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problems with the picc line

my65roses4me

New member
I learned a cool trick to tegaderm removal from a nurse once.
She said to lift one corner of the tegaderm from the skin and then stretch it outward instead of ripping it in an upward motion. it will slowly removed it from the skin and as soon as the stretching reaches the gauze (or in my case the needle because I have a port) then start from another corner and stretch it until it reaches the gauze or needle. Do it until all four corners are stretched to the center and then lift it off of with the needle or gauze and wella its off!
It does not take off the skin and doesn't hurt. I hope I explained this so you can understand (I am horrible at explaining things).
Ever since she told me this I have been so happy and not stressed about dressing changes. Also if alcohol burns when you are cleaning the site you can use betadine or hydrogen peroxide instead with no burning at all. It cleans just as well too. Actually I dont get the betadine or alcohol with my changing kits anymore it comes with a scrubber thingy that has cleaner in it when you snap it open. (forgot what its called). Hope this helps to make a more peaceful dressing change in the future!!
 

JazzysMom

New member
I look forward to my dressing changes even with the discomfort of having every arm hair pulled. This is because I get SOOOO itchy that I want relief from the alcohol or whatever else they use even if it burns. I do this with bug bites also. I much rather have the burn the itch. As to the soreness. I am not sure where the tenderness is. I have has soreness from the stiches which got better just to have tenderness from overdoing to laying on that side during sleeping. If heat doesnt make it feel better then you might have more going on & the site needs to be checked. Hope its just an irritation & not much more. I have had my piccs for as long as 7 weeks with only a week a break & then needing another inserted. I have only had discomfort & the damn itching. Good Luck!
 

JazzysMom

New member
I look forward to my dressing changes even with the discomfort of having every arm hair pulled. This is because I get SOOOO itchy that I want relief from the alcohol or whatever else they use even if it burns. I do this with bug bites also. I much rather have the burn the itch. As to the soreness. I am not sure where the tenderness is. I have has soreness from the stiches which got better just to have tenderness from overdoing to laying on that side during sleeping. If heat doesnt make it feel better then you might have more going on & the site needs to be checked. Hope its just an irritation & not much more. I have had my piccs for as long as 7 weeks with only a week a break & then needing another inserted. I have only had discomfort & the damn itching. Good Luck!
 

JazzysMom

New member
I look forward to my dressing changes even with the discomfort of having every arm hair pulled. This is because I get SOOOO itchy that I want relief from the alcohol or whatever else they use even if it burns. I do this with bug bites also. I much rather have the burn the itch. As to the soreness. I am not sure where the tenderness is. I have has soreness from the stiches which got better just to have tenderness from overdoing to laying on that side during sleeping. If heat doesnt make it feel better then you might have more going on & the site needs to be checked. Hope its just an irritation & not much more. I have had my piccs for as long as 7 weeks with only a week a break & then needing another inserted. I have only had discomfort & the damn itching. Good Luck!
 

JazzysMom

New member
My first 3 piccs were held "down" with tape, but the last few they have put actual stitches in the arm to secure the line near the insertion spot. Last time I had a great doctor who said they could use a type of clamp that sticks to me (better then tape) instead of stiches. The stiches stay in the whole time the picc line is in.
 

JazzysMom

New member
My first 3 piccs were held "down" with tape, but the last few they have put actual stitches in the arm to secure the line near the insertion spot. Last time I had a great doctor who said they could use a type of clamp that sticks to me (better then tape) instead of stiches. The stiches stay in the whole time the picc line is in.
 

JazzysMom

New member
My first 3 piccs were held "down" with tape, but the last few they have put actual stitches in the arm to secure the line near the insertion spot. Last time I had a great doctor who said they could use a type of clamp that sticks to me (better then tape) instead of stiches. The stiches stay in the whole time the picc line is in.
 

JazzysMom

New member
For me it is change in procedures at the hospital. My first 3 pics were done by an IV team in my room. Then the hospital changed procedure & we go to Radiology for insertion now. The doctor in Radiology are the ones who started using the stiches. They hurt (for me) like hell for awhile. The clamp wasnt bad, but only the one doctor offered this as an option for me.
 

JazzysMom

New member
For me it is change in procedures at the hospital. My first 3 pics were done by an IV team in my room. Then the hospital changed procedure & we go to Radiology for insertion now. The doctor in Radiology are the ones who started using the stiches. They hurt (for me) like hell for awhile. The clamp wasnt bad, but only the one doctor offered this as an option for me.
 

JazzysMom

New member
For me it is change in procedures at the hospital. My first 3 pics were done by an IV team in my room. Then the hospital changed procedure & we go to Radiology for insertion now. The doctor in Radiology are the ones who started using the stiches. They hurt (for me) like hell for awhile. The clamp wasnt bad, but only the one doctor offered this as an option for me.
 

catboogie

New member
i get my piccs done in Radiology, too, and i have never heard anything about this! i have also never really heard about a picc just falling out, so i don't really understand the need. seems a little excessive--like it's doing more harm than the risk that would be there otherwise.
 
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