PICC line questions - A new medical adventure is about to begin.

[3catwoman3]

My 79 yr old husband, who is in basic good health, was hit by a car 2 weeks ago while on his brand new Trek bike for only the second time. Always wears a helmet, which likely saved his life. No head, neck, spine, or internal injuries. Unfortunately, the ambulance called to the scene took him to the local hospital nearest to us, which has a mediocre reputation.

A good way to get the hell scared out of you is to open your door to find 2 uniformed police officers who ask:
- "Are you (my name)?" Yes
- "Are you married to (my husband's name)?" Yes

And then trying to keep your mental finger off the panic button while waiting to hear the third thing they are going to say.

He does have a deep laceration behind his left knee, which has not been healing well - so much swelling that the sutures placed in the ER ripped out as the wound edges pulled apart. He is now in a local hospital I do like and trust, getting IV antibiotics while infectious disease (ID), plastic surgery and orthopedics consult on the best approach to get this gaping hole closed up. He will be getting a PICC line put in so he can get 4-6 weeks of big gun antibiotics delivered. Fortunately, there is an infusion center run by the ID specialist about 1.5 miles from our house, so getting the daily doses of the antibiotics should be pretty easy.

My long nurse practitioner career was strictly in outpatient pediatrics - well child care, growth and development questions, potty training and temper tantrums, ear infections and strep throat, school/camp/sports physicals, etc. No expertise in wound care or PICC lines.

My husband says the PICC line nurse who has spoken to him says he will not be allowed to shower the whole time the line is in. Yuck!

Anyway, looking for any tips, tricks, success stories from any DUers who have had experience with PICC lines, either as the patient or the caregiver.

Thanks!

If this is not the appropriate forum please tell me and I will move it.

[rampartd]

1. i've had pic lines several times for antibiotics. no problem.

[3catwoman3]

2. What kinds of life style changes...

...or activity restrictions were imposed on you, if you don't mind my asking?

[rampartd]

3. not much. i showered on occasion. tape the connectors in a baggie

i was more concerned with my foot than the iv line.

the antibiotics come in a pressurized ball that is easy enough to deal with (clean hands and alcohol pads.). they do require refrigeration.

[MuseRider]

4. I have been away from all of that for so long that my info would

not be any good or probably not a good idea to share. I am certain there are enough people here to help you. Just want to say good luck.

[AllaN01Bear]

5. i had a pic line for a while a while bac. i was at a recovery home when they put it in

i remember showering there . but do what they tell u.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Showering with a PICC line is easy.

Buy a plastic arm sleeve. These work. Best of luck to you and your husband.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Reusable-Waterproof-Picc-Line-Cast-Covers-Shower-Arm-37X20cm-Proper-Wound-Protection-PICC-Line-Shower-Cover-Waterproof-Sleeve-Protector-IV-Chemothera/8260952964?classType=VARIANT&adsRedirect=true

[3catwoman3]

7. I did think not showering for 4-6 weeks not only sounds disgusting...

…but also unhealthy.

I’m typically a daily shower kinda girl, or twice if I get all sweaty and sticky from a workout class or being outside in humidity later in the day. I detest feeling sticky.

[greatauntoftriplets]

8. Absolutely.

Plus, it's summer and easier to get sticky and stinky. These sleeves work great. They're a bit awkward, but your husband can't go that long without showering. The inside stays dry.

Best of luck.

[NCgayguy]

9. Dear 3catwoman3, I'm so sorry!

This is not medical advice, just info of how we managed Tommy's PICC line. But first, if the nurse said not to shower, does that mean the PICC line comes out in 7 days? If not, did she tell you the PICC line dressing can only be changed by an RN and must be done every 7 days without delay?

As mentioned above, PICC line shower cover/guards are very useful. We used one for Tommy's. It is bulky but works as long as you purchase one with the hard plastic rim that stretches the material creating a water tight seal. I went beyond that and used Press and Seal wrap around his PICC line too. I first placed a paper towel over the PICC line area, applied the Press and Seal, then slid on the PICC line shower cover and He never got it wet. His PICC line was in for 3 months and never got an infection!

