulled something in my shoulder or something, and it could have been really dangerous. Sooo, I had a week and a half of PIVs, which was another hell. But, I would say stay in the hospital just in case there's an issue.
I've only been hospitalized once. My PICC got a clot; if I had been at home, I would have chalked it up to just having pulled something in my shoulder or something, and it could have been really dangerous. Sooo, I had a week and a half of PIVs, which was another hell. But, I would say stay in the hospital just in case there's an issue.
I've only been hospitalized once. My PICC got a clot; if I had been at home, I would have chalked it up to just having pulled something in my shoulder or something, and it could have been really dangerous. Sooo, I had a week and a half of PIVs, which was another hell. But, I would say stay in the hospital just in case there's an issue.
I've only been hospitalized once. My PICC got a clot; if I had been at home, I would have chalked it up to just having pulled something in my shoulder or something, and it could have been really dangerous. Sooo, I had a week and a half of PIVs, which was another hell. But, I would say stay in the hospital just in case there's an issue.