PICC Line

[Craftycromwel]

Hi,

I'm to start my first chemo next week following surgery for stage 3 ovarian cancer. I've been told I will have to have a PICC line inserted, please can anyone give me any advice about the PICC line

Love to all

Ann

[Katmal-UK]

Hi Ann I put off having one fitted mainly because I am a wimp with a capital W. However...... it may be slightly uncomfortable to have fitted but once in is a godsend. No more digging around for a vein for chemo or bloods or anything! The down side is no swimming, you have to keep it covered when in the shower/bath. I believe you can get a 'sleeve', I wrapped the area in cling film!. It has to be flushed through every week but that doesn't take long at all. If you are asking if I'd recommend then definitely yes. Good luck with your chemo. Kathy xx

[Craftycromwel in reply to Katmal-UK]

Thank you Kathy, I'm also a wimp when it comes to anything like this x

[RonLitBer]

You might want to look into a port. It is inserted under the skin on your chest so getting wet is not an issue. Flush required once a month. Conscious sedation is used for the insertion.

[Lindaura]

Hi Crafty,

I have had both a PICC line and a Port.

PICC First: I was terrified to have it, it sounded repulsive and scary, but the procedure to put it in is remarkably pain free and very state of the art, performed in the X-ray theatre under Ultrasound and X-Ray.

Once in, I loved it’s convenience. I was too ill to take a shower anyway, so sponged bathed the entire time.

The NHS supplies a district nurse to come to your home to flush the line and they can also take blood tests from it to keep on top of your welfare.

The only downside is that you can become sensitive to the Chlorhexidine antiseptic that is used to keep the skin around it clean, which only happened to me in the very last week before it was removed, but now I break out in a rash wherever that stuff touches me. Luckily, I found some plain alcohol pads that the hospital uses for me.

Also, there is a slight chance of a blood clot forming in your PICC line vein, usually because your vein is slightly too narrow, but you just have to notice if your arm swells.

This also happened to me in my second PICC line which I foolishly had them insert into my other arm, because I still had a rash on my first arm. The PICC had to be removed and a PORT inserted instead.

The PORT: Contrary to one of these posts, sedation is not the norm for Port insertion in the UK and without sedation, Port insertion can be horrific.

It is much more intrusive than the PICC Line, and is usually placed on your chest.

It takes about an hour to insert, while the Technician pummels your chest to make a pocket for the Port and makes two small incisions to insert the port and catheter into a vein in your neck.

Even with sedation, which they refused to give me at my usually wonderful hospital, I was left with a very sore neck and a huge bruise from the first set of stitche at my throat, to about 3 inches below the Port.

It was a very traumatic experience and I do not recommend it unless you get an agreement to have sedation for certain.

After 4 weeks, it is no longer sore, but it is unsightly.

So, I loved my PICC line and hate my Port, but it works the same for your Chemo Infusions.

I hope your treatment goes well and your cancer is destroyed.

Be well,

Laura

[Craftycromwel in reply to Lindaura]

Thanks Laura, I'm sorry you had such a dreadful time with your port insertion, no one as mentioned a port to me, I was surprised when the nurse told me I'd have a PICC line inserted, I was just thinking I would have a cannula put in each time.

[jools53]

Port ever time still got mine three years down the line and still using ! A god send a must xx

[jools53]

Was sedated didn’t feel a thing and you can’t see it xx

[Pryced]

Hi, I’ve had a picc lin in since end August and can’t recommend it enough. I have weekly line flush and chemo, both done on the chemo Day Unit. I’ve had no problems and shower every morning using the Limbo cover which I was given on prescription. The procedure to insert the picc was completely painless and straightforward.

[Craftycromwel in reply to Pryced]

Thank you for your reply, Are you in the UK as I wondered if the limbo covers are available here

[Pryced in reply to Craftycromwel]

Hi, yes I’m in East Sussex, the hospital I attend gave me the prescription and I got the Limbo cover from my local pharmacy, they had to order it in but it only took a few days.

[Tesla_7US]

Please request a power port! You can swim, shower and bathe normally! They are embedded just under skin on your upper chest, below collar bone. I had general anesthesia so did not feel a thing. You can have a more normal life. It only needs flushing every 6-8 weeks after chemo. No pain to have it implanted. I've had mine for over 3 years and I LOVE it. Ports are standard in US. No discomfort at all. Chemo nurses use small amount of lidocaine to numb area when accessing it for treatment. I've had no skin irritation, no bruising, no pain. It is a discreet little bump on my chest.

[ellseybellsey]

I’ve just had mine removed five weeks post 2nd line treatment, I asked for it to be taken out.

I never had any issues with mine at all and it was in for 7 months, the district nurse came every week to flush and change dressing, apart from chemo week it was

Done at the hospital. I would definitely recommend having one.

I was prescribed a Limbo sleeve for showering so it didn’t get wet.

Ellsey

[Craftycromwel in reply to ellseybellsey]

Thank you Ellsey, I must ask about a cover when they put it in x

[Artgreen]

I had my picc line put in by two specialist nurses using ultrasound and it was painless! I watched while they did it and they were brilliant. I was allergic to the first dressing which the following week was changed to another which has been fine. It was a bit uncomfortable occasionally if I did anything repetitive. I have to go to the Houston have it dressed and flushes each week they say bebfore my chemo and they take bloods at the same time.

I can recommend it as I don’t swim! The sleeve I got from eBay so I can shower every day.

Good luck with yours

Love Alex x

[Artgreen]

That’s hospital not Houston!