Bottom line, it's up to the two of you to decide what is appropriate and works for you. BUT, oh how I wished I lived near you. I would help you guys out! PICC lines have to be kept as sterile as possible, which is almost impossible, even in a hospital. There really is no sterile environment outside of a laboratory (even O R are not really sterile)

As I said, I'm only offering info on what we did. I don't know your husbands full medical situation, so I can only make suggestions. I can tell you that Tommy passed away Jan 1st this year of pancreatic cancer, and for nearly 2 years before his passing, I learned how to manage and care for a G-tube, J-tube, Biliary Tube and PICC line and the pumps for the PICC line and J-tube. There are several things you will have to do to prep for every thing you do and the clean up with after yo do them. It's time consuming, but necessary. You might surprise yourself with what you can accomplish when it comes to your loved one!

I wish you much success! I will keep you both in my thoughts.

EDIT:: I would also like to mention, I gave two weeks of strong antibiotics through Tommy's PICC line at our home. I have never had medical training but learned everything from physical therapy to PICC line feeding and J-tube feeding and so much more because I loved him that much. When you have always been the family caregiver, you will be amazed at what you will do that you never thought possible! I wish you two comfort and a speedy recovery!

[auntAgonist]

10. So sorry

First of all let me say how sorry I am for the loss you've suffered.

Your thoughts on the PICC line are spot on! Cleanliness and being vigilant, looking for any changes in the PICC site are so important.
I've had PICC lines in the past and when they could no longer access my veins in my upper arm (too much scar tissue both arms) they placed a Bard Power Port. So so much easier for a few years until I developed bacteria in the line. Sepsis and surgery to remove the port. A second port place after all infection was out of my system.

I'd do it all again. The port that is.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope the wonderful memories you surely have of Tommy sustain your heart and that the days are bringing you more good thoughts and comfort.

Sincerely
aA
kesha.

[NCgayguy]

11. Thank you!

Dear Kesha,

Thank you for your kind words. I am so sorry you experienced so many medical procedures. I know it must have been painful and the amount of worry and stress they cause is unthinkable! Bless you for surviving that!

41 years of loving memories with My Tommy will never be forgotten. I miss him so much my heart still aches. I really was the lucky one because he chose me to spend his life with. I wish everyone could have known my husband, Tommy. I don't know a single person who disliked him or had a bad thing to say about him. I'm getting carried away now, so I will stop.

Thank you for caring and also for sharing your experience.

May You Be Healthy, Safe and Happy and LOVED!
Reis

[Fla Dem]

12. So glad for you and your husband he wasn't seriously injured.

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

[justaprogressive]

13. As a retired nurse

who had a PICC in place < 6 mo ago, If they told him not to shower then

he shouldn't shower! The chance of developing a serious secondary infection

requiring additional months of IV therapy is a ridiculous chance to take!

Sponge baths, period, 'til that PICC line is out!

Keeping that PICC site DRY and patent should be your primary concern.

Not to borrow trouble, but the Doc might also specify that
he needs multiple infusions A DAY...

my AB order was every 8hrs daily for 45 days.

No visiting nurse could do that. My wife (another nurse)...was allowed to do my
IV push at home, or I would have had to stay in hospital.

Hope everything goes well for you both.

[3catwoman3]

14. We will, of course, do as we are advised by our local docs once they...

... get things all figured out. I was just curious about DUers experiences. My own career in outpatient pediatrics is not proving very useful for this situation - well child exams, otitis media and strep throat, feeding/behavior/potty training questions, and "I'm your man" so to speak. Complicated wound management, not so much.

The line isn't in yet, and we don't know when that will happen. An MRI done yesterday has revealed an abscess in the knee that will need to be drained surgically.

A work in progress.