Picc line

Hello ladies - those of you that have a PICC line can you tell me please where do you have your dressing changed........my hospital have given me conflicting advise, the latest being I have to do it myself at home which considering I have been told it will need flushing every week is unlikely to happen

[Farawla]

Hi Lyn, I do mine at home with help from my sister, it’s easy once you have got the hang of it. Marsden has a video which shows exactly what to do and I’m sure your nurse will run through it a couple of times. The flushing is not a problem.

[Hidden in reply to Farawla]

Thank you for the reassurance- I will give it a go - I will go find the video x

[Farawla in reply to Hidden]

I’ll try and find the link

[Katmal-UK]

Hi Lynn I used to have mine flushed weekly at a local 'outreach' cancer centre. xx

[Hidden in reply to Katmal-UK]

Hello Kathy - Thank you, I have spoken to my local GP and they are going to show me how to do it, if I feel I can't manage they said I can go to the surgery each week and have the dressing changed and the flush done.

[Katmal-UK in reply to Hidden]

Hi Lyn It was nearly 8 years ago when I had my PICC fitted so I think things have changed in that time, I know It was certainly never mentioned about flushing the line yourself, that's got to be easier than going to the hospital each week and would make it easier to go away for a short break (not that there's much of that going on at the mo! Take care. Kathy xx

[jenny8c]

I went every week to a local community hospital where the district nurses maintained it.

[Hidden in reply to jenny8c]

Thank you x

[mumclark]

Mine was flushed by the district nurse on the weeks I wasn’t having treatment. Reliable but on a couple of occasions they couldn’t get it to flush so I had to go to the unit - not a problem

Good luck

Cheryl x

[Hidden in reply to mumclark]

I think that is what I am worried about doing it myself, my leaflet says if not flushed properly weekly then there is a risk of blocking, I would rather leave it to the professionals.

[Hidden]

Hello Lyn

Ideally this procedure is an aseptic technique if a flush is required. The line is a direct route into your bloodstream. Maybe you could carry out the dressing at home, but only after clear explanation. Flushing must be carried out by someone who knows what they are doing. Your safety is paramount. My GP surgery did not have any nurses who had current competency to do it, so had to go to unit every week. Don’t be fobbed off, you are too important xxxxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you - I did question about my doing the flushing myself and was told "that's the easy bit" however I am glad that my local surgery have agreed to do it for me.

[Rankij11]

Definitely get it done for you , unless you’ve got someone competent to help you. I went to a dedicated picc line unit in community. Aseptic technique required. I saw a couple of people with blockages when I was doing chemo and it looked like extra hassle you don’t need.

Good luck with treatment

Jennifer

[Hidden in reply to Rankij11]

Thank you - my local GP has offered to do it for me, so going with that as I don't feel confident doing it myself, and my husband is too heavy handed!

[Rankij11]

Oh good !

I just had a vision of my bloke doing it 😱😱😱😱 you should have seen plumbing attempts !!!

Jennifer

[Jack1066]

Hi I have mine done every 10 days at my Oncology clinic.

[Artgreen]

I had to go to the intermediate care group at the hospital who had a picc line flushing and dressing team one a week . They were great!

[Levanah]

I was taught to do mine myself at home and I showed my husband how to help . It is pretty easy to do once you’ve got organised and done it a few times . Xx