problems with the picc line

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catboogie

New member
question: i know the picc can get sore being in for a while. and my arm definitly has that weirdo feeling like my vein is irritated. but, if my arm was sore from my vein being irritated, would it be MORE sore at the insertion point??

i am on day 7 with my picc and things have been great! so great, in fact, i'm afraid i may have overdone it with my picc arm. i just noticed tonight when my picc touched my vest that it was sore. it doesn't hurt when i am just sitting still but if i touch it, it is uncomfortable. i cannot see the point of entry as it is covered with gauze to see if it looks red/infected.

now, i have been doing a lot this weekend, pretty much regular stuff i would do without the picc, housework, etc. using my arm a lot. i have been making an effort not to lift heavy things with that arm but then today i did something stupid...i was driving and i reached around behind my seat (with my picc arm) to grab my back pack and lifted it up into the front seat. at the time i was doing it i was thinking, this is dumb... it was several hours later that i felt the pain. and i am afraid that i totally screwed myself over.

the nurse is supposed to come tomorrow anyway to draw blood and i was going to have her change my dressing. i guess i will see how the site looks then. i am NOT looking forward to this dressing change. i never like them, even when things are going well. it just feels weird! and i don't think my nurse is a particularly gentle type... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
C

catboogie

New member
question: i know the picc can get sore being in for a while. and my arm definitly has that weirdo feeling like my vein is irritated. but, if my arm was sore from my vein being irritated, would it be MORE sore at the insertion point??

i am on day 7 with my picc and things have been great! so great, in fact, i'm afraid i may have overdone it with my picc arm. i just noticed tonight when my picc touched my vest that it was sore. it doesn't hurt when i am just sitting still but if i touch it, it is uncomfortable. i cannot see the point of entry as it is covered with gauze to see if it looks red/infected.

now, i have been doing a lot this weekend, pretty much regular stuff i would do without the picc, housework, etc. using my arm a lot. i have been making an effort not to lift heavy things with that arm but then today i did something stupid...i was driving and i reached around behind my seat (with my picc arm) to grab my back pack and lifted it up into the front seat. at the time i was doing it i was thinking, this is dumb... it was several hours later that i felt the pain. and i am afraid that i totally screwed myself over.

the nurse is supposed to come tomorrow anyway to draw blood and i was going to have her change my dressing. i guess i will see how the site looks then. i am NOT looking forward to this dressing change. i never like them, even when things are going well. it just feels weird! and i don't think my nurse is a particularly gentle type... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
C

catboogie

New member
question: i know the picc can get sore being in for a while. and my arm definitly has that weirdo feeling like my vein is irritated. but, if my arm was sore from my vein being irritated, would it be MORE sore at the insertion point??

i am on day 7 with my picc and things have been great! so great, in fact, i'm afraid i may have overdone it with my picc arm. i just noticed tonight when my picc touched my vest that it was sore. it doesn't hurt when i am just sitting still but if i touch it, it is uncomfortable. i cannot see the point of entry as it is covered with gauze to see if it looks red/infected.

now, i have been doing a lot this weekend, pretty much regular stuff i would do without the picc, housework, etc. using my arm a lot. i have been making an effort not to lift heavy things with that arm but then today i did something stupid...i was driving and i reached around behind my seat (with my picc arm) to grab my back pack and lifted it up into the front seat. at the time i was doing it i was thinking, this is dumb... it was several hours later that i felt the pain. and i am afraid that i totally screwed myself over.

the nurse is supposed to come tomorrow anyway to draw blood and i was going to have her change my dressing. i guess i will see how the site looks then. i am NOT looking forward to this dressing change. i never like them, even when things are going well. it just feels weird! and i don't think my nurse is a particularly gentle type... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
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CowTown

New member
What helps with my dressig changes is having the nurse use lots of alcoholl swabs right at the place of tape where they're removing it. Wipe the alcohol swab/sheet thing on top of the tape that has been stuck to your arm hair for 7 days (ouch!) while she pulls the tape off. That helps me a little. Also I like to shave my arm before the dressing and all the tape goes b/c for me it's mainly my hairy arms and tape that don't mix.

For your picc line, if your arm hurts like crazy to touch, or if it starts getting red or swollen, then the line isn't good anymore. Some people's piccs only last up to 1 week. For me at the end of 2 weeks is when it's about time to pull it. I hope it goes okay!
 
