Hello Everyone, I just got out of the hospital had to spend Thanksgiving is there, bummer. But anyway my port was infected, so they had to take it out. Which really sucks, because lately I'm on IV's more than I'm not. They put a PICC line in and it only lasted for three days. I guess it clotted off, so they have to pull it. Does anyone else have problems when you have to get a line put in. I had my port for 6 years and I need to get another one, but with work and my CF clinic is 3 hours away. If I have to get another put in, does anyone have any tips to keep it clear?
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Question about picc lines
- Thread starter donnadee
- Start date
Hello Everyone, I just got out of the hospital had to spend Thanksgiving is there, bummer. But anyway my port was infected, so they had to take it out. Which really sucks, because lately I'm on IV's more than I'm not. They put a PICC line in and it only lasted for three days. I guess it clotted off, so they have to pull it. Does anyone else have problems when you have to get a line put in. I had my port for 6 years and I need to get another one, but with work and my CF clinic is 3 hours away. If I have to get another put in, does anyone have any tips to keep it clear?
Hello Everyone, I just got out of the hospital had to spend Thanksgiving is there, bummer. But anyway my port was infected, so they had to take it out. Which really sucks, because lately I'm on IV's more than I'm not. They put a PICC line in and it only lasted for three days. I guess it clotted off, so they have to pull it. Does anyone else have problems when you have to get a line put in. I had my port for 6 years and I need to get another one, but with work and my CF clinic is 3 hours away. If I have to get another put in, does anyone have any tips to keep it clear?
Emily65Roses
New member
I had a problem every single time I had a PICC in. That's why I got the port I have now. I got phlebitis (the muscles get sore, and inflamed, you can actually see a red line where the IV is sitting in your arm) every time. I was on IVs 3 times, and had 6, almost 7, different lines, because my arms never wanted to keep them in. The only way I was able to hold onto that last one long enough (so that a 7th wasn't needed) was keeping heating pads on my arm at all times. Don't know why that works, but it does. It sucked though becuase I was on vacation and it was July. Booooo. Haha.
As for a clot problem, no idea what to do there. Only advice I have is if your PICC gets irritated (heating pad), not if it throws a clot. Sorry about losing your port though. Boooo I hate PICCs. Boooooooooooo!! Hopefully you can get a new port soon. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
As for a clot problem, no idea what to do there. Only advice I have is if your PICC gets irritated (heating pad), not if it throws a clot. Sorry about losing your port though. Boooo I hate PICCs. Boooooooooooo!! Hopefully you can get a new port soon. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Emily65Roses
New member
I had a problem every single time I had a PICC in. That's why I got the port I have now. I got phlebitis (the muscles get sore, and inflamed, you can actually see a red line where the IV is sitting in your arm) every time. I was on IVs 3 times, and had 6, almost 7, different lines, because my arms never wanted to keep them in. The only way I was able to hold onto that last one long enough (so that a 7th wasn't needed) was keeping heating pads on my arm at all times. Don't know why that works, but it does. It sucked though becuase I was on vacation and it was July. Booooo. Haha.
As for a clot problem, no idea what to do there. Only advice I have is if your PICC gets irritated (heating pad), not if it throws a clot. Sorry about losing your port though. Boooo I hate PICCs. Boooooooooooo!! Hopefully you can get a new port soon. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
As for a clot problem, no idea what to do there. Only advice I have is if your PICC gets irritated (heating pad), not if it throws a clot. Sorry about losing your port though. Boooo I hate PICCs. Boooooooooooo!! Hopefully you can get a new port soon. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Emily65Roses
New member
I had a problem every single time I had a PICC in. That's why I got the port I have now. I got phlebitis (the muscles get sore, and inflamed, you can actually see a red line where the IV is sitting in your arm) every time. I was on IVs 3 times, and had 6, almost 7, different lines, because my arms never wanted to keep them in. The only way I was able to hold onto that last one long enough (so that a 7th wasn't needed) was keeping heating pads on my arm at all times. Don't know why that works, but it does. It sucked though becuase I was on vacation and it was July. Booooo. Haha.
As for a clot problem, no idea what to do there. Only advice I have is if your PICC gets irritated (heating pad), not if it throws a clot. Sorry about losing your port though. Boooo I hate PICCs. Boooooooooooo!! Hopefully you can get a new port soon. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
As for a clot problem, no idea what to do there. Only advice I have is if your PICC gets irritated (heating pad), not if it throws a clot. Sorry about losing your port though. Boooo I hate PICCs. Boooooooooooo!! Hopefully you can get a new port soon. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
coltsfan715
New member
I have never personally had a PICC clot on me, but there are a few things that you may be able to do to prevent a clot.
1) Use Heparin in the event that you were not. I flush my line with heparin at least every 12 hours - but in most instances I am on IV meds every 8 hours when I take them so the line gets flushed every 8 hours usually.
2) You may want to ask your doc to check your clotting time. It may simply be that you need to flush your line more frequently than you were flushing it with heparin before.
