PICC lines

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sue35

New member
Hi everyone, I hope all are well-

I just found out today that I have to get a PICC during Thanksgiving. The other two times I got them I was so depressed that I did nothing but medicine. I didn't go out or really anything at all.

I am determined not to be like that now. So, what types of things can you do with a PICC? Are you suppossed to just rest the whole time? I know I can't swim (November in Chicago shouldn't be a problem) but what else. I guess I am asking how normal is you life when you have a PICC in.

Thanks<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
S

sue35

New member
Hi everyone, I hope all are well-

I just found out today that I have to get a PICC during Thanksgiving. The other two times I got them I was so depressed that I did nothing but medicine. I didn't go out or really anything at all.

I am determined not to be like that now. So, what types of things can you do with a PICC? Are you suppossed to just rest the whole time? I know I can't swim (November in Chicago shouldn't be a problem) but what else. I guess I am asking how normal is you life when you have a PICC in.

Thanks<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
S

sue35

New member
Hi everyone, I hope all are well-

I just found out today that I have to get a PICC during Thanksgiving. The other two times I got them I was so depressed that I did nothing but medicine. I didn't go out or really anything at all.

I am determined not to be like that now. So, what types of things can you do with a PICC? Are you suppossed to just rest the whole time? I know I can't swim (November in Chicago shouldn't be a problem) but what else. I guess I am asking how normal is you life when you have a PICC in.

Thanks<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I do pretty much everything I usually do when I have a PICC and am at home on IVs. The only thing is that I do not do any heavy lifting with the arm that has the PICC. Also I cover it when I take a shower or bathe (but that is in line with not getting it wet).

I also am wary of any activity that causes a LOT of sweating as I don't like to get the area under the dressing wet with sweat. I do things that cause me to sweat sometimes though - like with this current 2 week dose of meds I have been walking and therefore sweating some. I just have the nurse come out and change the dressing every 3-4 days vs. every 7 if that is the case.

So I guess the answer is anything that you are comfortable with doing that your docs don't say NOT to do. (i.e. swimming, getting your arm/IV site wet, heavy lifting). It is best to rest some - but I go to the store, go about my daily activities and have a somewhat normal routine - so long as it doesn't interfere with meds - while I am on IVs with the PICC. I also wrap my arm up when I go out - or keep it protected from people bumping into it or from it catching on anything and pulling.

Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I do pretty much everything I usually do when I have a PICC and am at home on IVs. The only thing is that I do not do any heavy lifting with the arm that has the PICC. Also I cover it when I take a shower or bathe (but that is in line with not getting it wet).

I also am wary of any activity that causes a LOT of sweating as I don't like to get the area under the dressing wet with sweat. I do things that cause me to sweat sometimes though - like with this current 2 week dose of meds I have been walking and therefore sweating some. I just have the nurse come out and change the dressing every 3-4 days vs. every 7 if that is the case.

So I guess the answer is anything that you are comfortable with doing that your docs don't say NOT to do. (i.e. swimming, getting your arm/IV site wet, heavy lifting). It is best to rest some - but I go to the store, go about my daily activities and have a somewhat normal routine - so long as it doesn't interfere with meds - while I am on IVs with the PICC. I also wrap my arm up when I go out - or keep it protected from people bumping into it or from it catching on anything and pulling.

Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I do pretty much everything I usually do when I have a PICC and am at home on IVs. The only thing is that I do not do any heavy lifting with the arm that has the PICC. Also I cover it when I take a shower or bathe (but that is in line with not getting it wet).

I also am wary of any activity that causes a LOT of sweating as I don't like to get the area under the dressing wet with sweat. I do things that cause me to sweat sometimes though - like with this current 2 week dose of meds I have been walking and therefore sweating some. I just have the nurse come out and change the dressing every 3-4 days vs. every 7 if that is the case.

So I guess the answer is anything that you are comfortable with doing that your docs don't say NOT to do. (i.e. swimming, getting your arm/IV site wet, heavy lifting). It is best to rest some - but I go to the store, go about my daily activities and have a somewhat normal routine - so long as it doesn't interfere with meds - while I am on IVs with the PICC. I also wrap my arm up when I go out - or keep it protected from people bumping into it or from it catching on anything and pulling.

Lindsey
 
S

Scarlett81

New member
They say you can do pretty much anything with a PICC. There's the common sense precautions. But I live on a horse farm, and provided my breathing is up to it, I ride when I have a PICC. It's like that last week of IVs that you feel fine, but still need em anyway. When I'm being infused though, I lay down. My doc says that its better to let your body rest while you're taking the med, just let it work I guess. That and I don't want the tubing line to snag on anything.
 
S

Scarlett81

New member
They say you can do pretty much anything with a PICC. There's the common sense precautions. But I live on a horse farm, and provided my breathing is up to it, I ride when I have a PICC. It's like that last week of IVs that you feel fine, but still need em anyway. When I'm being infused though, I lay down. My doc says that its better to let your body rest while you're taking the med, just let it work I guess. That and I don't want the tubing line to snag on anything.
 
