PICC lines

C

coltsfan715

New member
Sue -

I tend to baby my arm that has the PICC as well. It is mainly due to the fact that the first week it is normally sore and the excess movement irritates it. Then after that I am just used to stabilizing it and not using it that much. I have found it is easiest for me adjusting to having the PICC and after it is removed when it is in my dominant arm - as I use it because I have too. Whereas when it is in my left arm I am able to get by without using that one too much, so I am more likely to keep it stationary or "guarded" and get those muscles fatigued and weakened over the weeks of IV treatment.

I am not recommending getting it in your dominant arm if that is not good for you - I am just saying that I know what you mean about your arm being sore from not using it too much. Then sharing what has worked in getting me to be more active with my PICC arm thus reducing that fatigued feeling after the PICC is removed.

I actually have my PICC in my right arm now ... and I am right handed.

Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
Sue -

I tend to baby my arm that has the PICC as well. It is mainly due to the fact that the first week it is normally sore and the excess movement irritates it. Then after that I am just used to stabilizing it and not using it that much. I have found it is easiest for me adjusting to having the PICC and after it is removed when it is in my dominant arm - as I use it because I have too. Whereas when it is in my left arm I am able to get by without using that one too much, so I am more likely to keep it stationary or "guarded" and get those muscles fatigued and weakened over the weeks of IV treatment.

I am not recommending getting it in your dominant arm if that is not good for you - I am just saying that I know what you mean about your arm being sore from not using it too much. Then sharing what has worked in getting me to be more active with my PICC arm thus reducing that fatigued feeling after the PICC is removed.

I actually have my PICC in my right arm now ... and I am right handed.

Lindsey
 
R

Rokiss12

New member
i used to baby my arm ... a ton! like... when i was 7, they had me wrapped in sheets to get it out. i learned from that though...and now i request to get it in my dominate arm so im forced to use it....and it TOTALLY helps

some suggestions for if you IV does get a lil 'snaggy' when their taking it out:
run closed sryinges of heprine and saline under hot water to warm them, then flush through the heprine and then the saline AS their taking it out. have your nurse do all of it thuohg, haha... you dont even have to look.

it really helps alot... and also put warm packs on your arm, and i put one on my heart before i get it out... it relaxes you SO much!

also... if the socks get too warm, try getting knee high nylons or just nylons and cutting out a big section of it... it will shrink if you cut the toe part off so you need more then you think. its nice because they have the skin colored ones, and you can't even tell that you have an IV sometimes!

good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Rokiss12

New member
i used to baby my arm ... a ton! like... when i was 7, they had me wrapped in sheets to get it out. i learned from that though...and now i request to get it in my dominate arm so im forced to use it....and it TOTALLY helps

some suggestions for if you IV does get a lil 'snaggy' when their taking it out:
run closed sryinges of heprine and saline under hot water to warm them, then flush through the heprine and then the saline AS their taking it out. have your nurse do all of it thuohg, haha... you dont even have to look.

it really helps alot... and also put warm packs on your arm, and i put one on my heart before i get it out... it relaxes you SO much!

also... if the socks get too warm, try getting knee high nylons or just nylons and cutting out a big section of it... it will shrink if you cut the toe part off so you need more then you think. its nice because they have the skin colored ones, and you can't even tell that you have an IV sometimes!

good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Rokiss12

New member
i used to baby my arm ... a ton! like... when i was 7, they had me wrapped in sheets to get it out. i learned from that though...and now i request to get it in my dominate arm so im forced to use it....and it TOTALLY helps

some suggestions for if you IV does get a lil 'snaggy' when their taking it out:
run closed sryinges of heprine and saline under hot water to warm them, then flush through the heprine and then the saline AS their taking it out. have your nurse do all of it thuohg, haha... you dont even have to look.

it really helps alot... and also put warm packs on your arm, and i put one on my heart before i get it out... it relaxes you SO much!

also... if the socks get too warm, try getting knee high nylons or just nylons and cutting out a big section of it... it will shrink if you cut the toe part off so you need more then you think. its nice because they have the skin colored ones, and you can't even tell that you have an IV sometimes!

good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JazzysMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Rokiss12</b></i>

i

also... if the socks get too warm, try getting knee high nylons or just nylons and cutting out a big section of it... it will shrink if you cut the toe part off so you need more then you think. its nice because they have the skin colored ones, and you can't even tell that you have an IV sometimes!



good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"></end quote></div>


This is an awesome idea.....never thought of it. Good alternative to the warm socks & hides things better.
 
J

JazzysMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Rokiss12</b></i>

i

also... if the socks get too warm, try getting knee high nylons or just nylons and cutting out a big section of it... it will shrink if you cut the toe part off so you need more then you think. its nice because they have the skin colored ones, and you can't even tell that you have an IV sometimes!



good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"></end quote></div>


This is an awesome idea.....never thought of it. Good alternative to the warm socks & hides things better.
 