3) You can maybe ask your doc about taking an ibuprofen or aspirin daily to thin the blood slightly and make it less susceptible to clotting.
As for the heating pad working Emily - heat will cause the muscle to relax where as cold causes it to contract. Maybe the heat from the heating pad was relaxing the muscle and in turn the vein making your arm better capable of handling the line.
Lindsey
1) Use Heparin in the event that you were not. I flush my line with heparin at least every 12 hours - but in most instances I am on IV meds every 8 hours when I take them so the line gets flushed every 8 hours usually.
2) You may want to ask your doc to check your clotting time. It may simply be that you need to flush your line more frequently than you were flushing it with heparin before.
3) You can maybe ask your doc about taking an ibuprofen or aspirin daily to thin the blood slightly and make it less susceptible to clotting.
As for the heating pad working Emily - heat will cause the muscle to relax where as cold causes it to contract. Maybe the heat from the heating pad was relaxing the muscle and in turn the vein making your arm better capable of handling the line.
Lindsey
coltsfan715
New member
I have never personally had a PICC clot on me, but there are a few things that you may be able to do to prevent a clot.
1) Use Heparin in the event that you were not. I flush my line with heparin at least every 12 hours - but in most instances I am on IV meds every 8 hours when I take them so the line gets flushed every 8 hours usually.
2) You may want to ask your doc to check your clotting time. It may simply be that you need to flush your line more frequently than you were flushing it with heparin before.
3) You can maybe ask your doc about taking an ibuprofen or aspirin daily to thin the blood slightly and make it less susceptible to clotting.
As for the heating pad working Emily - heat will cause the muscle to relax where as cold causes it to contract. Maybe the heat from the heating pad was relaxing the muscle and in turn the vein making your arm better capable of handling the line.
Lindsey
1) Use Heparin in the event that you were not. I flush my line with heparin at least every 12 hours - but in most instances I am on IV meds every 8 hours when I take them so the line gets flushed every 8 hours usually.
2) You may want to ask your doc to check your clotting time. It may simply be that you need to flush your line more frequently than you were flushing it with heparin before.
3) You can maybe ask your doc about taking an ibuprofen or aspirin daily to thin the blood slightly and make it less susceptible to clotting.
As for the heating pad working Emily - heat will cause the muscle to relax where as cold causes it to contract. Maybe the heat from the heating pad was relaxing the muscle and in turn the vein making your arm better capable of handling the line.
Lindsey
coltsfan715
New member
I have never personally had a PICC clot on me, but there are a few things that you may be able to do to prevent a clot.
1) Use Heparin in the event that you were not. I flush my line with heparin at least every 12 hours - but in most instances I am on IV meds every 8 hours when I take them so the line gets flushed every 8 hours usually.
2) You may want to ask your doc to check your clotting time. It may simply be that you need to flush your line more frequently than you were flushing it with heparin before.
3) You can maybe ask your doc about taking an ibuprofen or aspirin daily to thin the blood slightly and make it less susceptible to clotting.
As for the heating pad working Emily - heat will cause the muscle to relax where as cold causes it to contract. Maybe the heat from the heating pad was relaxing the muscle and in turn the vein making your arm better capable of handling the line.
Lindsey
1) Use Heparin in the event that you were not. I flush my line with heparin at least every 12 hours - but in most instances I am on IV meds every 8 hours when I take them so the line gets flushed every 8 hours usually.
2) You may want to ask your doc to check your clotting time. It may simply be that you need to flush your line more frequently than you were flushing it with heparin before.
3) You can maybe ask your doc about taking an ibuprofen or aspirin daily to thin the blood slightly and make it less susceptible to clotting.
As for the heating pad working Emily - heat will cause the muscle to relax where as cold causes it to contract. Maybe the heat from the heating pad was relaxing the muscle and in turn the vein making your arm better capable of handling the line.
Lindsey
purpleangel28282
New member
I've had 5 PICC lines. I've only had one problem putting it in, it just would not go all the way through the vein so they pulled it out and put it through another spot. As for clotting I've had two clots but they've never pulled the line, they just order a certain kind of medication (can't think of the name), do their best to push it into the line and leave it for like an hour and then the line flushes fine. I hope you can get another port soon, I'm thinking about getting on myself...from all that I've heard it is totally worth it.
purpleangel28282
New member
I've had 5 PICC lines. I've only had one problem putting it in, it just would not go all the way through the vein so they pulled it out and put it through another spot. As for clotting I've had two clots but they've never pulled the line, they just order a certain kind of medication (can't think of the name), do their best to push it into the line and leave it for like an hour and then the line flushes fine. I hope you can get another port soon, I'm thinking about getting on myself...from all that I've heard it is totally worth it.
purpleangel28282
New member
I've had 5 PICC lines. I've only had one problem putting it in, it just would not go all the way through the vein so they pulled it out and put it through another spot. As for clotting I've had two clots but they've never pulled the line, they just order a certain kind of medication (can't think of the name), do their best to push it into the line and leave it for like an hour and then the line flushes fine. I hope you can get another port soon, I'm thinking about getting on myself...from all that I've heard it is totally worth it.