S

Scarlett81

New member
They say you can do pretty much anything with a PICC. There's the common sense precautions. But I live on a horse farm, and provided my breathing is up to it, I ride when I have a PICC. It's like that last week of IVs that you feel fine, but still need em anyway. When I'm being infused though, I lay down. My doc says that its better to let your body rest while you're taking the med, just let it work I guess. That and I don't want the tubing line to snag on anything.
 
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Rokiss12

New member
i do everything, except maybe like moving heavy boxes or whatever, and i carry my backpack on the arm i dont hvae it in. otherwise, anything i feel up to. this past summeri played on my tennis team the whole two weeks i had it. and i also went to camp in boston, where i had to carry around heavy bags and sew. haha so do what you want, and what you feel up to, dont let it be somethign to hold you down. look at it as an excuse to watch a lil more tv :p

oh and for the shower/water thing, i found that the covers you can buy for casts are awesome for IVs. you can get them at medical supply stores.

something like this..althoguht on this site it looks like its just for legs, but you can buy them for elbow and hand...

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.waterproofcast.com/
">http://www.waterproofcast.com/
</a>
good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Rokiss12

New member
i do everything, except maybe like moving heavy boxes or whatever, and i carry my backpack on the arm i dont hvae it in. otherwise, anything i feel up to. this past summeri played on my tennis team the whole two weeks i had it. and i also went to camp in boston, where i had to carry around heavy bags and sew. haha so do what you want, and what you feel up to, dont let it be somethign to hold you down. look at it as an excuse to watch a lil more tv :p

oh and for the shower/water thing, i found that the covers you can buy for casts are awesome for IVs. you can get them at medical supply stores.

something like this..althoguht on this site it looks like its just for legs, but you can buy them for elbow and hand...

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.waterproofcast.com/
">http://www.waterproofcast.com/
</a>
good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Rokiss12

New member
i do everything, except maybe like moving heavy boxes or whatever, and i carry my backpack on the arm i dont hvae it in. otherwise, anything i feel up to. this past summeri played on my tennis team the whole two weeks i had it. and i also went to camp in boston, where i had to carry around heavy bags and sew. haha so do what you want, and what you feel up to, dont let it be somethign to hold you down. look at it as an excuse to watch a lil more tv :p

oh and for the shower/water thing, i found that the covers you can buy for casts are awesome for IVs. you can get them at medical supply stores.

something like this..althoguht on this site it looks like its just for legs, but you can buy them for elbow and hand...

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.waterproofcast.com/
">http://www.waterproofcast.com/
</a>
good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
M

MCPappy

New member
I have grown to love the picc line too, because most of the time it means I dont have to be in the hospital and I can go back to doing everything else in my life. Hopefully you can think that even though you are getting the picc in you wont have to be in the hospital for thanksgiving and eat that yucky food =)
Ushually as soon as I get the picc I start asking to go home =) and when I get sent home for home IVs they set me up with the small IV pump that you can wear in a fanny pack and basically do anything you want. I try to take it a little easy since I am in the process of getting better but I do almost everything, like the people said above just dont lift heavy things and get the dressing changed if you are sweating a bunch.

Even though i dont think anyone likes them all that much, I just try and remind myself that it is a whole lot better then having to get poked every few days when your hand IV goes out, and beats sitting in the hospital for two weeks =)

Good luck

<3 Melissa
 
M

MCPappy

New member
I have grown to love the picc line too, because most of the time it means I dont have to be in the hospital and I can go back to doing everything else in my life. Hopefully you can think that even though you are getting the picc in you wont have to be in the hospital for thanksgiving and eat that yucky food =)
Ushually as soon as I get the picc I start asking to go home =) and when I get sent home for home IVs they set me up with the small IV pump that you can wear in a fanny pack and basically do anything you want. I try to take it a little easy since I am in the process of getting better but I do almost everything, like the people said above just dont lift heavy things and get the dressing changed if you are sweating a bunch.

Even though i dont think anyone likes them all that much, I just try and remind myself that it is a whole lot better then having to get poked every few days when your hand IV goes out, and beats sitting in the hospital for two weeks =)

Good luck

<3 Melissa
 
M

MCPappy

New member
I have grown to love the picc line too, because most of the time it means I dont have to be in the hospital and I can go back to doing everything else in my life. Hopefully you can think that even though you are getting the picc in you wont have to be in the hospital for thanksgiving and eat that yucky food =)
Ushually as soon as I get the picc I start asking to go home =) and when I get sent home for home IVs they set me up with the small IV pump that you can wear in a fanny pack and basically do anything you want. I try to take it a little easy since I am in the process of getting better but I do almost everything, like the people said above just dont lift heavy things and get the dressing changed if you are sweating a bunch.

Even though i dont think anyone likes them all that much, I just try and remind myself that it is a whole lot better then having to get poked every few days when your hand IV goes out, and beats sitting in the hospital for two weeks =)

Good luck

<3 Melissa
 
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