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Another PICC question

S

sue35

New member
So I tried to flush my PICC with saline and it wouldn't work. I made sure each of the tighteners were undone and yet it still wouldn't work. I finally put my arm up and it flushed but now the medicine isn't going in and no matter how much I move my arm I don't think it is working.

Help please
 
S

sue35

New member
So I tried to flush my PICC with saline and it wouldn't work. I made sure each of the tighteners were undone and yet it still wouldn't work. I finally put my arm up and it flushed but now the medicine isn't going in and no matter how much I move my arm I don't think it is working.

Help please
 
S

sue35

New member
So I tried to flush my PICC with saline and it wouldn't work. I made sure each of the tighteners were undone and yet it still wouldn't work. I finally put my arm up and it flushed but now the medicine isn't going in and no matter how much I move my arm I don't think it is working.

Help please
 
S

sue35

New member
darn it...see now I just called my nurse and she said to try a little later and if it works then just don't worry. If it works then could it still be the beginning of a clot? Or will it be fine?
 
S

sue35

New member
darn it...see now I just called my nurse and she said to try a little later and if it works then just don't worry. If it works then could it still be the beginning of a clot? Or will it be fine?
 
S

sue35

New member
darn it...see now I just called my nurse and she said to try a little later and if it works then just don't worry. If it works then could it still be the beginning of a clot? Or will it be fine?
 
E

Emily65Roses

New member
This may be a stupid question, but are the meds still cold? If you don't leave them out of the fridge for 12-24 hours ahead of infusion time, they can seem like they're not infusing, because they go SO SLOW. So if you *just* took them out of the fridge, I say hook it back up and ignore it for a while. Read a book, watch TV. Look at it again in an hour, and some of it will be gone.

But that's the only advice I have because PICCs and I never got along too well, so I only used them for a very short period of time before giving them up for my port.
 
E

Emily65Roses

New member
This may be a stupid question, but are the meds still cold? If you don't leave them out of the fridge for 12-24 hours ahead of infusion time, they can seem like they're not infusing, because they go SO SLOW. So if you *just* took them out of the fridge, I say hook it back up and ignore it for a while. Read a book, watch TV. Look at it again in an hour, and some of it will be gone.

But that's the only advice I have because PICCs and I never got along too well, so I only used them for a very short period of time before giving them up for my port.
 
E

Emily65Roses

New member
This may be a stupid question, but are the meds still cold? If you don't leave them out of the fridge for 12-24 hours ahead of infusion time, they can seem like they're not infusing, because they go SO SLOW. So if you *just* took them out of the fridge, I say hook it back up and ignore it for a while. Read a book, watch TV. Look at it again in an hour, and some of it will be gone.

But that's the only advice I have because PICCs and I never got along too well, so I only used them for a very short period of time before giving them up for my port.
 
D

Debi

New member
Sometimes there are positional issues with PICCs- they can lay up against a vein and the result is that it appears there is a blockage. Moving your arm around can help. But if you still can't flush, call the home health nurse again and let her know.
 
D

Debi

New member
Sometimes there are positional issues with PICCs- they can lay up against a vein and the result is that it appears there is a blockage. Moving your arm around can help. But if you still can't flush, call the home health nurse again and let her know.
 
D

Debi

New member
Sometimes there are positional issues with PICCs- they can lay up against a vein and the result is that it appears there is a blockage. Moving your arm around can help. But if you still can't flush, call the home health nurse again and let her know.
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
Any time I have ever had issues with my PICC either not flushing, being hard to flush or taking a long time to infuse it has never been a clot. I am not saying it isn't the case though.

Have you been flushing the line(s) with heparin at every dose? or at least every 12 hours? If not then you may have a problem with a clot. If so it may be other things.

1) PICCs can be positional depending on where it is placed. If it is in the bend of your arm try straightening your arm out. Or even if it is higher up maybe try sitting with your arm elevated so you shoulder is somewhat "straightened."

2) You may also have tissue on the end of the line. I have had this SEVERAL times and it seems nearly impossible for me to flush it at times. The meds also go really slow - especially if it is the gravity bags. In this instance I would say double up on the saline and see if that helps to move whatever is blocking the line. I usually have to increase the amount of saline I use (not heparin cause heparin will thin your blood and it is not good to use too much) when I have a difficult time flushing it.

I hope that it starts working for you.

Take Care
Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
Any time I have ever had issues with my PICC either not flushing, being hard to flush or taking a long time to infuse it has never been a clot. I am not saying it isn't the case though.

Have you been flushing the line(s) with heparin at every dose? or at least every 12 hours? If not then you may have a problem with a clot. If so it may be other things.

1) PICCs can be positional depending on where it is placed. If it is in the bend of your arm try straightening your arm out. Or even if it is higher up maybe try sitting with your arm elevated so you shoulder is somewhat "straightened."

2) You may also have tissue on the end of the line. I have had this SEVERAL times and it seems nearly impossible for me to flush it at times. The meds also go really slow - especially if it is the gravity bags. In this instance I would say double up on the saline and see if that helps to move whatever is blocking the line. I usually have to increase the amount of saline I use (not heparin cause heparin will thin your blood and it is not good to use too much) when I have a difficult time flushing it.

I hope that it starts working for you.

Take Care
Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
Any time I have ever had issues with my PICC either not flushing, being hard to flush or taking a long time to infuse it has never been a clot. I am not saying it isn't the case though.

Have you been flushing the line(s) with heparin at every dose? or at least every 12 hours? If not then you may have a problem with a clot. If so it may be other things.

1) PICCs can be positional depending on where it is placed. If it is in the bend of your arm try straightening your arm out. Or even if it is higher up maybe try sitting with your arm elevated so you shoulder is somewhat "straightened."

2) You may also have tissue on the end of the line. I have had this SEVERAL times and it seems nearly impossible for me to flush it at times. The meds also go really slow - especially if it is the gravity bags. In this instance I would say double up on the saline and see if that helps to move whatever is blocking the line. I usually have to increase the amount of saline I use (not heparin cause heparin will thin your blood and it is not good to use too much) when I have a difficult time flushing it.

I hope that it starts working for you.

Take Care
Lindsey
 
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