JennifersHope
New member
They use a drug called TPA.. to break up the clot.. I get clots often and they do exactly what Naomi said, they push the med, leave it sit for an hour, then push it all the way through.. I have never had to have a PICC or Central restarted but I came close a few times when the nurses I had taken care of me, didn't know how to do proper Central line care.
I am with Emily though.. I hate PICCS. I should have gotten a port put in with my last surgery but I didn't plan well... I hate central lines that go in my neck as well. They are a pain ..
Jennifer
I am with Emily though.. I hate PICCS. I should have gotten a port put in with my last surgery but I didn't plan well... I hate central lines that go in my neck as well. They are a pain ..
Jennifer
JennifersHope
New member
They use a drug called TPA.. to break up the clot.. I get clots often and they do exactly what Naomi said, they push the med, leave it sit for an hour, then push it all the way through.. I have never had to have a PICC or Central restarted but I came close a few times when the nurses I had taken care of me, didn't know how to do proper Central line care.
I am with Emily though.. I hate PICCS. I should have gotten a port put in with my last surgery but I didn't plan well... I hate central lines that go in my neck as well. They are a pain ..
Jennifer
I am with Emily though.. I hate PICCS. I should have gotten a port put in with my last surgery but I didn't plan well... I hate central lines that go in my neck as well. They are a pain ..
Jennifer
JennifersHope
New member
They use a drug called TPA.. to break up the clot.. I get clots often and they do exactly what Naomi said, they push the med, leave it sit for an hour, then push it all the way through.. I have never had to have a PICC or Central restarted but I came close a few times when the nurses I had taken care of me, didn't know how to do proper Central line care.
I am with Emily though.. I hate PICCS. I should have gotten a port put in with my last surgery but I didn't plan well... I hate central lines that go in my neck as well. They are a pain ..
Jennifer
I am with Emily though.. I hate PICCS. I should have gotten a port put in with my last surgery but I didn't plan well... I hate central lines that go in my neck as well. They are a pain ..
Jennifer
I'm so sorry you lost your port, how long till you can get another one in? Also do they take the whole thing out including the tubing?
The port is the best thing that has happened to kj, her veins collapsed from the doc just looking at the lol.
The only probs with the port is flushes once a month and vanity (my daughter is very self conscious about it) but she can now wear a bikini without it being seen, so that made her happy.
with keeping infections away,
when getting it flushed/accessed make sure the nurses do the proper handwashing procedure and that they don't contaminate the equipment by being careless and that they clean the port area in the proper way. If you have a bandaid to cover your port after its flushed to stop blood spots on clothes, take it off as soon as you can as this can cause infection. (I'm sure you propably know all of this though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> )
Our hospital have a good record for ports, I just hope it stays that way. I would hate Kj to lose hers.
Kj has had hers since she was nine and its still going strong.
The port is the best thing that has happened to kj, her veins collapsed from the doc just looking at the lol.
The only probs with the port is flushes once a month and vanity (my daughter is very self conscious about it) but she can now wear a bikini without it being seen, so that made her happy.
with keeping infections away,
when getting it flushed/accessed make sure the nurses do the proper handwashing procedure and that they don't contaminate the equipment by being careless and that they clean the port area in the proper way. If you have a bandaid to cover your port after its flushed to stop blood spots on clothes, take it off as soon as you can as this can cause infection. (I'm sure you propably know all of this though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> )
Our hospital have a good record for ports, I just hope it stays that way. I would hate Kj to lose hers.
Kj has had hers since she was nine and its still going strong.
I'm so sorry you lost your port, how long till you can get another one in? Also do they take the whole thing out including the tubing?
The port is the best thing that has happened to kj, her veins collapsed from the doc just looking at the lol.
The only probs with the port is flushes once a month and vanity (my daughter is very self conscious about it) but she can now wear a bikini without it being seen, so that made her happy.
with keeping infections away,
when getting it flushed/accessed make sure the nurses do the proper handwashing procedure and that they don't contaminate the equipment by being careless and that they clean the port area in the proper way. If you have a bandaid to cover your port after its flushed to stop blood spots on clothes, take it off as soon as you can as this can cause infection. (I'm sure you propably know all of this though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> )
Our hospital have a good record for ports, I just hope it stays that way. I would hate Kj to lose hers.
Kj has had hers since she was nine and its still going strong.
The port is the best thing that has happened to kj, her veins collapsed from the doc just looking at the lol.
The only probs with the port is flushes once a month and vanity (my daughter is very self conscious about it) but she can now wear a bikini without it being seen, so that made her happy.
with keeping infections away,
when getting it flushed/accessed make sure the nurses do the proper handwashing procedure and that they don't contaminate the equipment by being careless and that they clean the port area in the proper way. If you have a bandaid to cover your port after its flushed to stop blood spots on clothes, take it off as soon as you can as this can cause infection. (I'm sure you propably know all of this though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> )
Our hospital have a good record for ports, I just hope it stays that way. I would hate Kj to lose hers.
Kj has had hers since she was nine and its still going strong.