C

CowTown

New member
What helps with my dressig changes is having the nurse use lots of alcoholl swabs right at the place of tape where they're removing it. Wipe the alcohol swab/sheet thing on top of the tape that has been stuck to your arm hair for 7 days (ouch!) while she pulls the tape off. That helps me a little. Also I like to shave my arm before the dressing and all the tape goes b/c for me it's mainly my hairy arms and tape that don't mix.

For your picc line, if your arm hurts like crazy to touch, or if it starts getting red or swollen, then the line isn't good anymore. Some people's piccs only last up to 1 week. For me at the end of 2 weeks is when it's about time to pull it. I hope it goes okay!
 
C

CowTown

New member
What helps with my dressig changes is having the nurse use lots of alcoholl swabs right at the place of tape where they're removing it. Wipe the alcohol swab/sheet thing on top of the tape that has been stuck to your arm hair for 7 days (ouch!) while she pulls the tape off. That helps me a little. Also I like to shave my arm before the dressing and all the tape goes b/c for me it's mainly my hairy arms and tape that don't mix.

For your picc line, if your arm hurts like crazy to touch, or if it starts getting red or swollen, then the line isn't good anymore. Some people's piccs only last up to 1 week. For me at the end of 2 weeks is when it's about time to pull it. I hope it goes okay!
 
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sue35

New member
When the nurse comes to change the dressing right after you get the PICC line does she wipe the exposed area with alchol? Mine always uses alchol right where the line goes in and it hurts so much i can't sit still!

I am having one soon and that is the part I am most scared of.

I didn't mean to steal this thread. I agree that shaving the arm really helps. I have always shaved my arms in general (yes i know very wierd) and i found it makes things easier when I have the PICC
 
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sue35

New member
When the nurse comes to change the dressing right after you get the PICC line does she wipe the exposed area with alchol? Mine always uses alchol right where the line goes in and it hurts so much i can't sit still!

I am having one soon and that is the part I am most scared of.

I didn't mean to steal this thread. I agree that shaving the arm really helps. I have always shaved my arms in general (yes i know very wierd) and i found it makes things easier when I have the PICC
 
S

sue35

New member
When the nurse comes to change the dressing right after you get the PICC line does she wipe the exposed area with alchol? Mine always uses alchol right where the line goes in and it hurts so much i can't sit still!

I am having one soon and that is the part I am most scared of.

I didn't mean to steal this thread. I agree that shaving the arm really helps. I have always shaved my arms in general (yes i know very wierd) and i found it makes things easier when I have the PICC
 
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catboogie

New member
you know, it's not the tape or the pulling or the alcohol burning that bothers me about dressing changes. it really just feels weird to me, like i don't want the skin around my incision to be messed with!

so, how do i know if my picc is infected?
 
C

catboogie

New member
you know, it's not the tape or the pulling or the alcohol burning that bothers me about dressing changes. it really just feels weird to me, like i don't want the skin around my incision to be messed with!

so, how do i know if my picc is infected?
 
C

catboogie

New member
you know, it's not the tape or the pulling or the alcohol burning that bothers me about dressing changes. it really just feels weird to me, like i don't want the skin around my incision to be messed with!

so, how do i know if my picc is infected?
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I shave the area that they are most likely to insert the PICC on both arms before each stay anymore. It helps alot with the removal of the dressings.

As for pain at or around the insert site. I know I had pain with my last one for a little over a week from the insertion. I especially had pain when I was doing the vest from the shaking and squeezing. I even posted about it cause it was so bothersome to me.

As for pain at the insert site I had some mild pain but nothing too bad. I will say though if you have been really active and if the line is in a position where it is moving slightly in and out at the insert site that can cause discomfort. I would maybe ask if they can leave the insert site exposed under your dressing when they change it that way you can see if it is red,inflammed or anything when it is hurting.

I would imagine that if you are overly active with your PICC arm that yes it could be sore from that. I had some tenderness in my PICC arm this go round the entire time - it wasn't necessarily at the insert site but it was tender where I had stitches put to hold it in place at times too.

Just try giving your arm a rest for a few days and maybe put some ice on it. I know that helped me alot the day of and after insertion of my PICC this time cause it was really sore.