J

JazzysMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Rokiss12</b></i>

i

also... if the socks get too warm, try getting knee high nylons or just nylons and cutting out a big section of it... it will shrink if you cut the toe part off so you need more then you think. its nice because they have the skin colored ones, and you can't even tell that you have an IV sometimes!



good luck <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"></end quote></div>


This is an awesome idea.....never thought of it. Good alternative to the warm socks & hides things better.
 
W

Wipeout

New member
The lifting precautions have to do with vasoconstriction that occurs when you tense the muscles of your arm/shoulder whilst lifting or carrying weight. It is possible (though from what I have heard, not a common occurence) to squirt the PICC or Midline out of your arm during heavy or repetetive lifting manouvers.

The rule I have been given is nothing heavier than 10 lbs. This is admittedly not much weight to bear, as shutting a heavy car door exerts more than 10 lbs of pressure on one's arm.

I have cheated here and there: taping the point of entry with transderm and gently wrapping my arm in a medium tension ace bandage to support it while playing a set (drumming), but this sort of behavior is probably frowned upon. Based upon my experiences and what has been written here (including riding horses!) it seems common sense and individual experiences show us each what we need to do to take care of our lines (as well as what we can get away with). Keeping the field sterile is infinitely more important than the issue of overuse of the limb - I direct my energy towards the former pursuit.

If you should squirt a line out it's not the end of the world. Have the nurse drop a butterfly until a new line can be reinstalled. Just tell him or her that you caught it on the door.
 
W

Wipeout

New member
The lifting precautions have to do with vasoconstriction that occurs when you tense the muscles of your arm/shoulder whilst lifting or carrying weight. It is possible (though from what I have heard, not a common occurence) to squirt the PICC or Midline out of your arm during heavy or repetetive lifting manouvers.

The rule I have been given is nothing heavier than 10 lbs. This is admittedly not much weight to bear, as shutting a heavy car door exerts more than 10 lbs of pressure on one's arm.

I have cheated here and there: taping the point of entry with transderm and gently wrapping my arm in a medium tension ace bandage to support it while playing a set (drumming), but this sort of behavior is probably frowned upon. Based upon my experiences and what has been written here (including riding horses!) it seems common sense and individual experiences show us each what we need to do to take care of our lines (as well as what we can get away with). Keeping the field sterile is infinitely more important than the issue of overuse of the limb - I direct my energy towards the former pursuit.

If you should squirt a line out it's not the end of the world. Have the nurse drop a butterfly until a new line can be reinstalled. Just tell him or her that you caught it on the door.
 
W

Wipeout

New member
The lifting precautions have to do with vasoconstriction that occurs when you tense the muscles of your arm/shoulder whilst lifting or carrying weight. It is possible (though from what I have heard, not a common occurence) to squirt the PICC or Midline out of your arm during heavy or repetetive lifting manouvers.

The rule I have been given is nothing heavier than 10 lbs. This is admittedly not much weight to bear, as shutting a heavy car door exerts more than 10 lbs of pressure on one's arm.

I have cheated here and there: taping the point of entry with transderm and gently wrapping my arm in a medium tension ace bandage to support it while playing a set (drumming), but this sort of behavior is probably frowned upon. Based upon my experiences and what has been written here (including riding horses!) it seems common sense and individual experiences show us each what we need to do to take care of our lines (as well as what we can get away with). Keeping the field sterile is infinitely more important than the issue of overuse of the limb - I direct my energy towards the former pursuit.

If you should squirt a line out it's not the end of the world. Have the nurse drop a butterfly until a new line can be reinstalled. Just tell him or her that you caught it on the door.
 
H

hockeygrl61

New member
I am on my seventh PICC and I absolutely love them. I find that for
about the first week or so my arm is a little sore, but after that
I hardly even notice it. You can do just about anything with it in,
I've played hockey (non contact) and travel softball. I usually
just cut a softball sock and use that to keep it covered when I'm
not hooked up to meds. Don't let a PICC get you down because
they're really great, almost limitless.
 
H

hockeygrl61

New member
I am on my seventh PICC and I absolutely love them. I find that for
about the first week or so my arm is a little sore, but after that
I hardly even notice it. You can do just about anything with it in,
I've played hockey (non contact) and travel softball. I usually
just cut a softball sock and use that to keep it covered when I'm
not hooked up to meds. Don't let a PICC get you down because
they're really great, almost limitless.
 
H

hockeygrl61

New member
I am on my seventh PICC and I absolutely love them. I find that for
about the first week or so my arm is a little sore, but after that
I hardly even notice it. You can do just about anything with it in,
I've played hockey (non contact) and travel softball. I usually
just cut a softball sock and use that to keep it covered when I'm
not hooked up to meds. Don't let a PICC get you down because
they're really great, almost limitless.
 
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