Hope everything goes well with the nurse tomorrow and that the line is not infected or anything.

Take Care,
Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I shave the area that they are most likely to insert the PICC on both arms before each stay anymore. It helps alot with the removal of the dressings.

As for pain at or around the insert site. I know I had pain with my last one for a little over a week from the insertion. I especially had pain when I was doing the vest from the shaking and squeezing. I even posted about it cause it was so bothersome to me.

As for pain at the insert site I had some mild pain but nothing too bad. I will say though if you have been really active and if the line is in a position where it is moving slightly in and out at the insert site that can cause discomfort. I would maybe ask if they can leave the insert site exposed under your dressing when they change it that way you can see if it is red,inflammed or anything when it is hurting.

I would imagine that if you are overly active with your PICC arm that yes it could be sore from that. I had some tenderness in my PICC arm this go round the entire time - it wasn't necessarily at the insert site but it was tender where I had stitches put to hold it in place at times too.

Just try giving your arm a rest for a few days and maybe put some ice on it. I know that helped me alot the day of and after insertion of my PICC this time cause it was really sore.

Hope everything goes well with the nurse tomorrow and that the line is not infected or anything.

Take Care,
Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
I shave the area that they are most likely to insert the PICC on both arms before each stay anymore. It helps alot with the removal of the dressings.

As for pain at or around the insert site. I know I had pain with my last one for a little over a week from the insertion. I especially had pain when I was doing the vest from the shaking and squeezing. I even posted about it cause it was so bothersome to me.

As for pain at the insert site I had some mild pain but nothing too bad. I will say though if you have been really active and if the line is in a position where it is moving slightly in and out at the insert site that can cause discomfort. I would maybe ask if they can leave the insert site exposed under your dressing when they change it that way you can see if it is red,inflammed or anything when it is hurting.

I would imagine that if you are overly active with your PICC arm that yes it could be sore from that. I had some tenderness in my PICC arm this go round the entire time - it wasn't necessarily at the insert site but it was tender where I had stitches put to hold it in place at times too.

Just try giving your arm a rest for a few days and maybe put some ice on it. I know that helped me alot the day of and after insertion of my PICC this time cause it was really sore.

Hope everything goes well with the nurse tomorrow and that the line is not infected or anything.

Take Care,
Lindsey
 
M

my65roses4me

New member
I learned a cool trick to tegaderm removal from a nurse once.
She said to lift one corner of the tegaderm from the skin and then stretch it outward instead of ripping it in an upward motion. it will slowly removed it from the skin and as soon as the stretching reaches the gauze (or in my case the needle because I have a port) then start from another corner and stretch it until it reaches the gauze or needle. Do it until all four corners are stretched to the center and then lift it off of with the needle or gauze and wella its off!
It does not take off the skin and doesn't hurt. I hope I explained this so you can understand (I am horrible at explaining things).
Ever since she told me this I have been so happy and not stressed about dressing changes. Also if alcohol burns when you are cleaning the site you can use betadine or hydrogen peroxide instead with no burning at all. It cleans just as well too. Actually I dont get the betadine or alcohol with my changing kits anymore it comes with a scrubber thingy that has cleaner in it when you snap it open. (forgot what its called). Hope this helps to make a more peaceful dressing change in the future!!
 
M

my65roses4me

New member
I learned a cool trick to tegaderm removal from a nurse once.
She said to lift one corner of the tegaderm from the skin and then stretch it outward instead of ripping it in an upward motion. it will slowly removed it from the skin and as soon as the stretching reaches the gauze (or in my case the needle because I have a port) then start from another corner and stretch it until it reaches the gauze or needle. Do it until all four corners are stretched to the center and then lift it off of with the needle or gauze and wella its off!
It does not take off the skin and doesn't hurt. I hope I explained this so you can understand (I am horrible at explaining things).
Ever since she told me this I have been so happy and not stressed about dressing changes. Also if alcohol burns when you are cleaning the site you can use betadine or hydrogen peroxide instead with no burning at all. It cleans just as well too. Actually I dont get the betadine or alcohol with my changing kits anymore it comes with a scrubber thingy that has cleaner in it when you snap it open. (forgot what its called). Hope this helps to make a more peaceful dressing change in the future!!
 
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